New Criminal Sentence Enforcement Law: A Reform Emphasizing Human Rights and Security

The new Criminal Sentence Enforcement Law, which will replace the Soviet-era code, will bring substantial changes to the work of the Prison Administration (IeVP) and the State Probation Service (VPD). The draft law aims to create a modern legal framework that complies with international human rights standards and promotes the rehabilitation of convicts while ensuring public safety.

IeVP calls the draft a fundamental and systemic reform that will transform the professional culture. It incorporates principles such as legality, individual assessment, and respect for victims' interests, serving as a methodological guide for staff. Special attention is given to limiting informal hierarchies among inmates – for the first time, separate placement and measures to reduce banned items are stipulated. The law also promotes loyalty to the Latvian state and language, introducing patriotic education activities.

VPD emphasizes that the draft is a logical continuation of recent reforms. It provides a clearer legal basis for probation work. Key innovations include the possibility to co-finance support measures for minors and young adults (18–25), an expanded list of obligations – such as registering in the Self-Excluded Persons Register and a ban on gambling. Community service conditions are eased: clients may now work fewer than 12 hours per week due to other sentence enforcement activities. A differentiated approach is introduced for foreign nationals and persons residing outside Latvia.

The draft law focuses on immediate implementation without additional funding. As stated by Kristīne Ķipēna from the Ministry of Justice, current resources are sufficient to enforce the new rules.