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