Working with offenders and dealing with criminal behaviour, I soon realised that in many cases punishment and imprisonment are not the appropriate tools to put people on the right path and to qualify for a legal, socially accepted life. There was a need for more alternatives of dealing with delinquent behaviour.
To cut a long story short: I became aware of the importance of probation, community sanctions, victim-offender reconciliation and   community participation. I decided, in addition to my professional duties, to contribute to these alternatives. I joined a local, then a regional and then a federal private organisation for probation and aftercare. And being conscious that offending does not stop at national borders, I started to take a look at the situation in other European countries. I wanted to gather information, to learn and to exchange experience. This was the beginning of my commitment to a European meeting or conference, as we then called it.
I became one of the obstetricians of CEP. And later on: willing to take responsibility and with gratitude I accepted the election and re-election as President and then as Secretary General.
It was an inspiring wonderful time to play an active part in CEP affairs. It was great to meet and work together with committed experts coming from all over Europe, some of them have become my friends.