CEP participated online in the International Penitentiary Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and UNODC on June 21st in Ukraine. The event consisted of three insightful sessions, each addressing crucial aspects.
During the second session, Mr Rait Kuuse, the Under-Secretary-General for Prisons and Head of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Estonia brought his extensive expertise to the forefront. As a former CEP Board Member and representative of a CEP member country, Estonia, Rait shared insightful perspectives on reforming prisons and probation, exemplifying the Estonian approach as a guiding example.
The event concluded with a captivating speech by Mr Philipp Meissner, the UNODC representative, further emphasizing the significance of international cooperation and strategic partnerships in advancing penitentiary systems.
View here the presentations
View here a brief about the prison service in Ukraine
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.
Interventions Alliance has published a new evaluation of a Hub coordinated on behalf of police forces in the south of England, focused on tackling violence against women and children through a whole family approach. The Hub supports victims and perpetrators of domestic abuse and works across policing, health and social services.
New updates from the European Commission highlight key priorities for judicial training in Europe, alongside new tools supporting transparency and access to data.
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.
