Parliamentary Committee gives first green light to changes to Imprisonment Code

The Georgian Parliamentary Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee approved of proposed changes to the Imprisonment Code aimed at improving the lives of convicts at its first hearing today.

The legislative amendments initiated by the Georgian Ministry of Corrections aim at preparing convicts for re-socialisation.

The changes to the code touch on a variety of issues, such as: the introduction of home detention as a new type of imprisonment; the arrangement of special detention facilities for those with less than six-month detention; improving access to information; opportunities for bachelor level education; allowing female convicts with children above the age of three to spend their weekends at home until the child reaches the age of four, and others.

Introducing the proposed changes to the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee today, Minister Kakha Kakhishvili said "our goal is to make the penitentiary system oriented towards a person’s re-socialization instead of isolation”.

Minister Kakha Kakhishvili introduces the changes to the Imprisonment Code to the Parliamentary Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee. Photo by the Ministry of Corrections

Chairwoman of the Committee Sopio Kiladze believes this would be yet another step forward in improving the situation of the penitentiary system.

Representative of Public Defender’s Office Eka Popkhadze also approved of the legislative amendment, commenting that society has got used to "progressive changes” from the ministry "based on principles of fundamental human rights”.

Although opposition United National Movement (UNM) party members did not attend the discussion, UNM member Tina Bokuchava said she would personally approve of the proposed changes.

Initially approved of by the Government of Georgia, the Imprisonment Code will be further discussed at other committees before the final approval at the nearest plenary session, which is scheduled for March.