Strengthening
offenderrehabilitation
andreintegration
throughevidence-based
practice andcapacitybuilding
FV1.1• Public Lecture on Criminal Justice Policy• Friday 26th January 2024
• Steve Pitts• Ambassador – Confederation of European Probation1

• Introduction
1. The Evidence Base and PracticeLecture Focus“The strength ofcollaboration –local, national,
international andglobal”• England and Wales

2. European Context for Development of Practiceand Capacity• CEP• Council of Europe, European Union, Global incl. UN…

3. Building Capacity• European Experience• “What Works” in capacity building/transfer?
• Findings, Recommendations, Wider relevance…

• Questions and Discussion
2

Introduction – Collaboration,
Exchange, Capacity Building• “East-West – home is best!” (Or is it..?)• How relevant is European learning (or learning in any region) to a
global picture of• policy and practice development• transfer and capacity building• mature services, new and developing probation services,in relation to the global north-south, including theperspective of colonialism?

• To what extent are lessons on capacity building in probation
relevant to other professional fields of justice?
• Integrated roles, what makes a strong organisation?

• To state the obvious…
• International transfer and exchange are not new… and occur in multiple fields and directions…
3

A Japanese garden in…

4Tatton Park, England
1910…

Copied?
Emulated?
Inspired?
A combination..?
Questions based on Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D.
(2000)
Photographs – Tatton Park (websites)

Metaphor – the Ecological
Niche
Professor Rob Canton (2009) “Taking Probation Abroad*“the fate of a plant transplanted from one environment toanother will depend presumably upon vectors like - climate(does it get enough sun and rain? will the frosts kill it?) soil
(does the soil provide the required nutrients or contain toxic
substances?), competitors and predators (are there otherplants with which the newcomer must compete to survive? arethere insects that will prey upon it or diseases that may blightit?)
What are the counterparts for a penal practice?”“A new penal policy or practice will have to find – or moreprobably make – its place in the context of an existing system.
It will meet resistance and competition, perhaps simply
because it is unfamiliar but perhaps too because it disturbs
practices in which others have an interest. To take … theexampleof the pre-sentence report: …”*Canton, R. (2009), ‘Taking Probation Abroad’, European Journal of Probation, 1: 66–78,
available online at www.ejprob.ro6

From the world ofArt

7Based on: Article, Guardian online, UK, 17-01-2024
An example of potential future transfer?
Architect Shigeru Ban's toilet design,with outer walls that turn opaque when the doors are locked.
Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images.

8Moving closer to ourareas of responsibility..!
World Congress on Probation and Parole (incl. London and Tokyo)
Hogoshi System
1st World Congress on Community Volunteers - Kyoto
2nd World Congress on Community Volunteers - The Hague
Volunteers in Europe - the CoPPer Project
Yellow Ribbon Project – Singapore – Czech Republic…influences, similarities differences?
9

The 7th Yellow
Ribbon Run(2022)• Czech Yellow Ribbon Run – aimed atfighting prejudice against ex-offenders andraising public awareness about theimportance of inmates’ reintegration backinto society.
• “The 7th year of the Czech YRR dedicated to the often forgotten victims ofcrimes – offenders’ children.
• 700 hundred people including about 160
prison service staff, and 290 prisoners(virtual run within the prison walls).
• The organisers were honoured, that 20
colleagues from Singapore Prison Service –Singapore being a cradle for the YRR –participated in the virtual run!”• Adapted from, and more information
at https://yellowribbon.cz/.
10The Evidence Base andPractice – England and Wales• Main paradigms• RNR and Desistance• Practice examples• Women• Sex offenders• Briefly, further considerations –• Who Works? Structure11

Preliminary thought: Achieving aims and impact through effective practice requires a strong role and a strong organisation

A Strong RoleThe
BiggerPictureCon

Stronger
Probation/Community
Corrections

StrongOrganisations

12

The Evidence Base – 2 Main Paradigms

Risk, Needs andResponsivity(RNR)

Desistance13

Reconciling “Desistance” and “What Works”
Shadd Maruna and Ruth Mann*
Commonalities: Narrative of Hope
Divergences: Programmes vs. lives

An illustration … Reflecting on those who sustain a loss in weight …
“What social supports and structures do such individuals have in place?
How do their habitual patterns of thought change and differ fromweight regainers? What role does a change in the person’s identity or
sense of self play in the process, and how is this reinforced by thosearound the person?
*H.M. Inspectorate of Probation – Academic Insights 2019/1

Reconciling “Desistance” and “What Works” Shadd Maruna and Ruth Mann*“The strongest existing ‘what works’ research todate has established with reasonable replication theeffectiveness of programmes described ascognitive behavioural, targeted to individuals
with higher risk scores , that teach skills such as
emotional regulation and perspective taking.””…people are more likely to desist when
they have strong ties to family andcommunity, employment that fulfils
them, recognition of their worthfrom others, feelings of hope andself-efficacy, and a sense of
meaning and purpose in their lives.”“… ‘desistance focused’ practice, therefore, draws upon some or all of thefollowing in designing and delivering interventions:a) the findings of desistance research;b) the expertise of individuals who have themselves desisted from crime(‘wounded healers’, ‘credible messengers’, ‘experts by experience’);c) the strengths of those in the justice system (as opposed to correcting
deficits), for instance, through roles as peer mentors, artists, teachers orcommunity benefactors;d) the strengths of the families and wider communities of individuals in
the justice system (including employers, faith communities, andvictims/survivors and their advocates) (see e.g., McNeill, et al, 2012;
Porporino, 2010).”(Bold added)*H.M. Inspectorate of Probation – Academic Insights 2019/1

15

Risk, Needs andResponsivity(RNR)

The risk principle is about matching service intensity to
the likelihood of offending, with minimal or even nointervention being sufficient when the likelihood is low;

The need principle states that relevant criminogenic
needs should be the focus of targeted interventions,with the goal of moving these needs in the direction of
becoming strengths;
The responsivity principle specifies that interventions
should be tailored, among other things, to the child’s
strengths, motivations, preferences, personality, age,gender, ethnicity and cultural identifications.
Based on: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/research/the-evidence-base-youthoffending-services/general-models-and-principles/other-generic-models-and-principles/?highlight=trauma

