Number of beneficiaries of probation service on the rise

The number of beneficiaries of the probation service has increased from 7,200 at the start of 2011 to 8,400 at present. The data were presented in a news conference held to mark the fifth anniversary of the creation of the service on April 19, Info-Prim Neo reports. Vladimir Popa, deputy head of the Central Probation Office of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions, said that the number of persons in the probation system is almost twice higher than of detainees. The system now includes 148 juveniles, but their number varies during the year. Recidivism has diminished. “In 2010, there were recorded 99 cases of repeated commission of crimes, while in 2011 – 87 cases. This shows that the persons started to follow a correct path owing to the assistance, supervision and measures taken to reintegrate these persons into society,” said Vladimir Popa. Leo Tigges, secretary general of the European Organization for Probation, of which the Probation Service of Moldova is a member, said that the probation service in Moldova develops quicker than in other states that he visited. This service plays an important role as it ensures a higher protection level for people. The secretary said that the probation service in the Netherlands has existed for over 200 years, but a lot of work was done to obtain the current system. “Moldova can learn from our mistakes and avoid them,” stated Leo Tigges. Victor Zaharia, director of the Penal Reform Institute, said that the most important result achieved during the last few years is the decrease in the number of detainees from over 10,000 to about 6,000. According to him, the social inclusion costs are much lower than the costs of keeping a prisoner in jail. The convicts in the probation system can work, pay taxes and continue to take care of the family. The event was organized within the project “Strengthening the capacity to implement alternatives to detention in Moldova” that is implemented by the Penal Reform Institute with financial support from OSI and NORLAM. The probation service in Moldova was established in 2002, when the first probation models were created in three districts of the country with the UNICEF’s support. This service was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and the NGOs working in the field. In 2005, the Government pledged to found the probation service at the Ministry of Justice and 42 probation offices were opened all over the country in 2007. The legislation on probation was improved in 2008 by adopting the Law on Probation.