In accordance with the Decree of the President Ilham Aliyev dated February 10, 2017 on humanization of penal policy, the Probation Service was established in the Ministry of Justice for the effective execution of alternative punishments to imprisonment and the use of electronic means of control (electron bangles) was established. For this purpose, the Probation Service has a Monitoring Center equipped with modern equipment.
Today, the Probation Service carries out the execution of sentences in the form of fines, driving a vehicle, deprivation of the right to hold a certain position or engage in certain activities, public works, correctional works, restriction of liberty and carries out probation control over the persons, who were sentenced, as well as conditionally sentenced, paroled or those, whose sentence was suspended by a court, as well as committed a crime and imposed compulsory medical measures for the purpose of treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction (except for convicts serving sentences in penitentiaries), as well as committed an administrative offense involving administrative detention and who was appointed compulsory treatment for drug addiction and it makes prophylactics of new crimes which may be conducted by those persons.
Penitentiary reforms serve to protect people's right of liberty and for rehabilitation and social adaptation of convicts without isolating them from society.
As a result of the widespread use of alternative punishments to imprisonment in recent years, the number of persons registered with the Probation Service has exceeded 18,000 in the first five months of this year.
Of these, about 4,800 were persons deprived of their liberty, more than 6,000 were fined, corrected and sentenced to community service, 2,300 were paroled, 2,400 were given suspended sentences and 156 were suspended. The number of people sentenced to deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle is about 1,200, and the number of people sentenced to deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities is 406 people. Also, 654 people who have been subjected to administrative sanctions in the form of public works, and 354 people who have been subjected to compulsory medical measures for the treatment of alcoholism or drug addiction are under probation control.
During this period, more than 3,900 persons were deregistered due to the expiration of their sentences and on other legal grounds, with a view to the implementation of alternative punishments to imprisonment. The sentences of 206 of them who refused to serve their sentences were commuted by the courts to a heavier sentence, including the imprisonment of 82 people.
At the same time, practical works have been done for more effective application and monitoring the execution of punishment in the form of community service, including legislation was improved, more effective interaction was established with local executive authorities, and regular monitoring of prisoners was carried out during making public works. During 5 months of the current year, 262 people were provided with execution of punishment and administrative penalty in the form of public works, 50,675 hours of public works were performed in connection with the execution of this type of punishment and administrative penalty.
During the past period, 4,684 prisoners were provided with electronic means of control. Electronic bangles were removed from 1,536 prisoners due to the expiration of their sentences and on other grounds established by law. At present, 3,148 people wearing electronic bangles are serving their sentences and are being monitored by the Monitoring Center.
It should be noted that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the current pandemic, while realizing the duties on execution of sentences and probation control, in particular, the reception, registration of the prisoners, use of electronic means of control, their replacement or removal, the Probation Service carries out necessary works on necessary safety measures, strict observance of sanitary and hygienic rules, use of protective medical equipment (masks, gloves, antiseptics, etc.), maintenance of the distance in accordance with the decisions and recommendations of the World Health Organization, as well as the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers.