Addressing
offendingrelated needs…

Infographic:
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.
uk/hmiprobation/research/theevidence-base-probation/models-andprinciples/the-rnr-model/
17Three stages of Desistance Primary – Behaviour –cessation of offending
Secondary – Identity –adoption of a non-offending identity
Tertiary - Belonging –Recognition by others that one has
Changed, and development of asense of belonging
Desistance is Complex!
Range of tasks and roles
A demanding profession!
Infographic:
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/
hmiprobation/research/the-evidencebase-probation/models-andprinciples/desistance/
18

Working with Women – Strategy and Policy
The Concordat on Women in or at risk of contact with the Criminal Justice System (December 2020)*(1) examines how government departments should work together nationally to identify and respond to theneeds of women - an agreed cross-Government commitment to support women and an action plan.
(2) improving outcomes at a local level, including through establishing a whole system approach torespond more collaboratively and effectively to the multiple and complex needs of women.
(3) A commitment to publish a data tool to enable local areas to better understand the needs of thewomen in their area - to respond more closely to local needs and to track the outcomes and success ofwork locally.
Female Offender Strategy - Delivery Plan 2022–25 (Ministry of Justice, January 2023)*
Commitments – Four key priorities
1.
2.
3.
4.

Fewer women entering the criminal justice system and reoffending
Fewer women serving short custodial sentences with a greater proportion managed successfully in the community
Better outcomes for women in custodyProtecting the public through better outcomes for women on release*Extracted from and based on: Ministry of Justice Website, www.gov.uk (Bold added)19• In 2019, 50% of women sentenced to immediate custody received a sentence of
three month or less. In the words of the Government’s Female Offender strategy…

Working with
Women –
Strategy and
Policy• “short sentences offer limited public protection… and fail to offer time formeaningful rehabilitative activity… (and) can aggravate vulnerabilities and raise therisk of reoffending.
• Can cause huge disruption to the lives of offenders and their families, causing crises
in employment, housing and contact with dependents….”• “… women can experience particular harms in prison. The smaller number ofwomen’s prisons means that women are held further away from their families thanmen and experience fewer visits – associated with higher rates of reoffending.
• Women in prison are also much more likely than men to experience self-harm. In
2020, women made up 22% of all self-harm incidents despite representing only 4% of
the prison population.
• Imprisoning women also creates harms for children. Women who are imprisoned
are significantly more likely than men to have dependent children (60% to 45%).
Extensive - increases children’s risk of anti-social behaviour, disruptions to care andhome life, difficult and upsetting prison visits and stigmatisation.
*Extracted from and based on: Ministry of Justice Website, www.gov.uk (Bold added)20

Women who are convicted are:Working with
Women – Risk,
Needs,
Responsivity• More likely to have experienced
trauma• More likely to offend due to theirrelationships• Less likely to be violent

Based on: Centre for Justice Innovation Problem-solving courts for women: An evidence & practice briefing
21

https://justiceinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2021/Problemsolvingcourtsforwomen.pdf

Working with Women – the evidence base
Key findings*•Women offend for different reasons than men, and often emphasise different factors when theysuccessfully desist from offending.
More specifically, men that desist tend to focus on personal choice and agency, while…
women desisters focus more on relational aspects, typically parental attitudes,
assumption of parental responsibilities, dissociation from offending peers, andexperience of victimisation.

*Based on - https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/research/the-evidence-base-probation/specific-subgroups/women/ (Bold added)
22

Working with Women – Approaches
include…

Whole System’s
Approach(diversion where
possible)

Women’s Centres

Problem-Solving
Courts for Women

23

Working with Women – Practice
Women’s Pathfinder Whole System Approach and 18-25 Early
Intervention Service (Wales)
Based on Women’s Pathfinder Pilot (2013…)• Collaboration involving HM Prison and Probation Services, all Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners• Interventions included • Diversionary schemes (point of arrest)• Colocation of probation staff with third sector women’s services• Case conferencing arrangements to support joint working and information sharing• Access to services in local communities• Formal evaluation: 26% reduction in reoffending, overall rearrest rate 50% of that in comparison sites
The Whole System Approach (and 18-25 Early Intervention Service) (2019…)• Delivered by a Consortium of private (G4S, Safer Wales, Include and Llamau)• May be diverted away from CJS as part of a Community Resolution
Based on: https://justiceinnovation.org/project/womens-pathfinder-whole-system-approach-18-25-early-intervention-service
24

Working with Women – Practice
Women’s centres*
Approach: to treat women holistically and as individuals, responding practically to theirindividual needs, rather than focusing solely on cognitive processes. Help to build thecapacity to address their own issues rather than just addressing offending behaviour.
Range of models, commonly multi-agency hubs - benefit to the women attending andagencies for whom these women have often proved to be a hard-to-reach group.

Centres involve not solely criminal justice agencies, and can be involved in the lives of
the women that attend them beyond the bounds of the criminal justice system, offering:(i) a preventative measure to help women resolve situations that might lead to offending; and(ii) a follow-up service, maintaining contact after women have finished probation.
(Bold added)*Adapted from: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/research/the-evidence-base-probation/specific-sub-groups/women/
25Working with Women – PracticeProblem Solving Courts…

In 2020, the Ministry of Justice announced its intention to pilot five new problem-solving courts, including
one which should specifically focus on the distinct needs of women who offend. Courts…

Target women at risk of custody: Problem-solving courts for women should target individuals
at risk of short custodial sentences, and avoid up-tariffing women with lower-level offending but
complex needs;
Ensure judicial continuity: Having the same judge or bench of magistrates at regular review
hearings helps to build rapport and allows them to continually monitor an individual’s progressand engagement;
Promote partnership working: Effective collaboration between agencies that facilitates service
user engagement is crucial to the success of a women’s problem-solving court, as is the ability
to refer women to local women’s centres, where they can receive individualised support
packages during their community sentence.
*Centre for Justice Innovation - Problem-solving courts for women: An evidence & practice briefing
https://justiceinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2021/Problemsolvingcourtsforwomen.pdf

26

Working with Women – PracticeProblem Solving Courts… how they work

Manchester’s problem-solving approach targets women with additional support needs, such as
addiction, mental health issues or unstable housing, who have offended.
Needs are identified as part of a pre-sentence assessment process. Probation officers canpropose referral to the problem-solving court as part of the Pre-Sentence Report (PSR).

Courts are supported by specialist teams including legal advisors, probation officers and panelof magistrates.
If a woman receives a sentence with a problem-solving approach, she is allocated a keyworker anda tailored package of support throughout sentence.

