Offender rehabilitation and reintegration through european normative lenses

Rehabilitation and reintegration are underlying challenges for all European prison systems. For this reason, the supranational legislation concerning the promotion and implementation of these principles is composed of numerous ad hoc instruments, closely related to human rights legislation. This contribution, with the aim of answering an essential question such as: “why some offender stops?” takes into consideration the main factors that, at a global level, are recognized as obstacles to the achievement of the pursued objective as well as the elements that, instead, can act as a positive push factors. A summary of the most widespread positions in the academic and practical field on the mentioned concepts is also offered, in order to facilitate the understanding of the state of the art at European level

Seeing and believing: Observing desistance-focused practice and enduring values in the National Probation Service

This article focuses on the feasibility of using a desistance-focused approach in the National Probation Service (NPS) in the post-Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) context. Findings are drawn from an exploratory study undertaken in one NPS Division, which used triangulation of three data collection methods; observations of one-to-one supervision sessions, documentary analysis and practitioner focus groups. Findings show that practitioners use elements of a desistance-focussed approach, although not exclusively. Values based upon belief in the capacity to change and the need to offer support endure, despite mass organisational upheaval. The article concludes by suggesting that this 'enduring habitus' of probation could be an enabler for a desistance-focused approach but instrumentalism in policy and practice is a significant barrier

A European approach to probation training: An investigation into the competencies required

In 2010 the European Probation Curriculum Group (EPCG) carried out research into the requirements of various probation curricula throughout Europe and the potential need for a European approach to probation training. This article presents the findings of that research. It argues that there is enough similarity in the competencies required in probation training throughout Europe to make the development of a European Curriculum a viable and worthwhile project. </jats:p