Skip to content

News

PROBATION BOARD for Northern Ireland (PBNI) PUBLISHES ROADMAP FOR FUTURE

The Probation Board has published its Corporate Plan for 2020-23 which sets the strategic direction and road map for the organisation over the next three years.

This article was first published by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI). 

The Plan sets out the five key areas that probation will concentrate on in the coming years. Some of the areas we will focus on include preventing people becoming involved in criminality and early intervention; enhancing restorative practices, tackling drug/ alcohol related offending; poor mental health; and building opportunities to enhance people’s education and employment.

Board Chair, Dale Ashford QFSM

Speaking about the Plan, Board Chair Dale Ashford QFSM said: “I am delighted to publish this plan which has been developed following a far reaching public consultation process. During the consultation we met with stakeholders from government, criminal justice, the voluntary and community sectors, staff, service users and communities. We listened carefully to what they had to say and we have developed our priorities accordingly.”

He continued: “There were a number of important themes captured in the consultation process. Consultees highlighted the importance of intervening as early as possible in order to address the causes of crime. Consultees also highlighted the important role probation plays in delivering a problem solving approach in particular to tackle domestic abuse and substance misuse. Of course PBNI cannot do this work alone and that is why a partnership approach will continue to be adopted.”

There are five strategic priorities in the plan. They are;

  1. Shaping and Influencing Criminal Justice Policy and Practice.
  2. Delivering an innovative and problem solving approach to reducing reoffending through partnership and collaboration.
  3. Demonstrating Effectiveness and Efficiency
  4. Valuing and Developing our People
  5. Building Awareness and Confidence in communities about the professional role of PBNI

He concluded: “The strategic priorities outlined in this plan enable PBNI to be collaborative, innovative and transformative. This will in turn enable staff to help reduce reoffending, reduce the number of victims of crime and help keep communities safe.”

Click here for a copy of the Corporate Plan

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.

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.

Recap

Probation outside Europe

Governance Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Probation and Parole: Compare and Contrast Europe and USA

19/09/2025

Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) organized an insightful webinar that introduced the theme “Governance oversight and accountability mechanisms in Probation and Parole. Compare and contrast Europe and USA”. This event took place on Thursday, 18 September 2025.

Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!