Probation, research and development in Europe

Karyn Mabon; Elaine Kavanagh; Fergus McNeill

doi:10.1177/20662203251391878

Probation, research and development in Europe

Karyn Mabon^*, Elaine Kavanagh, Fergus McNeill

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

This article presents the findings from a year-long project commissioned by the Confederation of European Probation (CEP). The project aimed to support CEP to effectively engage with existing research on probation and to prioritise key research areas for the future. Between 2023 and 2024, we reviewed papers published in four key journals over a 10-year period and used the review to develop a typology of probation research. That typology informed the design of an online survey which was distributed to over 900 probation staff, and the survey results were then discussed in several focus groups with senior leaders in probation, with stakeholders and partners, and with frontline practitioners. In this paper, we present findings from all three activities and use them to highlight key barriers to research engagement by those working in probation, and to identify priorities for future probation research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	196-219
Number of pages	24
Journal	European Journal of Probation
Volume	17
Issue number	3
Early online date	28 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/20662203251391878
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2025

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research: This work was supported by The Confederation of European Probation and by the Economic and Social Research Council IAA Fund at the University of Glasgow, grant no: ES/X004414/1. We are grateful to the Board and staff of CEP and to the country champions for their assistance in carrying out this project. We also owe a debt of gratitude to those who completed the survey and, especially, to those who made time to participate in the focus groups. Our colleagues in the CEP’s Expert Group on Research and in the European Society of Criminology’s Working Group on Community Sanctions and Measures provided invaluable comment, advice and guidance. The project was funded by the CEP and by the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account at the University of Glasgow, grant no: ES/X004414/1. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research: This work was supported by The Confederation of European Probation and by the Economic and Social Research Council IAA Fund at the University of Glasgow, grant no: ES/X004414/1.

Keywords

probation
probation research
community sanctions and measures
research impact
research-informed practice
offender supervision

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10.1177/20662203251391878Licence: CC BY 4.0

Mabon-etal-EJP-2025-Probation-research-and-development-in-EuropeFinal published version, 1.19 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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Probation, research and development in Europe

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