IN-CJ & Probation Institute Webinar – Professionalism and Regulation of Probation Practitioners

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The probation sector plays a crucial role in community safety and rehabilitation. As probation practices and standards evolve worldwide, this webinar offers a rare opportunity to gain insights from global experts. Our speakers will share experiences from their respective countries, exploring how different jurisdictions approach the regulation and professionalism of probation services.

This webinar features the following distinguished speakers:

• Professor Ioan Durnescu (Bucharest University, Romania) – A leading academic voice on community sanctions and social reintegration.
• Scott Maurer (Chief of Staff, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, USA) – Sharing practical insights from one of the largest community sanctions systems in the United States.
• Marian O’Rourke (Director of Regulations and Standards, Northern Ireland Social Care Council) – Contributing strategic and operational experience of regulation.
• Arjen Alting | Manon de Nooijer (Regional Secretary | Criminologist, Reclassering Nederland) – Bringing the perspective of the Dutch probation system and its innovative approaches to practitioner regulation.

The session was chaired by Jana Spero, CEP Secretary General, and promises to be a dynamic discussion that will benefit all professionals working in or alongside probation services.

Professionalism and Regulation in Probation Practice

What does it mean to be a professional probation officer, and how should this role be regulated? These questions shaped an IN-CJ and Probation Institute webinar that brought together speakers from across Europe and the USA to reflect on recruitment, training, regulation, and recognition of probation practitioners. The panel included representatives from the Confederation of European Probation (CEP), the Probation Institute (UK), the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Dutch probation services, and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

The discussion revealed wide variation in probation practice internationally. In some jurisdictions, probation officers are highly qualified specialists with years of training and registration requirements, while in others they are recruited with minimal qualifications and learn largely on the job. The speakers debated the benefits and risks of professional registration and regulation, noting that while it can strengthen professional identity and accountability, it can also create barriers to recruitment and add bureaucratic burdens.

A recurring theme was the importance of continuous professional development. Mentoring, supervision, and training throughout a career were seen as essential to sustaining quality practice, particularly in systems where probation officers manage complex caseloads involving people with high needs, trauma, or serious offending histories. Career progression and recognition of skills were also highlighted as critical for retention, alongside preventing burnout in a demanding field.

International comparisons were instructive. The USA’s Georgia Department of Community Supervision described its approach to professionalisation through certification and training pathways. Dutch probation representatives emphasised the role of NGOs alongside state services, raising questions about professional identity in mixed systems. Northern Ireland outlined how social care registration frameworks could offer models for probation, embedding ethical standards and accountability.

In closing, the webinar raised the possibility of shared European frameworks to define probation professionalism while respecting national contexts. The discussion underlined that probation officers occupy a vital role at the intersection of justice, social care, and rehabilitation, and that professionalism—whether through regulation, training, or culture—remains key to sustaining effective practice.