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In 2001, within the Institute for Penal Reform has been established a working group on alternatives to detention, which aimed to introduce into Moldovan legislation some analysis measures of the legal framework regulating the criminal penalties system and preventive measures. In 2003, it was formed a group of international experts to conduct a Mission Needs Assessment (MNE), which aimed to implement the re-socialization measures and reintegration of offenders from Moldova (Probation), including measures concerning the legal aspects, infrastructure aspects, social attitudes, obstacles and the expected impact. Following the recommendations of the evaluation mission, in August 2003, it was established a working group, tasked with drafting the legal framework for probation. In the same time, there were carried out some activities related to penitentiary probation, and was completed the law on probation, which represented a particularization of the regulations contained in the Execution Code. It was also been established the procedure and manner of development for presentence probation reports on juveniles.
The Institute for Penal Reform in partnership with UNICEF Moldova, in autumn 2003, started a project "Alternatives to detention for children in the penal justice system" aimed at promoting alternatives for children and especially the presentence and sentence probation for children in the penal justice system.
During 2003 – 2005, it was implemented the project “Reform of the penalties’ system and promotion of alternatives to detention” by IPR jointly with SOROS, which aimed to apply the alternative measures to detention: initiating and improving the enforcement system of existing alternatives by amending the legislation and the creation of a system for monitoring the implementation of alternatives.
In 2006, the IPR began, within the project "Promotion of alternatives to detention in the Republic Moldova", the implementation of the activities in respect of presentence probation and adults; social reintegration activities for persons conditionally sentenced to a probation term; activities aimed at uniform implementation and enforcement of the community service at national level; research and public information.
During June 2007 - March 2008, the project “Promotion of alternatives to detention in the Republic Moldova” was implemented by IPR jointly with SOROS. There were established activities concerning adult probation, increasing the number of counselors (by one position to Ungheni and Cahul), development of the “Staff Regulations of the probation counselor” Project, Instruction on Supervision of the probation period and the Training curriculum of the probation counselors.
In 2007 according to the Government Decision No. 44 of 12.01.2007, there were introduced amendments to the Regulation of the Ministry of Justice and the Enforcement Department, which stipulated the probation activity by the government bodies. Also according to this decision, the Enforcement Department of non-custodial sentences was reorganized into Probation Division with 125 staff members additionally allotted (Government Decision No. 44 of 12.01.2007). From that moment, in Moldova, the Probation Service was created within the Enforcement Department under the Ministry of Justice of Moldova.
On 14.02.2008, the Law on probation was adopted, which entered into force on 13.09.2008. The probation activity was exercised by the Enforcement Department. The Probation Division is a specialized structure, that through the probation sections of the enforcement offices, is implementing the non-custodial sentences and workes with persons released from criminal punishment. There were 42 probation sections within the enforcement offices (according to the administrative-territorial division of the country). The probation staff being the probation counselors with the status of civil servants (government employees). The total staff number of the probation sections - 169 employees and 9 people in the Probation Division (Government Decision No. 44 of 12.01.2007).
After four years, the Moldovan probation system undergoes to reorganization. Thus, according to the Government Decision No. 827 of 10 September 2010 is created the Central Probation Office within the Department of Penitentiary Institutions, with a staff plan stipulating 216 employees in the territorial subdivisions and 34 in the central office.
On 01.01.2013, according to the Government Decision No. 735 of 03.10.2012 (published in the Official Gazette on 12.10.2012, No. 212-215, art. 798) “on optimization of the structure, activity of the Ministry of Justice and subordinated administrative authorities", the Central Probation Office was transferred from the Department of Penitentiary Institutions to the Ministry of Justice. Due to the made amendments, there were reduced 7 staff units. Therefore, from that moment and until now, the staff of the Central Probation Office has 243 units. National wide, currently, there are 42 Probation Offices subordinated to the Central Probation Office. The probation staff consists of probation counselors with the civil servant status.