Expert group

Mental Health

European probation services nowadays are faced with large numbers of people with mental health problems. Research has shown that the prevalence of various mental health problems among probationers is relatively high when compared to the general population. It is important to identify those who are sentenced for other crimes, but possibly have mental health problems. It is also essential that mental health needs of people who have offended are given a higher priority in terms of service delivery, education, staff straining and research, because working on mental health issues is also a way of reducing crime and especially recidivism.

The group

Through the expert group on mental health in probation we want to:

raise awareness about mental health needs of people who have offended in probation;

increase knowledge in dealing with mental health issues in probation;

promote co-operation and the exchange of information between national and international organisations and groups that are working in the field of mental health;

liaise with state and non-governmental bodies as well as other experts who provide support for rehabilitation;

contribute to the training to improve work regarding mental health;

be an information resource on mental health in probation for benefit of CEP members and other relevant parties.

Members

Cristina Pestana (Chair)

DGRPS, Portugal

Eoin Ryan

Irish Probation Service

Duygu Altin

Yalova Probation Service, Turkey

Yvonne Morick

Probation Service, Germany - Freiburg

Angel Genov Topkarov

Probation Service, Bulgaria

Maja Zawadzka

University of Justice, Poland

Michael McCracken

Probation Board for Nothern Ireland

Sara Arata

Italian Probation Service – Ministry of Justice

Speakers

Cristina Pestana (Chair)

DGRPS, Portugal

Eoin Ryan

Irish Probation Service

Duygu Altin

Yalova Probation Service, Turkey

Yvonne Morick

Probation Service, Germany - Freiburg

Angel Genov Topkarov

Probation Service, Bulgaria

Maja Zawadzka

University of Justice, Poland

Michael McCracken

Probation Board for Nothern Ireland

Sara Arata

Italian Probation Service – Ministry of Justice

Upcoming events

Interested in joining us for an event? Check out our upcoming gatherings

This event is upon invitation only

Expert group meeting

Mental Health

Expert Group on Mental Health face to face meeting

08 Apr 2026

09 Apr 2026

Dublin, Ireland

The Expert Group on Mental Health will convene for its next in-person meeting on 8–9 April 2026 in Dublin, hosted by the Irish Probation Service. Purpose of the Meeting This meeting will provide a structured and collaborative space for members to reflect on the work achieved during the current mandate, identify remaining gaps, and jointly shape the group’s strategic direction for the next phase. A key objective will be to agree on the group’s next actions and priorities, including initial planning for the 2026–2028 working plan and the 2027 workshop. In addition, the meeting will offer an open and supportive forum to discuss future participation in the group, allowing members to reflect on their continued involvement moving forward.

This event is upon invitation only

Expert group meeting

Mental Health

Expert Group On Mental Health Online Meeting

14 Jan 2026

Online

The online meetings aim to continue ongoing conversations, offering an opportunity to share experiences, insights, and good practice across member organisations.

This event is upon invitation only

Past events

Interested in our past events? Or would you like to relive the highlights? Check out all our past events here

Expert Group on Mental Health

19 Nov 2025

CEP Expert Group meeting on Mental Health in Probation

26 Nov 2024

Fifth CEP expert group meeting

18 Apr 2023

Fourth CEP expert group meeting

06 Apr 2022

Third (online) expert group meeting 2021

27 Jan 2021

Second (online) expert group meeting 2020

04 Nov 2020

First CEP expert group meeting 2019

12 Feb 2019

Recommended by expert group members

Below you will find recommendations and practices from the expert group.

Recommendation CM/Rec(2025)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States regarding the promotion of the mental health of prisoners and probationers and the management of their mental disorders

The European survey of probation staff´s knowledge of, and attitudes to, mental illness

Our knowledge of Mental Health

European probation and prison services are nowadays faced with large numbers of mentally ill people. The reduction of community mental health services all over Europe over the past several decades has led to the criminalisation of the mentally ill. The prevalence of various mental health problems among probationers and prisoners is considerably higher than in the community. In that sense, CEP aims to share experiences and good practices between CEP-members, experts on mental health in probation, in order to improve programes, interventions and ways of working with people under probations suffering mental health problems.

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