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This is the first webinar for the International Network for Criminal Justice Development. Part One of this session had contributions from Anna Esquerrà Roqueta, from Barcelona University in Spain, and Vivian Geiran from the Council of Europe in Ireland.
This first IN-CJ seminar marked the launch of the network’s international dialogue series, bringing together practitioners, academics, and policymakers to discuss the future of international development in criminal justice. The discussion, moderated by John Scott and supported by De Montfort University, focused on how justice systems were adapting to the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID-19.
Anna Esquerra Roqueta opened with reflections on the impact of the pandemic across probation and prison systems in Europe. She highlighted the sudden shift to remote working, the suspension of community measures, and the rapid development of virtual tools. While the crisis created uncertainty, it also accelerated innovation in international exchanges. Online meetings, which were once supplementary, became central, broadening participation and lowering barriers to engagement.
Participants reflected on the long-term implications of these changes. Anna pointed to the risks facing vulnerable groups, particularly juveniles and young adults, whose opportunities for employment and reintegration may diminish in a post-pandemic context. This raised questions about the sustainability of probation practices and the need to avoid overwhelming systems with expanded caseloads following early releases from prison.
The wider discussion explored whether increased international collaboration during the crisis could be sustained beyond COVID-19. Contributors from across Europe, including probation leaders, academics, and practitioners, emphasised the importance of capturing the lessons learned, embedding innovations such as remote supervision and virtual exchanges, and reconsidering the role of prisons in light of reduced populations during lockdown.
Key themes emerged around trust, legitimacy, and the balance between face-to-face and online interaction. While digital platforms expanded reach and participation, participants noted that building relationships and sustaining cultural change in justice organisations requires direct human contact. The challenge for international development will be to strike the right balance, ensuring that the efficiencies of online collaboration complement, rather than replace, in-person engagement.
This seminar set the tone for IN-CJ’s future work: creating a space for open, critical, and collaborative reflection on the challenges and opportunities facing criminal justice systems internationally. It demonstrated the value of connecting practitioners and researchers across borders, even – and perhaps especially – during times of crisis.