Previous Article
News
New CoE guidelines for organisations managing community santions and measures
On 22 March 2017, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) adopted a new guidelines document for organisations managing community sanctions and measures in Member States. This document – CM/Rec (2017)3 – Recommendation on the European Rules on Community Sanctions and Measures (CSM), was developed by the CoE’s Council for Penological Co-operation (the PC-CP).
Rules about CSM were first adopted in 1992 in form of the Recommendation No. R(92) 16, European Rules on Community sanctions and measures.1 Another Recommendation on “improving the implementation of the European rules on community sanctions and measures” Rec (2000)22 was adopted in 2000.2 The Council believes that an update was required, bringing together the substance of the two earlier Recommendations and taking account of the many changes that have taken place since 2000. The starting point was to study these two earlier Recommendations.
The new document, which combines, updates and replaces two previous recommendations on CSMs, from 1992 and 2000 respectively, can be downloaded here.
The Council of Europe has an unique experience in promoting more humane and socially effective prisons. To this end a number of legal instruments have been adopted including the European Prison Rules and recommendations on education in prison, prison staff, health care in prison and prison overcrowding. These legal instruments have been brought together in one publication, the Compendium of conventions, recommendations and resolutions relating to penitentiary questions.
These instruments have been prepared by either the Council for Penological Cooperation, which is a standing advisory body to the European Committee on Crime Problems, or by ad hoc expert committees.
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
CEP Events, CEP members, Gender-based violence
CEP 15th General Assembly and International Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Probation
16/10/2025
From 14 to 16 October 2025, Vienna hosted the 15th CEP General Assembly and the CEP International Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Probation: Challenges and Lessons Learned. The event, organized in cooperation with NEUSTART, brought together over 100 CEP members, probation professionals, policymakers, and researchers from across Europe to reflect, exchange experiences, and discuss the topic of gender-based violence from the perspective of probation, restorative justice and prison.
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Leo Tigges on Probation Capacity Building
09/10/2025
The 15th episode of Division_Y features Leo Tigges, a freelancing consultant and former Secretary General of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP).
In this episode, host Jo Tein (CEP board member) speaks with Leo about his professional journey and his co-authored publication with Steve Pitts on Probation Capacity Building. The discussion highlights international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategies for strengthening probation systems across Europe.
▶️ Watch the full interview (English with German subtitles) below
New
Framework Decisions
CEP Updates Framework Decision 947 Guides
06/10/2025
CEP has released updated versions of its guides for persons under probation supervision and for probation staff, reflecting its continued commitment to cross-border cooperation in criminal justice. These revisions aim to promote broader use of Framework Decision 947, which facilitates the mutual recognition of probation measures and alternative sanctions across EU member states.
The guides are to be found here.
Recap
ITSCCS
Building Core Skills, Building Connections: V edition of the ITSCCS 2025 in Barcelona
03/10/2025
Barcelona was the stage for the CEP International Training School on Core Correctional Skills (ITSCCS) 2025, held from 29 September to 3 October. Over five days, the Centre d’Estudis Jurídics i Formació Especialitzada became a hub for practitioners eager to sharpen the practical tools that define effective work in the criminal justice field.
Recap
Partners
CEP participated at the 14th Annual General Meeting of EuroPris
01/10/2025
On 23 September 2025, in Krakow, Poland, Jana Spero Kamenjarin, CEP Secretary General, participated in the 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of EuroPris.
Recap
CEP Board, Probation in Europe
30th Council of Europe CDPPS Conference: Can we move away from the overuse of penal sanctions?
01/10/2025
On 24–25 September 2025, Kraków, Poland, hosted the 30th Council of Europe Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services (CDPPS) under the theme “Can we move away from the overuse of penal sanctions?”. The event gathered high-level participants — Directors General from member and observer states and representatives of the supporting organisations.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.