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About us

What we do

CEP promotes pan-European cooperation by organising conferences, workshops, expert groups and network meetings and webinars on actual topics in probation. By making the reports of these events available, by publishing its digital newsletter and through its website, CEP stimulates the exchange of ideas on probation. CEP is also spokesperson for probation sector at the European Bodies – Council of Europe and European Commission.

In this way CEP makes an important contribution to the development of community sanctions and measures in Europe and beyond.

Projects

Discover the various projects CEP is involved in, both ongoing and completed. Below you will find detailed information about our initiatives aimed at advancing probation and community sanctions across Europe.

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EMPRO project

EMPRO project
(Empowerment of the Framework Decisions 2008/947 and 2009/829 through EU Probation Services)

EMPRO aims to significantly strengthen the understanding and application of FD 2008/947 and 2009/829 within the European Union. It is further aligned with the overarching goals of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, contributing to a more humane and effective rehabilitation process. This encompasses highlighting the specific needs and rights of foreign nationals involved in pre-trial and post-trial phases, ensuring that justice and rehabilitation practices are equitable, effective, and respectful of fundamental rights.

 

 

CoPPer Project

The Cooperation to Promote a European Volunteering Programme in Probation Services (CoPPer) project aims to create and improve social models that support the values of European unity and solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. It responds to the EU Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 by promoting the active engagement of citizens and civil society as supporters in the social inclusion of offenders and ensuring that we all play our role as key guarantors of a common European culture of the rule of law and democracy.

CEP matchmaker project

CEP Matchmaker Project brings together individuals, teams, organisations, or groups among CEP members with a shared professional interest.  Through peer-to-peer links and activities, the aim is to provide opportunities for sharing, exchanging and learning together as well as potential other benefits.

Upcoming events

Stay informed about our upcoming events and opportunities for professional development. Join us at workshops and conferences to connect with experts and peers in the field of probation.

Registration deadline: 21-05-2025

Webinar on Violent Extremism and Assessment

22 May 2025
21 May 2025
online
CEP continues its series of webinars on key topics in probation.
Registration deadline: 21-05-2025
Expert group meeting

Framework Decisions follow-up meeting

27 May 2025
online
more information soon

Expert groups and Networks

Expert groups are networks of European specialists in fields related to probation, which operate under the wings of CEP. These groups are platforms for discussion and knowledge exchange on specific topics and are composed of experts from universities, probation organisations, our expert register and the CEP secretariat. Most of the Expert Groups do not consist of permanent members, except of the one on the topic of foreign nationals.

Communication and Awareness-Raising

The aim of this expert group is to support jurisdictions in navigating their own stories and shifting the narrative towards a more balanced and informed perspective taking into account stereotypes and misconceptions probation services often face, promoting transparent communication, sharing success stories and initiatives, improving public perception, enhancing community awareness as well as fostering collaboration across borders by exchanging experience, challenges, and innovative solutions learning from successful communication and awareness-raising initiatives implemented across Europe.

Electronic Monitoring

Considering importance of EM for CEP members, starting from 2024, former EM prep-group that was planning and organizing biannual EM CEP conferences, was transformed into expert group. The group will be planning and organizing future CEP EM conferences but will also provide activities / information in the year when we do not have EM conference.

Education & Training

In a context of a rapid development of the criminal justice field and the growing importance of probation measures as more effective and with less economic cost, the training of Probation professionals has become crucial and challenging. In addition, the transfer of probation supervision orders between Member States has emphasised the need for comparable and equivalent practice across jurisdictions. In these circumstances, it is important to share knowledge and training expertise across Europe, train probation staff as specialized professionals and to share good practices, training methodologies and materials to assure quality training and practice.

Mental Health

European probation services nowadays are faced with large numbers of people with mental health problems. Research has shown that the prevalence of various mental health problems among probationers is relatively high when compared to the general population. It is important to identify those who are sentenced for other crimes, but possibly have mental health problems. It is also essential that mental health needs of people who have offended are given a higher priority in terms of service delivery, education, staff straining and research, because working on mental health issues is also a way of reducing crime and especially recidivism.

Technology

Technology in probation has been rapidly changing and expanding as well. Nowadays, technologies such as artificial intelligence, electronic monitoring, smart apps and virtual reality are used by probation officers in their daily work. Something we could have never thought of a couple of years ago.

Violent Extremism

Addressing the dangers posed by violent extremism in European countries is a primary concern of the criminal justice system. Prison and probation programs are key areas where radicalization and deradicalization intersect. In December 2016, CEP invited a number of experts in the field of violent extremism from different European countries to attend the very first expert group meeting on radicalisation and violent extremism.

Contact us

If you have any questions or comments for CEP, please contact us and we will answer you as soon as possible.

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