This paper examines the European Probation Order (Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA) and its dual aim of enhancing offender rehabilitation while concurrently protecting victims and the general public. However, the legal framework lacks clarity on how victim protection is operationalised, raising concerns about the implementation of recognised post-trial victim rights during the transfer of probation measures. Through doctrinal and normative analysis, the paper reveals that the existing EU instrument designed to support victim rights, the Victims’ Rights Directive, does not adequately consider rights in the post-trial phase, even following its 2026 revision. The paper explores these gaps and evaluates the effectiveness of Framework Decision 947 in ensuring victim protection after sentencing. It reveals significant shortcomings in the current EU framework that prevent victims from fully exercising their rights when probation measures and alternative sanctions are transferred.
The study examines the influence of parents on the working alliance between juvenile probation officers and adolescents on probation in Greece. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 25 Greek juvenile probation officers from seven juvenile probation services throughout the country, the study identifies the specific attitudes and behaviors that enhance—or hinder—the probation officer-adolescent working alliance, focusing on two of its core elements: the emotional bond and goals agreed upon by the dyad. The study proposes a tripartite model of the probation officer–adolescent alliance, shifting from a dyadic approach to one where parents act as key mediators who can either reinforce or hinder trust and goals within the justice process. Parental attitudes, often rooted in their perception of the officer as caring or controlling, act as catalysts or disruptors—highlighting the need for a parallel alliance with parents to strengthen the officer-adolescent alliance and drive effective outcomes.
This paper presents findings from a systematic review of the literature concerning continuity of care for people released from prison or jail with serious mental illness. Sixteen papers were included in the review. The review addresses two research questions: the extent to which people continue to access mental healthcare following release, and the impact of interventions designed to improve continuity of care on mental health and criminal justice outcomes. Descriptive studies indicated that post-release engagement with community mental health services still requires improvement. Expedited Medicaid programmes improved enrolment and use of outpatient and prescription services but did not impact significantly on use of psychiatric services. Impact on criminal justice outcomes was variable. The remaining papers reported on a diverse range of interventions, and we can tentatively conclude that effective interventions for improving mental health and justice outcomes are likely to be intensive, multicomponent, and must start pre-release.
This article explores how probation supervision is organised and experienced within Austria's probation service, NEUSTART, against the background of shifting probation paradigms. Drawing on qualitative data from three focus groups with probation officers (n = 17) and interviews with people on probation (n = 12), the study examines how probation success is defined and pursued by professionals and how supervision is experienced by probationers. Adopting a process-oriented perspective, the analysis focuses on how organisation objectives are translated into everyday practice rather than outcomes alone. The findings show that Austrian probation supervision is characterised by a hybrid use of desistance-oriented social work and risk-oriented tools, which are continuously co-constructed. It is argued that probation practice is best understood as a relational and adaptive process in which institutional frameworks and individual change processes are continuously negotiated.
This study examined probation practitioners' views on written psychological case formulations used to support work with people presenting complex personality difficulties. A survey explored whether these documents function as meaningful tools for understanding behaviour and informing supervision, or whether they risk becoming procedural paperwork. Most practitioners found formulations helpful for clarifying risk and guiding planning, though confidence in producing them independently was low. Time pressures and limited organisational support were key barriers, while consultation and training enabled use. Findings highlight the need for supportive structures to sustain psychologically informed practice within probation settings.
Victim participation has been seen to progressively alter the dynamics of restorative justice (Earle et al., 2003). However, in some instances, victims do not attend meetings. Whilst claims have been made that partial restoration can still occur in meetings without a victim present (Doolin, 2007; Zehr, 2014), findings have revealed that best outcomes were achieved when victims and offenders were brought together (Campbell et al., 2006; O'Mahony and Doak, 2004). This study used an audio-recording of one restorative justice meeting that was transcribed, applying the method of conversation analysis to examine how institutional objectives were negotiated without a victim present. Findings revealed that, in the absence of a victim and without effective facilitation, achieving partial restoration was difficult. Attempts failed to encourage the offender to accept responsibility and understand the impact of his actions, highlighting the significant part a victim plays in the restorative justice process, but also demonstrating the crucial role the facilitator plays in achieving outcomes.
The Philippines ranks third in the world for jail and prison overcrowding, so alternatives to incarceration are very important. This research concentrates on the Parole and Probation Administration's (PPA) role in furnishing these services to parolees and probationers. The research aims to determine the regional and field offices' ideas to deliver successful services to society. Using a descriptive mixed-method design, the research was done in selected regions of the Philippines. It used survey questionnaires, statistical analysis, document review, and in-depth interviews. Results indicate that the PPA has a strong multi-sectoral collaboration with local social welfare services, health departments, educational institutions, and religious groups. These collaborations help address the diverse needs of probationers and parolees, such as healthcare, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and education. However, challenges have still been experienced, such as inadequate resources. To conclude, collaboration with other community sectors helps deliver services to PPA clients.
