Transcript Conference Permanente de la Probation

Conférence Permanente
de la Probation
An introduction by Leo Tigges,
Secretary General
Mission
The Conférence Permanente Européenne de la
Probation will promote pan-European cooperation 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.
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
Principles CEP
• Community Justice: Crime must be resolved
in communities
• Human rights: bringing alive basic rights and
responsibilities
• Delivery of effective sentences: reducing reoffending, developing consistent and fair
options that are based on good principles and
good evidence
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
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
Aims and focus of CEP
• Enhancing profile of probation
• Improving professionalism of probation
• Focus on evidenced based practice
• Influencing governments and European
Institutions
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, European
Institutions
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
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
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
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
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
Council of Europe (2)
Positive developments
The Council of Europe:
• studied CEP’s contribution to the new Prison
Rules
• invited the Director Generals of Probation at
the ad hoc conference for DG’s of the Prison
Services in November 2004
• organised the Conference on Probation and
Aftercare in Istanbul 14-16 November 2005
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
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
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”.
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
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?
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
European Commission (5)
Funding
• New funding programs for the period 20072013 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
An active CEP:
What 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