Fewer detainees may reach the Moldovan penitentiaries, provided alternative punishments are applied. Lowering the number of prisoners having committed less serious offences can be reached through mediation, non-remunerated work, was the conclusion of specialists having implemented a project in this respect, Info-Prim Neo reports. The conference of evaluating the project called “Implementing alternatives to detention in the R. of Moldova” took place on Thursday, April10, under the organization of Penal Reforms Institute (PRI). According to PRI coordinator Cristina Beldiga, in unfolding the project the mediation was applied in 224 conflict cases in Chisinau, Ungheni, Cahul, Balti, Telenesti and Falesti, as 73% ended in a conciliating deal. Respectively, this has conducted to decreasing the number of detentions because of not so serious offences. In the opinion of PRI Institute director Igor Dolea, in mediation, the conflicting parties suggest solutions to resolve the problems, and finally chose the optimal ones. The mediation practice offers a new way of approaching crime focusing on making the offender responsible, involving the victim and the community in making justice and repairing damages, said the PRI director. Another alternative to reduce the number of detainees would be the non-remunerated work for community, specialists believe. This punishment is applied now in 25% of cases of less serious offences. The alternatives to detention will enable the guilty not to isolate from families, instead they will work to insure their own existence, they will provide services to the community. In the opinion of the Latvian experts attending the conference, implementing the alternatives to detention in Moldova is likely to be successful. The conclusion is based on the Latvian practice which sentences punishments implying non-remunerated work in circa 70% of the cases provided for by the Penal Code. There are circa 10,000 detainees in Moldova now. The Project “Implementing alternatives to detention in the R. of Moldova” has been carried out by the Penal Reform Institute since 2006.