Previous Article
News
Interesting article: ‘Probation Officer as a Coach: Building a New Professional Identity’
This article is about the report “Probation Officer as a Coach: Building a New Professional Identity’, which was published in the Federal Probation Journal, June 2018. The editors are Brian K. Lovins (Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department), Francis T. Cullen (University of Cincinnati), Edward J. Latessa (University of Cincinnati) and Cheryl Leo Jonson (Xavier University).
In America the amount of probationers is growing massively, one out of 53 people is under probation supervision. According to Lovins et al. a continuing concern is what role a probation officer should play in the live of a probationer.
“In traditional discourse, role choices have often been posed in dichotomous terms whether officers were going to emphasize treatment or control. We suggest, however, that it may be more useful to move beyond these stale categories. Instead, we propose that probation (and parole) officers might benefit from a different concept of who they are and what they do: probation officer as a coach.”
In the report you can read that Lovins et al. describe the current probation officer as a referee and they suggest to work more in the same way as a coach. According to them this results in new opportunities and it is more effective than the referee method. “Our argument is developed in three sections. First, we propose that too often the current probation officer role is best conceptualised as being a “referee.” We use the probation officer as referee as a way of showing what, in contrast, a coach’s role would entail. Second, we examine the skills that a probation officer as coach would need to possess to supervise offenders effectively. And third, we discuss the potential benefits that would accrue should probation officers be conceptualised as part of the coaching profession. Notably, coaching has broadened beyond athletic teams to include diverse pathways (e.g., life coaches, executive coaches, personal trainers).”
Please click on the link to read ‘Probation Officer as a Coach: Building a New Professional Identity’.
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
CJPE summer course, Gender-based violence
She Matters: Advancing Gender-Responsive Criminal Justice Through Cross-Sector Learning in Barcelona.
13/07/2026
From 7 to 10 July 2026, more than 60 criminal justice professionals from across Europe and beyond gathered in Barcelona for the 8th Criminal Justice Platform Europe (CJPE) Summer Course, hosted by the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training (CEJFE) of the Government of Catalonia. Bringing together professionals from probation, restorative justice and prisons, the Summer Course once again demonstrated the unique value of cross-sector learning, international cooperation and professional exchange.
Reading corner
Probation in Europe
Dohľad
08/07/2026
The authentic world of probation and mediation, in which professional work intersects with human destinies, is brought to you by the publication through case studies revealing the diverse life stories of convicts and the dynamics of their relationship with probation and mediation officers.
Probation Journal
CEP
New Publication: CEP, Probation and the Digital Future
02/07/2026
The latest issue of the Journal of Offender Monitoring features an English version of Gerry McNally’s chapter, CEP, Probation and the Digital Future, first published in 2023 as part of the Portuguese book Execução das Penas e Medidas na Comunidade no Futuro Digital, edited by Nuno Caiado.
New
Calls and funding oppertunities
European Commission | Call for proposals to support transnational projects in the fields of e-Justice, victims’ rights, and procedural rights.
02/07/2026
The European Commission has launched a new call for proposals to support transnational projects in the fields of e-Justice, victims’ rights, and procedural rights.
With a total budget of €9.4 million, the call aims to fund projects that contribute to the digitalisation and effectiveness of justice systems, strengthen the protection of victims, and promote access to justice and judicial cooperation across Europe.
New
Education and Training
Launch of 40 e-Capsules: Training on EU Law for Justice Professionals
29/06/2026
The European Judicial Training Team of the European Commission is pleased to announce the launch of 40 e-capsules (each available in all EU languages) within civil law, criminal law and fundamental rights.
New
CEP
Delegation from Azerbaijan visits CEP Office in Utrecht
25/06/2026
On 23 June, a delegation from Azerbaijan visited the CEP office in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The delegation included representatives of the Probation Service, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan and representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Netherlands. The visit to the CEP office was part of a broader learning programme with Reclassering Nederland.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.