On April 21, 2017, the USA Judge visiting the European University, Mr. Mark Speiser held an official meeting with the Minister of Corrections of Georgia. The Minister Mr. Kakhi Kakhishvili introduced the amendments made in the penitentiary and probation system to the American judge. As the Minister noted the large-scale reforms were implemented in the penitentiary system after 2012 aiming to improve the protection of human rights for inmates as well as to maintain the regime conditions in prisons. Many legislative amendments have been introduced for this purpose.

Mr. Kakha Kakhishvili emphasized that the torture, inhuman and degrading treatment is no longer applied in penitentiary facilities as a method of management, death cases were significantly decreased, access to prison healthcare and services has also improved, including the programs for tuberculosis and Hepatitis C treatment. A particular online shop has been created for distribution of handcrafted works of inmates in penitentiary establishments, money earned from sold items are allocated directly to prisoners’ bank accounts.

The Judge Mr. Mark Speiser expressed his delight for the changes made in the Georgian penitentiary system. As he declared, Georgia was one of the progressive and fast developing countries and it would become a member of the European Union.

“I am delighted with your reforms. You have given inmates a hope that they will feel better and they will re-socialize and integrate easier back to the society. This meeting was an excellent opportunity to share experiences between Florida and Georgia. We also spoke about prisoners with mental disorders and discussed various methods of management” – said Mark Speiser.

Please note that Mr. Mark Speiser is visiting Georgia by the invitation of the European University. He delivered one-week training course in the USA Constitution for the students of the European University.