The project for the reintegration of offenders by means of work in the community in Romania has been running since 2007.Until the middle of 2011 it was financed by theCanton Zurich (lottery fund) and a private association for the development of probation services in Eastern Europe (VEBO). Romania became a member of the EU in 2007. Bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and Romania now continues in the form of the Swiss enlargement contribution.In 2008VEBO established the Foundation for the Promotion of Community Service (FPSC), which implements the project.
Prisons are reaching the limits of their capacity
Measures to modernise the system of justice and the prison system are urgently needed, not only in Romania. Throughout the world, many prisons have reached the limit of their capacity and can no longer perform their task of reintegrating offenders. As a result, prison costs are constantly increasing, recidivism is high and the overall security situation is deteriorating. The idea of promoting community service instead of imposing prison sentences aims to be a real alternative to imprisonment. This form of service is only available for offenders who would normally be sentenced short terms of imprisonment. In Switzerland for example the community service limit is a maximum of 180 days imprisonment.