Previous Article
News
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 project
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
Caseload and workload
Guidelines on Caseload and Workload
08/06/2026
CEP Expert Group on Caseload and Workload is proud announce the publication of the Guidelines on Caseload and Workload.
Recap
Caseload and workload
Recap: Workshop on Caseload and Workload
28/05/2026
On 27 and 28 May 2026, Bucharest hosted the CEP Workshop on Caseload and Workload: Supporting Sustainable Probation Through the Human Dimension. With 40 participants representing 18 European jurisdictions, as well as delegates from South Korea, the workshop offered opportunities to exchange knowledge and develop strategies to manage the increasing caseload and workload in probation. Designed as an interactive space, it provided participants – practitioners, managers, researchers and experts – with reflections on current pressures within probation services and it explored practical, evidence‑informed solutions from across Europe.
Recap
Caseload and workload
Recap: Expert group on Caseload and Workload
28/05/2026
On Tuesday 26 May 2026 CEP Expert Group on Caseload and Workload gathered in Bucharest, Romania, for its annual face-to-face meeting, held ahead of the Workshop on Caseload and Workload: Supporting Sustainable Probation Through the Human Dimension. Hosted by the National Probation Directorate, Ministry of Justice, Romania, the meeting was opened by the Deputy Director Diana Mustatea and CEP Secretary General Jana Špero Kamenjarin. They both stressed the importance and relevance of the topic in supporting effective and sustainable approaches to caseload and workload management, contributing to improved outcomes for both staff and service delivery.
Recap
Mental Health
Recap: Third CEP webinar on the new European Mental Health Curriculum
26/05/2026
On 21 May 2026, the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) hosted the webinar “The European Mental Health Curriculum for Probation Officers”, bringing together probation professionals, mental health experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across Europe to present an innovative training initiative aimed at strengthening mental health awareness and competencies within probation services.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Anke Spoorendonk on the Role of Probation in Justice Policy
21/05/2026
The 20th episode of Division_Y features Anke Spoorendonk, former State Minister of Justice in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, representing the Danish minority party SSW.
New
Mental Health
CEP publishes European Mental Health Training Curriculum for Probation Staff and launches Pilot Implementation Initiative
19/05/2026
In this article, you can explore the newly published European Mental Health Training Curriculum for Probation Officers, learn about the call for a national pilot implementation, and find details about the upcoming webinar on 21 May presenting the curriculum modules.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.