YEREVAN. – The Government of Armenia has approved the concept of probation, and with the aim of expanding the non-incarceration types of criminal accountability.

The respective decision was adopted at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.

Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan stated that this concept is aimed at not just reducing the number of inmates, but cutting down recidivism and reintegrating the offenders into society. And if a logical need arises, alternative forms of punishment may also be applied.

As per Manukyan, the scope of probation may be very extensive.

An outcome of this reform will be the budget savings because, due to a reduction in the number of inmates, the expenses for holding them in prisons will be reduced.