On 30 May, a round-table discussion on “Understanding Probation and Problems of Conditional Early Release in Armenia” took place in the scope of the “Step towards Just Armenia” sub-grant project implemented by the “Support to Probation” National Network in the framework of the EU funded “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project.

Deputy Minister of Justice Tigran Khachikyan, Head of the Probation Service Arsen Navasardyan, Director of Civil Society Institute NGO, Chairman of the Board of “Support to Probation” National Network Artak Kirakosyan, Director of the Network member “Social Justice” NGO, Arshak Gasparyan, and representatives of the civil society participated in the event.

Deputy Minister Tigran Khachikyan delivered a welcoming speech, highlighting the organization of discussions in such format and emphasized that this s an effective platform for inventorying problems in this area and outlining the landmarks for their solution. Referring to the existing problems in the field, the Deputy Minister pointed out the reassessment of the legal status of the Probation Service.

“The probation service is not merely a punishment body; consequently, the punishment performed by the Service should be accompanied by the introduction and application of social and psychological tools, as a result of which the beneficiary will be reintegrated into the society,” Tigran Khachikyan said, assuring that the Ministry of Justice will be consistent in ensuring the application of effective proposals during the discussion.

During the meeting Arsen Navasardyan, Head of the Probation Service, touched upon the issues of personnel training and development of its mechanisms, in addition Artak Kirakosyan and Arshak Gasparyan, respectively, presented the findings of the study “Perception Probation Service by probation beneficiaries” and the elaborated changes in the conditional release order.

Project Manager Artak Kirakosyan also presented the Network’s website, and the results of the monitoring carried out within the framework of the project. He noted that 117 respondents were interviewed and while answering the questions, they presented their opinion, viewpoint, perception of the probation service.

The recorded problems and conclusions were presented in details, after which the participants discussed the results.