Conférence Permanente de la Probation

1. Conférence Permanente de la Probation An Introduction by Leo Tigges, secretary general

2. History of CEP • Foundation by England, France, Germany and The Netherlands in 1981 • Reason for foundation: growing number of foreign nationals in national prisons • Member countries in 19 • Member countries in 2006: 26 • Recent memberships: France, Italy, Spain, • Missing: Germany, Poland, Greece

3. Mission Present Board “The Conference Permanente Européenne de la Probation will promote pan-European co-operation in the development and delivery of community sanctions and measures. It is committed to achieving just outcomes, increased public protection and community involvement in the reduction of offending across all the countries of Europe - based on the tenets of human rights, well thought out policies, evidence based practice and the best use of public resources.”

4. In other words CEP is about • Community Justice: Crime happens and must be resolved in communities • Human rights: bringing alive basic rights and responsibilities • Delivery of effective sentences: working to protect the public and reducing reoffending; developing options that are tough, consistent, fair, accountable, based on good principles and good evidence

5. Probation in EuropeLearning and exchange What Probation means is very differentin different countries. It ranges from early help to work with prisoners and super-vision of released prisoners.In between are pre sentence reports, community measures used as diversions, community sanctions.

6. Learning and exchange Probation changes its face • from welfare to corrections • a more scientific probation approach (research, risk assessment, multi modality of interventions) • victims concerns are critical

7. Essential role probation in penal system (1) • Justice is done and effectiveness of the penal reaction is served when • the personal circumstances are taken into account: pre-sentence probation report • risk of recidivism is included in the sentence and the execution of the sentence: assessment reports • If needed, supervision, behavioural interventions and aftercare is offered

8. Essential role probation in penal system (2) • non-custodial sentences are more effective and less costly than custodial sentences • Supervision, aftercare and behavioural interventions are needed to prevent recidivism

9. Aims and focus of CEP • Enhancing profile of probation • Enhancing professionalism of probation • Focus on Human rights and evidenced based practice

10. How does CEP help? • Programme of Activities: Conferences, workshops, seminars • Exchange of ideas: Bulletin, Website, commitment to What Works/evidence based practice and public protection • Provisions of Experts to the European Union and the Council of Europe • Influencing Governments, partners in penal system, European Institutions

11. Overview conferences (1) • The foreign offender (1981 and 1982) • Electronic Monitoring (1998, 2001, 2003, 2005) • Conventions, Recommendations CoE ( 1986) and European rules on Community Sanctions and Measures (1998, 1999) • Community Sanctions and Measures, Community Service (1988, 1999, 2001,

12. Overview conferences (2) • Sex offenders (2000, 2003, 2006) • Effective Practice, What Works? (1996, 2002, 2004) • Cooperation judicial authorities and probation services (1984, 1987) • Victim and Offenders, Mediation (1985, • Drugs (Probation intervention 1991; Drug couriers 1996)

13. Changing character of CEP • Other subjects, items (electronic monitoring, what works, toughness) • Emerging countriesWell-established services are engaged in a process of re-visioning at a time when probation services elswhere in Europe are developing a vision for the first time. • Focus on governments and European institutions

14. Activities Council of Europe on Crime Problems(1) • Much work devoted to Extradition, Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Terrorism, Corruption, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, cyber crime etc. • Relatively few work devoted to Probation

15. A higher International Profile of Probation is needed • Probation has not been a priority on the agenda of the European Institutions • The wind behind the back of probation: • one cannot go on with building more prisons (expensive and not effective) • Every country has a lot of foreigners in its penitentiary institutions • Probation is not a soft option

16. Activities Council of Europe on Crime Problems(1) • Much work devoted to Extradition, Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Terrorism, Corruption, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, cyber crime etc. • Relatively few work devoted to Probation

17. Council of Europe (2)Positive developments • The Council studied CEP’s contribution to the new Prison Rules • invited the DG’s of Probation at the ad hoc conference for Director Generals of the Prison Services (November 2004) • organised the Conference on Probation and Aftercare in Istanbul 14-16 November

18. Council of Europe (3) Positive developments • 2006: formulating a frame of reference for developing Recommendations on Role and Function of Probation Services in Europe; 2007 and 2008: work in progress • No separate scientific study/working group will be set up but work will be carried out by the European Committee on Crime Problems • 3 to 5 new members will be appointed in April 2006; lobby countries necessary to nominate experts in probation!

19. European Commission (1) • Probation has never been on the agenda of the European Commission • Agenda dominated by free movement of persons, goods, services and capital • Upcoming interest in Justice topics • New developments on Rules and Funding

20. European Commission (2)Transfer of sentenced Persons • Austria, currently chair of EU, took the initiative of a draft on new rules on the transfer of sentenced persons without their consent • “The transfer of sentenced persons to the State of Nationality, the State of legal residence or the State with which the persons have other close links to serve their sentence helps with their rehabilitation”.

21. European Commission (3)Transfer of sentenced Persons • First time that rehabilitation is mentioned in EU rules! • Background: how can foreign offenders be sent back as soon as possible • Gives opportunity for CEP to present itself with the EU in working out the consequences for Probation

22. European Commission (4)Transfer of sentenced Persons • Is an advisory report from the Probation Service necessary in answering the question whether sending the offender back to his State of Nationality is helpful for his resettlement? • Which probation service (the issuing or the executing state) is going to advise the authorities? What will have to be the minimum topics covered?

23. European Commission (5)Funding • AGIS funding program will run until the end of 2006 • New funding programs for the period 2007-2013 are under preparation • More money available for projects with an European dimension in the field of justice, security and safeguarding liberties. • CEP and the member countries should in 2006 explore what “is in it” for probation.