Conf

1
Conférence Permanente de la Probation

• An introduction by Leo Tigges, Secretary General

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Mission

• The Conférence 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.

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History of CEP

• Foundation in 1981
• Main reason growing number of foreign nationals
  in national prisons
• Countries represented in 1981 19
• Countries represented in 2007 27
• Recent entries Liechtenstein, Poland

4
Principles CEP

• Community Justice Crime must be resolved in
  communities
• Human rights bringing alive basic rights and
  responsibilities
• Delivery of effective sentences reducing
  re-offending, developing consistent and fair
  options that are based on good principles and
  good evidence

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What binds probation in Europe? (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
• supervision, behavioural interventions and
  aftercare is offered, if needed

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What binds probation in Europe?(2)

• Non-custodial sentences are more effective and
  cheaper than custodial sentences
• Supervision, aftercare and behavioural
  interventions are needed to prevent recidivism

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Aims and focus of CEP

• Enhancing profile of probation
• Improving professionalism of probation
• Focus on evidenced based practice
• Influencing governments and European Institutions

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How does CEP help?

• Programme of Activities workshops and
  conferences
• Exchange of ideas Newletter, website, reports
• Providing expertise to the European Union and the
  Council of Europe
• Influencing Governments, partners in the penal
  system, EuropeanInstitutions

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Overview CEP conferences (1)

• Foreign offender 1981, 1982, 2008
• Electronic Monitoring 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005,
  2007, 2009
• Community Sanctions and Measures, Community
  Service 1986, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005

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Overview CEP conferences (2)

• Sex offenders 2000, 2003, 2006
• Effective Practice, What Works? 1996, 2002,
  2004, 2008
• Cooperation judicial authorities and probation
  services 1984, 1987
• Drugs Probation intervention 1991 and Drug
  couriers 1996, 2007

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Changing character of CEP

• Other topics electronic monitoring, what works,
  toughness
• Emerging countries Well-established services are
  re-visioning while new probation services are
  developing a first vision
• Focus on governments and European institutions

12
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
• Continuing building more prisons is expensive and
  not effective
• Every country has a lot of foreigners in its
  penitentiary institutions
• Probation is not a soft option

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Council of Europe (1)Activities on Crime Problems

• 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

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Council of Europe (2)Positive developments

• The Council of Europe
• studied CEPs contribution to the new Prison
  Rules
• invited the Director Generals of Probation at the
  ad hoc conference for DGs of the Prison Services
  in November 2004
• organised the Conference on Probation and
  Aftercare in Istanbul 14-16 November 2005

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Council of Europe (3) Positive developments

• 2007 formulating a frame of reference for
  developing Recommendations on Role and Function
  of Probation Services in Europe
• Some new members with probation expertise
  appointed in the Penological Council in April 2006

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European Commission (1)

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

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European Commission (2)Transfer of sentenced
Persons

• Austria 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.

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European Commission (3)Transfer of sentenced
Persons

• First time that rehabilitation is mentioned in EU
  rules
• Gives opportunity for CEP to present itself to
  the EU in working out the consequences for
  Probation

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European Commission (4)Transfer of sentenced
Persons

• Is an advisory report from the Probation Service
  necessary?
• Which probation service is going to advise the
  authorities?
• What will have to be the minimum topics covered?

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European Commission (5)Transfer of alternative
sanctions and probation measures

• Framework decision is currently being discussed
  in Brussels and Lisboa
• Will have a lot of consequences for the national
  probation organisations

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European Commission (5)Funding

• New funding programs for the period 2007-2013 are
  under preparation
• More money available for projects with a European
  dimension in the field of justice, security and
  safeguarding liberties
• CEP and the member countries should in 2007
  explore what it means for probation

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An active CEPWhat is in it for members?

• A growing awareness of probation at the European
  level ? a stronger position a the national level
  and visa versa
• More money available at the national and European
  level
• Support for national developments (knowlegde and
  advice)
• Improved exchange of policy and practice