#Astana - EU provides 261 computers and printer-scanners to improve probation services

The purchase of equipment for ensuring and maintaining the results of the project is an important feature of the EUCJ project. This long process began as soon as the Committee of the Penitentiary System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s need for appropriate equipment was determined, so that it could best meet the long-term goals of improving the penitentiary system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. At the early stage of the project, all stakeholders were invited to contribute to the discussion of this issue. The results of consultations, negotiations and decisions were reported at the meetings of the Steering Committee. The purchase of equipment was carried out in strict accordance with the rules of the EU procurement and the financial regulations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“In the UK, where I am from, probation service has existed for more than 200 years.  Today, it occupies one of the most important places in the entire criminal justice system. It starts to work from the moment a person enters the orbit of criminal justice proceedings and ends after the social rehabilitation of a person in society. From day one, the EUCJ project has provided expert and technical assistance to the Committee of the Penitentiary System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan on improving probation service. In December 2016, the Law "On probation" was signed. Equipment was purchased for probation service to not only improve the material and technical base, but to also ensure that probation inspectors can work more effectively with the help of new technology for the benefit of the entire society of Kazakhstan," noted the Strategic Project Leader of the EUCJ project Bill Mather.

Also within its framework, the EUCJ project purchased equipment for the future Center for training probation specialists under the Kostanay Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan named after Sh. Kabylbaev and the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The project "Enhancing Criminal Justice in Kazakhstan" (EUCJ), funded by the European Union, is part of the "Support to Judicial Reform in the Republic of Kazakhstan" program. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Northern Ireland Cooperation Organization (NI-CO) in partnership with the UK Ministry of Justice, the Dutch Probation Service and the National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution of Poland.