Confrence 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 countries Well-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 CEPs contribution to the new
  Prison Rules
• invited the DGs 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.