Previous Article
News
Recap: Conference on Public Perception of Probation
From 6 to 7 May, the CEP Conference on the Public Perception of Probation in Europe took place in Antalya, Türkiye, bringing together over 100 participants from more than 20 countries. The event offered space for open discussion, exchange of experiences, and practical ideas on how probation is seen and supported across Europe.
Getting Started in Antalya
The conference began on Monday evening with a welcome reception at the Turkish Prison & Probation Training Center, where participants had the chance to meet, reconnect, and ease into the programme. It was a relaxed start to what turned out to be two busy and engaging days.
Opening Day – 6 May
Tuesday started with opening speeches from:
-
Mr. Enis Yavuz Yıldırım, Director General of Prisons and Detention Houses (Türkiye)
-
Ms. Annie Devos, CEP President (Belgium)
-
Mr. Niyazi Acar, Deputy Minister of Justice (Türkiye)
They welcomed participants and reflected on the importance of international cooperation in building stronger probation services.
The morning plenary sessions followed. Mr. Fatih Güngör (Türkiye) talked about how probation is viewed in Türkiye, including both legal and social aspects. Then, Ms. Ingunn Seim (Norway), Dr. Danijela Mrhar Prelič (Slovenia), and Mr. Daniel Danglades (France) shared how probation is organised and understood in their countries.
In the afternoon, two workshops took place at the same time:
-
Workshop A, led by Dr. Prelič, focused on working with other professionals in the justice field. She was joined by Ms. Annie Devos (Belgium) and Dr. Hüseyin Şık (Türkiye).
-
Workshop B, chaired by Mr. Danglades, looked at how probation services communicate with the general public. It featured examples from Dr. Andrea Matouskova (Czech Republic) and Mr. Joachim Tein (Germany).
The first day wrapped up with a lot of input and food for thought.
Final Day – 7 May
Wednesday’s programme opened with a plenary session on how the idea and practice of probation has changed over time. Speakers Mr. Gerry McNally (Ireland), Mr. Vugar Aghayev (Azerbaijan), and Assoc. Prof. Hakan A. Yavuz (Türkiye) gave examples from their national contexts and looked at what has influenced these changes.
After that, a roundtable focused on how to promote probation and raise public awareness. The discussion included perspectives from Ms. Annie Devos, Dr. Andrea Matouskova, Dr. Hüseyin Şık, Mr. Joachim Tein, and Ms. Ingunn Seim.
To close the event, Prof. Fergus McNeill (UK) gave a thoughtful talk on the role of communities in probation, reminding us of its origins and the importance of public engagement.
Thank You
A big thank you to everyone who joined us in Antalya. Your ideas, openness, and shared experiences helped make the event meaningful and productive.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
Presentations
Click here to go to the presentations
Photos
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.
Probation in Europe, Technology
Have Your Say: EU Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice (2025–2030)
18/08/2025
The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the Digitalisation of Justice: 2025–2030 European Judicial Training Strategy.
Reading corner
Criminal Justice
Parole Futures
18/08/2025
At a time when many parole systems are experiencing considerable strain, the aims of this collection are twofold: first, to encourage systematic and critical reflection on the rationalities, institutions and practices of parole. Second, to think big, and pose ambitious ‘what if’ questions about the possible futures of parole and prison release. Offering novel insights from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America, this collection builds the case for, and then showcases, a ‘way of doing’ parole research that is global in outlook, interdisciplinary in approach and unapologetically normative in character.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Prof. Bernd Maelicke on The Prison-Dilemma
12/08/2025
The 13th episode of Division_Y features an in-depth conversation with Prof. Bernd Maelicke, one of Germany’s most respected voices in prison and probation reform.
New
Probation outside Europe
CEP Ambassador Steve Pitts Receives Prestigious Japanese Honour
05/08/2025
We are pleased to share that CEP Ambassador Steve Pitts has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Government of Japan. The honour was officially presented on 25th July 2025 at a formal ceremony held at the Japanese Ambassador‘s residence in London, hosted by the Japanese Ambassador.
New
CEP Events
Mark Your Calendars: Exciting Probation Events Ahead
30/07/2025
As the season continues, we’re looking ahead to a dynamic line-up of events across Europe. From specialised workshops to international training and conferences, there’s something valuable for everyone working in probation and beyond.
New
Probation in Europe
New Vodcast Episode: Tobias Merckle on Free Forms of Juvenile Detention
12/07/2025
The 12th episode of Division_Y features an engaging discussion with Tobias Merckle, a social worker and social entrepreneur from Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Subscribe to our bi-monthly email newsletter!
- Keep up to date with important probation developments and insights.