Regular attend court for review hearings to monitor progress.
More informal than a standard court hearing and the magistrates adopt an asset-based approach,emphasising skills and strengths and recognising the importance of building relationships, toencourage the woman to comply with the order, take responsibility for her actions and to engage withagencies that can help her move forward with her life.
Based on: Problem-solving courts for women: An evidence & practice briefing
https://justiceinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2021/Problemsolvingcourtsforwomen.pdf

27

Working with Women – Practice
Aberdeen (Scotland) problem-solving court approach
Provide an alternative approach for women with complex needs and multiple previous
convictions…later expanded to include young adult men aged 18-25.
Aim: to reduce the use of short-term custody and reduce re-offending by combining the authorityof the court with rehabilitative community sentences.

Once accepted, individuals are given a Structured Deferred Sentence (SDS) usually for six months.
Females receive enhanced support from a Criminal Justice Social Worker (CJSW) and from a support
worker based in a local women’s centre.
Review hearings every four weeks to discuss progress in front of a specially-trained dedicatedsheriff. If successful throughout the SDS, they will receive an admonition.
Aberdeen participants reported that receiving support often led to increased motivation to comply.
Data suggests that the wider Whole Systems Approach is working, Greater Manchester reporting lower
rates of reoffending for women who have offended in comparison to similar metropolitan areas, as well as
England and Wales as a whole (15% compared to 23% for the period April 2017 to March 2018).
28*Based on: Centre for Justice Innovation - Problem-solving courts for women: An evidence & practice briefing (see previous slide)Working with Sex Offenders
Sexual offender treatment programmes
have been found to have a moderate
beneficial effect on sexual reoffending andto work best in community and hospitalsettings. Those programmes based upon
cognitive-behavioural therapy have beenfound to be effective in reducing sexual
and violent (but not general) reoffending.

There is, however, a pressing need forformal evaluations of the latest strengthsbased programmes such as Horizon and
Kaizen in England and Wales – an initialprocess evaluation of the Horizon
programme was published in 2019.”

https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/research/the-evidence-base-probation/specific-sub-groups/sexual-offending/29

Working with Sex Offenders
A multi-strand approach, includes • Programmes – varying intensity and focus according to risk, needs and responsivity• Partnership Working• MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements). Associated with significant falls in serious reoffending (althoughabsence of control group)• Organised at police force area, with probation, police and prison service forming the MAPPA Responsible Authority area. Other
agencies, such as the NHS or local authorities, have a duty to cooperate with MAPPA. All should work together locally toidentify, assess and manage individuals who pose a higher risk of harm to others.
• Three levels of management (single agency, two + agencies, multi-agency senior management oversight of risk)• Assessment tools••••

Risk Matrix 2000 (police and probation)
OASys Sexual Reoffending Predictor (simpler, in some respects a better predictor)
Active Risk Management System - police and probation (benefits not fully recognised).
Practitioners should focus upon the dynamic aspects of risk, such as deviancy, antisocial attitudes and poor self-management.

• Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA). Found to reduce reoffending and increase compliance by high-risk sexual
offenders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwD5ONPA1_Y• Polygraph Testing (associated with a much greater likelihood of making clinically-significant and risk-relevant disclosures toprofessionals)

30

Pictures: Clink Charity Website 01-2024

31

Supporting Reintegration (Support in “naturalcommunities”)
Parc Supporting Families’** (PSF) aims to support and develop
The Clink Charity*“…in partnership with His Majesty’s
Prison & Probation Service to deliver
36 training projects: 3 restaurants, 2gardens, 2 staff canteens, 1 events
catering business, 1 bakery and 30
prison kitchens.
All projects utilise integrated
programme to ensure students
receive support they need - inprison, also post-release: Recruit,
Train, Support, find Employment and
Mentor.”

Evaluation finds significant
Reductions in Reoffending*Based on: https://theclinkcharity.org/the-charity

innovative ways that healthy family ties can be established,
maintained and enhanced whilst a family member is serving asentence at HMP Parc (Wales).
PSF includes:
Family intervention unit - a 62 bed living unit where the entire
focus of the environment is upon repairing, enhancing and taking
responsibility for relationships, parenting and family.
Invisible Walls Wales' - interventions and support for prisoners
and their families via Family Intervention workers based in theprison and practitioners based in the community.
Family centred visits - activities for children and families maximise
the engagement - opportunity to have family photographs taken.
Children and family friendly visiting - play areas visits hall andvisitor reception area, push chairs and baby changing facilities,
helpful and sensitive staff.
Parenting programmes for prisoners - including Parenting forDads, Fathers Inside and Family Man.
32**From: https://www.nicco.org.uk/directory-of-services/parc-supporting-families

FurtherConsiderations “Who Works”*
Raynor et al (2014) foundreconviction rates were significantly
lower among individuals supervisedby probation officers who used moreskills…

Relationship Skills • Empathy• Warmth• Showing concern and respect• Clarity about roles and expectations• Reliability and consistency• Conveying optimism about possibility of change• Rehabilitative orientation, focus on employment and accommodation
Skills contribute to a “Working Alliance:”

Structuring Skills –Relationship skills pave the way for specific change skills e.g.; Cognitivebehavioural, Motivational interviewing, Problem-solving
In all cases: Procedural justice “the degree to which someone perceives
people in authority to apply processes or make decisions about them ina fair and just way;”• Key principles: voice, respect, neutrality, trustworthiness* Based on and adapted from: Target Operating Model, HMPPS, 2021, Annex A

33

Theme 2 - The
European Practiceand Capacity
Building Context• The CEP
• Role and Activities• Examples• Volunteers, Reintegration• The Council of Europe andEuropean Union• Global and other Perspectives• The growth of probation

34

Europe, European bodies,and the CEP• Europe – geographical; 44
countries• Council of Europe; 47 Members• European Union; 27 Member
States• Confederation of European
Probation (CEP) …
Members of the Council of Europe (Extract CoE website)
35

Founded 1981
60+ Member organisations across 40 countries
Probation agencies, Universities*, NGOs, individuals, and more…
Valued affiliate organisations around the world
Most recent collaborations and affiliations – UNODC and UNAFEI!
* An academic member sits on the CEP Board

36

Vision for Europe“To contribute to safer communities by rehabilitating andreintegrating offenders and providing the best possible
interventions to reduce offending and the impact of crime.”
CEP ... promotes pan-European cooperation including by conferences, workshops, expert groups,
research projects, jurisdiction reports, knowledgebase, “Day in the Life of”, “Probation Works”, digital
newsletter, website, regional events for newer services, CEP Matchmaking Project, webinars…
37

