This reform has been aimed at the development of a humanistic penal correction system to create a safe and secure society and ensure social healing.
Key Results
A pilot project Paid Wards in Pre-trial Detention Centres was implemented in 19 pre-trial detention centres in Ukraine offering a new service — payment for the use of a paid ward in advance (the service can be used within 6 months of the payment date). The project has already helped to raise over UAH 378,800 as payment for the use of such wards and to repair 3 regular wards in the Kyiv pre-trial detention centre.
27 penitentiary facilities have been closed down over the past 4 years and at least 8 more facilities are expected to be closed in the future.
A large infrastructure project has been developed for relocating pre-trial detention centres from the central areas of the cities to suburbs or outside the urban settings.
The Government has developed a draft law on private pre-trial detention centre cooperation with the private sector.
A pilot project has been introduced and the test operation of the Unified Register of Convicts and Detainees has been extended in the Kyiv pre-trial detention centre and subdivisions of State-owned Institution “Probation Centre” affiliates.
As part of the pilot project, the restorative justice programme for juveniles suspected of minor to medium offences for the first time has been introduced in 6 regions of Ukraine. Once implemented throughout Ukraine this project is expected to allow removing criminal liability from more than 1,500 children.
Measures have been taken to prevent the spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in pre-trial detention centres and penitentiary facilities by restricting any movement of detainees and convicts for the quarantine period and by reducing the number of persons held there. (The Government has approved and registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine the respective bill (registration No. 3396 of 27 April 2020).
Convicts have been given authorisation to use tablet computers so that they can exercise their right to correspond, submit online appeals and access socially significant information; this promotes the development and resocialisation of prisoners.
Video monitoring centres have been established at all interregional offices and each facility (to timely detect and prevent breach of internal rules by convicts and to improve the efficiency of the staff).
Probation programmes have been developed and put in place to work with adult and juvenile probation subjects.
Penitentiary probation has been introduced to provide support and assistance in addressing social and welfare issues to convicts who are preparing to be released, to improve their social rehabilitation and prevent recidivism.
Model probation offices have been opened in Kharkiv and Bila Tserkva.
Juvenile probation centres have been established for better protection of interests of children in conflict with the law.
Counselling offices have been opened in probation units to work with subjects who have HIV, tuberculosis or viral hepatitis C infection.
Why change anything?
The tools to motivate convicts to work, training and taking part in correctional and rehabilitation and other programmes are inefficient and there are not enough competent specialists to implement those programmes properly.
There is no mechanism for resocialising of former prisoners which could help reduce the risk of new crimes through welfare arrangements (socially useful contacts, housing, work, addiction treatment, etc.).
The conditions of detention, healthcare and logistic support of convicts and prisoners fail not meet current requirements and the European Prison Rules meaning poor rehabilitation of convicts.
What did the reform include?
Individualisation of the penal system and expanding of the list of alternatives to imprisonment
It was expected to reduce the number of persons sentenced to imprisonment, abolish restriction of liberty as a type of punishment to help save budget funds for imprisonment and ensure more efficient rehabilitation through the use of alternative punishments without isolating persons from society.
Launching effective tools for changing the behaviour, correction and resocialisation of persons in conflict with the law (labour, correctional and educational programs), and providing support and assistance to prisoners who are preparing for release
This goal will help reduce recidivism through the introduction of risk assessment, efficient correctional and rehabilitation programmes, and giving support and assistance in addressing social and welfare issues to prisoners who are preparing for release, and improving the interaction between penitentiary facilities, probation bodies and social work entities throughout such preparation.
Improving streamlined pre-trial investigations, criminal proceedings and jury administration in cases of particularly serious crimes...
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