Discussing proportionate penal sanctions at the 30th Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation

The 30th Council of Europe Annual Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services (CDPPS) took place in Kraków, Poland, on 24–25 September 2025. This edition of the annual event was hosted and co-organised by the Polish Ministry of Justice and the Polish Penitentiary Administration, in partnership with the Council of Europe.

More than 150 participants attended this high-level conference, including the Directors General of Council of Europe member and observer states, as well as representatives from the European Union, the United Nations, the European Organisation of Prison and Correctional Services (EuroPris), the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), and the Confederation of European Probation (CEP). The event also brought together renowned researchers and practitioners in the field.

The programme featured plenary sessions focused on issues such as reducing imprisonment, alleviating the workload of probation services, and addressing neurodiversity among offenders. Workshops explored specific areas of practice and policy. These included the use of data and risk assessment tools to reform penal policies; promoting positive health and trauma-informed care; addressing the challenges faced by children with imprisoned parents; and developing strategic approaches to crisis management in prison and probation services.

For Pedro das Neves, the 30th CDPPS offered an opportunity to share insights, question long-held assumptions, and build stronger collaborative networks across jurisdictions:

“Over the years, I have witnessed how this forum has matured and deepened in its influence on penal policy, practice, and cooperation across Europe. Kraków offered an occasion to reflect, learn, and share experiences on a theme of critical importance: (how) can we move away from the overuse of penal sanctions?”

Participants were encouraged to critically examine the heavy reliance on imprisonment and its implications for human rights, public safety, social reintegration, and financial sustainability, emphasising the need for reforms grounded in solid evidence and innovative approaches.

“As I depart Kraków, I carry with me fresh insights drawn from colleagues across Europe, renewed conviction in the imperative to advance more humane, proportionate, and effective penal sanctions, and a firm resolve to contribute to the onward work in this domain,” said Pedro das Neves.

As an organisation, IPS and JUSTICE TRENDS Magazine bring these lessons forward, continuing to integrate these values and insights into our cooperation with different jurisdictions in Europe and across the globe, and reinforcing our commitment to reform and collaboration in prison and probation systems.