Developing Effective Capacity Building in Probation CEP Conference - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The role of senior management in building a probation organization working alongside international experts Developing Effective Capacity Building in Probation CEP Conference Tbilisi May 2019 Steve Pitts and Leo Tigges Consultants in Community-Based Justice

Agenda • Why this project? • Project approach • Project Interim Results • Developing the model • General Remarks • Domains and Structural Issues • Practice Hints • Questions? • Next Steps

Why a Project on Probation Development? • Growing recognition of the importance of Probation • Energy and resources invested by national and international bodies • Little insight to discern different approaches and their effectiveness. • Lack of common language to discuss approaches (paradigms) to capacity building, current delivery, effectiveness, next steps • Aim to develop, test, and refine a model of development including a common language for capacity building in probation • Also - personal drive, on part of the project leaders, to reflect on work so far

The Project Methodology • Brief Literature Review • Develop initial model based on international guidance • Study visits to five European countries, enriched by experience of working in other countries • Meet with key stakeholders (probation, justice chain including judiciary, ministerial, NGO/civil society, academic, international institutions e.g. EU, C.o.E, OSCE, people involved in capacity building) • Study essential documents • International workshops with important stakeholders • Contributions and reflections from international Academic Board and experienced colleagues • Refine model and develop recommendations for future projects

The Model - Overview • Probation Rules of Council of Europe (2010) of utmost importance • Reframed content graphically … • 4 “Domains” (Areas of Responsibility) of Probation • 4 Enabling Aspects • Insight into national and international contexts that influence probation development in each jurisdiction

European Probation Rules – Contents Include: • Preamble, Scope, definitions • Basic Principles and Aims • Organisation and Accountability • Areas of Responsibilities and Specific Tasks • Processes of Supervision • “Resources” including staff and training • Partnerships • Complaints procedures, inspection and monitoring • Research and evaluation • Work with the media and the public • Glossary and explanatory memorandum

Project Interim Results - Model Development -

Probation - 4 Domains (Areas of Responsibility) 2. Community Supervision: Community Orders Conditional/Suspended Prison Sentence with Supervision 1. Pre-Trial and Pre- Sentence: Bail Information Pre-Sentence Reports 4. Prison Sentence: 3. Prison Sentence: Post-release Community Prison Stage – Liaison, Reports, Stage – Supervision & Support Preparation for Release Reintegration

Probation - 4 “Enablers” or Conditions Results

4 “Domains” or Areas of Responsibility, 4“Enablers” or Co Condit itio ions

Project Interim Results - Refining the Model and Learning so far -

4 “Domains” or Areas of Responsibility, 4“Enablers” or Co Condit itio ions, , and Co Context xts

Learning so far … general remarks • EU accession procedures can be used to bring about real changes in probation (experts are listened to) • International experts can open up discussions and develop long term perspectives • Larger scale/longer term projects can add support to strategic planning and implementation • Political support, management and delivery capacity are crucial to implementation and sustainability • In some countries all the stimulating and favorable factors to develop probation seem to come together, sometimes accidental • A minister who worked in the European Institutions • The political will to break with the past • A committed leadership to bring about changes • An urgency to reduce the prison population • The willingness of the diaspora to help • The absence of bigger problems that claimed priority over probation • A sizeable group of youngsters who want to do things differently • ……..

Learning so far … Domains (Areas of Responsibility) and Tasks • Developing a holistic view of probation (all Domains) helps to explain probation concept and to maximise positive results • Developing work with more vulnerable groups (e.g. juveniles, women) strikes a chord and is an introduction to other, sizable target groups (adults) • Early use of CS may promote judicial and public acceptance (understandable as a “real” sanction) • Parole (early release) has value (reduces pressure on prisons) – but may be used late in sentence, and with low risk cases only • EM can be also understood (but can hinder other developments)

Learning so far … Supporting Conditions and Context • Vital work elsewhere (e.g. police and prisons) may detract and divert attention from probation • Justice chain partners may see new probation service as competitor or even adversary • Traditional emphasis on control and supervision takes time to evolve to include rehabilitation and inclusion • Impact of Scale (country size) – longer communication chain, less face to face contact, takes longer to effect change • “Standing” of and confidence in probation, and adequate budget, will develop over time

Learning so far … Practice Hints - 1 • Encourage donor coordination • Local staff of donor organisations can have an essential role in ensuring effective targeting and coordination of effort • Beneficiaries frequently need and value both material support (e.g. computers, software, cars) and practice knowledge and content • When several donors are involved it can be helpful to address these needs in a complementary way • The Domains and Enablers Model supports donor coordination (common language and analysis) • Involve whole justice chain ánd political level from beginning • Study Visits (especially involving justice partners) • Utilise (regional) pilots to generate ownership and experience

Learning so far … Practice Hints - 2 • Foreign experts provide knowledge and inspiration, but only adaptation (not copying) creates local ownership; • Continuous training is important (but not sufficient) • Make sure probation is included in EU accession requirements • Make use of the “zeitgeist” (spirit of the time) • Encourage interpretation of the law to include probation activities (are laws seen as restrictive or permissive? Willingness to work to boundaries of the law) • Probation “Champions” can really make a difference! Make an effort in involving frontrunners! • State Agencies do Change! • Don’t give up!

Learning so far … Practice Hints - 3 • Value of “on the spot” advice/support; • Advisers need to be receptive to address upcoming issues immediately (coaching, involving specialist experts) • The value of relationships, especially making use of long- standing links and diaspora • The value of longer time involvement of the same experts (“never change a winning team”) • The value of leaders/experts from countries that have also experienced probation development • Don’t hide mistakes; openness can add to your record of being reliable

Questions To what extent do these practice hints reflect your own experiences? Can you identify other important good practices - or practices to avoid?

Project Next Steps … Visit 1 more country Meet with EU and Council of Europe Refine Model and good practices Prepare final report and validate by Project Board Publish Report

Thank you for your attention