NCJ Number
136591
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The development of the criminal justice system of Albania is similar to that of other European socialist countries and is based on the system in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Abstract
At the time of the establishment of the People's Republic of Albania in 1946, the 1929 Penal Code of the former Kingdom of Albania was in effect. Between 1945 and 1952, separate enactments on penal law and criminal procedure were adopted to meet the immediate need for reform. A completely new penal code was adopted in 1952, and the penal code was reformed in 1977 and amended since then. A totally new penal code, reflecting the extensive changes in the constitution at the end of 1990 and the beginning of 1991, shall be submitted to the People's Assembly in June 1991. The most significant of these changes was the establishment of pluralist democracy. The police are organized into 26 district police forces with training at a 2-year academy for non-commissioned officers and a 4-year academy for officers. The three levels of courts include the district courts, the territorial (zonal) courts, and the Supreme Court. Punishment includes imprisonment, re-education, and fines. Legal and criminological training for criminal justice professionals take place at the University of Tirana, Albania's only university.