Probation Support Program in Armenia

FUNDER: U.S. State Department, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

In Sept. 2016, based on the infrastructure, technical and human resources of its former Alternative Sanctions Unit (ASU) operating under the Criminal Executive Department of the RA Ministry of Justice, Armenia launched a new State Probation Service (SPS). The transition from the ASU with its punitive mentality to SPS as a more humanistic and restorative justice model is full of challenges, since the new service critically suffers serious lack of essential resources, plus, its staff is in need of in-depth professional development and exposure to the experiences and practices of their counterpart international probation services. 

Thus, the 1-year Armenia Probation Support Program (Armenia PSPS) funded by the U.S. State Department, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and implemented by PH International with input from a group of experienced local and international experts and in cooperation with key stakeholders (RA Ministry of Justice, RA State Probation Service, “CLERP” Center for legal Education and Restorative Programs SNPO) and other relevant actors, pursues the following 2 key objectives:

• To strengthen the State Probation Service of Armenia through the provision of technical, managerial, human rights and ethics training of its probation officers and staff, thereby increasing the organization’s ability to ensure public safety, prevent reoffending, protect human rights, and reduce the burden on penal institutions.
• To ensure that the State Probation Service of Armenia will develop human-rights focused practices and will invest in the sustainability and professionalism of its staff and services.

The program is to deliver the following key activities and results:

• Creation of 2 professional development manuals, one for the Managerial/Administrative staff of the Probation Service, and the other for the Probation Officers,
• Creation of Methodology Guides for the 2 abovementioned manuals for Trained Trainers
• Preparation of a pool of trained trainers for SPS, equipped with proper knowledge, skills and attitude to train the current SPS staff during this project and serve as trainers for upcoming SPS staff in the future