Interaction of the Probation Service and Civil Society Institutions in the Implementation of Probation Tasks

Abstract

The current national legislation, which regulates the organization and implementation of probation in Ukraine in terms of regulating the cooperation of the probation service with civil society institutions, is analyzed. It has been established that such cooperation is possible by involving volunteers in probation in carrying out tasks related to the supervision of convicts and the implementation of social and educational work with them, as well as interaction on a contractual basis with enterprises, institutions and organizations irrespective of the forms of ownership. The disadvantages of such regulation are revealed, including the discrepancy between the norms of the Law of Ukraine «On Probation» and the Regulation on the organization of volunteers' probation activities in terms of involving volunteers in cooperation. The Law «On Probation» proposes to regulate the principles of cooperation of the probation service with public and religious organizations with the definition of mutual rights and responsibilities, responsibility, supervision and control over the activities of the relevant organizations in the field of probation by the probation service. The prospects and effectiveness of cooperation of the probation service with religious organizations, especially with regard to the implementation of social and educational work with the convicts, are analyzed, on the basis of foreign experience and experience of cooperation of state service and religious organizations in the sphere of resocialization of convicts and ensuring public safety. It is concluded that the actual introduction of probation (not the formal implementation of the relevant legislative provisions, but the actual cooperation with the person who committed the crime, aimed at preventing her from committing new crimes without isolating her from society, and vice versa with a real involvement in social processes) is impossible without the close cooperation of probation service with civil society institutions. It is proposed at the legislative level to strengthen the possibility of the development and implementation of non-state alternative probation programs by religious organizations of non-prisoners with probation.