OSCE Presence, General Directorate of Prisons strengthen Albanian officials’ capacities on special regime in high security prisons

From 12 to 16 June 2023, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the General Directorate of Prisons, organized a training seminar for 25 senior prison staff of the special regime in high security prisons, the Prisons Internal Oversight Service, and the General Directorate.

The special regime – introduced in Albania in 2020 based on the Italian 41-bis model – puts several restrictions on the offenders, which, if applied improperly, may lead to violations of human rights.

The training provided the participants with the concepts, tools and skills to manage the high-risk offenders in the special regime. It focused on the specialization of prison staff on both security aspect and the management of high-risk inmates in compliance with the international human rights standards.

“This very valuable training aims for the special regime to be functional in the effective prevention of organized crime networks within the prison system and to minimize the possibility of orchestrating criminal activities from behind bars. It is part of the efforts of the Ministry of Justice and the General Directorate of Prisons to fight organized crime and maintain public safety. We are thankful to the OSCE Presence for being one of the main supporters of the efforts to reform the prison system,” said Admir Abrija, General Director of Prisons.

Director of Prison Police Paulin Rajta and Head of the OSCE Presence’s Rule of Law and Human Rights Department Cailean Maclean also spoke at the event. Brigadier General Mauro D’Amico – a former director of the Italian Penitentiary Police’s Gruppo Operativo Mobile, with a vast experience on the 41-bis regime – provided substantial contribution to the training.

In parallel, on 15 June, the Presence and the General Directorate of Prisons also organized a consultative roundtable on the special regime and its challenges. The event saw the participation or about 30 judges, prosecutors and senior staff of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure, and representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office, State Informative Service, State Police, General Directorate of Prisons and others.

Earlier this month, the Presence finalized a training curriculum of the special regime prison staff, which will be incorporated in the professional training curriculum for prison staff delivered by the General Directorate of Prisons.

These activities build upon the Presence’s support to prison reform in Albania over the years and its active involvement in promoting the rights of people in detention. Most recently, in December 2022, the Presence organized a study visit for Albanian officials to the Italian special detention regime 41-bis facilities.

Apart from the special regime, the Presence has contributed to the achievements in the penitentiary system by offering legislative support to the legal package on the penitentiary system; working on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism in prisons and probation settings; and establishing a Master’s Programme in Criminology at Tirana University.

The OSCE Presence will continue to provide support to the penitentiary reform in Albania.