Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Penitentiary Service Submits 2014 Performance Report
Chaired by Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, the Government discussed the Penitentiary Service-submitted report on key activities and priority tasks in 2014 in compliance with the Government’s Action Plan, as well as the Penitentiary Service’s estimated performance report. Reference was also made to the programs scheduled for this year.
Head of the Penitentiary Department of the Ministry of Justice Artur Osikyan advised that 2,767 convicts and 1113 arrested persons were kept in custody at 11 penitentiary institutions operational in Armenia.
To address the problem of overcrowding in prisons, the first section of Armavir prison, designed for 400 prisoners, was commissioned last November. By the end of 2015, the two-block section of the building will have been commissioned for 800 inmates to completely solve the problem of overcrowding of prisons. To address the infrastructural problems available in penitentiary institutions, efforts were made to improve the living conditions, as well as to complete maintenance and other activities for the smooth operation of the system.
Arthur Osikyan reported that specific work was carried out to introduce electronic systems. In particular, a system of electronic transmission was set up to reduce corruption risks and contacts between the convicted persons and jail staff. The possibility of importing prohibited things into correctional institutions will be minimized.
Within the framework of measures aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services for arrested and convicted persons, continued programs for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have been implemented.
In cooperation with the Yerevan Office of the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Justice will improve the material and technical base of the medical units of the prison service. At the same time, owing to an arrangement reached with the Ministry of Healthcare, the Humanitarian Assistance Center SNCO will provide free medicines on a quarterly basis.
Work s underway to reduce energy costs in prisons. The program will be implemented in collaboration with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Foundation of Armenia. Several cultural events have been held in all the prisons of Armenia.
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan noted the importance of continued reforms to reduce corruption risks, address the problem of overcrowding in prisons, improve inmates’ social and living conditions, ensure the proper quality of food and deal with other outstanding problems.
“Everything should be done to solve inmates’ problems, improve living conditions in prisons and reduce corruption risks. In this respect, I attach great importance to the introduction of the probation service. This reform will be the focus of our continued attention. I expect 2015 to be a year of achievements,” the Prime Minister said.
