Courts ignore electronic bracelet probations
09/04/2015 00:00
Opposition demonstrators clash with the police in the protest in front of Tirana municipality, foreign embassies condemn acts of violence 19/04 16:00
Not only prisoners, but judges too seem to not like the electronic
bracelet for giving sentences, despite the high number of house arrest
or other probation measures. Ignoring these sentences is a cost for the
Ministry of Justice and the Prison Directory.
The Probation Officers have been present at work for the past year, without any prisoner under surveillance. Ilir Qafa, Director General of the probation service, says that this option should be more present to courts and judges should be made aware about using it.
The electronic surveillance probation was first used in Albania in 2013, for lighter crimes that need convicts to be under surveillance. But only eight people have been sentenced through this method so far. After Tirana this mechanism spread through the country, in order to reduce prison population and avoid uncontrolled movements of people under house arrest.
On March 13th, the Ministry of Justice held a meeting for this issue, in which the Minister gave an appeal to all judges.
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