Recap: ERA seminar “Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA and their Impact on Alternatives in the EU”

The seminar was part of a series of five events co-funded by the European Union on enhancing cross-border mutual legal assistance and the recognition of decisions in the context of detention. It focused on alternatives to detention, including in the context of the European Arrest Warrant, and on the use of Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA on probation and alternative sanctions and Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention.

The seminar was organised by ERA in cooperation with the National Courts Administration of the Republic of Lithuania, the Council of Europe, the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ). Participants included judges, prosecutors, lawyers and probation officers.

Gerry McNally presented on revisiting the key findings of the 9th round of mutual recognition instruments. Danijela Mrhar Prelić presented on the role of probation services and officers in preventing (re)incarceration, including help on release, conflict resolution and cooperation with authorities. Pia Andersson presented on technology as part of alternatives to detention, focusing on electronic monitoring and other technologies.

Danijela Mrhar Prelić also led the workshop “Probation services and their work with judicial and other authorities: effective means and methods”. During the workshop, she presented the Guidelines to Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA – A guide for probation staff. One conclusion of the workshop was that it would be useful for each stakeholder to have guidelines on the Framework Decisions, similar to those developed by CEP for probation staff.