Previous Article
News
CEP Audit 2022 Invitation to Join a Focus Group
We want to invite probation practitioners and managers from across Europe to join a focus group. We are particularly looking for focus group participants who manage caseload and workload issues in their organisation. As well as staff responsible for delivering probation services, this could also include staff who are responsible for measuring and managing workload.
Introduction
The purpose of the 2022 CEP audit is to examine the caseload and workload of probation staff across Europe. The audit objectives are to explore:
- How probation bodies across Europe deal with an increasing caseload
- What measures are taken to prevent an excessive workload
- What steps can be taken to encourage national jurisdictions to increase the number of probation staff in order to fulfil the aims of probation.
The audit is being undertaken by Dr Jane Dominey and Ms Vesna Zelić. You can contact them with any questions by emailing Vesna.Zelic@mpu.hr
Invitation to Join a Focus Group
The audit will use focus groups as one way of gathering data about caseload and workload.
Two focus groups are planned. One on Monday 19 December at 14hr (CET) and the other on Tuesday 20 December at 10hr (CET). They will take place via Zoom and in English. Each group will last no more than 90 minutes. We will send you the focus group questions on Thursday 15 December.
We plan to recruit focus group members from organisations across Europe and from a wide range of organisations.
To Get Involved in a Focus Group
To join a focus group please email Ms Vesna Zelić (Vesna.Zelic@mpu.hr) by 15th December.
Please let us know:
- Your name, your role and your organisation.
- Whether you are able to join the group on 19 December or 20 December.
If you would like to join a focus group but can not attend on either of these dates please let us know. It is possible that there will be a January focus group and, if there is, we will contact you about this.
We will also be arranging interviews early next year. If you are interested in being interviewed but are not able to join a focus group, please let us know.
For the audit to be useful and relevant, it is important to hear many experiences and opinions. We are sure you recognise the importance of including a wide range of views.
Thank you for your interest and your participation!

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

CEP Events, Framework Decisions
Recap: Expert Workshop on Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA
16/09/2025
The Expert Workshop held on September 10–11, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, brought together senior managers, probation practitioners, criminal justice professionals such as lawyers and prosecutors from across Europe as well as representatives of the European Commission, Academy of European Law and European Judicial Network to discuss the advancements in the implementation of Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA. Hosted at the Houses of Justice, the CEP Expert Workshop served as a dynamic platform for mutual learning, collaboration, and strategic planning.
New

Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Katharina Heitz on the Ressources-Risk-Inventory in Probation
11/09/2025
The 14th episode of Division_Y features Katharina Heitz, Head of the Central Department for Social Work at the Public Probation and Parole Service Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Recap

CEP Board, Probation in Europe
CEP at ESC 2025: Penal Policy Transfer and Ageing in Prison in Focus
08/09/2025
The Confederation of European Probation (CEP) had a strong presence at the 25th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EUROCRIM 2025), held in Athens from 3 to 6 September 2025. As one of Europe’s largest gatherings of criminologists, the ESC annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to exchange knowledge on crime, justice, and social responses. This year’s theme was “Logos of Crime and Punishment,” inspired by classical Greek philosophy.

Probation in Europe, Technology
Have Your Say: EU Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice (2025–2030)
18/08/2025
The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice: 2025–2030 European Judicial Training Strategy.
Reading corner

Criminal Justice
Parole Futures
18/08/2025
At a time when many parole systems are experiencing considerable strain, the aims of this collection are twofold: first, to encourage systematic and critical reflection on the rationalities, institutions and practices of parole. Second, to think big, and pose ambitious ‘what if’ questions about the possible futures of parole and prison release. Offering novel insights from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, this collection builds the case for, and then showcases, a ‘way of doing’ parole research that is global in outlook, interdisciplinary in approach and unapologetically normative in character.
New

Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Prof. Bernd Maelicke on The Prison-Dilemma
12/08/2025
The 13th episode of Division_Y features an in-depth conversation with Prof. Bernd Maelicke, one of Germany’s most respected voices in prison and probation reform.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
"*" indicates required fields
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.