“We improve the processes for the rehabilitation, re-integration and re-socialization of convicts in the prison system and the probation service”

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice, Ismail Shehu organized a working meeting with Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism Denion Meidani, accompanied by the Counter-Terrorism Advisor for Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Europe at the US Embassy in Tirana, Joseph R. Baldwin, OPDAT Legal Counsel at the US Embassy in Tirana, Bledar Bashanovic and William Sage, Senior Counsel, ICITAP, US Department of Justice.

The purpose of the meeting was the presentation of Mr. Baldwin, as the new Counter-Terrorism Advisor for Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Europe at the US Embassy in Tirana, as well as the implementation of the rehabilitation and resocialization processes of Albanian citizens who suffer court decisions for criminal offenses of terrorism.

Mr. Shehu, thanked Mr. Meidani and Mr. Baldwin for the visit and the support that the CVE Center and the US Embassy in Tirana have given to the Ministry of Justice and expressed that cooperation in the joint fight against terrorism and violent extremism will be deepened and more in the future. Also, he expressed a special thanks for the support that the US Embassy in Tirana has given through ICITAP and the General Directorate of Prisons, the General Directorate of the Probation Service and the Internal Control Service of Prisons as well as the joint efforts against violent extremism and radicalism in these institutions.

Baldwin stated that this meeting comes within the framework of introductory meetings with all other security institutions, together with the CVE Center, as well as to ensure continuous support from the Office that he leads in this joint mission.

Director Meidani after thanking Mr. Shehu for the excellent cooperation between the Ministry of Justice, as well as its dependent institutions, informed that the CVE Center, in cooperation with partners, are working to standardize and improve the work processes of rehabilitation, re-integration and re-socialization for prison and probation system.