“In Ukraine there are 2 effective centers for juvenile probation in Melitopol and Ivano-Frankivsk. For example: in Melitopol over 90 juveniles, who had problems with the Law, have undergone this program. Only 1 of them has re-committed an offence”, - stated the First Deputy Minister of Justice.
She also mentioned that the Ministry of Justice is currently working with representatives of this project in order to launch similar centers in Zaporizhia and Lviv.
“We will be happy to continue cooperation with our partners in this direction. Because we believe that probation should apply not only to adults, but to all citizens, who have problems with the law. We hope that in the future we will implement the overall big project and juvenile justice will become one of its parts”, - emphasized Natalia Sevostyanova.
At the same time she stated that previously reforms in the probation sector have been performed solely due to the implementation of different projects. Thanks to powerful support and consolidation provided by public authorities to juvenile justice reform a state concept of such reform has been developed and approved. It is within the framework of this concept the Ministry of Justice with the support of partners has developed the Law of Ukraine “On probation”. On February 5, the Parliament supported this document, and starting from August 27 it will be in force.
“This is a serious step towards the establishment of an effective criminal justice system, including for juveniles, focused on alternatives to punishment and rehabilitation measures, involving children, family and society”, - stated the First Deputy Minister.
She is convinced that the introduction of a wide range of preventive and rehabilitation measures for children, who have conflict with the law, will bring Ukraine closer to an effective juvenile justice system.
Natalia Sevostyanova expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada for funding probation projects in Ukraine starting from 2003, as well as the “Ukraine juvenile justice reform project” for fruitful cooperation in creating a modern justice system that will protect children’s interests in conflict with the law.