Skip to content

News

Looking back: CEP webinar on Alternatives to pre-trial detention

In the morning of 14th December 2021 CEP organized an online webinar on the topic of Alternatives to Pre-trial detention.

In Europe 22% of the inmates held in European penal institutions are not serving a final sentence. Following the terminology of the Council of Europe, this means that 22% of the inmates are detainees placed in pre-trial detention.

It should be noted that in Europe an important part of the population in pre-trial detention are so-called ‘foreign nationals’. Especially in the European Union countries the percentage of foreign nationals in remand placed in pre-trial detention is relatively high (approximately almost 60%).

These data clearly show the overuse of pre-trial detention and emphasize the importance to promote the use of alternative measures to pre-trial detention in Europe, not only because prison overcrowding is still a big problem in many countries. Reducing the proportion of pre-trial detention is largely a matter of improving the functioning of the criminal justice process.

In the webinar CEP addressed the different mechanisms that influence the high number of detainees placed in pre-trial detention and focused on alternative measures available today to reduce the number of detainees placed in pre-trial detention, like the European Supervision Order and the Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA (FD 829).

Three excellent presentation were delivered by Ms. Ilze Tralmaka (Fair Trials), Ms. Tanja Dejanova (Penal Reform International) and Professor Ioan Durnescu (University of Bucharest, Romania) – these can be downloaded below.

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

Probation in Europe

New Division episode: Daniel Wolter on the DBH Federal Association

23/02/2026

The 18th episode of Division_Y features Daniel Wolter, Director of the DBH Federal Association for Social Work, Criminal Law and Criminal Policy, based in Cologne, Germany.

New

Victims rights

European Day for Victims of Crime

23/02/2026

Yesterday, 22 February, marked the European Day for Victims of Crime.

At CEP, we recognise that crime causes harm to individuals and communities. Probation work focuses on accountability, rehabilitation and reducing reoffending, contributing to the prevention of further victimisation.

CEP Board

Interview with new CEP board member Jana Bewersdorff

19/02/2026

During the General Assembly in Austria, a new CEP Board got elected for the upcoming three years. In the coming weeks we will publish interviews with all newly-elected board members where they will share information on their professional background, how they would like to contribute, what challenges lie ahead and many more.

Enjoy reading!

Recap

Research

Recap: Expert group on Research

18/02/2026

The Expert Group on Research met on 17 February at the CEP office in Utrecht, The Netherlands, for its annual face‑to‑face meeting.

New

CEP members

New CEP member: Killian Evert

17/02/2026

In recent weeks, CEP has interviewed individual members and representatives of the new member organisations that joined CEP at the beginning of 2026. In these interviews, the new member organisations or individual members will share information on why they decided to become members, how they would like to contribute to the development of CEP and many more.
Enjoy reading!

New

CEP Board

Interview with new CEP board member Line Elisabeth Wilberg

11/02/2026

During the General Assembly in Austria, a new CEP Board got elected for the upcoming three years. In the coming weeks we will publish interviews with all newly-elected board members where they will share information on their professional background, how they would like to contribute, what challenges lie ahead and many more.

Enjoy reading!

Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!