As probation services across Europe face increasing workloads, complex client needs, and heightened exposure to secondary trauma, the risk of staff burnout has become a pressing organisational concern. This plenary presentation unveils preliminary findings from a pan-European survey conducted among Directors-General and senior management in probation, aimed at assessing how different jurisdictions are addressing burnout prevention from a systemic, organisational perspective. Drawing on Freudenberger’s seminal concept of burnout as emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion due to chronic workplace stress, the survey captures primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies adopted by probation agencies.
The presentation highlights promising practices such as structured staff wellbeing programs, confidential feedback mechanisms, horizontal and vertical communication initiatives, and access to mental health services. However, the data also reveal significant variability in policy implementation, the absence of systematic assessment tools in many jurisdictions, and limited post-trauma support for staff. By triangulating survey responses with the existing empirical literature on occupational health in criminal justice settings, we identify key organisational enablers of resilience and formulate evidence-based recommendations for probation leadership and policymakers.
The findings support a shift from individual-level coping interventions toward holistic, organisational responses that embed staff wellbeing within the culture and governance of probation services. This evidence-informed agenda offers a shared platform for dialogue, innovation, and cross-jurisdictional learning across ICPA member organisations.
Moderated by Frank Porporino, Chair, Research and Development Network, ICPA, Canada
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Ioan Durnescu
Professor, University of Bucharest's Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Romania
Prof. Dr. Ioan Durnescu is a professor at the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, where he engages in the teaching and research of probation, prison reform, and deradicalization. His academic interests are deeply rooted in the comparative study of probation systems, the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, and the development of effective interventions with justice-involved persons.
Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to conduct training sessions on core correctional skills across various countries, including Slovenia, Jordan, Moldova, Spain, Croatia, Armenia and Kosovo. These sessions have not only allowed him to impart his knowledge but also to learn from the unique challenges and solutions found in different cultural contexts.
In his role as one of the editors for the European Journal of Probation, Prof. Dr. Durnescu contributes to the critical examination and dissemination of research that informs best practices in probation. He also pioneered the creation of ReHub, an innovative app designed to translate scientific research into practical tools for those working in prisons and probation services.
