'Supporting change and building positive relationships are still at the heart of everything we do.'

Olivia Keaveney, Director of Operations, Courts and Community at the Probation Service, was part of the Irish delegation at the recent World Congress on Probation and Parole. Here, she reflects on the some of the major themes from the global gathering of probation professionals.

It likely comes as no surprise that the unofficial theme of “connection” resonated deeply throughout the 6th World Congress of Probation and Parole, which convened over 500 professionals from more than 60 countries in the Dutch city of The Hague from April 16-18.

This overarching theme underpinned the broad range of events and discussions, emphasising not only the need to connect and exchange knowledge among colleagues from across the probation landscape but also the importance of the connections we forge with people under probation supervision and the communities we work with on a daily basis, in order to help shape positive outcomes.

Over three intense – and incredibly enjoyable and well-organised days – we witnessed the assembly of a jigsaw puzzle of how probation works across the globe as well as the innovative and experimental work that our colleagues are undertaking. In our own way, each of us is connected and adding to that jigsaw.

“A person is a person through another person”

The three-day conference was punctuated with rousing keynote speeches that helped lift the crowd and remind us that we work as part of a global community. On the opening day, Reverend Mpho Tutu van Furth (daughter of Bishop Demond Tutu) reminded us of the Ubuntu principle: “A person is a person through another person” - we are all bound and inextricably linked with each other: If we dehumanise each other, we dehumanise ourselves.

Likewise, Clement Okech, OGW , a former deputy director of probation in Kenya, emphasised probation’s unique role in the criminal justice system, even mentioning the iconic and antiquated line “to advise, assist, and befriend” from the 1907 Probation Act. That line was written into Irish legislation more than 100 years ago, and while Ireland and the world are much different places in 2024, supporting change and building positive relationships are still at the heart of everything we do.

Media is the message

As well as looking inwards, the conference also looked out. A hugely informative presentation entitled 'How to achieve and keep up with public support for probation' portrayed how probation is typically presented in the media, often through the lens of the harm that’s been caused.

The need remains, both locally and globally, to inform people about our work and those we work with. In this, probation leaders are critical drivers in developing and delivering structured communication plans.

The reality persists that despite our belief in what we do, there is a gap in understanding the role of probation, and we need to focus on talking to and educating the public to bridge that gap. It was broadly agreed that targeting 18-30 year-olds could yield substantial benefits as they can reshape the narrative.

Finally, the importance of developing partnerships with journalists and the media was identified. While this may be outside our comfort zone, as the old adage goes, “we need to bring people with us”.

Doing things differently

Critical to conferences such as the World Congress are the opportunities to witness ways in which our work is being trialled and advanced in different ways and across various cultures.

-????????? Leveraging Volunteerism: Japanese colleagues detailed how volunteerism is central to probation in their system, with 46,000 volunteers supporting the work of Probation Officers. Researchers from Griffin University and Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) outlined the work they are doing by involving family and friends to improve outcomes for those subject to probation and parole.

-????????? Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing: Colleagues from the Netherlands, Reclassering Nederland discussed their research on mental health and probation work. The results from their pilot study demonstrated that practitioners often reported feeling fearful of clients, fearful of comparison to older, more established staff members, and how more experienced staff struggled with technological innovations and the decision-making processes of younger, less experienced staff.

-????????? Impact of Technology: The future of probation was very much at the forefront at the World Congress, and seasoned academics discussed what place, if any, artificial intelligence, electronic monitoring, and other technological innovations will have in our work?

-????????? The Value of Lived Experience: One compelling takeaway was from our interactions and time spent with individuals with lived experience. They often referenced one person and one act that changed the trajectory of their lifetime. Their personal stories served as powerful reminders of the influential role Probation Officers can have on the rehabilitation process.

Collaboration, innovation and compassion

As I navigated through the various sessions and discussions, I was struck by the ever-evolving world of Probation and by the commitment of our colleagues across the world. The Hague conference reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and compassion in shaping effective, progressive, and humane criminal justice systems. Our Dutch colleagues are to be congratulated on staging such a well-organised and thought-provoking World Congress.