Probation Program Research Articles

Penal idea of probation supervision

In the article, the author emphasizes that the type of punishment for a crime, probation supervision, has a distinct socio-humanitarian, educational, and resocializing focus. The research methodology included: an integrated approach to the critical analysis of information in the open space; complementarity in the sense of complementarity for the sustainability of the system under study in open dynamic relations of human rights observance in the execution of sentences and treatment of convicts in Ukraine in the realities of martial law and at the stage of Ukraine's recovery when processing regulations and court decisions using the intellectual search system ZakonOn-line, a systematic approach to the analysis of scientific and technical materials. The author identifies the conditions for individualization of crime prevention measures to ensure the effectiveness of probation programs: reliance on analytics; unambiguous understanding of terms; strategic relevance; systemic nature of preventive tools and resources for probation supervision, which provides for an internal quality system. These conditions include monitoring, quality assessment, accountability and training of probation staff and volunteers, ecology of relations at the social, corporate, and individual levels, program development taking into account the scope of probation supervision, understanding of opportunities and vulnerabilities, and understanding of the operational environment. The results of the empirical research made it possible to define complementarity as the basis for the conceptualization of probation supervision through the humanization of the system of execution of criminal sentences, management and procedures for saving money, and ensuring public safety. The author specifies the perspective: diversification of elements of probation supervision with the aim of reducing the risks of a formal approach in individualizing the impact on the correction of convicts, preventing them from committing repeated criminal offenses.

Пробація в Україні: сучасний стан та особливості реалізації

It was found that the issue of probation is relevant for Ukraine in the context of harmonizing national practice with international standards of judicial proceedings and execution of punishments and improving the functioning of the legal mechanism of the state. The long period of probation in Ukraine is a confirmation of the humanization of the system of execution of punishments and is characterized by a positive experience, given the possibility of a person who has committed an offense to correct himself within the limits of social formation, and the legal restriction of certain rights of a person allows him to fully understand the consequences that deprivation will have for him will It was emphasized that in Ukraine, in 2018, the "Probation Center" was created, which belongs to the sphere of administration of the Ministry of Justice, whose duties include the implementation of tasks of probation supervision, also, a number of normative legal acts were adopted and changes were made to the existing ones, with the aimof prevention of a person’s loss of social significance and his full correction, outside the limits of the institution of execution of punishment. It is noted that Ukraine recognizes and supports international recommendations and standards in the field of execution of sentences regarding the correction of convicts, their resocialization without isolation from society in order to ensure a comprehensive approach to the prevention and fight against crime, as well as the use of alternatives to pre-trial detention and imprisonment on the basis of the court verdict, which proves the high level of development of criminal justice and civil society. Attention is focused on the fact that probation supervision is the main criminal punishment, which consists in limiting the rights and freedoms of the convict, with the use of supervision and socialeducational measures without isolation from society. Such a limitation is determined by law and established by a court verdict. The process of resocialization is important, during which a positive perception of work, social customs, and the convict’s personal culture is formed. For the implementation of probation programs, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has developed methodological recommendations, which are divided into meaningful modules, within which thematic classes are held and tasks are performed that contribute to the development of certain social skills of convicts.

The Impact of a Metacognitive Intervention on Student Experiences and Success in an Academic Probation Program for First-year Students

First-year students often struggle with self-regulated learning, particularly in monitoring and accurately assessing their level of understanding and translating that into appropriate preparation for rigorous post-secondary coursework. When their academic struggles become extreme, they can be placed in probationary programs. An intervention involving weekly reflective surveys focused on study strategies and metacognitive skill development was integrated into one such probationary program for first-year students. During the intervention, a slightly higher rate of successful completion of the program was observed compared to previous years. The self-reported experiences and patterns of engagement of the students suggested that the intervention positively impacted metacognitive skill development and additionally provided evidence of the importance of motivation at various points throughout the process. Identifying appropriate timepoints for intervention can better prepare stakeholders to support those students who may not be retained.

