Previous Article
News
SAZ creates innovative and interactive criminal justice dossiers
There is many information and research on probation available on the internet nowadays. This can make it difficult to attract readers. The Swiss Probation Service, Schweizerisches Ausbildungszentrum für das Strafvollzugspersonal (SAZ), has created an innovative way of telling their stories. In October 2017, they have published their fourth interactive and multimedia dossier, Probation Works. Laura von Mandach tells us about the criminal justice dossiers they have created.
She and her colleagues came up with the idea of publishing their content in an interactive and multimedia design when they started filming sequences of their events. Those short movies ended up getting more views than the interviews that were published in text. “That is how the idea to combine different forms of information was born.” Their first dossier was about transition management. “The thematic dossier on transition management has an introduction written by Ineke Pruin, working as a professor at the University of Berne (transition management is the subject of her postdoc thesis). It also gathers short texts and eleven video interviews with practitioners from different European jurisdictions presenting specific initiatives aiming to achieve sustainable, professional and social reintegration of offenders, right from the beginning of their sentence.”
Form follows function
The main objective from the SAZ is to promote good practices in the criminal justice field by publishing their stories in this innovative design. “We identify a key subject, we gather relevant information about it, we organise a meeting to discuss the subject and in parallel we think about how to present our findings. We are very lucky to have a designer in our team, Jonas Schaller. We also translate everything internally. Only the programming is done by a small business in Fribourg.”
Future
Four thematic dossiers are published in this form this far, Laura von Mandach says there are possibilities of doing more in the future. “Each of them is the result of intense cooperation. The first one was about transition management. The second one is on vulnerabilities in prison, done with Jean-Sebastien Blanc from the Association of the Prevention of Torture (APT) and Nicolas Queloz, professor at the University of Fribourg. Last year we published a dossier on the profession “prison officer”, this was the most popular one. Two weeks ago, mid October, we published Probation Works, the texts are written by the CEP and published as a book. We may continue to produce new content in this or in another innovative form, but we will need key content and the right people to join us first! “
You can find the SAZ dossiers here.
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 August 2026 out now
27/08/2026
CEP’s latest newsletter is out now! It includes:
- Approaching deadlines for upcoming events (ITSCCS26, 14th EM and DG leadership training) and the Mental Health curriculum pilot)
- Call for European Probation Journal on the topic of Workload in Probation
- EU documents like SPACE II, revised Victims’ Rights directive and so on
- and much more!
New
Caseload and workload
Do you work in probation? We need your voice!
24/08/2026
As part of its long-standing cooperation with research, CEP invites its members to contribute to a special edition of the European Probation Journal on the topic of Workload in Probation.
New
Alternatives to pre-trial detention, Foreign Nationals in Prison and Probation, Gender Equality, Probation in Europe
SPACE II report is now available
24/08/2026
The use of community sanctions and measures that allow individuals to remain in the community – also known as alternatives to imprisonment – continues to grow overall in Europe, although at a moderate pace, according to the latest Council of Europe annual penal statistics on persons under the supervision of probation agencies (2025 SPACE II survey).
New
Victims rights
Adoption of the revised Victims’ Rights Directive and call for evidence on EU strategy on victims’ rights
05/08/2026
The Council of the European Union has formally approved a new directive strengthening the rights of victims of crime across the EU. The updated law improves access to information, support, and protection by introducing an EU-wide victim support helpline (116 006), making it easier to report crimes through digital tools, strengthening safeguards for victims’ personal data, expanding child-friendly support services, improving access to legal aid, and helping ensure that victims receive compensation more quickly.
This directive updates the 2012 EU Victims’ Rights Directive and aims to ensure that victims receive more consistent and effective support across all Member States. Following its publication in the Official Journal, Member States will have 24 months to transpose the new rules into national law. For more information, see the Council of the European Union’s press release: Council greenlights law reinforcing protection of victims’ rights and check out the revised Victims’ Rights.
Probation Journal
juvenile offenders, Probation in Europe
Overview of Probation Procedures for Juveniles and Adults in Albania
22/07/2026
The Albanian Probation Service plays an important role in the implementation of alternative sanctions and measures for both juveniles and adults. Through supervision, assessment, and rehabilitation-oriented interventions, the Service aims to support compliance with court decisions, reduce the risk of reoffending, and promote the successful reintegration of individuals into society.
Community Sanctions and Measures
Nelson Mandela day
18/07/2026
Nelson Mandela Day reminds us that justice is not only about accountability – it is also about hope. Mandela believed in the dignity of every person and in the possibility of change. These principles are at the heart of probation.
Across Europe, probation professionals work every day to support people in taking responsibility for their actions, rebuilding their lives and successfully reintegrating into their communities. By promoting rehabilitation, social inclusion and human dignity, probation helps reduce reoffending and contributes to safer, more resilient societies.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.