Intercultural exchange between Judicial Systems of United States and Republic of Moldova, focusing on the Prison System and

the Probation Office

Chisinau, Republic of Moldova August 26 September 9, 2012 Ion Unciuc and Alexei Lazari LFP Fellows
US Participants: - Elena Dragalin, Founder and Chairperson, Moldova AID - Jeffrey Noble, LOCI, Deputy Warden - Jeff Hunsaker, Executive Director, Horizon Community Engagement Corporation.

Legislative Fellows Program (LFP) Outbound Project Report

Supported by American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, with funds provided by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State

Table of Contents Introduction ......................................................................... 3 Preparation............................................................................ 3 Meetings and Experience Sharing ....................................... 4 Project-Main Results.......................................................... 4

Introduction The Outbound Project main idea was to make an Intercultural exchange between Judicial Systems in the US and R of Moldova, focusing on the Prison System and the Probation Office. Thate means minimum several stepts: - Familiarize our guests from USA (Elena Dragalin, Jeffrey Noble and Jeff Hunsaker) with Moldavian justice system (Probation, Prison System, Judicial System, Attorney, High Education in the field of Justice). - Make connection between Moldavian Justice System and Ohio & North Carolina Justice System. - Familiarize guests with our political, social and cultural life, to share our culture, history and tradition. - To make in the end some follow up activity for future collaboration between the Moldavian justice System and Ohio & North Carolina. From the beginning we create this project as a viable continuity of the Legal Fellows Program, to share the gained experience together with American professionals in the Moldavian justice sector. Also, the experience that our guests gained during the project could be useful for their professional activity within American justice system, like an alternative to the methods and practices that they use, and finally, to make possible a future cooperation between our justice system and the American one from Ohio and North Carolina. Preparation The projects main part of implementation was planned for 14 days during August 26 - September 9, 2012, but actually it started to be implemented from the beginning of July 2012, in order to prepare the target groups and the stakeholders in the field to raise the awareness about the projects issues: thus, we sent officials letters to all Associations, Universitys, State Departments and Ministry that we plan to visit during the Outbound Project. In the beginning of August Relevant Basic Legislative Background and general Information (about the country, political, social and cultural life, weather in that period, currency etc.) was sent to the US participants.

Meetings and Experience Sharing with Interested Parties The US participants arrived on August 26, in the evening but the first day for implementation of the project started on August 28, because on August 27, we celebrate Independence Day. During that day our guests had the opportunity to familiarize with our traditions and culture, history and life style. Also we made a city tour, and showed our most important buildings and architectural places from the city. On August 28, we had a meeting with the Director of the Penitentiary System from Republic of Moldova, Mr. Veaceslav Ceban. During the (Meeting with Mr. Cheban Veaceslav) discussion the Moldavian officials made a presentation of Moldavian penitentiary System, spoke about the systems history and the reforms that were done from the beginning of independence of our country. At the end of the discussion, the Director invited the guests to meet him at the end of the Outbound Project to discuss what they found interesting and to share the impression about our prison system, what is positive for them, what practice they found innovative for American system. On August 29, American guests visited two prisons (pretrial Prison from Chisinau and Prison for women, located in Rusca Village). During that day the American Professionals in the field of Justice had the opportunity to see a prison from soviet time (Pretrial Prison), and a new one (prison for women). In that day they familiarized with ( Jeffrey noble with psychological unit stuff)

the Moldavian prisons from inside, they saw the structure of the prison, buildings, types of regime, methodology that the prison stuff use to work with inmates. Also they have the possibility to meet the wardens of the prisons and to discuss the similarity and differences between systems, what kind of problems the Moldavian wardens daily have to face with, what are the main problems and what the chief of the prison intends to improve in the near future. In womens Prison, the guests were familiarized with different methodologies that prison stuff uses for women inmates, which one differs from a male prison. On August 30, we visited Maximum Security Prison and Prison for youth inmates (16-21 years old) that are situated in the north part of the country. That visit was important for the guests because they had the opportunity to familiarize with the working principle in those two types of prison (youth prison and maximum security prison where are sentenced inmates for life terms and the most dangerous inmates from the country). The meetings with the wardens were interesting and helpful for both parts. They discussed about the similarity and differences between the same types of prison in two countries, about the civil society attitude towards preventing and reconciliation process for inmates, and gave advices on different topics. Also the American guests had the opportunity to speak with the inmates and to see and understand what they are doing daily. In the end, the inmates gave handmade gifts to guests.

