An exploration of the purposes and outcomes of probation in European jurisdictions

Abstract

The theme of this article was developed at a conference organized by Conférence Permanente Européenne de la Probation (CEP) together with the Ministry of Justice of Estonia which took place in Tallinn, September 2007. The title of the conference was `Unity and Diversity in Probation'. Within this context, this article aims to examine issues and dilemmas in evaluating probation effectiveness in different jurisdictions. According to the published aims of various probation services, probation systems in EU countries could be divided into four main types: probation services based on promoting community measures and sanctions; probation services based on the model of assisting the judiciary; probation services based on the rehabilitation model/public protection; and probation services based on a punishment or enforcement model. These different types require different criteria for evaluating probation effectiveness, but each criterion has some important risks, which need to be carefully assessed. The article's focus therefore is on the methodological dilemmas and not on the ethical aspects of defining probation's purposes and objectives.