UNMIK/PR/846
Clint Williamson, Director of the Department of Justice, is pleased to announce that on 1 October 2002 the Penal Management Division (PMD) established a Conditional Release Commission in accordance with the applicable law of Kosovo.
Under the law, sentenced persons who have served one-half of their sentence are eligible to be considered for conditional release.
The Commission is headed by the Head of PMD, William Irwine. Its members include two international judges, three local judges, the Head of the PMD Legal Unit, the Head of Probation, two local Kosovo Albanian social workers, one international doctor, one local doctor, and three international prison directors.
Each Commission panel consists of five members who review:
- The performance of the sentenced person during imprisonment
- Reports from social workers, medical staff, and correctional officers
- Any statement made by the sentenced person
- Any additional relevant material
If granted conditional release, a sentenced person must sign a commitment not to engage in further criminal activity and must report to the police station nearest to their residence.
Should a conditionally released person commit a crime while on release, the conditional release may be revoked and the individual may be subject to additional criminal sanctions.
The Commission will give priority to the remaining cases of Kosovo Albanians returned to Kosovo from Serbia. It will also consider the cases of juveniles and adults from the general prison population based on their eligibility dates.
It is anticipated that the Commission will begin reviewing cases from mid-October onward and that the implementation of any decisions to release sentenced persons will begin in November 2002.
