The training of correctional officers who work with adjudicated children remains a sideline of efforts to specialize the correctional system in this direction. This gap, coupled with an antiquated delinquency system and poor coordination with the social welfare system, leaves youth in conflict with the law with limited opportunities to turn their lives around.
On March 14, 2025, the Center for the Study of Democracy introduced a new training program for corrections professionals working with children. It aims to increase the knowledge and skills of prison and probation staff by providing them with effective approaches to working with juveniles in conflict with the law. The event brought together representatives of institutions, experts and NGOs involved in juvenile justice to discuss the importance of professional development in this sensitive sector.
The event was opened by Dimitar Markov, Director of the CSD Law Program, who highlighted the CSD's long-term cooperation with the General Directorate for Execution of Punishments in supporting various aspects of the rehabilitation of defendants and convicts. Maria Doichinova, analyst at CSD’s Law Program, presented the content of the new training programme, emphasising the wide range of knowledge it covers - areas of law, medicine, psychology, social work and information technology. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iva Pushkarova, Lecturer in Criminal Law at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", MOI Academy and the National Institute of Justice emphasised the importance of professional training especially in the context of working with children. Lyubomir Krylchev, coordinator of the Child Protection, Child Abuse and Access to Justice Programme, UNICEF Bulgaria, emphasised that children from poor families, adolescent boys to a greater extent than girls, children with disabilities and children from ethnic minorities are the most vulnerable to falling into the system. Georgi Elenkov, Director of Policies for Children at the National Network for Children, outlined the problems in the system that have been waiting for a solution for years - reforming the system for combating juvenile delinquency, introducing a much broader catalogue of restorative practices, effective institutional and resource support for children, parents and communities at risk.
The panelists discussed a number of specific cases, such as those involving domestic violence or disability, that would require more in-depth consideration and outlined the need for such training to be expanded to include youth up to age 25 because of the trends of this age group committing more crimes.
