Penal Reform International - South Caucasus office is implementing a new regional project "Promoting the use of non-custodial sanctions in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia", financed by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF). The Goal of the project is to continue promoting the effective use of non-custodial and early release measures as a way of challenging the overuse of imprisonment and contributing to a decrease in the prison population in the South Caucasus countries as well as proportionate responses to crime. The project will support further increased use of community service as an alternative to imprisonment on one hand, as well as some alternatives and also for the application of parole as a mechanism for early release on the other.

About the contest:

The student competition is open to bachelor and master's degree students of the Law faculties in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The aim of the competition is to increase awareness of students on the benefits of the use of alternative sanctions and measures to imprisonment, to discover the major challenges of the criminal justice policy in their respective countries, to think of new approaches as to how to contribute to an increased application of community service and other alternatives. The contest also seeks to promote students professional interest towards the probation system.

Alternatives maintain some form of treatment element for offenders, such as educational development, alcohol and drug treatment, and job training, which can be rehabilitative and preventive in nature. The state saves the cost of housing an inmate. The offender is allowed to remain in the community and avoid a break in family and community ties.

source: jobs.ge