Some
Current
Priorities• Violent Extremism• Framework Decisions(movement of offenders
within Europe)• Mental Health• Technology• Probation in Europe
CEP supports newer services
As they become established, they help to support the newest!
including as Board Members
38

Some
Current
Activities…Expertgroups,workshops,
conferences…

Expert Groups and Networks include…
Research
Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation
Violent Extremism
Technology
Sex Offender Management
Domestic / Gender-based Violence
Mental Health
Education and Training Network
2024 Events include…
Webinar – Alternatives to Detention
Webinar – Violent Extremism
Workshop on Mental Health in Probation
Conference – Electronic Monitoring “Beyond Control”
Criminal Justice Platform Summer Course 2024

39

Criminal JusticePlatform Summer
Course40

International
Perspectives – United
Nations

41

Volunteers in JusticeSome
Current
Activities…New
Project…

The CoPPer Project
Inspiration of Hogoshi!

42

What is CoPPer?
CoPPer o verall go al is to b rin g to geth er
Eu ro p ean o rgan isatio n s to create atran sn atio n al n etw o rk fo cu sed o n sh arin g
kn o w led ge an d exp erien ces to co -exp lo rew ays o f in creasin g en gagem en t an dvalu in g th e ro le th at vo lu n teers an d th e
co m m u n ity
p lay
in
th e
o ffen d er’s
reh ab ilitatio n jo u rn ey w ith th e fin al go al o fa crim e-free life fo r th e o ffen d ers.
2022-1-NL01-KA220-ADU-000089938

43

Who do we want
to involve?
Prison and Probat ion Services
Com munit y-Based Organizat ions
People in Conflict wit h t he Law
Academia
Volunt eers

Project Results
M apping t he European pract iceof Volunt eering in probat ion
European Training program me
for Volunt eers in t he Probat ion
Services
Com m unit y Based Organisat ions
Capacit y-Building
European Probat ion
Volunt eering Handbook• Preliminary Training Plan - 5 Modules• Vision and roles including
judicial domain• Relational, Communication,
Observation (nonjudgmental), Problem Solving

Know m ore:

44

European perspectives on Prisons, Probation,
and Reintegration*Norway Principle of Normality , Import Model.
Staff training, and Resettlement Guarantee*Adapted from: https://www.unafei.or.jp/publications/pdf/14th_
Congress/14_Ms.Heidi_Bottolfs.pdf
Ireland - The Community Return Scheme - Supervised release ofqualifying prisoners - complete unpaid community work as conditionof early release.
It gives prisoners, whom the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service
have assessed as being suitable and motivated, the opportunity ofearly - and renewable temporary release with resettlement support.
Available for those serving 1 -8 years, served at least 50% of sentence.
Joint structured approach benefitting all parties…

Based on website, Irish Probation Service

Finland “PLUS”**Legislative criminal justice reform
Controlled and supportive release,
Implementation in the community –a community sanction
lower recidivism ** Based on a presentationof Finland practice,
ICPA Conference,
Antwerp, 2023

Rescaled – The Detention House
Concept and Practice(Small-scale: Communication, collaboration and cohesion
with stakeholders and local residents)
45
Based on: https://www.rescaled.org/the-detentionhouse/
45

Expert Advice and Cooperation
The CEP provides expert advice to European
bodies on the development of Probation
Policy and Practice, including –The Council of Europe
The European Commission

46

Council of Europe
The work of the Council of Europe as far as the field of prison andprobation is concerned consists of three elements: standard-setting,co-operation work, and monitoring - a “Dynamic Triangle”
Standard setting concerns recommendations that are (after
preparation by the Penological Council* of the Council of Europe)
adopted by the Committee of Ministers. Founded on principles
enshrined by European Convention on Human Rights. Examples ofthis kind of work are:
 Prison overcrowding and prison population inflation (1999)
 Conditional Release (Parole) (2003)
 European Prison Rules (2006; Revision 2020)
 European Probation Rules (2010)
 Electronic Monitoring (2014)
 Community Sanctions and Measures (2017)
 Recruitment, selection, education, training and professional
development of prison and probation staff (2019)*Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP)

47

Council of Europe
Co-operation work consists of: Organising high level conferences and multilateral meetings on prisons, police andprobation-related
 The development of the SPACE penal statistics programme (on imprisonment andpenal institutions since 1993 and on non-custodial sanctions and probation
measures since 2009) Capacity building projects to improve monitoring and oversight, to develop
probation and the alternative to prison and/or reducing overcrowding; someprojects (co-)funded including by the European Commission, Norway, or the USA.
Monitoring work is performed mainly by the CPT, the Commission for the Preventionof Torture and Degrading Treatment.

48

Addresses insight
regarding potential
space between
standards andimplementation

49

Council of Europe
Based on: Guidance – Implementing Community Sanctions and Measures Geiran and Durnescu, 2019
Aim to promote the development and implementation of community sanctions and measures across Europe and to serve as a
useful source for the establishment of relevant policy and practice.
Definitions• Relationship skills
Standards• Pro-social Modelling
Theoretical Models and “Who works”*?
• Problem solving, Motivational Interviewing
Regulation• Cognitive Restructuring
Compliance and BreachWorking with the Court
Working in and with Communities
Community Service
Restorative Justice and Victim Perspective
Electronic Monitoring
Working in Prisons
Radicalisation and Violent Extremist offenders
Partnership, Multi-disciplinary work, and Inter-agency cooperation
Offenders Voice and Perspective
Working with volunteers
Case records, data protection and confidentiality
Inspection and Monitoring
Research and Evaluation
Relationship with the media
European Dimension (shared standards, consistency in adoption and application, collaborative development projects)

50International Perspectives –United Nations
The Tokyo Rules (1990)
The UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial
Measures
The Bangkok Rules (2010)
The UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners
and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders
The Nelson Mandela Rules (2015)
The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
The Sustainable Development Goals (2015)
Safer societies, inclusion, and sustainability

51

European Union - members







1995: 15 Members. Joined by …
2004: Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary,
Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
2007: Bulgaria, Romania
2013: Croatia

Most have seen strong probation
development!
Appeal of EU membership
Accession criteria (justice and home affairs incl. judicial
procedures, prisons, police)
Availability of Funding for bi- and multi-lateral international
capacity building projects (Incl. prisons and probation)
52

21st Century – insummary - a changing
European picture!

