’’Ministry of Justice and the The Administration for the Enforcement of Penal Sanctions fullfilled their task and promise, which was to open 25 Offices for the alternative sanctions in all cities in Serbia that have a Superior court’’, said Minister of Justice Nikola Selaković after the last, 25th Office was opened in Novi Pazar today.
Selaković reminded that in July 2012, at the beginning of his mandate, there was only 6 Offices opened, and that they opened 19 more Offices in less then 2 years. He also added that in April 2013, after the forming of the new Government of Republic of Serbia, in cities which had their Offices there was an 80 precent reduction of prison sentences up to 3 months, 62 precent reduction for the sentences up to 6 months, and 40 precent reduction for the sentences served up to one year.
’’We have great benefits out of alternative sanctions system, mainly in budget savings, but also the progress of resocialization for those who were sentenced to prison, and we also have a reduction of prison custodies’’, said Selaković. He added that the ones who are sentenced to socialy usefull work or work in the public interest contribute more to the community they live in. ,, Opening of all 25 Offices for the alternative sanctions is of great importance for the negotation about Chapter 23, and for fullfilling all goals outlined in the Action plan, especially for the section of Basic rights’’, said Selaković and added that this system will unload the prison capacities and will make prison treatment much better for the ones who serve their sentence in prison fascilities.
Except for Selaković, the opening was also attended by the Director of The Administration for the Enforcement of Penal Sanctions – Dr Milan Stevović, and by the Mayor of Novi Pazar – Mr Meho Mahmutović.