РОБОТА З КРИВДНИКАМИ В МЕЖАХ НАГЛЯДОВОЇ ПРОБАЦІЇ

The author of the article analyzes the powers of probation authorities to work with offenders within the framework of supervised probation, and considers the available tools for influencing the behavior of such persons and their correlation with other forms of social and educational influence. The article emphasizes that the activities of probation authorities are not only about ensuring control over the behavior of such persons and implementing probation programs when they are appointed by a court sentence, but also about forming the necessary cooperation and creating conditions which allow for effective influence on criminogenic factors to overcome or reduce them. To this end, supervised probation should include the study of individual and group characteristics of offenders, and the capabilities of other agencies and institutions involved in overcoming the problem of domestic violence. Supervised probation is a way of state influence on the process of punishing offenders, determining the need to extend the measure of criminal coercion, as well as a way to determine the effectiveness of the criminal liability measure and provides for the existence of a system of measures for regular or random monitoring of the behavior of convicts. The Recommendation Rec(2010)1 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on the Council of Europe Probation Rules states that probation, based on actions and measures of educational influence, is designed to ensure the enforcement of statutory sentences through supervision in order to involve convicts in public life and ensure the safety of society. At the same time, supervision should be viewed not only as a control function, but also as a means of counseling, assisting or motivating prisoners. The same document emphasizes that the probation service should work in cooperation with other public or private organizations and local governments to facilitate the reintegration of prisoners into society. Coordinated and complementary activities of different agencies based on the application of different branches of science are necessary to solve the sometimes complex problems of convicts and ensure the safety of society. The probation service should interact with other bodies and institutions of the justice system, with agencies that support its activities, and with the public to effectively perform its duties and functions. 38. The probation service should encourage the agencies supporting its activities so that they take responsibility for solving the problems of convicts as members of society. The article reveals the role of supervised probation in national realities and highlights its problematic aspects in the context of working with offenders. Key words: convicts, probation, supervised probation, subject of supervised probation, criminal law measures not related to the isolation of offenders, interaction of probation authorities, organizational and legal mechanism of probation interaction.

Opportunities for success: perceptions of intensive supervision probation with services

ABSTRACT Probation remains at the forefront in relation to criminal justice supervision strategies. Many variations of probation exist, including intensive forms of community supervision for individuals classified as higher risk. Debate remains ongoing as to the efficacy of such forms of supervision, but most scholars agree that paired with services and treatment, community supervision at a variety of levels holds promise though the degree to which those under supervision agree remains in question. The current study examines the perceptions of those under an intensive supervision and services program, highlighting the experiences of 90 individuals participating in an intensive supervision with services program. Utilizing flexible coding and thematic analysis of responses to open-ended questions regarding the nature of supervision experiences, the results lend insight into what is perceived to be working – or challenging – regarding participation. Most participants indicated the structure, clarity, and service access promoted overall well-being and potential desistance, though structural challenges and time demands could limit the longer-term effectiveness of this type of supervision. These findings suggest probation programs may incorporate specific components to better supervision outcomes.

ДО ПИТАННЯ ЩОДО ВРАХУВАННЯ СОЦІАЛЬНО-ПСИХОЛОГІЧНИХ ОСОБЛИВОСТЕЙ ОСІБ, ЯКІ ОБВИНУВАЧУЮТЬСЯ В КОЛАБОРАЦІЙНІЙ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ АБО Є ЗАСУДЖЕНИМИ ЗА ТАКІ ЗЛОЧИНИ

The upward trend in the number of persons subject to court orders to draw up a pre-trial report against persons accused of committing criminal offenses against the foundations of national security of Ukraine, as well as the convictions of such persons, prompts research into the social and psychological causes of such crimes and the development of probation programs to influence such persons socially and educationally. The purpose of the article is to define and study the general theoretical and practical aspects of the work of probation authorities with persons accused of collaboration or convicted of such crimes through the prism of social and educational measures. Research methodology is based on modern scientific approaches to the development of thinking, assessment of psychological actions of the individual, active cognition and assessment of the impact on behavioral change of individuals of different psychotypes. Results of the study. The reasons for the collaboration activities of persons against whom charges of criminal offenses against the foundations of national security of our country have been made are highlighted. The author characterizes the typology of behavioral profiles in accordance with the combination of traits-indicators of collaborators, certain socio-psychological signs of behavior of collaborators, and also identifies individual differences of collaborators and their behavioral profile. Conclusions. The study proves the need for further in-depth study of the behavioral patterns of collaborators, as well as their involvement in socially important processes through certain probationary actions and programs. Key words: collaborationism, collaboration activity, behavioral profile of a collaborator, probation program, training, risk assessment.

