Interview with Nataša Radonjić: Director General for Criminal Sanctions

• How did the probation service in Montenegro change over time?
• How many cases would an Officer receive after the case load calculation formula in comparison to before?                     
• What was the main reason for this change?

Probation service of Montenegro has been developing similarly to all young probation services. Following the increase in the confidence of courts in Montenegro to impose the alternative sanctions, mainly community service sentence, probation service was growing, developing and increasing its capacities in terms of staffing.The number of court decisions which enforcement was entrusted by the courts to the Probation service, current number of staff members and working conditions definitely asked for a new organizational approach. After being appointed at the position of the Director General in the Ministry of Justice, I have invested efforts in establishing better organizational models while one of the approaches was actually development of the model for caseload calculation for probation officers. Having in mind all necessary actions which need to be taken when processing the case, including the field work of the probation officers, it was necessary to reach the level of the objective caseload and equal allocation of the probation cases among probation officers.

• What were the strengths in the newly created probation formula?
• What do you think about the fact that probation formula could be of inspiration for another country?
• Did the Officers in Montenegro learn more about their own system through this cooperation and creation of a formula?

Once the case is allocated to the probation officer, he becomes responsible for it and monitors the progress in processing, which is the good point. Thus, according to all allocated cases, a probation officer can estimate how much time is required for case processing and organization of the work under each allocated case. Also, from the aspect of the work organization it is possible to estimate whether the total number of cases which are being processed is lower or higher than the average number of cases which can be completed within regular working hours. The introduction of the system required the cooperation and commitment of all probation officers. At this point, I can conclude that we all benefited from the system, especially from the aspect of efficiency and organization of the probation work in the Probation service.

•  How does a working probation system look like? What is the ideal?
•  What are some of the next steps for the Montenegro probation service department?

In line with the established caseload system, the case submitted by the court for enforcement is allocated to the probation officer who becomes responsible for the case and initiates its processing. Currently, probation officers are mainly enforcing the community service sentence and home detention. However, the model is being supported to encourage courts to decide on conditional releases which duration will be longer than it is the case now, together with special conditions imposed to the conditionally released persons, as well as, suspended sentences with protective supervision, which has not been the practice so far. Also, we are establishing the electronic monitoring for enforcement of two security measures – restraining order and removal from the place of residence which are applicable for the criminal offences in the area of domestic violence.
The Probation office in Bijelo Polje has started functioning in March 2020. Enforcement of the alternative sanctions imposed by the courts in the north of Montenegro falls under the competence of the office in Bijelo Polje. We hope that additional probation office covering the southern region of the country will be established in the future. However, considering the current number of incoming probation cases, conditions and functionality in performing probation tasks, the cases submitted by the courts from the central and southern region of the country can be successfully enforced by the Probation office in Podgorica. Due to the competences which probation officers have in relation to security measures, increased number of home detention cases and competences of the probation service in preparing the pre-trial reports which has been introduced recently, probation office in Podgorica will be strengthened by two new probation officers by the end of this year. It is worth mentioning that the Probation service has had positive experience since the practice of preparing pre-trial reports was introduced and our reports are well accepted by the courts, as well as the types of alternative sanctions proposed by the probation officers. We are all striving for ideals. I believe that all probation services are ideal model which is being developed further thanks to our constant and everyday commitment, results of our work and wish to meet in the future the convicted persons who served an alternative sanction being the useful members of our community who will never commit criminal offences again.