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New website for Taskforce “Beyond Prisons”
The “Beyond Prisons” Taskforce on Women and Community Corrections was established in December 2018 by experts from Parole Board of Canada, following ICPA’s 20th Annual General Meeting and Conference. The goal of the Taskforce is to develop a globally inclusive conceptual framework for women, with an aim to inform governments, policy makers, practitioners, partners and the public about how to improve the current system of use of sentences for women. Fully endorsing the underlying philosophy of the Bangkok rules, the goal is to move to a system that largely rests within the community.
“BEYOND PRISONS: WOMEN AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS” NEW WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2020
The guiding principles underpinning the project are that leading strategies for women should be gender responsive i.e. relational, strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and holistic in nature.
Taskforce members are drawn from several regions of the world. The co-chairs are Jennifer Oades and Diane Williams (Jennifer Oades, Chairperson of the Parole Board of Canada, is also leading preparations for the 5th World Congress to be hosted in Ottawa in late September 2021 – more news to follow)! As the opening newsletter message from the co-chairs points out, given that the global population of incarcerated women has grown by almost 50% in the last 18 years compared to 20% for men, the need for alternatives is more pressing than ever.
Newsletter
This first newsletter spotlights a project working with justice-involved women in Ohio. “The Three T’s are the keys” refers to their approach being Trauma-informed, Treatment-orientated and Triaging (incorporating a multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach).
Kenya is the featured jurisdiction, where gender-sensitive non-custodial probation and community service work for women have been developed, the project including staff capacity building and revised report writing guidelines. The project was partnered by Penal Reform International, and an informative short film “Equal justice – making community sanctions work for women in Kenya”, can be accessed via the article’s references.
The Taskforce is pleased to share its new website and first newsletter! The Taskforce also invites proposals to be featured in the next newsletter or to join the conversation via the contact form provided on the website!
Visit the website and newsletter:
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CEP’s latest newsletter is out now! It includes:
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- Call for European Probation Journal on the topic of Workload in Probation
- EU documents like SPACE II, revised Victims’ Rights directive and so on
- and much more!
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As part of its long-standing cooperation with research, CEP invites its members to contribute to a special edition of the European Probation Journal on the topic of Workload in Probation.
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The use of community sanctions and measures that allow individuals to remain in the community – also known as alternatives to imprisonment – continues to grow overall in Europe, although at a moderate pace, according to the latest Council of Europe annual penal statistics on persons under the supervision of probation agencies (2025 SPACE II survey).
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The Council of the European Union has formally approved a new directive strengthening the rights of victims of crime across the EU. The updated law improves access to information, support, and protection by introducing an EU-wide victim support helpline (116 006), making it easier to report crimes through digital tools, strengthening safeguards for victims’ personal data, expanding child-friendly support services, improving access to legal aid, and helping ensure that victims receive compensation more quickly.
This directive updates the 2012 EU Victims’ Rights Directive and aims to ensure that victims receive more consistent and effective support across all Member States. Following its publication in the Official Journal, Member States will have 24 months to transpose the new rules into national law. For more information, see the Council of the European Union’s press release: Council greenlights law reinforcing protection of victims’ rights and check out the revised Victims’ Rights.
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The Albanian Probation Service plays an important role in the implementation of alternative sanctions and measures for both juveniles and adults. Through supervision, assessment, and rehabilitation-oriented interventions, the Service aims to support compliance with court decisions, reduce the risk of reoffending, and promote the successful reintegration of individuals into society.
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Nelson Mandela day
18/07/2026
Nelson Mandela Day reminds us that justice is not only about accountability – it is also about hope. Mandela believed in the dignity of every person and in the possibility of change. These principles are at the heart of probation.
Across Europe, probation professionals work every day to support people in taking responsibility for their actions, rebuilding their lives and successfully reintegrating into their communities. By promoting rehabilitation, social inclusion and human dignity, probation helps reduce reoffending and contributes to safer, more resilient societies.
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