The Probation Service of Armenia's Ministry of Justice has launched two significant rehabilitation programs in 2024: one aimed at overcoming addictions and the other at reducing violent behavior. A preliminary needs assessment identified two major groups of beneficiaries—those struggling with drug and other addictions, and those convicted of violent crimes.

The courts did not deprive these individuals of their liberty, determining that they could serve their sentences in society under the supervision of the Probation Service. Some beneficiaries have also been conditionally released from penitentiary institutions after demonstrating positive behavioral changes. Following their release, the Resocialization and Rehabilitation Department of the Probation Service becomes responsible for supporting their reintegration.

 “Courts are placing increasing trust in the Probation Service. Their verdicts now often require beneficiaries to participate in resocialization programs, such as psychological training, educational courses, and other rehabilitation activities,” explains Sirarpi Mughdusyan, head of the Resocialization and Rehabilitation Department. “This is a mandatory condition. If beneficiaries fail to participate during their probation period, we are required to file a petition to revoke their probation and detain them again.”

Given that courts often mandate such requirements in their rulings, Armenia'sState Service has decided to create targeted programs to address them. The Council of Europe (CoE) has been approached with a proposal to introduce two resocialization programs specifically designed for these groups: one focused on overcoming addictions and the other on reducing violent behavior.

“Both programs are more psychologically oriented, aimed at transforming an individual’s inner world, attitudes, and value system, while fostering personal growth,” explains the head of the department. “They focus on aspects such as reducing aggression, identifying alternative solutions to violent behavior, and strengthening stress resilience.”
The Probation Service began developing the Violent Behavior Reduction Project at the beginning of 2024. CoE experts collaborated with probation officers to create a comprehensive manual, and ten officers were trained to deliver its modules to beneficiaries. A pilot program was conducted with two groups—one in Yerevan and another in Kotayk Province.

“The pilot implementation highlighted certain challenges, which were continuously discussed and resolved with CoE experts. The manual has now been finalized, and we expect to officially approve the ‘Reduction of Violent Behavior’ project by the end of this year, in order to implement it with the Probation Service’s beneficiaries” said Mughdusyan.

 Psychologist Hermine Gevorgyan, an employee of the Probation Service, works closely with beneficiaries struggling with violent behavior. “Most participants are men between the ages of forty and fifty. At first, they were tense and hesitant, but after two or three meetings, their attitude completely changed. A trusting environment was established, and they began to share their thoughts freely. Some participants even arrived twenty minutes early, eager to start the sessions,” says Gevorgyan.

To measure the program’s impact, beneficiaries complete questionnaires before the course begins and again midway through. “A comparison of the initial and midway responses already shows notable improvements. Their previously aggressive attitudes have softened, and they express themselves differently. We will conduct a final evaluation at the end of the course to clearly determine the progress they have made,” Gevorgyan adds.

The second program focuses on overcoming drug addictions—a growing issue worldwide, and one that Armenia has not escaped. Many beneficiaries under the Probation Service’s supervision have been convicted of drug-related offenses. Following the needs assessment, the CoE worked with the Probation Service to develop a specialized manual for this program. The next steps include training probation officers and piloting the program at the start of 2025.

Each rehabilitation program consists of ten to fourteen 14 sessions, after which participants receive a certificate confirming their completion of the course. “The ultimate goal of these programs is to prevent recidivism. If even two out of eight participants successfully avoid reoffending, that is a significant achievement—particularly when working with addictions, which are challenging to address globally,” says Mughdusyan.

Armenia's new Penal Code, which took effect in June 2022, prioritizes resocialization as a cornerstone of the justice system. It emphasizes training, employment, personalized rehabilitation plans, and the role of resocialization committees in helping beneficiaries reintegrate into society.

Inclusion in resocialization programs requires one of two conditions:

1. A court ruling mandating participation in rehabilitation programs.
2. An assessment of risks and criminogenic needs, such as education, health, professional skills, addiction recovery, and family or social environments.

The Resocialization and Rehabilitation Department develops supervision plans based on these assessments, ensuring tailored support for each beneficiary.

The Council of Europe also supported the development of a risk and needs assessment tool to guide rehabilitation efforts. However, initial implementation revealed limitations, as the tool often classified risks as “low” even when officers perceived them to be moderate or high.

After several years of evaluation, it was determined that the tool required revision. This year, the tool has been reworked and re-evaluated, followed by pilot testing, which yielded satisfactory results. Preparations are now underway to submit it for approval by the Minister of Justice. It is expected that by early 2025, a new and approved tool will be in place. According to experts, this revised tool is highly sensitive and effectively measures the level of risk.

Thus, psychologists from the State Service and probation officers report observing positive behavioral changes among beneficiaries participating in rehabilitation training courses under programs introduced by the Council of Europe. These programs, combined with the improved Risk and Needs Assessment (RNA) tool, are helping the Probation Service tailor interventions more effectively. Over time, as these behavioral changes become more evident, courts will be better positioned to reserve imprisonment for only the most extreme cases.