Implementing an Integrated Sentence Management Approach in Albanian Prisons: A Case Study of Drenova Penitentiary Institution (Published)
This paper examines the implementation of an integrated sentence management system at Drenova Prison in Albania, following a 2023 Council of Europe assessment that recommended moving away from security-only models toward a risk-based, behavior-driven framework. The study draws on document analysis of DPB Order No. 109, interviews with security, psychosocial, and legal staff, and data from a pilot classification of 71 prisoners. Results showed 59 prisoners assigned to basic level, six to standard, and six to extended. While the prison has foundational strengths, i.e. legal infrastructure and skilled psychosocial staff, significant weaknesses persist: untrained officers, rehabilitation programs lacking success indicators, and no professional supervision for psychosocial teams. The paper offers a ten-step action plan including differentiated privileges, formalized personal officer and case manager roles, and an appeal mechanism. This case study provides a replicable framework for other Albanian prisons such as Fier, Peqin, and Rec/Shkodër.
Keywords: Albania, Drenova Prison, Prison reform, integrated sentence management, internal classification