On 25 April 2023, the members of the Expert Group on Technology met in Prague to continue working on the draft practice recommendations regarding technologies in probation. It was the first meeting of the group this year with 9 participants from across the EU present. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Pia Andersson from The Prison and Probation Service of Finland at the premises of the Czech Probation and Mediation Service.
Continuous exchange and sharing of the latest information, developments and trends is essential to the work of the expert groups. After a short introduction, the two presentations delivered by the new members of the group – Ms. Ines Ganahl, Neustart, Austria and Mr. Iason Nachkebia, National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation, Georgia – summarized the state of play in the two respective countries and provided information on the latest developments.
In 2021, Austrian probation agency Neustart launched an app for working with clients called Go NEUSTART. In November 2022 the app was updated on the chat function that enabled smoother communication between a client and probation officer and expanded on the mobile version of the existing web app „Doku“which enables probation officers to work and update documentation on the go.
In 2021 Georgia launched the operation of the PROBBOX which is an innovative device providing electronic control and services to probationers, created by the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation. It is for the first time in Europe that the control of probationers and the provision of their services, along with probation bureaus, has become possible on the premises of other organizations.
The members of the expert group are going to continue working on the draft practice recommendations regarding technologies in probation via online meetings. The next face-to-face meeting is planned to take place in Latvia in 2024.
Download report here.