•••

Evolving knowledge base and practice
Capacity Building - strong growth in numberof countries with probation services(In general) reductions in the use of
imprisonment

What has worked well (and less well)..?

53

Theme 3 - What Worksin Building Capacity?
A European research project “Learning from European Experience of Probation Service
Development in the 21st Century.” Steve Pitts and Leo Tigges• WHY A PROJECT ON PROBATION CAPACITYBUILDING?
• AIMS AND METHODOLOGY• FINDINGS, RESULTS, RECOMMENDATIONS

Final Report – February 2024

Executive Summary - published on CEP-website
https://www.cep-probation.org/research-report-on-promisingpractices-in-building-probation-capacity/54

Why a Project on
Capacity Building?
Personal
Background,
Europeandevelopments

Long career in the justice field, especiallyprobation, involved in many capacity
building projects
Personal reflection - have we beensuccessful / what can we learn / do better?
Remarkable development in Europe. A
success story? Yes – but…
A growing awareness that...
55

Why a project on Capacity Building?
...despite concerted effort(and investment) to expand
community “alternatives”,
they remain underdeveloped and underused inmany parts of the world –- whilst in many regions
prison populations continue
to expandEvery project/every
country/every consultant(etc.) has its own approach

Not much literature on
probation capacity building
or evaluation studies on
individual projects

Some initiatives appear
more successful than others
Limited “language” fordiscussion

Which approach(es) or
method(s) seem to address
challenges and support
success?

56

Project Aims
1

2

Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D. (1996), ‘Who Learns What from Whom? A Review of the Policy Transfer Literature’, Political Studies, 44: 343–57.

3

To consider the potential
relevance of European
lessons (successes andchallenges) at a global
level- Probation- Other Justice Services?

Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D (2000), ‘Learning from Abroad: The Role of Policy Transfer in Contemporary Policymaking’, Governance, 13 (1): 5-23.

To test and refine a modelor “language” to support
Capacity Building

To identify potential
capacity building “Success
Factors”** Important NB! What is success?

57

Methodologya) Field Studies: Five Countries visited andstudied•••••Albania
LatviaGeorgia
PolandRomania

Insights from knowledge of:• Croatia• Serbia
And other countries in Europe and in otherworld regions with which we have familiarity
from a probation development perspective.

c) Examine “International Influences”
Including meetings with and desk enquiry ofinternational bodies –• European Commission• Council of Europe• CEP…
+ Taking note of United Nations sources

LatviaPolandRomania

Georgiab) Literature Review:

Policy transfer and capacity building
Typology of justice systems in different countries
Policy transfer and capacity building inprobation

Albania58

We quickly found ...
• Different sources of information strongly support
each other• Good congruence between literature andexperience / study visits• Capacity Building is about far more than technicalprocesses – it’s also a relational business!
• Early field work led us to four key questions…

59• Our study visits suggested four questions central to theprocess of probation development –Findings –Four key
Questions• WHY (introduce/strengthen Probation, Transfer)?
• WHO (is involved – the Key stakeholders)?
• WHAT (competencies are transferred/developed)?
• HOW (is probation work enabled – legislation,
leadership and organization, community...)These are underpinned by Capacity Building
Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D. (1996), ‘Who Learns Whatprocess(es)from Whom?and
A Reviewof thePolicy Transfer
qualities
includingplanning,Literature’,
structure, Political
Studies, 44: 343–57.
timeline, management and review, flexibility, project andpersonnel continuity, and “softer” factors such as project
Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D (2000), ‘Learning from Abroad:
The Role
of Policy Transfer in Contemporary Policymaking’,
relational“style”
Governance, 13 (1): 5-23.
Subsequent literature review supported these initial
findings which we believe should be asked in every
capacity building project.
E.g.; Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D.; (1996, 2000)
These and other findings contributed tothe success factors that follow -60

Aim 1 - First Steps: A language or Outline Model for Capacity Building "Domains and Enablers"• We started with a simple model (a graphic "translation" of the European Probation
Rules, cross-referenced with the “Tokyo” Rules), used in our field studies.
• The "Domains" grouped under 4 headings, that represent the probation role orjourney of service-users through the system)
Pre-sentence/Community Sentence/Custodial sentence pre/post release• The conditions or “Enablers” to put the Domains in place – a strong organisation
Many are reflected in the European Probation Rules, Tokyo Rules, and theEuropean Quality ModelLegislation/leadership, Organisation, Community & Partnerships, Processes &Practices61

Results:
We found ...
That the Model is a
helpful tool in discussion
with all parties toprobation development

Countries/Jurisdictions/Beneficiaries
Donor and international organisations
Providers/consultancies etc.

Provides a common easily communicated language
In particular, the model:

The framework helps to assess the current stage of probation development andchangeFinal infographic is a user-friendly representation of astrong probation role and organisation and sets thescene for planning.
62

63

Findings: We also quickly found ...
Capacity Building is (even) more
complex than we anticipated- Every jurisdiction, provider, donor
etc. is (of course) different- Community Corrections do notdevelop in isolation but impact othersystems - Especially because of the interplayof different levels of context
64Different
Levels ofContext• Capacity Building takes place withincontexts which have varying impacts on(probation) development. These include –• A Justice and Penal “System” context• A National Context• An International Context – Regional andGlobal65

Pitts & Tigges, 2019, 2022
Probation Development Context
International Context - including Rules and Recommendations, Guidance, Evidence, Trends,
Expert networks, Donor Funds and Expectations, Provider Approaches and Competencies...

The Probation
Organisation

Legislation & Leadership2. Community Supervision:Community Orders
Prison Suspended
P with Supervision

Aims

1. Pre-Trial and
Pre-Sentence:

4 Probation “Domains”

3. Prison Sentence:

Community/Partnerships

Results

4. Prison
Sentence: Post
ReleaseProcesses & Practices

66
National & System Context – including Legal, Historic, Administrative, Judicial, Political, Economic…

Does Context
Matter?

• Found often profound, differences inhistory, perspective, policy, practice,circumstance…
e.g.; attitudes to punishment, balance ofsurveillance and rehabilitation, resource …
• Differences in perspective between –• Jurisdictions• Within national and system functions• Jurisdictions/capacity building organisations• These need to be acknowledged, if not
to impact later in unexpected ways.
67

10 Success
Factors• All the above, and more, leads us toconclude that capacity building can becomplex - but has potential to be very
successful…
• There is no best model or blueprint (justpromising practices)!!
• Every country or jurisdiction has to findits own path, but the model and thesuccess factors help!