Legal aspects of supervised probation

The article focuses on the legal aspects of supervised probation. Domestic legislation has undergone fundamental changes in the area of regulation of legal relations related to probation following the adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On Probation» on 5 February 2015. Probation is defined as a system of supervisory and social and educational measures applied to convicted persons by a court decision and in accordance with the law, execution of certain types of non-custodial criminal sentences, and provision of information to the court on the defendant. One of the types of probation is supervisory probation, which is aimed at implementing supervisory and social and educational measures in relation to persons sentenced to deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities, community service, correctional labour, persons whose sentence of restriction of liberty or imprisonment for a certain period of time was commuted to community service or correctional labour, persons released from serving a sentence with probation, pregnant women and women with children under the age of The legal system of probation and the activities of probation bodies in Ukraine is provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine, the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, the Criminal Executive Code of Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine «On Probation», other laws and international treaties ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The purpose of supervised probation is to develop individual programmes for the convicted person, which would allow for the re-education of the person, adaptation to society, and prevention of new criminal offences. The main functions of supervised probation are vested in the probation body, which supervises convicted persons, develops and implements probation programmes, which are a necessary component of the tasks of supervised probation. Thus, a necessary component of the re-education of a convicted person is the implementation of the supervisory measures assigned to him/her.

Meaningful bonds and criminal trajectories in adolescents: The intervention experience of expert professionals

Young offenders (YO) have undergone a series of experiences throughout their lives that influence their way of relating to others. Through the report of nine expert professionals, this qualitative study seeks the characterization of different types of bonds established by 20 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 22 admitted to Special Probation Programs (SPP) in the region of La Araucanía, Chile. Through the design of cases by criteria, two categories of sex and criminal trajectory defined by the Multidimensional Model of Differentiated Intervention (MMIDA) are constructed from an analytical-associative perspective. The method of analysis selected for the treatment of the data was the Weighted Hierarchical Content Analysis, which allowed its characterization, frequency distribution, and comparison. As main results, it is found that YOs, from the report of expert interveners, tend to establish meaningful bonds with their environment, through which they satisfy their affective and help needs. These bonds allow them to channel their adaptive or maladaptive potential. The quality of these established bonds differs depending on the criminal trajectory regardless of the sex of the young person, presenting high consistency as described by the MMIDA model for each of the five trajectories. When making the comparison between the sexes, it was found that women present a higher content density in the categories of damaged bonds, mainly referring to unhealthy relationships and altered development.

Restrictive measures applied to persons perpetrators of domestic violence: national and foreign experience

The article establishes that in modern conditions, punishment for criminal offenses related to domestic violence, as a traditional measure of a criminal law nature, cannot overcome all challenges in the field of protection of «healthy» family relations which, in turn, actualizes the possibility to apply and other measures of a criminal law nature. In this regard, in 2017 the Law of Ukraine «On Amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine to implement the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence» was adopted, thus in criminal law Ukraine has an institute of restrictive measures.
 The article provides arguments in favor of attributing restrictive measures as measures of criminal law, not administrative law, and supports the position of the legislator on the legal regulation of their application in the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
 An attempt was made to determine the significance of the institution of restrictive measures, which, in the author's opinion, is to help prevent the commission of new criminal offenses against the victim of domestic violence; ensuring the educational impact on the offender by providing appropriate assistance within the implementation of the program for offenders or probation program, reducing the latency of relevant criminal offenses.
 An attempt has been made to study the institution of restrictive measures in some foreign countries, in particular: the USA, Australia, Belgium. The positive experience of which can be implemented by making appropriate changes to the legislation of Ukraine in terms of imposing restrictive measures on persons who commit domestic violence.
 It is proved that law enforcement practice, it can be said that the law enforcement practice of Ukraine and foreign countries clearly demonstrates that international law is developing through the recognition of state responsibility for domestic violence. Court decisions made in Ukraine and the European Court of Human Rights demonstrate that the practice in this category of cases is developing dynamically, and positive foreign experience needs to be implemented in domestic legislation and law enforcement practice. The vector of change should be aimed at the adoption of appropriate general measures by public authorities to counteract the underlying problem and prevent future ill-treatment by offenders.

