Married couple in Texas stole 300.000 dollars from children’s fund. Court assigned an interesting punishment along with imprisonment. According to it, the spouses has to wear a poster for 7 years saying “I’m a thief, I stole money from children’s fund” and walk around the town with it. Armenia’s Justice Minister doubts any judge will do the same in Armenia, but believes this had a much stronger deterring effect on people rather than imprisonment of people.
“Imprisonment is not an end objective. If there’s a way to reintegrate a person into society and prevent his further crimes, it should be preferred”, – says the minister.
In order that people tagged as “Ex-cons” have no issues finding job and their place in the society, the Justice ministry will establish a program of probation service. The service is envisaged in 2012-2016 program of the government.
Today EU advisory group and RA Ministry of Justice organized a seminar on probation service program. It will allow to release convicts from jail by keeping them under court control.
“Our criminal law has certain flaws. This is what deters judges from using alternative sentences,” – Tovmasyan says.
Mark Sron, head of European probation program, mentioned that alternative punishments used to be applied for only low risk crimes, while some countries today apply it to bigger crimes. Since imprisonment can encourage further criminal activity. He also introduced “electronic monitoring” device allowing to track the convict.
RA Security Council Secretary ArturBaghdasaryan mentioned that alternative punishment strategy is envisaged in 2012-2013 program of Armenia-Europe political collaboration plan.
“We will create and ad-hoc headed by deputy justice minister to develop the paper and submit to the Security Council”, – Baghdasaryan said.
European countries have different versions of probation programs. HrayrTovmasyansaid that everything will be done to select the right model of probation service for Armenia.

NuneHovsepyan