(Maximum Security Prison stuff)

On September 3, we organized a theoretical and practical seminar for Central Department of Prison Institutions stuff, Jeffrey Noble and Jeff Hunsaker made a presentation about Ohio Prison System, they spoke about the structure, methodology and working principles in an American Prison System in general and Ohio Prison System particularly. During the training, the both parts put questions about different working situations that they meet from time to time and how to interact with them. In the same day, we visited the American Resource Center (ARC) where we met with the people from the USA Embassy in Moldova and from the ARC. Here we discussed about the programs, grants and projects that USA sponsored in Moldova, about the foreign policy of USA on Moldovas issue. With the representatives from the Center, the American guests were familiarized about its activitys in Moldova, programs and projects they support here.
(Visiting American Resource Center)

On September 4, we had a meeting with the Chief and stuff of Central Probation Office from Republic of Moldova. During the meeting, the both parts made a presentation on Probation Service from their country, describing the structure, the principle and methodologhy of working with people that are in probation. Also another interesting topic (Visiting the Central Probation Office)

was the electronical supervising of the people in USA, because in Moldova this is a new technology that needs to be implemented in the near future. The oficials from the Probation Office from Moldova enjoyed the meeting, because it was really important for them, to see the american type of Probation. In the end of the visit the both parts understood that should be a continuity of the Outbound Project, thus some Moldavian Probation Offices stuff can go to USA to study and take the Amercan experience on criminal justice. On September 5, we had planned to visit the American Councils in R. of Moldova. We have had a wonderful meeting with David Jesse, Country Director, Dr. Daniela Munca-Aftenev, Executive Director and other members from the organisation. During the visit, David Jassee and Daniela Munca, told us about the American Councils structure, programs that they managed and projects they are working on. Also, we made a tour of the building and the coordinator of the prgram made us presentation about the program he is responsible for. (Visiting the American Councils from Moldova) In the same day, we had an appointment with the Ministry of Justice of Republic of Moldova, Oleg Efrim, meeting that was organized with the help of Sabina Cerbu (LFP participant Autumn 2012). The Moldavian officials, made a presentation of the justice system in general and spoke about the present and future reforms that he intends (Meeting with the O.Efrim, ministry of justice RM)

to make in next years. Then the Amerian guests shared the impresions and experience they gained during the visit in Moldova. In the end both parts realized that LFP program is something really important for Moldavian young legislative professionals and a continuity of that program will give to the system a great opportunity for next chalanges and reforms. On September 6, Elena Dragalin, organized a seminar for the students from the Moldova State University, Faculty of Law. On the seminar, Jeff Hunsaker and Jeffrey Noble made a presentation about American Justice System and spoke about the role of civil society in a modern and democratic country like USA. The students were very focused on the presentation and in the end they put lots of questions to the American professionals.

(Jeffs speaking to students, Moldova State University)

On September 7, we had a final meeting with the Director of the Department of Penitentiary Institutions from Republic of Moldova, Veaceslav Ceban. It was a resume meeting where the both parts discussed about the impressions and experiences that they gained during the Outbound Project. Also they discussed about the necessity of continuing the work in the field of cooperation between our two countries in the justice system area, especially now, when Moldova needs a reform in that sector. In the end, the America guests invited our Director to visit Ohio justice system (visit that is planed for the may 2012). In the second part of the day, we organized a meeting for American experts with the civil society in order to familiarize them with

Moldavian NGOs that are working in the field of criminal justice. Thus, we visited New Life NGO, a faith based organization that has the aim to help people that were jailed and the people that are in probation period. During the meeting, the organization made a presentation about the project they are working in, and project that they succeeded in past years. After that, Jeff Hunsaker made a presentation about his organization and the role of civil society in USA and the NGOs cooperation with public administration. It was an interesting discussion between both parts, they shared their experience in the same area, so everybody could learn from other part. In the end of the meeting, they understood that its possible to make a common project in Moldova in the next future ( Meeting with New Life NGO) on criminal justice. On September 8, we visited the National Oncological Hospital for Children. The American guests organized a special event for the children by giving them gifts and presents. The children were so happy to meet the American guests. They took a tour of the Hospital and spoke with the administration of the Hospital. The event was organized by Elena Dragalin and Moldova Aid Organisation. (Visiting the Oncological Hospital for Children)

Project-Main Results 1. We familiarized US visitors with judicial system of the Republic of Moldova and identified opportunities for cooperation and exchange programs between our two countries correctional systems (established a bridge of cooperation between North Carolina and Ohio Department of Justice and Department of Penitentiary Institutions of RM). 2. Promoted the best practices of the US and initiated Moldavian Correctional Systems stuff into the US judicial system 3. Organized seminars for Department of Correction and Probation employees and for the students from State University, on the topic of criminal justice and role of civil society in USA. 4. Organized a tour to several prisons from Moldova for a better understanding of Judicial System for American guests. 5. Shared the role of NGOs activity in relations with correctional system in USA and saw the differences of the same approach in Republic of Moldova. We pointed out how NGOs can help correctional institutions to implement social programs inside prisons and the role of NGOs in penitentiary institutions. 6. Familiarized US guests with Moldavian national culture and traditions. Sharing Cultural Life, History and Traditions During the Outbound Project, our American guests had the opportunity to see, learn and enjoy our culture, traditions, nature and life style. Thus we organized for them different excursions and tours through Museums, Memorials, Monasteries, Ancient Historical Places, Country Music Concerts and Moldavian Traditional Restaurants and Winery. Below you will see the pictures from different events that we planned during our weekends and free time.