The association between probationers’ addiction levels and socioeconomic-psychological characteristics

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to evaluate probationers’ addiction levels and associated socioeconomic and psychological features in Izmir Probation Directorate.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Izmir Probation Directorate between August 27, 2018 and November 27, 2018. The study’s dependent variable was adult probationers’ addiction level which was evaluated by the Addiction Profile Index-Clinical Version (API-C). The independent variables were individual factors, social environmental factors, API-C scale subdimensions and perceived social support. For paired comparisons, Student’s t test and ANOVA were used. Linear regression analysis was used for multiple comparisons. p < 0.05 was accepted as the limit of statistical significance.ResultsA total of 200 male probationers participated in the study (82.3%, n = 243). The participants’ average age was 29.9 ± 7.7. The participants’ average addiction score was 5.65 ± 2.33. According to the results of the regression analysis; education level (B = 1.438, 95% CI 0.936, 1.941, p < 0.001) working status at a job (B = 2.687, 95% CI 1.428, 3.945, p < 0.001) father’s education level (B=-1.117, 95% CI -1.473, -0.762, p < 0.001) and anger management problems (B = 0.750, 95%CI 0.517, 0.982, p < 0.001) were explanatory for addiction level. The model was 50.8% explanatory of addiction level (p < 0.05).ConclusionProbationers who grew up with only their mother, whose father had a low education level, who had higher levels of anger management problems and who were unemployed had higher levels of addiction. These results emphasize the need for social work in the rehabilitation processes of individuals. Treating the risk factors indicated by the study results as screening and follow-up parameters in the probation population can be useful in improving the success of the probation program.

Gender aspect of the participation of minors in criminal proceedings

The article analyzes statistical information for recent years regarding the commission of criminal offenses by minor girls and boys, the gender aspect of their participation in criminal proceedings, and the main differences. It was concluded that Ukraine does not pay due attention to the gender aspect of the participation of minors in criminal proceedings.&#x0D; In science and practice don’t pay attention that the majority of girls who are arrested have unique challenges compared to boys. It is a good idea that programs for girls should be designed to take into account the unique situations of girls, as well as to address the special problems that girls face in a gendered society. Unfortunately, traditional rehabilitation strategies have largely been shaped by healthy assumptions about what young people, usually boys, need. Sometimes girls will benefit from these ideas, and sometimes they will not apply to girls' problems at all.&#x0D; According to statistics of recent years, girls are less likely to be prosecuted for serious and especially serious crimes than boys. It is considered that scientists of foreign countries actively substantiate the difference between the participation of girls and boys in the field of juvenile justice. They found a gender difference in the behavior of minors. It turned out that boys were more likely to break the law, get arrested, participate in violent crimes, and sell drugs. Instead, girls were more often prosecuted for non-violent crimes.&#x0D; Juvenile probation programs do not include a gender perspective, although it has been proven that juvenile girls and boys often have different problems that need to be addressed, and a one-size-fits-all approach may not always help. With this in mind, it is necessary to develop and implement probation programs separately for minor girls and for minor boys.

