IN-CJ Podcast 018 – Working with Young People Utilising a Trauma Recovery Model in Ireland
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Part of the IN-CJ Global Dialogue Newsdesk, this session was coordinated by Brian Johnston of the Candle Trust, who offer educational, social and developmental programmes, for young people which provide a therapeutic space and youth service. Candle is committed to meeting the needs of all the young people and support them in reaching their full potential.
This podcast explores how probation supervision has been reshaped by the rise of digital technologies, with a focus on their use before COVID-19, their rapid expansion during the pandemic, and the implications for the future of supervising people in the community.
Contributors from England and Wales, Ireland, the United States, and other jurisdictions reflected on how probation services adapted almost overnight to restrictions on face-to-face contact. Video calls, smartphone reporting apps, and online platforms became standard tools, offering more frequent engagement and efficiency gains. For some clients, digital contact improved access and reduced barriers; for others, particularly those facing digital exclusion, it created new challenges.
The discussion highlighted a range of “hybrid technologies” in use, from electronic monitoring and alcohol-detection bracelets to AI-driven risk assessment tools. These innovations prompted debate about ethics, privacy, and the need to maintain empathy and human connection in supervision. Questions arose about whether meaningful trust can be built online, how risk is assessed remotely, and whether technology might reinforce inequalities.
A clear theme emerged: while digital tools will remain part of probation practice, they must support rather than replace the relational heart of supervision. Human connection, trust, and professional judgement remain central to effective probation, with technology positioned as an adjunct that can enhance, but not substitute for, these essentials.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 017 – Cyber Supervision: Before, During and After the Pandemic.
