Previous Article
News
CEP and UNAFEI signed an agreement for future cooperation
In September 2022 CEP President Gerry McNally and UNAFEI Director Taro Morinaga signed an agreement as a new step in future cooperation between the international partners. By signing the agreement, UNAFEI becomes an affiliate member of CEP. This is a new step forward in making a wider global network for the benefit of probation services globally.

UNAFEI – United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders is one of the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Networks Institutes, established in 1962 by an agreement between the UN and the Government of Japan.
UNAFEI’s main activities are to hold international training courses and seminars for criminal justice practitioners from around the world and to undertake research in the field of prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders.
CEP Board members have been involved in UNAFEI activities, namely Vice-President (new Secretary General) Jana Spero and board member Professor Fergus McNeill were guests at UNAFEI in Tokyo and took part in the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice organized in Kyoto, Japan in 2021. Jana Spero was also one of the visiting experts at the 174th International Senior Seminar (2020). Also, Stephen Pitts, CEP Ambassador, has been cooperating with UNAFEI for a long period of time.
Taking into account that UNAFEI contributes to the enhancement of justice in the international community, provides technical assistance and has involvement in various international activities, we strongly believe that there will be numerous activities between partners for the benefit of the community. CEP is very interested in learning more about volunteer programs in probation in Japan, while UNAFEI can access a large network of probation professionals in Europe under the network of CEP.
Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the possibilities of future cooperation.

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
CEP
Newsletter October 2026 out now
29/10/2026
CEP’s latest newsletter is out now! It includes:
- Deadline approaching for the Workshop on Technology and Alternatives to Detention
- Recap of the 14th EM and CEP Excellence Leadership Training
- New publications from Expert Groups on Technology and Expert Group on Violent Extremism
- Call for Proposals: Evaluation of CEP Expert Groups
- Engaging with Research – a new section in our newsletter
- and much more!
New
Violent Extremism
Understanding Youth Radicalisation: What Can Probation Services Do? | New Report from CEP’s Expert Group
27/10/2026
In recent decades, the violent radicalisation of juveniles and young adults has become a pressing concern for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and communities worldwide. While considerable attention has been devoted to psychological vulnerabilities, socio-economic marginalisation, and community-level influences, the broader context in which violent radicalisation develops is often overlooked. At the same time, the increasing involvement of young people in violent extremist offences highlights the urgent need for effective prevention efforts. Addressing youth radicalisation has become a complex and evolving challenge for families, educators, mental health professionals, law enforcement agencies, probation services, and security authorities.
Recap
Probation in Europe
Reflections on the European Society of Criminology Conference 2026 | From Criminological Research to Probation Practice
26/10/2026
At CEP, we are fascinated by research from across Europe and beyond, and by helping it reach the people who can use it. Ruth Armstrong, CEP Research and Policy Officer, went to the 26th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EuroCrim 2026 – Working Group on Community Sanctions and Measures) that took place in Warsaw, Poland, from 9–12 September 2026.
Against a backdrop of overcrowded prisons and net-widening (with ever more people drawn into supervision), three questions kept coming up in the research: how time shapes justice, what we mean by success, and how we define harm.
New
Technology
Registration deadline approaching: Join CEP’s final workshop of 2026 on technology in probation
22/10/2026
📢 Have you registered yet? CEP’s final workshop of 2026 takes place on 24 November in Barcelona, bringing together professionals to explore how technology is being used across probation services in Europe.
The Workshop on Alternatives to Detention and Technologies: Deep Diving into New Trends will look beyond artificial intelligence to examine the different ways technology is shaping probation practice, from staff training to working with clients and collaborating with other criminal justice partners.
Recap
Directors General Meetings
CEP Leadership Excellence Training: strengthening leadership and cooperation across Europe
22/10/2026
The CEP Leadership Excellence Training, held on 20–21 October in Zagreb, Croatia, brought together Directors General and senior probation managers from 11 European countries for a two-day interactive programme focused on leadership, communication, staff development, and international cooperation.
New
CEP
Call for Proposals: Evaluation of CEP Expert Groups
21/10/2026
On behalf of Ms. Jana Å pero Kamenjarin, CEP Secretary General, it is my pleasure to invite you to submit a proposal to conduct an evaluation within the CEP work programme.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
"*" indicates required fields
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.