Skip to content

News

ZSM and Safety House CEP study visit

On the 13th of September 2017 nine people from all over Europe attended a special CEP study visit to two unique Dutch concepts ‘ZSM’ and ‘Safety House’ in Utrecht, The Netherlands.

 

ZSM

At the ZSM office in Utrecht Geeske Mulder and Kirsten van Scherpenzeel explained to everybody how ZSM works. ZSM can be translated as “well-considered, fast and tailormade”. It is about accelerated processing and transaction of simple offenses, by arrested or summoned offenders. It is a multi-agency procedure in which the prosecutor works in the same room as the police and various chain partners like probation, victim support and child care. In this way they can communicate fast and directly with each other, which means an enormous gaining of time.

This cartoon explains how ZSM works:

Safety House

After visiting ZSM, it was time to go to the Safety House, based in the old town hall of Utrecht. Karel van Duijvenbooden, manager of Safety House Utrecht, explained what Safety House is and how it functions.

The main objective of a safety house is increasing public safety with a multi-agency approach for complex cases. The main working form is in case-meetings in which individual cases are discussed, led by an independent chairman. The parties are all involved in social safety. Parties that could be involved are:

  • Police
  • Public prosecution office
  • Municipalities
  • Probation and after care services
  • Child care and protection boards
  • Prison service
  • Institutes for psychiatric consults and psychiatric care
  • Various institutions for addiction and psychiatric treatment
  • Various institutions for welfare and social services

The ZSM and Safety House presentations:

Presentation ZSM Utrecht

Presentation Safety House Utrecht

Related News

Keep up to date with the latest developments, stories, and updates on probation from across Europe and beyond. Find relevant news and insights shaping the field today.

Recap

Electronic monitoring

Recap: CEP Expert Group meeting at ATGV Antalya

12/03/2026

The CEP Expert Group on Electronic Monitoring, along with representatives of the CEP Office led by Mr. Daniel Danglades, CEP Vice-President, visited the Education and Social Facility of the Ministry of Justice in Türkiye – ATGV Antalya. The host country was represented by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Director General Mr. Fatih Güngör, Head of the Turkish Probation Department Dr. Hüseyin Şık, Member of the CEP EM Expert Group Ms. Elçin Kilecioğlu, as well as the Director and representatives of the ATGV facility, and officials from the courts, prosecution, and probation services in Antalya.

Recap

Education and Training

Recap: CEP Expert Network on Education and Training in Probation meets with the European Commission to discuss the EU Judicial Training Strategy

11/03/2026

On 11 March 2026, the CEP Expert Network on Education and Training in Probation met online with more than 20 participants from Belgium, Denmark, Sweeden, France, Romania, Croatia, Catalonia, Poland, United Kingdom and Türkiye to exchange views with the European Commission on the newly adopted EU Judicial Training Strategy 2025–2030.

The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for representatives of probation training institutions across Europe to engage directly with European Commission officials and discuss how the strategy may impact the training of probation and prison staff in the coming years.

Probation Journal

Women, youth

Understanding the needs of girls and young women in youth justice

10/03/2026

New research highlights the underlying needs that influence girls’ and young women’s contact with youth justice systems and calls for more gender responsive approaches in policy and practice. Drawing on a review of recent studies, the authors identify several factors shaping girls’ pathways into the justice system, including persistent abuse, trauma, gendered expectations, and systemic failures. Girls involved in youth justice are often affected by multiple forms of victimisation, such as sexual abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, with experiences frequently beginning in early childhood.

New

CEP Board

Interview with new CEP board member Ian Barrow

09/03/2026

During the General Assembly in Austria, a new CEP Board got elected for the upcoming three years. In the coming weeks we will publish interviews with all newly-elected board members where they will share information on their professional background, how they would like to contribute, what challenges lie ahead and many more.

Enjoy reading!

New

Gender Equality, Gender-based violence

Women’s Day

09/03/2026

Yesterday was International Women’s Day.

At CEP, this day closely reflects our core values and ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality and addressing gender-based violence within the context of probation and community justice.

Directors General Meetings

Online meeting for Directors General and Senior Managers in Probation

05/03/2026

On Wednesday 4 March CEP organized its annual online meeting for Directors General and Senior Managers in Probation. The session offered a comprehensive look into how CEP Expert Groups function and the value they bring across the organization. Participants gained a clearer understanding of how these groups operate, how they support CEP’s strategic priorities, and how colleagues can engage with their work—either as active members or as stakeholders who rely on their outputs.

Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!