High Security and Special Regime in the Albanian Penitentiary System

The Albanian penitentiary system underwent significant transformation in 2020, increasingly reflecting the implementation of a progressive treatment approach aligned with the social risk posed by the convicted individual and aimed at their re-education for the purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Through this paper, we aim to present an overview of the Albanian penitentiary system according to the provisions of Law No. 81/2020 "On the Rights and Treatment of Convicted Prisoners and Detainees," with a broad focus on the analysis of legal provisions regulating high-security penitentiary institutions and the implementation of the special regime in high-security institutions. This regime, similar to the 41 bis regime provided by Italian legislation, is closely linked to the penal policy pursued by the Albanian state in the context of combating and preventing organized crime. The adoption of this regime aims to maintain order and security by fundamentally preventing leaders and members of organized crime from having contact with their organization and other criminal organizations operating in Albanian territory, thereby inhibiting them from issuing orders from the penitentiary institution where they are held. Received: 21 July 2024 / Accepted: 24 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024