68

10 Success Factors for building Probation Capacity:
1. A collaborative, partnership approach (with the beneficiary in the lead)

2. Creating and communicating a shared vision (regarding probation’s contribution to
the whole justice system)
3. Recognising and working with (national, system, international) context & complexity

4. Identifying and mitigating resistances and risks (e.g., net-widening)
5. Building networks and alliances
6. Achieving the vision: implementation plans balancing work in domains and enablers

7. Project Management: preparation, step-by-step, pilots, flexibility
8. Professional technical and “soft” skills
9. Drawing on and collaborating with supra-national organisations and professional
bodies
10. Building in evaluation, research and reporting69

1. A collaborative, partnership approach• We found, in our field studies and the literature, and were struck by
how in every phase Romanians had the lead.
• Knowledge transfer and inspiration (not copying!) were emphasised.
This enabled Romanian partners to make their own choices.
Different ideas and possibilities were shared “that were usedcreatively by the Romanian colleagues to design a Romanianmodel of probation… in line with Romanian traditions,institutions, culture or legislation.”
Haines and Durnescu (2012) - “Probation in Romania: Archaeology of a Partnership”• Wheeldon (2012) (Latvia) “development is perhaps best seen as abilateral process of constructive, and not proscriptive, interaction”
Four different gradations, or degrees of transfer – copying, emulation, combinations, inspiration
Dolowitz and Marsh (2000) ‘Learning from Abroad: The Role of Policy Transfer in Contemporary Policymaking’, Governance, 13 (1): 5-23.

2. Creating and communicating a shared vision(of probation’s contribution to an - evolving - justice system)
We found many reasons for probation development*
Benefits:• Reduce prison overcrowding and collateral costs• Reduce reoffending• Follow evidence• Reduce financial costs• Human rights, and "humanise"• “a means to reduce incarceration rates while
retaining a state role in the control of offenders.”(Wheeldon, 2012)• Political will to break with the past, a newgeneration who want to do things differently...

Surprisingly, reasons for probation are not always
clear and may vary over time
• Unclear aims - among some practitioners,
managers, justice partners, stakeholders...
• Place of probation in a sentencing framework notclarified• Changes in political or service leadership, cost,
unexpected “realities” of implementation, or
resistances (which may include culture and staff)
promote changes in aim over time

*See for example: “Probation Why and How?” https://www.nhc.nl/probation-brochure/71

Probation Aims andMeasures• Adaptation after Shapland, Bottoms,
Farrall, McNeill, Priede and Robinson (2012)and Durnescu (2008)

Probation Aim

Quality Measure

Promote community
sanctions andmeasures

Increase the use ofalternatives todetention

Assist judicial
decisions

Satisfaction of the
judiciary

Rehabilitation of
offenders

Reduce rates ofreconviction

Public protection

Safer communities

Enforcement ofcommunity sanctions
and measures

High compliance,robustimplementation

Offenders’ reinsertion
into the community

Improved inclusion
and well-being

Victims’ interests andreparation

Victims’ satisfaction &constructive andproportionate
reparation72

2. Creating and communicating a shared vision

Croatia• Defining and communicating the benefitsof probation• Reduce prison overcrowding, improved
conditions, cost savings, benefits tosociety – including Community Service• Aligning with European values• Communicating – judiciary and media73

3. Context and Complexity
Context – international (regional), national, and system interact and can stimulate (or hinder)probation development
European Commission
and Council of Europe
End of the Soviet Union
promoted reduced prison
promoted optimism inovercrowding andformer members & spherehumane approach(“we can now make ourown choices”)
Legacy of Social and Political economy (top-downgovernment, punitiveness, lack of independenceof judiciary…), and new changes (e.g.; uncertainty
of income & employment…), could hinder penal
reform.
Probation had to “fight its corner” – find its place: competition
for finance and attention in parallel with prison reform; newprocesses; Could be seen as soft; attitudes to punishment vsrehabilitation; not the only part of the justice system struggling
for recognition; court reports – felt as threat to judicial role andindependence?
74

Context - Political Economy
Cavadino and Dignan* categorise 12 countries studied into four “family” groups which they label neoliberal, conservative corporatist, social democratic, or oriental corporatist,…(these are) strongly related to the punitiveness of penal culture and rates of imprisonment.

The 12 countries studied are the United States of America, England and Wales, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Japan.

…the four family groups “exhibit significant differences in the relationships that exist between theState, citizens and interest groups”. These differences in effect work against or counter the forces of
convergence which we might otherwise expect to result from globalization.

*Cavadino, M. and Dignan, J. (2006), Penal Systems: A Comparative Approach.
London: Sage.
*Cavadino, M. and Dignan, J. (2006), ‘Penal Policy and Political Economy’,
Criminology and Criminal Justice, 6 (4): 435-456.
75

Context and Complexity
in transfer & adaptationconsiderations include…
Legislation

Civil Society
scale and role

CultureJustice
Structure andRelationships

Staff andmanager skills
and approach

Language

Partnershiparrangements

Resource andCapacityMedia

Political
economy andpunitiveness

Aims

Other?
76

Context and Complexity in transfer & adaptation

How might context andcomplexity influence
successful transfer or
adaptation of –Pre-sentence Reports?

Legislation?

Community Service?

A Programme fordrivers who drink?

Interventions to reduce
Gender-based
Violence?

Rehabilitative focus in
prisons?

A new Probation
Service?

