Towards a European Approach to Probation Education and Training
| Author | Dr Brian Stout, Rob Canton |
| Pages | 57-68 |
TOWARDS A EUROPEAN APPROACH
TO PROBATION EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
Dr. Bria n Stout , As socia te Hea d of School of Appl ie d Soci al S ci enc es & Rob C a nton,
Professor of Community and Criminal Justice, De Montfort University
Abstract
The possibility of a consistent approach to the training of probation officers throughout Europe
has been discussed for some time. A combination of factors has led to this idea being given
increased attention recently; these include the adoption of the European Probation Rules,
recent EU framework decisions and the agreement of the Stockholm programme promoting
alternatives to prisons and the European Training Scheme. The promotion of a European
approach was given new impetus by a conference in Agen, France in December 2009, organised
by the European Organisation for Probation (CEP) with the aim of harmonising probation
training in Europe, sharing good practice and highlighting new initiatives.
This article will outline the factors that influence the debate on European probation
training and set out the arguments for adopting such an approach. It will also identify
possible difficulties and obstacles that might hinder a curriculum development process. The
article will conclude with some suggestions of a way forward in developing a European
approach. It will be argued that a useful early project will be to set benchmarks for
probation training throughout Europe.
Introduction
The project to develop a consistent approach to probation training in Europe was given
recent impetus by the Conférence Permanente Européenne de la Probation (CEP)
conference in December 2009, in Agen, France on the subject of ‘Recruitment and Training
of Probation Officers in Europe’ (the Agen conference). This article will start by outlining
the drivers for adopting a consistent approach to the training of probation officers across
Europe including the European Probation Rules, European Union framework decisions and
the Stockholm programme. It will go on to identify potential difficulties and obstacles with
some suggestions as to how these might be overcome. The article will conclude by arguing
that an appropriate first step toward developing a European approach could be the
development and adoption of subject benchmarks for European probation training.
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Towards a European Approach to Probation Education and Training
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