The re-entry process of individuals released from prison has been a key topic in criminological research over the last few decades. The literature identifies the community to which an individual returns as a key factor in the reintegration process. However, there are less studies on the specific characteristics that these communities have in practice. This article analyses what post-penitentiary care is like in the city of Barcelona for people who leave prison and return to their community. The research is based on a total of 32 semi-structured interviews (17 with professionals from third-sector organisations and 15 with former inmates) and a focus group with five organisations. The aim is to provide knowledge from a local perspective on how the network of re-entry services is structured and the challenges former inmates face accessing and utilising these resources. Even though a substantial number of resources and services exist in Barcelona, four problems are identified in the post-penitentiary care network: (a) the lack of a structured pathway and guidance to support former inmates in navigating available resources; (b) the lack of resources that comprehensively address the wide-ranging needs presented by a significant part of the prison population; (c) the lack of release preparation, especially for people who are not granted pre-release measures, and the lack of coordination between community organisations and the prison administration; and (d) the bureaucratic barriers to access the resources and the digital divide of a large part of the population.
This article presents the findings from a year-long project commissioned by the Confederation of European Probation (CEP). The project aimed to support CEP to effectively engage with existing research on probation and to prioritise key research areas for the future. Between 2023 and 2024, we reviewed papers published in four key journals over a 10-year period and used the review to develop a typology of probation research. That typology informed the design of an online survey which was distributed to over 900 probation staff, and the survey results were then discussed in several focus groups with senior leaders in probation, with stakeholders and partners, and with frontline practitioners. In this paper, we present findings from all three activities and use them to highlight key barriers to research engagement by those working in probation, and to identify priorities for future probation research.
This article explores the development of My Journey, a web-based application (app) co-designed with people in the criminal justice system (CJS) to facilitate desistance. Developed in partnership with Include UK, a third-sector organisation, the app aims to promote agency, improve access to resources, and facilitate practitioner support for people in the CJS. Grounded in desistance theories, My Journey embodies principles such as agency, strengths-based approaches, and positive relationship-building, promoting person-centred and individualised support. The co-design process engaged five practitioners and 41 people with lived experience, ensuring the app reflected their needs. By integrating theoretical insights with practical application, My Journey represents an innovative attempt to translate desistance theories into a useable digital technology to support people and practitioners in the CJS. This article outlines the key themes of desistance translated into the app, details the co-design methodology, and presents the app's features, highlighting its potential to bridge theory and practice.
The Parole and Probation Administration (PPA) plays a crucial role in rehabilitating probationers and parolees. However, the PPA in the 5th district of Camarines Sur faces challenges due to a high number of caseloads, making it difficult to effectively monitor probationers' compliance. To address this issue, a study was conducted to develop the Supremo App, an integrated probation monitoring system specifically designed for the PPA in this district. Utilizing Agile Management Methodology, the study identified the technological components and features necessary for the app's development. Key functionalities of the Supremo App include User Registration and Authentication, Dashboard, Document Upload, Accomplishment Tracking, Search and Filters, and Customization options. After the app's development, usability testing was performed, yielding an average score of 3.50 on the System Usability Scale. While probation officers evaluated the app positively, probationers reported navigation difficulties, indicating a knowledge gap. Ultimately, the Supremo App enhances monitoring efficiency and remote supervision of probationers. However, it also reveals challenges related to resource availability and resistance to adopting new technology. Future iterations of the app should focus on expanding and enhancing offline features, providing comprehensive training programs, and reinforcing data privacy measures to maximize effectiveness and user satisfaction. Such improvements will better serve both the probation officers and probationers, fostering a more streamlined and effective rehabilitative process in the district.
The aim of this article is to develop knowledge on how moral challenges affect officers’ well-being and professional performance. Building on existing research on adverse work experiences and the developing literature on moral injury, we examine 150 Canadian federal parole officers’ experiences of moral distress at work as distinct from traumatic stress and emotional stress. We unpack the process of how officers experience and manage moral distress and its aftermath in interaction with their social, organizational, and professional context. Our findings are crucial for addressing PPOs’ adverse work experiences, and for recognizing barriers to supporting clients’ rehabilitation and reintegration in penal settings. Therefore, we suggest a conceptualization specific to the moral aspects of challenges at work – moral labour – to further theorize and examine the relationship between moral distress at work, contextual conditions for managing the distress, and adverse work outcomes such as moral injury, burnout, and compassion fatigue.