77

“Ideational” approaches
Evans (2017)**Capturing the essence of probation
development or prison improvement
Thought through with partners –“Common ground”
Needs to be explainable …

Ideational approaches, are “systems of ideas which influence how politicians
and policy-makers learn how to learn... three dimensions:• the overarching goals* that guide policy in a particular field• the techniques or policy instruments used to attain these goals• the precise settings of these instruments”.
• Furthermore, ideational approaches may be encouraged by epistemic
communities…
*Evans, M. (2017); International Policy Transfer: Between Global and Sovereign and Between Global and Local. In: Stone, D. andMoloney, D. (ed) Oxford Handbook on Global Policy and Transnational Administration. Oxford University Press. Found on Research Gate
(Bold added)78

Process-centred approaches – transfer & adaptation

Evans (2017)* (after Rose)
Process-centred approaches may include ten sequential steps (Rose)
recommended to practitioners “in order to evaluate whether or not a nonindigenous programme should be applied domestically”:

1. Learn the key concepts: what a programme is, and what a lesson is and isnot.
2. Catch the attention of policymakers.
3. Scan alternatives and decide where to look for lessons.
4. Learn by going abroad.
5. Abstract from what you observe a generalized model of how a foreign
programme works.
6. Turn the model into a lesson fitting your own national context.
7. Decide whether the lesson should be adopted.
8. Decide whether the lesson can be applied.
9. Simplify the means and ends of a lesson to increase its chances of success.
10. Evaluate a lesson’s outcome prospectively and, if it is adopted, as it evolves
over time•*Evans,M. (2017); International Policy Transfer: Between Global and Sovereign and Between Global and Local. In: Stone, D. andMoloney, D. (ed) Oxford Handbook on Global Policy and Transnational Administration. Oxford University Press. Found on Research Gate79

3. How has context influenced probation development?

Opportunities and Difficulties: The punitive aspect was stressed in most countries…

Poland, Albania• Uncertainty was sometimes translated into populist policy, including
fear of crime, opting for tough sentences

Service was adopted (adapting to the national penal
Croatia, Albania,  Community
culture). However, the rehabilitation perspective has been always
there, and has often shown strong growth over time (e.g.; Georgia).
Georgia

Latvia, Croatia,
Romania Upbeat drive for change incorporating probation
 Electronic Monitoring has been used with caution, if at all,(emphasising risk to a balanced development of probation e.g.; Serbia)

80

4. Identifying and mitigating resistances andrisks (e.g., net-widening)• Risk: net widening: at time of probation service development not yet perceived as an issue, but after the
publications of the SPACE data, it became a highly debated topic. (SPACE II (2021) Key findings, www.coe.int)• Risk of introducing EM before probation has reached some maturity• Risk: Believing that training is “the answer” or equated with capacity building (It is essential - but rarely if ever a
sufficient condition for success)• Risk: Capacity *“Premature load-bearing” and speed (*Building State Capability: Evidence, Analysis, Action Matt Andrews, Lant Pritchett, andMichael Woolcock. Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: February 2017).

• Resistances: Uncertainty, even sometimes opposition, from within the system• Resistances: Justice partners work in silos, whilst probation work requires cooperation

Lappi-Seppala (2003)

Dolowitz and Marsh (1996, 2000)

Three issues to address. How to - get the laws accepted on the political level,- implemented on a practical level- confront the punitive-populist pressure
from the politicians and the media.

• Uninformed transfer• Incomplete transfer• Inappropriate transfer

Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D. (1996), ‘Who Learns What from Whom? A Review of the Policy Transfer
Literature’, Political Studies, 44: 343–57.
Lappi-Seppälä, T. (2003), Enhancing the Community Alternatives - Getting the Measures
Dolowitz, D. and Marsh, D. (2000) ‘Learning from Abroad: The Role of Policy Transfer in
Accepted and Implemented. p95. See: UNAFEI 121st International Training Course Visiting
Contemporary Policymaking
Experts’ Papers <www.unafei.or.jp/english/pages/RMS/No61.htm>.

4. Identifying and mitigating resistances and risks

Serbia,Albania• Serbia: Electronic Monitoring has overwhelmed the positionof probation• Albania: Complex practices introduced via training in
advance of ability to implement

Croatia, Latvia,
Georgia Mitigation includes  Strategic Planning  Croatia: “Step by step” development
 Latvia: Comprehensive plans - (but) staged over several years
 Georgia: Evolving plans over several years leading tocomprehensive probation service, with prison links
 Communication, Building networks and alliances …
82

SPACE II (2021) Key findings, www.coe.int

83

European prison and probation population rates(per 100,000 population)
Countries: newer probation
services (5 countries studied)

Prison Rate 2001/2

Prison Rate 2022

Probation Rate 2021

(European median 2022 -104)(European median 2021- 215)

Albania

99

192

240

Romania

215

124

357

Latvia

349

172

295

Georgia541 (2011)

263

506

Poland

211

200

643

Countries: established probation services

Prison Rate 2022

Probation Rate 2021

UK: England and Wales

145

162

Netherlands

65

210

Denmark

69

124

Ireland87

121

Finland

51

57

Based on SPACE Data, Council of Europe (see e.g.; https://wp.unil.ch/space/, and World Prison Brief - https://www.prisonstudies.org

84

5. Building networks and Alliances
Who – when developing Probation?
Politicians (Ministers ofJustice, Finance)

Civil Servants

Professional staff – all levels(some of whom may havebeen transferred from otherfields)Stakeholders in the justicefield (prisons, courts, publicprosecutors, police…)

Supra-national bodies (EU,Council of Europe, United
Nations, CEP)

Organisation(s) delivering the
project (an NGO, a consultant
firm, engaged country etc.)

5. Building networks and alliances

Stakeholders in thecommunity (Municipalities,
NGO’s, Service-users,
Volunteers)

Media and Public

85

Findings: Who – when developing probation?
We were frequently struck by the significance during development of • Political support (support, or at least openness)• Strong, and where possible consistent, champions - leadership• Involving justice stakeholders (judiciary, prosecutors, prisons...) – although sometimes took
effort and energy• Involving a wide range of stakeholders in planningo Including local communities, NGOs, municipalities (although in many cases this also tooktime, in spite of relevance to delivery)• Academic perspective and involvement• Getting the media onside• Personal contacts• The part played by capable long-term knowledgeable “locally in tune” development partners
and individuals• The international community (sub-regional, regional, global)• On the other hand – service-users did not seem to feature strongly during early development865. Building networks and Alliances
Who – when developing Probation?

Romania• NGO’s took initiative to probation work, later taken overby government• Increasing investment in alliance with the judiciary

Georgia• Strong influence from minister who previously worked at
the EC in Brussels• Increasing and strengthening alliances with otherstakeholders

Latvia• Early and strong prison support• A core “kernel” of “political – professional” actors• Significant and influential multi-agency coordinationgroup (involved in multi-year strategy)87

6. Achieving the Vision• All countries developed strategic, and implementation, plans to realise the vision• Developments in domains and enablers have to be staged - and in line with each other!
Domains• All countries: Focus on Domain 2 - alternative sentences.
• (Much) less focus on other domains: a deliberate choice as it was recognised that D2 would strike a chordwith politicians and justice partners• Important not to neglect other domains over time if probation potential to be achieved
Enablers
 Legislation sometimes quickly established (Romania, Latvia), in other cases a brake on swift development(Albania) Tendency to introduce complex practices before staff have developed sufficient experience Better to focus on fundamental “Core Correctional Skills”?
 Infrastructure support (computers, cars etc.) valued and valuable but an exception

 Limited early attention to diversity, responsivity, research, evaluation, communities, partnerships, serviceusers, volunteers - develops later88

6. Achieving the Vision*Based on: Špero, J. (2020)

Croatia

Latvia, Georgia,
Romania,
Albania Over time all domains have been addressed, and most enablers:
strategy, legislation, cost analysis, human resources including staff
recruitment and training, human rights, increasing the number of
persons supervised in the community, decreasing the prison
population, decreasing recidivism, standards and professional
guidance, database and probation information system, a management
framework, communications, equipment.

