The persons in conflict with the law will benefit from counseling and assistance from the Social-Educative and Probation Service. Cristina Beldiga, project coordinator at the Institute for Penal Reforms, has told Info-Prim-Neo that the necessity of implementing a probation preparation and training system arose following the adoption of a law that regulates the activity of counselors in the given area on February 14, 2008. Diana Postu, probation counselor of the Institute for Penal Reforms, says that the probation is an institution that aims to provide assistance and advice and to supervise the persons in conflict with the law. She said that the probation has three stages: the period before the sentence is passed, the period when the convict serves the sentence and the period after release from detention places. Diana Postu said that special community justice centers have been set up in Moldova. At these centers, the persons that serve the sentence or that were set free from prison are offered counseling and remedies to the existing problems. The emphasis is placed on correcting, reeducating and reintegrating the prisoners into the society. The Institute’s representative says that for many times the counselors must look for a workplace or a place to stay for the persons released from penitentiaries. Also, they try to reestablish convicts’ relations with the family or to solve health-related problems. The inappropriate behavior and the addictions of any kind are corrected with the help of psychologists and other specialists, Diana Postu said. As to mediation, Cristina Beldiga said that this is an out-of-court procedure that offers the victims and offenders, the conflicting sides the possibility of reaching a decision without trial. If the parties reach a compromise, the case is closed. The charges are dropped and the guilty ones are exempted from punishment as they repair the damage caused to the victim, Cristina Beldiga stated. Mediation activities are carried out in Chisinau and in the districts of Ungheni, Cahul, Telenesti, Balti, and Falesti. There are 12 territorial community justice centers in Moldova at present. Five probation counselors work in Chisinau town.