Previous Article
News
CEP is looking for a trainee Policy Officer!
Please note that this position is only open to someone working for a CEP member organisation. During the time of the traineeship, you will be seconded from the organisation you currently work at.
To work as a trainee Policy Officer (PO) for CEP is a unique opportunity to see and get to know probation in Europe. The PO is involved in many different activities and events and builds up a network of probation professionals all over Europe.
The PO trainee has:
- Education: Graduated from an accredited University with an academic degree in Law, Social Work, Criminology, Social Pedagogy, Public Administration, Psychology or Sociology, or other relevant qualifications.
- Experience: Proven (minimum 3 years) experience in the probation field casework or similar work in a related correctional field, or in organizations/institutions related to the correctional sector. Experience in planning and organising activities. Experience in working with strategic documents and long term planning. Candidates for trainee Policy Officer may have experience as Probation Officer or first line manager/policy officer or have another relevant position in their parent organization (a CEP member organisation).
- Skills: Good knowledge of the English language (both written and spoken), good communication skills, the capacity to represent CEP in international events – including giving presentations. Good social skills and capacity to build and maintain a network.
The tasks for the Policy Officer trainee are:
- Taking the lead in several expert groups of CEP (for example on Domestic Violence, Mental Health, Violent Extremism)
- Taking the lead in all aspects of work regarding the European Framework Decisions
- Cooperating in the yearly application for the EU Operating Grant
- Representing CEP at international meetings and events
Former seconded Policy Officer Maria Lindström did an interview about her two years at CEP, click on the link to read it.
Length of traineeship
In order to really understand and come up to full speed, a period of two years is needed for the trainee. It is also important for the work environment at the CEP secretariat to have enough time for new colleagues. It is important that the trainee understands that he/she needs to work very independently and that the tasks vary a lot.
The CEP office is based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, so it is important that the trainee, if she/he is from another country, has access to a good working space with colleagues, the right equipment such as a computer, smartphone, internet access, skype etc. to enable good communcation lines with the CEP office.
Applicants should have the support and endorsement of their employing organisation and CEP will engage with the employer on terms and conditions. All costs for travels made on behalf of CEP will be covered by CEP.
Application
Do you see yourself in this position and do you want to apply? Please send your motivation letter and cv to secr@cep-probaiton.org. Note that you have to have permission from your employer to apply for this position. The deadline for submitting your application is the 1st of November 2019.
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.
New
Gender-based violence
New European Master’s Programme on Perpetrator Intervention Launched
07/05/2026
The European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (WWP EN), in collaboration with Blanquerna – Universitat Ramon Llull (Barcelona), has launched a pioneering new programme:
Lifelong Learning Master’s Degree in Intervention Strategies with Perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence: Social, Clinical, and Legal Perspectives
This initiative represents the first international lifelong learning Master’s programme specifically focused on perpetrator intervention, offering a unique opportunity for professionals working to address and prevent gender-based violence across Europe and beyond.
New
Education and Training
CEP Expert Network on Education and Training Publishes Technical Recommendations on Mentoring in Probation Training
06/05/2026
The Confederation of European Probation (CEP) is pleased to present the Technical Recommendations on Mentoring in the Context of Probation Training, developed through the work of the CEP Expert Network on Education and Training.
This publication is the result of extensive collaborative exchange among 30 experts from 15 European jurisdictions, who convened in March 2025 in Agen, France, at the École Nationale d’Administration Pénitentiaire (ENAP). Bringing together probation directors, middle managers, practitioners, and representatives from training institutions, the network worked collectively to identify shared challenges, exchange practices, and formulate practical recommendations to strengthen mentoring within probation services across Europe.
Probation Journal
Research
What is the societal value of probation?
04/05/2026
During the CEP 15th General Assembly and International Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Probation (from 14 to 16 October 2025 in Vienna, Austria), the Dutch research group Modelling Societal Impact received the CEP Probation Research Award for their work on the societal impact of the Dutch probation services. The research has since been completed. There are multiple reports published (in Dutch) and a short videocast with English subtitles. For anyone interested, see below an oversight of the published research and relevant links to the publications and videocast.
This research may help other European countries demonstrate the added value of probation for their national context. If you would like to learn more about this, please contact: a.a.nemeth@saxion.nl (dr.ir. Attila Németh) or a.visser@saxion.nl (Anouk Visser, MSc.)
New
Probation outside Europe
CEP and CAPP sign Affiliation Agreement during 7th WCCP
01/05/2026
On 15 April 2026, during the World Congress on Probation and Parole in Bali, the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) signed an Affiliation Agreement with the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole (CAPP).
Recap
Technology
CEP Expert Group on Technology – online network meeting
30/04/2026
On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, the CEP Expert Group on Technology hosted an online network meeting introducing the newly finalised Practice Recommendations on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Probation.
New
CEP
Newsletter April 2026 out now
30/04/2026
CEP’s latest newsletter is out now! Articles on the recap 7th World Congress on Probation and Parole, upcoming event Workshop on Caseload and Workload, last days for Early bird fee for 14th Conference on Electronic Monitoring and more. >> Read here
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
"*" indicates required fields
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.