Indicator: Newly elaborated and/or renovated programmes/training are appropriate to existing necessities and international standards                              

Increasing percentage indicator of retrained staff

Assessment:

In the reporting period, with the active support of the EU-funded Penitentiary and Probation Support Project (EU4Justice), the modern methodology of teaching was updated and implemented for psychologists and social workers of the penitentiary system; ToTs were also conducted (see objective 4.3.1). The study programmes include topics such as gender equality, communication with vulnerable offenders, etc.

Again, with the support of the EU4Justice, each officer of the probation system and regime officers (as well as members of multidisciplinary groups) of penitentiary establishments nos. 2, 5, 8, 16, and 17 were retrained on the updated methodology of risk and needs assessment.

Regrettably, the progress is hampered to a certain degree by the problem of the high staff turnover rate and in general, the lack of personnel working on psychosocial rehabilitation in the penitentiary system. In conditions of the adequate management of human resources and stability, updated study programmes and regular training sessions will be an effective means for achieving the sought outcomes. In this regard, it will be important to carry out effectively activity G2.2 – determined by the Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary and Crime Prevention Systems and Action Plan for 2019–2020 approved by the Minister of Justice of Georgia in 2019 – developing the strategy aimed at recruiting, maintaining and engaging/motivating of personnel.[1]

[1]      According to the Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary and Crime Prevention Systems and Action Plan for 2019–2020, by December 2019, a new system of recruiting employees must be already operational.