On Wed., 7 December 2022, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) organized the second  out of four EU-wide consultation series in the framework of the project “Justice for All: Strengthening the Rights of Persons with Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities in criminal deprivation of liberty. EU Cross-Border Transfers, Detention and Alternatives“.

The consultation brought together probation officers and social workers from different EU Member States who have experience in working with people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities. The focus was on both EU cross-border procedures and as well as the situation in the national context.

The cases and practices presented at the workshop highlighted the different challenges and opportunities in the area of probation measures and alternative sanctions for people with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities within the criminal justice systems in the EU. In connection with EU cross-border proceedings, the Framework Decision on European Supervision Order and the Framework Decision on the Supervision of Probation Measures and Alternative Sanctions were points of discussion. Participants from different Member States noted that there is not sufficient awareness of the Framework Decisions as well as many differences between the national systems with regard to probation measures and alternative sanctions.

Through informative presentations and engaging discussions, participants exchanged on current challenges and sought common recommendations for action and best practices to improve existing laws and procedures for people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities and their probation work.

The focus of the EU-wide online consultations of the project is on a specific stakeholder group that is involved in the criminal process with defendants and detainees with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities: The kick-off consultation workshop (Tue., 25 October 2022) invited lawyers to exchange ideas with colleagues within the EU. Consultations will follow with representatives of national preventive and oversight mechanisms (Wed., 18 January 2023) and judges (Wed., 1 February 2023).