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Covid-19 has brought many challenges for the administration of criminal justice systems, both in relation to incarceration, and probation and restorative justice. In this discussion John Scott continues his series of conversations about the challenge for leaders around the world as they seek to meet the demands of the pandemic. Joining John are three representatives of the International Corrections and Prisons Association. ICPA president, Peter Severin, Hans Meurisse vice-president, and Manon Bisson, executive director.
This episode of the IN-CJ podcast, created in partnership with the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), examines what “success” means in prisons and probation from an international perspective. Drawing on voices from Romania and beyond, the discussion brings together insights from prison staff, probation officers, and people with lived experience to explore how success is defined and measured in practice.
From the perspective of Romanian prison staff, success was described as a matter of small, daily achievements. Deputy directors, psychologists, and social workers highlighted how progress can mean gaining a prisoner’s trust, supporting education or vocational training, or helping someone maintain family contact. They also reflected on the challenges of managing the COVID-19 crisis, where ensuring health and safety became a measure of success in itself.
Probation officers in Bucharest framed success as “planting seeds of change.” Rather than expecting instant transformation, they valued incremental steps towards responsibility, reintegration, and humanisation. For them, success was about building relationships, encouraging new habits, and creating the conditions for change to take root.
The voices of people on probation added an essential perspective. They spoke about learning to manage conflict, gaining a sense of responsibility, and finding opportunities for reintegration. Some described how peer-led projects provided both support and motivation, turning probation into a collaborative journey rather than a punishment.
Across these perspectives, a common theme emerged: success in criminal justice is not a single outcome but a collective process. It is built through trust, communication, and everyday acts of support, reflecting the relational and human dimensions of justice systems worldwide.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Podcast 028 – International Perspectives on Success in Criminal Justice with ICPA.