Penal Reform in a Society in Transition

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the former Soviet countries have become enmeshed in the processes of democratization, modernization, and overall institutional reform. New ideas about punishment that filled the voids left by the demise of the socialism and Marxist-Leninist ideology have been influenced by international human rights standards and international organizations. This book explicates the process of penal reform under these conditions in a post-Soviet country in transition - Armenia. It provides an overview of penal reform efforts in Armenia from 1991 to 2005. In particular, it focuses on the creation and development of a Public Monitoring Board, a prison and jail oversight committee composed of representatives from non-governmental groups. Overall, the book highlights the pivotal role of a number of international organizations in mandating and assisting the Armenian government in transforming the penal system in accord with international human rights standards. This book should be especially useful to all those concerned with prison systems in societies in transition, or anyone else interested in Armenia during its first fifteen years of independence.