IN-CJ Podcast 017 – Cyber Supervision: Before, During and After the Pandemic
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Today we hosted the THIRD international webinar of this year on the topic of probation. In this webinar we opened up a conversation about how the experience of rapid change during the pandemic, and how practice has been affected. Our discussion aimed to think about what will be the long-term impact on the supervision of offenders in the community. Our question was: how has on-line contact affected work? What is the role of telephone technology?
This IN-CJ podcast brings together practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to explore how technology is reshaping probation supervision and community sanctions. The discussion examines how digital tools were used before COVID-19, how their adoption accelerated during the pandemic, and what this means for the future of supervision.
Participants reflected on the shift from traditional face-to-face probation to hybrid models that combine digital and in-person contact. The pandemic forced rapid innovation: probation officers across England, Ireland, the U.S., and elsewhere moved to video calls, smartphone apps, and online platforms almost overnight. This created opportunities for more frequent contact, efficiency gains, and new ways of supporting clients.
At the same time, significant challenges emerged. Questions were raised about whether digital contact can build the trust needed for effective supervision, how risks can be assessed remotely, and whether some groups of clients were excluded by digital inequality. Staff also expressed concerns about the loss of human connection and the limitations of technology in handling complex needs.
The seminar explored a range of “hybrid technologies” now present in probation, from electronic monitoring and alcohol-detection bracelets to smartphone reporting apps and AI-driven risk tools. Contributors debated the ethical implications: how do we balance efficiency with empathy, privacy with data collection, or automation with professional judgement?
The conversation concluded that while technology will remain a feature of probation practice, it must serve as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, the relational work at the heart of supervision. Probation’s strength lies in human connection, and digital tools should be designed to support – not undermine – this central value.
The event was co-chaired by Professor Ioan Durnescu from Bucharest University, Romania and Sonia Flynn, CBE, Chief Probation Officer and Director Women, HM Prison and Probation Service, England and Wales.
The programme included presentations from different parts of the world:
- An Introduction to the Use of On-line Technology in Probation Supervision – Professor Ioan Durnescu, University of Bucharest, Romania.
- Cell Phones to the Rescue: leveraging technology to improve supervision outcomes – Professor Ron Corbett, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, USA.
- Future Priorities for Tech Development in Probation – Panel discussion
Each presentation was followed by questions from the audience. In answering these questions, the presenters are joined by round-table experts.
