The Pompidou Group conducted a feasibility study on establishing therapeutic communities (TCs) for treating drug dependence in Georgian penitentiary facilities, with two international experts and a national consultant assessing their potential integration into the prison system. Introducing this approach in selected penitentiary facilities is expected to contribute to more sustainable rehabilitation programmes with reduced rates of relapse into dependence and reoffending, the development of a comprehensive drug treatment system and supporting Georgia’s criminal justice reform efforts related to preventing and treating substance use disorders.

The experts held discussions with the Special Penitentiary Service, where Georgian counterparts presented an overview of the country’s rehabilitation framework, outlining the structural organisation, operational modalities, and current rehabilitation programmes in prison settings. Recognising rehabilitative potential of the therapeutic communities, Georgian authorities expressed their readiness and institutional commitment to initiate the implementation of TCs by piloting the first programme in Rustavi Women’s Penitentiary Establishment No. 5.

During the two-day mission, TC experts shared insights from Romania and the UK, detailing the legal framework, internal regulations, and operational modalities of TCs in these countries. The mission also included an on-site visit to the mentioned Rustavi Establishment, where experts assessed indoor and outdoor facilities for establishing a residential TC.

Following the assessment, a comprehensive report including detailed recommendations will be presented to the Georgian penitentiary service. This mission, conducted on 1-2 April 2025, represented a follow up action to the previously launched co-operation to establish TCs in Georgia and further align prison settings with Council of Europe standards.

The initiative is part of the project “Strengthening the Role of Key Actors in Drug Prevention” which is implemented within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024–2027 and runs until the end of June 2026.