The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has provided $340,000 worth of equipment to Albania's General Directorate of Prisons (GDPA). This donation aims to improve safety within correctional facilities for inmates, visitors, and officers, while also enhancing intelligence and information-sharing capabilities to combat terrorism and radicalization.
The equipment was presented by Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Kathryn Hammond and Assistant Director Stephen Fields from the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) to Director General Klevis Qose. The funding for this donation came from the U.S. State Department’s Bureaus of Counterterrorism and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
Since 2023, ICITAP has been working with the GDPA by providing various forms of support including equipment, training, advising, and mentoring. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of a Corrections Intelligence Unit (CIU), which enhances the GDPA's ability to address criminal activities and terrorism threats. It also facilitates better information sharing with Albania’s criminal justice system and supports efforts towards rehabilitation and reintegration.