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Recap: Webinar on Volunteers
On 16 May 2024, the third Webinar on Volunteers has welcomed participants from across Europe and world.
Katrin Koller working with the NeuStart, Austria, presented on the work of volunteers within the probation service. Aged from 25 to 70, there are around 1000 voluntary probation officers coming from all areas of life responsible for 30% of the probation clients (in majority of cases low-risk) with a maximum caseload of 5 clients. As addition to approx. 800 (professional) probation officers this brings benefits to both the probation service as well as voluntary probation officers. The well-functioning Austrian system that, among others, opens better access to and knowledge of regional resources, brings cost reduction and relief for professional probation officers, has gained a positive attention from politicians and government.
The Cooperation to Promote a European Volunteering Programme in Probation Services (CoPPer project) where CEP is a project leader cooperating closely with 6 other partner organizations from The Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland and Romania was presented by Melinda Lewis from the Dutch Probation Service. Following up on the shared vision of social inclusion, having in mind that reintegration is a two-way street and volunteering is complementary, Melinda introduced the project with its already achieved outcomes – Evidence Review of Volunteering in Probation -, further elaborating on the competency framework, skills and knowledge of volunteers. By supporting strengths and talents of volunteers, providing them with guidelines, training and resources, professional volunteers may bring a variety of benefits to the work of probation services and to its clients.
Presentations
1) Katrin Koller, Neustart, Austria – Volunteer Probation Service in Austria
2) Melinda Lewis, Probation Service, The Netherlands – CoPPer projectÂ
Did you not manage to join the other webinars?
Passed webinars
Read the recap and rewatch the webinars
Recap: Webinar on Alternatives to Detention
Recap: Webinar on Violent Extremism
Upcoming webinars
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.
New
CEP
Newsletter October 2026 out now
29/10/2026
CEP’s latest newsletter is out now! It includes:
- Deadline approaching for the Workshop on Technology and Alternatives to Detention
- Recap of the 14th EM and CEP Excellence Leadership Training
- New publications from Expert Groups on Technology and Expert Group on Violent Extremism
- Call for Proposals: Evaluation of CEP Expert Groups
- Engaging with Research – a new section in our newsletter
- and much more!
New
Violent Extremism
Understanding Youth Radicalisation: What Can Probation Services Do? | New Report from CEP’s Expert Group
27/10/2026
In recent decades, the violent radicalisation of juveniles and young adults has become a pressing concern for policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and communities worldwide. While considerable attention has been devoted to psychological vulnerabilities, socio-economic marginalisation, and community-level influences, the broader context in which violent radicalisation develops is often overlooked. At the same time, the increasing involvement of young people in violent extremist offences highlights the urgent need for effective prevention efforts. Addressing youth radicalisation has become a complex and evolving challenge for families, educators, mental health professionals, law enforcement agencies, probation services, and security authorities.
Recap
Probation in Europe
Reflections on the European Society of Criminology Conference 2026 | From Criminological Research to Probation Practice
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At CEP, we are fascinated by research from across Europe and beyond, and by helping it reach the people who can use it. Ruth Armstrong, CEP Research and Policy Officer, went to the 26th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology (EuroCrim 2026 – Working Group on Community Sanctions and Measures) that took place in Warsaw, Poland, from 9–12 September 2026.
Against a backdrop of overcrowded prisons and net-widening (with ever more people drawn into supervision), three questions kept coming up in the research: how time shapes justice, what we mean by success, and how we define harm.
New
Technology
Registration deadline approaching: Join CEP’s final workshop of 2026 on technology in probation
22/10/2026
📢 Have you registered yet? CEP’s final workshop of 2026 takes place on 24 November in Barcelona, bringing together professionals to explore how technology is being used across probation services in Europe.
The Workshop on Alternatives to Detention and Technologies: Deep Diving into New Trends will look beyond artificial intelligence to examine the different ways technology is shaping probation practice, from staff training to working with clients and collaborating with other criminal justice partners.
Recap
Directors General Meetings
CEP Leadership Excellence Training: strengthening leadership and cooperation across Europe
22/10/2026
The CEP Leadership Excellence Training, held on 20–21 October in Zagreb, Croatia, brought together Directors General and senior probation managers from 11 European countries for a two-day interactive programme focused on leadership, communication, staff development, and international cooperation.
New
CEP
Call for Proposals: Evaluation of CEP Expert Groups
21/10/2026
On behalf of Ms. Jana Å pero Kamenjarin, CEP Secretary General, it is my pleasure to invite you to submit a proposal to conduct an evaluation within the CEP work programme.
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