• The value of strategic and implementation planning, including
for resources*Špero, J. (2020), ‘Resocialization and Rehabilitation of Offenders in the Community – The
Croatian Probation Service’, in: Unafei, prevention of crime and treatment of offenders, pp. 3956, Annual Report for 2019 and resource material, Tokyo89

7. Project Management
Preparation, step-by-step, pilots, flexibility
 Good Preparation - often underplayed, providers often not involved until implementation withinsufficient mutual understanding including potential resistances.
 Leroux-Martin and O’Conner (2017*): “Complex and chaotic” systems (that interact with othersystems) cannot be managed by linear, strategic planning or by the application of technical bestpractices; flexibility is needed in the implementation
 McFarlane and Canton (2014)**: Capacity building is more important than transfer of a product orforeign model - “developing a beneficiary’s ability to respond to problems and develop new skills, ...
institutions ... practice ... and to help take the new practice forward.”
 Romania and Latvia: Pilots were organised at the start of the development. Project leaders had aconstant eye to change the implementation where needed.

 Latvia, Romania, Georgia, Croatia: permanent drive and initiative to have follow-up projects. Learningsought from several jurisdictions - “Best fit”.
 In general, poor donor coordination.
*Leroux-Martin, P. and O’Connor, V. (2017), Systems Thinking for Peacebuilding and Rule of Law: Supporting Complex Reforms in Conflict-Affected
Environments. United States Institute of Peace, Washington**McFarlane, M.A. and Canton, R., (2014), Policy Transfer in Criminal Justice:

Crossing Cultures, Breaking Barriers.

90

7. Project Management

Latvia, Georgia,
Romania, Croatia

Georgia• Permanent initiative of national partners tohave follow-up projects, for which they
worked intensively with the European
Commission and other donors to get new
funding. This has paid-off: results are seenin continuous strategic development. Input
was sought from several jurisdictions,providing options that fit.
• Resources are “mindfully managed”• Supported by a donor Coordinating Group91

8. Professional Technical and Soft skills
Both are required!

 Literature: *Wheeldon, Latvia (2012) “To build trust among participants,
experts must be seen as modest, be willing to continuously learn, and avoid
employing old notions about what worked in other countries.” **McFarlane and Canton (2014):
 Interaction quality can be as important as technical content.
 Experts who return and/or are longer term are better prepared to understandand work well with differences.
*Wheeldon, J. (2012), After the Spring: Probation, Justice Reform, and Democratization from the Baltics to Beirut, ISBN: 978-94-90947-59-0, Eleven International
Publishing., The Netherlands**McFarlane, M.A. and Canton, R., (2014), Policy Transfer in Criminal Justice: Crossing Cultures, Breaking Barriers.

92

8. Professional Technical and Soft Skills

Latvia, Georgia,
Romania, Croatia• International project leaders were seen as
highly capable, having a lot of experience
with probation in their own countries• … at the same time persons who were able
to “get into the space of” the beneficiary
country and to enable the beneficiary
country to make their own choices:“passionate” and “respectful.”939. Drawing on, and collaborating with, supranational organisations and professional bodies
 In all countries

 EC support (focus on reducing incarceration, then probation in own right – project funding) Council of Europe - CoE (participation in penological council and recommendations) CEP (“belonging to the family of probation”). CEP Board representation from newer services
 Support also from countries that had undergone a similar transition
 In some instances, an interpretation of the guidelines of the CoE from a national perspective
 for instance, more focus on the controlling aspect, less on the rehabilitation

 or dominance of Electronic Monitoring without assistance/guidance

9410. Building in Evaluation, Research, and Reporting
Literature:• Attention in European probation development rarely paid to global lessons incapacity building (e.g.; peace-keeping, health).
• Few accessible evaluation reports on probation capacity building projects or focussed
on what works.
• Some very good reflections: for instance, Latvia, Romania, Turkey.
• The science of capacity building could benefit from more systematic evaluation,
along the lines of aims, domains and enablers.
95

Which lessons from
Europe appear
applicable tocapacity building
globally?

96

Main international
factors in the growth ofprobation in Europe

97So, which lessons from Europe are applicable
to development globally?
Draw on European success factors in building
probation :• Standard setting and statistics• Funding• A strong regional organisation (CEP) - regional
networks working together• Academia, evidence

Attend to issues and risks:• Context - building capacity often takes time
• Unbalanced attention to domains (other thandomain 2) reduces probation impact:• Domain 1 – impact on pre-trial detention• Domains 3 and 4 – early release and seamlessapproach to reintegration• How netwidening can be managed • Data collection (such as “SPACE”)• Parsimony, proportionality and purpose in
sentencing (advice reports help).
• Focus on avoiding netwidening in every
capacity building project.
98

5 Points to support development globally
1. Regional networks, collaborating and learning through a world-wide probation
network, platform, or organisation:
2. Revisit and update existing recommendations and guidance on probation /community-based work, paying attention to all domains and measures (UNHandbook in the making!)
3. Ensure that budgets of the UN and other donor organisations have a direct focus
on the development of probation. Improve donor coordination.
4. Strengthen the availability of data (e.g., SPACE data), on all four domains ofprobation.
5. Promote research and evaluation in all domains to inform development, impact,
and communication about the contribution of community-based work

99

In Conclusion!

Thank you for listening!

• “East-West – home is best!” Or is it..?
• Relevance of European learning to global development• Policy, Practice, Knowledge generation?
• Building Capacity?
• new and developing probation services• in relation to the global north-south• To what extent are lessons on capacity building inprobation relevant to other professional fields of justice?
• Emerging challenges: technology, balancing sentence
framework, political/economy, public opinion…
• The Strength of Collaboration – at every level!