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Probation library

Unpacking criminal detention rules and regulations across the EU

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has updated its online criminal detention database, which includes national standards, laws, and monitoring reports on detention conditions in the EU and the UK.

The database covers: Detention conditions: cell size, sanitary conditions, solitary confinement, healthcare access, food, surveillance, and prisoner safety.
Specific groups: women, foreign nationals, vulnerable inmates, children, and young detainees.
Latest case law: from the European Court of Human Rights, the EU’s Court of Justice, and over 183 national cases.
Monitoring reports: on detention conditions in the covered countries.

Launched in 2019 to support judges and legal professionals in cross-border cases, it was last updated in 2022.

>> Access the database

 

For more information about the database see our video below.

Probation library

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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.

Probation Journal

Violent Extremism

2025 EU Guidance document responding to the needs of victims of terorrism

23/06/2025

To mark the EU Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism on 11 March, the EU Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism has published a new Guidance Document on the Needs of Victims. This document is a significant step forward in reinforcing a victim-centred approach within counter-terrorism efforts across the European Union.

 

Probation Journal

Alternatives to pre-trial detention

Unpacking criminal detention rules and regulations across the EU

21/05/2025

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has updated its online criminal detention database, which includes national standards, laws, and monitoring reports on detention conditions in the EU and the UK.

Probation Journal

Technology

Is AI Putting Remote Probation Supervision at Risk Before It Even Starts?

09/04/2025

David Jackson and Jed Stone focus on the use of AI in probation and advocate for investigations to understand the opportunity, address issues and innovate for the good of all.

Probation Journal

Probation in Europe

New Executive summaries for the report on Building Probation Capacity

19/02/2025

In March 2024, we paid attention to the study of Steve Pitts and Leo Tigges about Building Probation Capacity . The executive summary of their publication is now available in French and German, including the infographic on capacity building in both languages. Later this year, translations in Italian and Spanish will also be released!

 

>> Read the translations here

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Probation in Europe

A day in a life of a Probation Officer

10/12/2024

Is the day of a probation officer in Germany similar to the one of someone working in Romania? In the series ‘A day in the life of a probation officer’, we publish articles written by probation officers from different countries in Europe to see if their days look a like or are very different from each other.

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Mental Health

Providing Mental Health Support to Probation – A European Perspective

10/12/2024

‘Providing Mental Health Support to Probation – A European Perspective’ by Charlie Brooker is now available. This book offers an evidence-based exploration of mental health in probation, drawing on research across 27 European countries to provide valuable insights on support mechanisms for individuals on probation.

Probation Journal

Probation in Europe

EuroVista

10/12/2024

The publication of EuroVista journals stopped in 2016. On this page you can find the online journals volume 1.1 – 4.2. If you would like to have your research published on the CEP website, please send an email to communication@cep-probation.org.

EuroVista was published up to three times a year by CEP, the Confederation of European Probation. The journal is dedicated to linking research with policy and practice in probation and community justice throughout Europe. EuroVista seeks to share experience of good practice and responses to challenges that may have relevance to many countries across the continent.

EuroVista aims to publish articles that are relevant and accessible to practitioners, managers and policy makers in a wide range of criminal and community justice agencies, especially probation. It is also read by students, researchers, scholars of criminal justice and others who are interested in the subject matter. Whole issues or individual contributions can be downloaded without charge.

Probation Journal

Electronic monitoring

Journal of Offender Monitoring

10/12/2024

Journal on monitoring technology and its use in enhancing public safety. More information on the website of the Civic Research Institute.

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Criminal Justice

The girl who kept her eyes open

10/12/2024

Most of the Ukrainian victims of war who take refuge in EU countries are women and children. And these children go to school in their host community, with it becoming one of the first points of contact between the local population and the refugees.

The book ‘The Girl Who Kept Her Eyes Open’ aims to raise awareness among children (7-10 years old) and adults (parents and teachers) of the problems suffered by people fleeing war and their rights.

Through the story of a Ukrainian refugee child meeting a particularly observant little girl in her new school, it shows the importance of paying attention to others in order to recognize the victims of crime – in this case, the victims of war-related crimes – and offer them support.

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