Albania: More crime among minors
04/02/2014

The Head of the Probation Service, Ilir Qafa, insists that crime among minors is increasing an authorities must identify the causes that makes them go against the law.

“We need an accurate presentation of the situation and information about any person on probation, especially minors. It is indispensable to have policies for their treatment through a harmonized inter-institutional cooperation”, Qafa declared.

According to him, the quoted conclusion is even more current, as regards the statistics administered by the Probation Service during these four years. 109 minors have been under probation during 2009, a number that has turned 311 in 2013.

“There is a growing trend, and this is not good news. It shows the need to reinforce cooperation with non-profit organizations, in order to realize tangible projects for treating minors”, Qafa declared.

The Deputy Minister of Justice, Ilir Peci, spoke about an integration strategy for minors in probation.

“Let’s say no to minors in prisons. This slogan should be the motto of our work. Every study related to criminology, or the causes that lead to criminology, are focused on removing minors from prisons and detention cells, since putting them in prison is the best recipe for making them enter even further in the black world of crime”, Peci declared.

During this meeting was also discussed the agreement for a pilot project that aims teaching English to minors while they are under probation, lessons that will be given by the voluntary teacher, Elisabeth Gowing.