MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROBATION SERVICE IN THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA (2021-2025)

The probation service is a separate organizational unit established within the Directorate for Execution of Sanctions at the Ministry of Justice. The service supervises the execution of non-custodial sentences, more specifically, the alternative measures: probation with protective supervision, community service, and house arrest, as well as the execution of parole imposed by court decision. The probation service supervises convicted persons and offers them support. The goal is to maintain safety in the community by improving the resocialization and reintegration of persons on probation, as well as to reduce the prison population. Also, the probation service is responsible for preparing reports on the risk assessment of accused persons during court proceedings with a proposal for the type of criminal sanction for the accused. The probation service is an essential part of the modern criminal justice system and aims to contribute to reducing overcrowding in the prison system while delivering appropriate sentences to offenders, causing them to change their lifestyles.

In 2021, the Strategy for the Development of the Probation Service in RNM 2021-2025 (hereinafter: the Strategy) was prepared, which foresees a wide range of results to be achieved by several competent institutions. The strategy is a comprehensive strategic document that provides a roadmap for the reforms to be made in the coming period.

The purpose of this analysis is to examine in more detail the implementation of the Strategy and to establish and implement an independent monitoring system. Probation itself actually means the establishment of an efficient system of sanctions and protective mechanisms that contribute to reducing criminality, increasing the protection of society and public safety, as well as to the resocialization and reintegration of convicted persons.

In the period of 2021-2022, the implementation of the Strategy provides for the drafting and adoption of regulations (laws, legal amendments, and other acts), the implementation of specific activities (e.g. strengthening the human and technical capacities of the probation service, etc.) as well as inter-institutional cooperation in the field of probation (holding round tables with relevant institutions, quarterly meetings, etc.).

With the action plan of the Strategy for the Development of the Probation Service in the Republic of North Macedonia, the activities within the framework of each goal and result determined by the Strategy are determined, and a time frame and indicators for their fulfillment are additionally determined. In that direction, the goal of this analysis is to assess whether, to what extent, and in what way the implementation of the Strategy is taking place for the period for which it is foreseen. In addition, the analysis will evaluate whether the results and activities are implemented in a timely manner according to the time frame, what is their quality and dynamics, and the inter-institutional cooperation in the field of probation. On the other hand, the impact of the reforms on respect for human rights will be analyzed, so according to the results obtained from the monitoring of the

Strategy, the Analysis will also offer conclusions and recommendations for the further development of the probation service.

The observation, as an independent monitoring system, will contribute to greater accountability of the competent institutions responsible for implementing the specific activities determined in the Strategy.