On the 24th of September 2019, the annual Expert Meeting on the Framework Decisions 947 and 829 took place in the Irish Institute in Leuven, Belgium. The aim of the meeting was to exchange knowledge regarding the Framework Decisions on the transferring of probation sentences within Europe and to improve the implementation.
Since the last Expert Meeting in September 2018, CEP has worked hard on the actions that were agreed upon during this meeting. A questionnaire was send out and an analysis was made. CEP also produced the final version of a leaflet for the offenders, an informative guideline for probation officers and an animation video about the framework decisions on probation. Together with the analysis on the questionnaire, these were presented during the meeting by CEP Policy Officer Maria Lindström.
Tony Marguery’s presentation was about the interpretation of the Framework decision 2008/947. The participants found mutual recognition and trust an important topic for the improvement of the execution of the Framework Decisions.
The final presentations were held by Esther Montero Pérez de Tudela and Ioan Durnescu. They updated the participant on the PONT project that was launched last year. Ioan Durnescu presented the e-manual they created. The manual aims at facilitating the training for competent authorities and probation staff on implementing FD 947 and 829. Do you want to see the two final presentations about the PONT project? This are the full versions:
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.
Today, 25 November, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. It is a global reminder, recognised by UNESCO and the wider international community, of the urgent need to prevent violence, support those affected by it, and strengthen collective action. The day also opens the 16 Days of Activism, a worldwide campaign that calls for sustained engagement to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
From 18-20 November 2025, 15th Plenary Meeting of the Council for Penological Co-operation took part in Council of Europe, Strasbourg. CEP was represented by President Annie Devos, Vice-Presidents Danijela Mrhar Prelic (PC-CP member) and Daniel Danglades and Secretary General Jana Spero Kamenjarin.
The CEP Expert Group on Mental Health met on 19 November 2025 to continue its work on developing a European mental health training curriculum for probation officers. Since last year, the group has been working intensively and meticulously to produce a solid first version of the curriculum.
CEP has released the first cross-European study examining stress, burnout, and morale among probation staff. The report was produced by Professor Charlie Brooker, Professor Karen Tocque, Professor Ioan Durnescu and Liliana Lupsica, whose combined expertise in public health, criminology, and organisational analysis provides an important contribution to our understanding of well-being in probation work.
On 12 and 13 November 2025, CEP Secretary General Jana Špero Kamenjarin participated in the Multilateral Meeting on Women in Prison: Advancing Gender-Sensitive Policies and Practices, at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The meeting brought together representatives from 40 member states, penitentiary administrations, and international experts, united by a shared commitment to improving rehabilitation, reducing re-offending, and promoting gender equality in places of deprivation of liberty.
This book, Forensic Social Work – Supporting Desistance, has been released by Routledge. It is a practice-oriented resource exploring how forensic social work can support desistance and foster meaningful change in the lives of justice-involved individuals.
