Previous Article
News
Working during the corona pandemic: Electronic Monitoring coordinator Vera
Vera coordinates the execution of Electronic Monitoring sanctions (supervision of people wearing an ankle bracelet) and is supervisor on training processes of a cooperation project conducted together with the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency. Besides this she is doing the master study ‘Forensic Social Professional’ and she is a mother of three young children. The corona period is quite a challenge for her – how does she manage to keep all these things going?
As Electronic Monitoring coordinator Vera is the point of contact for the so-called Electronic Monitoring specialists, colleagues who check if the people wearing an ankle bracelet comply with the conditions that are imposed on them. Vera optimizes the execution of the processes and often takes part in national meetings. Most of the coordinators are also supervising clients with ankle bracelets themselves. “Until last week I was responsible for two clients myself” says Vera. “But because of the double job I am doing now I handed them over to a colleague. It is good though to have your own clients as then you know and recognize what your colleagues are experiencing.”
Because of the corona situation the supervision processes go in a different way than normally. “The specialists mostly work from home”, explains Vera. “They are present when the ankle bracelet is connected, but then need to follow the rules and guidelines of the RIVM (Dutch National Institute for Health and Environment). At the beginning of a supervision process there are face-to-face contacts, but after that almost all the work is done electronically.”
Additional ankle bracelets
To reduce the risk of infections in prisons, the Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency under the Ministry of Justice has decided to allow a group of prisoners who were already in their last phase of detention and therefore spending most of their time outside prison, a temporary leave. They do however need to wear an ankle bracelet in order to be supervised. “All these additional ankle bracelets are quite something for us”, says Vera. “But fortunately our colleagues are willing to take up the extra work. Also supervisors and advisors who normally never work with Electronic Monitoring are now taking things over from us to help. It is extremely important to keep a good overview.”
Role rotation with colleagues
The work processes are different than normally. “There is a schedule for who can work at the office and on which days”, says Vera. “Always one of us has to stay at home for a week in order to minimize the chance of everyone falling ill at the same time.” But it is definitely a hard time, especially since she has to combine her work, master study and children. Vera: “In the first week I was really happy and proud when I had my son doing his school work, but then his teacher called me saying that he was doing the wrong tasks… That was a bit of a disappointment”, she adds laughing.
Contact with colleagues
Fortunately now and then she asks for help and also receives it. “When a colleague calls me to ask how I am doing that is really great. That is the beautiful thing in this period – the fact that everyone is willing to help each other and that you can just ring the bell if necessary. I really feel appreciated by my colleagues and that gives me positive energy.” The same for her team – on a regular basis Vera calls her colleagues to ask how they are doing. “People need to stay motivated and I closely monitor that. But everyone is very much involved.”
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
Mental Health
Why some court-ordered psychiatric patients remain in prison in Europe
15/12/2025
There is an urgent yet insufficiently recognised human-rights and public-health crisis unfolding across Europe: the systematic imprisonment of mentally ill individuals who have already been assessed by courts or psychiatric professionals as requiring treatment in secure psychiatric hospitals rather than confinement in correctional facilities. Evidence indicates that structural failings—including bed shortages, procedural delays, and fragmented legal and administrative frameworks—have produced a situation in which thousands of vulnerable individuals remain in prison in direct contravention of judicial orders, clinical assessments, and international human-rights obligations. This constitutes a largely invisible mental-health scandal, obscured by inconsistent data collection, political sensitivities, and the general invisibility of people in custody.
New
Partners
Memorandum of Understanding Signed Between CEP and RESCALED
11/12/2025
On 10 December 2025, at the CEP Headquarters in Utrecht, CEP and RESCALED signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The MoU was signed by Rogier Elshout, Chair of Rescaled and Jana Špero Kamenjarin, CEP Secretary General, with the signing ceremony attended by Helen De Vos, Rescaled Executive Director and Daniel Danglades, CEP Vice-President.
Through this partnership, both organizations will work together to develop joint activities, exchange expertise, and support initiatives that advance their shared objectives.
This MoU reflects a commitment to transparent communication and the creation of new opportunities for joint projects and broader community impact.
New
Human rights and ethics
10 December – Human Rights Day
10/12/2025
CEP champions human rights because protecting dignity, fairness and equality is at the heart of effective probation. On 10 December, Human Rights Day, CEP celebrates the principle that everyone deserves respect and justice. Across Europe, CEP promotes social inclusion and supports the reintegration of people in contact with the criminal justice system. CEP strengthens community-based alternatives to imprisonment that reduce reoffending and build safer societies, advances professional and ethical probation practice, and connects practitioners, policymakers and researchers to share knowledge and promote humane justice. For CEP, justice is not only about punishment but also about opportunity, rehabilitation and respect for all.
Recap
CEP Events
Recap: First face-to-face meeting of the Expert Group Chairs
10/12/2025
On 9 December 2025, the CEP Office in Utrecht hosted the first face-to-face meeting of the Expert Group Chairs. The purpose of this meeting was to reintroduce the work of the Expert Groups and explore connections between work plans, opportunities for cooperation, and areas of common interest.
Recap
Framework Decisions
Recap: ERA seminar “Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA and their Impact on Alternatives in the EU”
09/12/2025
On 4–5 December 2025, CEP representatives Gerry McNally, Danijela Mrhar Prelić and Pia Andersson attended the ERA seminar “Framework Decisions 2008/947/JHA and 2009/829/JHA and their Impact on Alternatives in the EU” in Vilnius.
Recap
Probation in Europe, Probation outside Europe
20th anniversary of Probation Service in Türkiye
08/12/2025
CEP had the privilege of participating in the Turkish Probation System 20th Year International Congress, marking the 20th anniversary of the Probation Service in Türkiye, held from 1–3 December 2025 at ATGV in Antalya.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.