IN-CJ Podcast 005 with Willem van der Brugge
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS
IN-CJ exists to enable conversations to take place about international criminal justice. This podcast is one of a series about the challenge posed to leaders by the COVID-19 crisis. The people working in the criminal justice system at the frontline are facing unique issues in keeping services going and protecting the public. It follows that their leaders are also facing unique challenges. John Scott wants to find out how leaders and organisations are responding to COVID-19. It is a chance to share experiences and problems, but also to hear stories about creativity and changes. How are you responding to ‘The Covid19 Leadership Challenge?’ Willem van der Brugge, Secretary General, Confederation of European Probation (CEP).
In this episode of the IN-CJ podcast series on the COVID Leadership Challenge, John Scott speaks with Willem van der Brugge, Secretary General of the Confederation of European Probation (CEP). The conversation explores how probation services across Europe have responded to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what this means for leadership in international criminal justice.
Willem describes how CEP, a network organisation representing probation services in 37 European countries, had to rapidly adapt when physical events and conferences were cancelled. The organisation shifted to virtual meetings, webinars, and the collection of national protocols on probation during COVID, creating a valuable resource for members seeking to learn from each other. CEP also highlighted frontline experiences by publishing stories from probation practitioners, which were widely downloaded and shared.
The discussion highlights how probation staff across Europe displayed creativity in maintaining contact with service users, from using video platforms and supportive mobile apps to innovative approaches such as “walking supervision” sessions outdoors. These adaptations revealed both the resilience of probation services and the importance of communication and exchange between jurisdictions.
Willem also reflects on the challenges of leadership during a pandemic: sustaining networks, maintaining staff motivation, and building new relationships virtually. He notes the pressures on probation services created by early prison releases, backlogs of community service orders, and rising levels of domestic violence and mental health problems.
A key theme is the importance of public value. Willem stresses that probation services must continue to tell their story – to policymakers, the media, and the public – to ensure that their vital contribution to safer societies is recognised and supported.
This conversation demonstrates how international cooperation, creativity, and leadership have been essential to probation during COVID-19, and offers lessons for building more resilient systems in the future.
