Previous Article
News
Portugal hosts 7th Conference on Electronic Monitoring
Portugal is proud to host the upcoming conference on electronic monitoring (EM) this year in Évora on May 5-7, 2011. Susana Pinto has been part of the preparatory group since 2009, when the CEP conference took place in Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands. It is the first time that the conference has been held in a country other than The Netherlands. Susana Pinto explains how the conference furthers probation in Portugal: “We are not new in EM but we still experience difficulties convincing the judicial community that EM is an important tool in the probation service; more precisely as an alternative to imprisonment.” The high level of interest in the conference shows, however, that EM is a hot topic across Europe.
EM wins popularity
Interest for the CEP Electronic Monitoring 2011 Conference (EM 2011) is high because EM is increasingly being used in Europe and in other countries across the globe. Delegates from probation services, policy makers and manufacturers will attend the conference. “This year’s conference could be a big success because we are going to attract a new public. Not only the Mediterranean countries such as Spain, but also the Latin-American countries, such as Brazil and Colombia will be present. And that means sharing experiences with more people, which enriches everybody.”
Focus upon EM in probation
EM 2011 will especially focus on the use of EM in probation sentences and the benefits of EM will become more apparent. Working with EM in Portugal, Susana Pinto knows its advantages: “We must not forget that EM is technology but we also know, because we have the experience, that EM is undeniably at the centre of criminal policies and not only because of cost reductions but because EM is seen as an option which allows the offender to avoid being contaminated by the prison environment and losing family, social and work ties. Stigmatisation associated with prison is a huge hurdle to overcome in offender rehabilitation, therefore EM offers a good alternative.”
EM 2011 in Portugal
Both the preparatory group, and the participants at EM 2009 proposed the CEP conference would be held in another country. This change would extend its reach significantly. Susana Pinto emphasizes the advantages for Portugal: “Locating the conference in Portugal will help us achieve some of our goals for probation. The publicity that is generated around EM 2011 will make the topic better known among the Portuguese public, and Portuguese probation practice will become better known in the international community as well. And that give us some points!”
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, Framework Decisions
Recap: Expert Workshop on Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA
16/09/2025
The Expert Workshop held on September 10–11, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium, brought together senior managers, probation practitioners, criminal justice professionals such as lawyers and prosecutors from across Europe as well as representatives of the European Commission, Academy of European Law and European Judicial Network to discuss the advancements in the implementation of Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA. Hosted at the Houses of Justice, the CEP Expert Workshop served as a dynamic platform for mutual learning, collaboration, and strategic planning.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Katharina Heitz on the Ressources-Risk-Inventory in Probation
11/09/2025
The 14th episode of Division_Y features Katharina Heitz, Head of the Central Department for Social Work at the Public Probation and Parole Service Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Recap
CEP Board, Probation in Europe
CEP at ESC 2025: Penal Policy Transfer and Ageing in Prison in Focus
08/09/2025
The Confederation of European Probation (CEP) had a strong presence at the 25th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EUROCRIM 2025), held in Athens from 3 to 6 September 2025. As one of Europe’s largest gatherings of criminologists, the ESC annual conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to exchange knowledge on crime, justice, and social responses. This year’s theme was “Logos of Crime and Punishment,” inspired by classical Greek philosophy.
Probation in Europe, Technology
Have Your Say: EU Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice (2025–2030)
18/08/2025
The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice: 2025–2030 European Judicial Training Strategy.
Reading corner
Criminal Justice
Parole Futures
18/08/2025
At a time when many parole systems are experiencing considerable strain, the aims of this collection are twofold: first, to encourage systematic and critical reflection on the rationalities, institutions and practices of parole. Second, to think big, and pose ambitious ‘what if’ questions about the possible futures of parole and prison release. Offering novel insights from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, this collection builds the case for, and then showcases, a ‘way of doing’ parole research that is global in outlook, interdisciplinary in approach and unapologetically normative in character.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Prof. Bernd Maelicke on The Prison-Dilemma
12/08/2025
The 13th episode of Division_Y features an in-depth conversation with Prof. Bernd Maelicke, one of Germany’s most respected voices in prison and probation reform.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.