The Ministry of Justice held a meeting on the works done by the Probation Service in the first half of this year on the implementation of non-custodial sentences and the tasks ahead.
Opening the event, Vice-Minister of Justice Mr. Eldar Nuriyev noted the comprehensive progress of the country under the leadership of the President Mr. Ilham Aliyev, noting that measures are being taken to humanize judicial and legal reforms and penal policy.
The head of the Probation Service, Chief Probation Officer Akshin Ziyadov made a report at the meeting, noting that the restriction of liberty and the implementation of other alternative punishments were taken into account, and the use of electronic means of control using modern information and communication technologies was expanded.
In order to organize the work in the field of probation more effectively and strengthen control, Baku City Probation Department was established and started its work, as well as, within the framework of the measures on restoration of the activity of justice authorities in the liberated lands, that methodological assistance was provided in the effective organization of the executive and probation departments of Aghdam and Fizuli districts under the jurisdiction of the Karabakh Regional Department of Justice.
It was stated that in the first half of 2021, more than 4,600 people were registered for probation, including 2,100 for restriction of liberty, more than 450 for deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle, 425 for fines, about 500 for correctional and public works, as well as other convicts. During the reporting period, more than 660,000 manat was paid to the state budget for the implementation of fines and correctional works.
More than 3,300 convicts were deregistered from probation this year due to the expiration of their sentences, and more than 300 convicts were sentenced to more severe sentences for evading execution and violating the rules of punishment revealed through electronic control, including more than half of the were punished by deprivation of liberty.
In addition, the use of electronic means of control over the execution of alternative sentences to imprisonment has been expanded, and in 2021, about 2,900 convicts, who were sentenced to the same sentences, including imprisonment, were applied electronic wristbands and 1,070 convicts were taken off wristbands for completing punishment period and on other legal grounds. At present, about 4,000 prisoners carry electronic wristbands and are subject to non-return probation.
In addition, about 380 persons, who were applied punishment and administrative sanctions in the form of public works, were taken into probation registration. In connection with the execution of such punishments and administrative penalties, these individuals are involved in more than 76,000 hours of work related to the improvement and cleaning of cities and districts, streets, parks and squares, roads, transportation of household waste, repair and construction, as well as assistance to agricultural enterprises.
In order to strengthen control in this area by the Ministry, to prevent the formal execution of the sentence, an electronic control device has been developed and effectively implemented together with specialists. Thus, this innovation is activated by fingerprint when the convict enters the area where he is to perform public works, and the area and time of his work are automatically recorded in the Monitoring Center of the Service. It also prevents evasion of punishment.
In addition to the works done, shortcomings and defects were noted at the meeting, officials of the Probation Service and heads of local agencies were heard on the existing problems. It was instructed to pay more attention to the execution of punishments as an alternative to deprivation of liberty, including correctional works and fines, to prevent convicts from evading punishment, and to increase the effectiveness of correctional and educational work with them.
Summing up the meeting, the Vice-Minister gave specific instructions to improve the work of the service in accordance with the requirements of the President, to strengthen control over the activities of subordinate agencies, to increase the professionalism of probation officers, to increase citizen satisfaction. He stressed the importance of adhering to the rules of ethical conduct and the inadmissibility of corruption.
The information of the Press Service of the Ministry of Justice
