12.07.2015 Views

Probation and Probation Services - CEP, the European Organisation ...

Probation and Probation Services - CEP, the European Organisation ...

Probation and Probation Services - CEP, the European Organisation ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Probation</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Probation</strong> <strong>Services</strong>Professor Anton van KalmthoutTALINN SEPTEMBER 2007


COMPARISON OF PROBATION ANDEUROPEAN PROBATION SERVICES:What is probation?• History• Trends• Similarities• Differences• Core Tasks• New trends• Remarkable findings


WHAT IS PROBATION ?• Methods of punishment• <strong>Probation</strong> as system• Coherent set of interventionscombined with supervision <strong>and</strong>control


PRE-TRIAL PHASE• Early help• Mediation• Diversional measures• Prevention• Social enquiry reports


TRIAL/EXECUTION PHASE• Pre-sentence/advisory reports• Guidance <strong>and</strong> support• Community sanctions• Preparation for reintegration• Supervision <strong>and</strong> control• Social work in prisons


POST-/EXECUTION PHASE• After-care• Re-integration activities• Guidance <strong>and</strong> support (onvoluntary basis)• PreventionNB: Since 1-1-2007 swedish<strong>Probation</strong> Service initiates <strong>and</strong>co-ordinates all action plans tofur<strong>the</strong>r post-release adjustment in<strong>the</strong> community of those servingprison sentences


HISTORY• 19th century: focus changed fromcriminal act to criminal offender• Criminal law became moreindividualised, attention forrehabilitation• Voluntary work tradition, fromindividuals <strong>and</strong> (Christian)charitable organisations• 20th century: work of privateprobation organisations takenover by <strong>the</strong> state.• 20 th -21th century :professionalisation of probationwork.


CHARACTERISTICS -1-• Development of probation isinfluenced <strong>and</strong> embedded insociety’s general development• Diversity in EU countries due tolinguistic,social, cultural politicaldifferences• Position <strong>and</strong> activities ofprobation services are directreflection of developments incriminal justice


CHARACTERISTICS -2-Typology of Criminal Justice Systems• Welfare Model• Justice Model• Minimum intervention model• Restorative justice model• Neo-correctionalist model


TRENDS• Rise, decline <strong>and</strong> revival ofvolunteer work (Scotl<strong>and</strong>, Malta,<strong>and</strong> development of professionalwork• From providing assistance tosupervision of offenders• Shift from private to public(financed) probation organisations• Introduction <strong>and</strong> increasingimportance of alternative sentenceslike community service, electronicmonitoring, mediation• Local communities become moreimportant (Sweden, Irel<strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong>Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s, Scotl<strong>and</strong>)


TRENDS (continued)• <strong>Probation</strong> services activities haveincreasingly shifted from inside(penal institutions) to outside(community)• Shift from simple sanction system(imprisonment, fine) to acomprehensive sanction systemwith alternatives for non-custodialsentences.• Increased workload• Risk assessment/Safe society/Crime control


CORE TASKS -1-• Providing information• Helping <strong>and</strong> providing assistance• Diverting• Preventing recidivism• Contributing to a safe society• Enforcing community sanctions


CORE TASKS (2)• Supporting detainees• Supervision <strong>and</strong> monitoring• Involving o<strong>the</strong>r partners in probationactivities• Assistance of offender’s families• <strong>Organisation</strong>/implementation ofCSM’s


SIMILARITIES -1-• Tasks <strong>and</strong> activites do not differ inessence!• Most mission statements include:Public protectionRisk assessmentEffective enforcement ofsentences<strong>Organisation</strong>, preparation,enforcement <strong>and</strong> implementationof sanctions (includingsupervision)


SIMILARITIES -2-• Traditionally focus on offenders• Centrally organised, controlled <strong>and</strong>financed by central government(ministry of justice)• Increasing interest in victims ofcrime


New trends• Partnership of local communities(Finl<strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong> Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s, Scotl<strong>and</strong>)• Role of volunteers(Finl<strong>and</strong>,Croatia,Latvia)• Evidence based programs(accreditation of programs,)• Audits,benchmarking, competition


DEVELOPMENTS IN CENTRAL ANDEASTERN COUNTRIES• Impressive progress in short time(new legislation <strong>and</strong> attitudes)• <strong>Probation</strong> services focus is onsupervision of offenders• Less aftercare nor crime prevention


DEVELOPMENTS IN EASTERN COUNTRIES(continued)• Limited use of alternatives (likecommunity sanctions) <strong>and</strong> victimoffendermediation support• Few activities in pre-trial <strong>and</strong> postsentencephase• However, slowly more towardsoffender’s inclusion rahter thanexclusion


HOW TO START WITH PROBATION?• Decentralised/Centralised?• All Tasks/Priorities in activities?• Partnerships (Police,courts, publicprosecutor, universities, political parties,local authorities, media)• Training <strong>and</strong> education of probationofficers• Supporters (EU, CoE, <strong>CEP</strong>, PRI, OSI,NGO’S)


Important Conditions• Motivation• Co-operation• Echange of experiences• Perseverance


Remarkable findings• Lack of research on client views• Lack of reserch on societal opinionon probation work• Lack of effect studies <strong>and</strong> on studieson probation in general• Not all countries have formulated aset of ethical st<strong>and</strong>ards like in e.g.Latvia, Sweden)

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!