Special Themed Section on Emerging Findings From the Frontlines of Juvenile Justice Transformation

In this special themed section, we desired to highlight findings in transformative areas of juvenile justice operations. Our initial goal was not to focus on ancillary treatment programs, probation programs, court processes, diversion, and/or leadership training. That is, we were interested in scholarly studies that examined fundamental transformations in system operations. We discovered that there was little academically oriented research that was being devoted to documenting, studying, and measuring the impact of these transformation, and that there are few efforts to advance our knowledge about both how to do transformation and the resulting impacts of these transformations. We were primarily interested in system change at the macro-level to help inform others about what transformation no the ground looks like, and how it affects the operations of a juvenile justice system.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ПЕДАГОГІЧНІ ОСНОВИ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ПРОБАЦІЙНИХ ПРОГРАМ

The article examines the peculiarities of the application of individual and group training forms and methods of working with probation subjects in the process of implementing probation programs. At the same time, attention is focused on ways of increasing motivation and activation of cognitive activity of training participants, methods of establishing working socio-psychological communication, mechanisms of providing feedback. The purpose of the article is to reveal the peculiarities and methodological foundations of the organization and conduct of training classes as the main didactic technology for the implementation of probation programs. The methodology is based on modern provisions of the methodology of formation of new professional skills of probation bodies personnel. Conclusions. According to the results of the research, we can note that training, as an interactive form of group work, ensures quite effective interaction of participants not only with each other, but also with the surrounding world, which undoubtedly contributes to the achievement of success in various fields of activity, communication, contributes to the formation of a person’s confidence in his knowledge, actions, behavior, contributes to the creation of rational and harmonious relations with the environment, i.e. ensures confidence in oneself and in one’s professional training. Key words: probation program, subjects of probation, individual training, group training, training exercises, training groups, rules of behavior in the group.

A retrospective, descriptive study of hepatitis C testing, prevalence, and care continuum among adults on probation

BackgroundDespite constituting the largest segment of the correctional population, individuals on court-ordered probation remain largely unstudied with respect to hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage-to-care. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive analysis to estimate prevalence of diagnosed HCV and the subsequent HCV care cascade among a cohort of individuals enrolled in an adult probation program over a 25-month period in Denver, Colorado.MethodsWe utilized probabilistic matching with first and last name, sex, and birthdate to identify individuals enrolled in probation between July 1, 2016 and July 30, 2018 who had a medical record at the participating safety-net healthcare institution as of December 31, 2019. Electronic medical record data were queried for evidence of HCV testing and care through June 30, 2021. The state HCV registry was also queried for prevalence of reported HCV cases among the cohort.ResultsThis cohort included 8,903 individuals; 6,920 (78%) individuals had a medical record at the participating institution, and of these, 1,037 (15%) had ever been tested for HCV (Ab or RNA) and 308 (4% of those with a medical record, 30% of those tested) had detectable HCV RNA. Of these, 105 (34%) initiated HCV treatment, 89 (29%) had a subsequent undetectable HCV viral load, and 65 (21%) had documentation of HCV cure. Eleven percent of the total cohort had records of positive HCV Ab or RNA tests in the state HCV registry.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the importance of HCV screening and linkage-to-care for individuals enrolled in probation programs. A focus on this population could enhance progress towards HCV elimination goals.

FOCUS on women: Program evaluation of a pilot probation and primary care transitions clinic collaboration☆

Gender-specific probation programs are needed for rising numbers of women on probation, as women’s paths to probation differ from men’s and are not as frequently addressed. Substance use, mental illness, health disparities, and barriers to treatment can contribute to women clients’ unsuccessful completion of probation. The current study describes a process evaluation of the pilot Female Offenders Can Ultimately Succeed (FOCUS) program, which aimed to meet women probation clients’ complex needs and improve their probation outcomes. Two women FOCUS Probation Officers had smaller-than-typical caseloads of 132 Medium- to Greatest-Risk women clients and received ongoing training in motivational and trauma-specific supervision strategies. To facilitate linkage to all needed treatment and social services, clients were referred to a primary care Transitions Clinic. Comparing non-FOCUS to FOCUS women clients with Violations of Probation, FOCUS clients had more successful completions of probation (higher non-punitive Restorations of Probation and lower punitive Revocations of Probation). At the Transitions Clinic, 52% of FOCUS clients received treatment. FOCUS clients and stakeholders provided narrative feedback reflecting a range of experiences in FOCUS, guiding future program implementation efforts. Promising outcomes from FOCUS demonstrate the potential of theory-based supervision and probation-medical collaboration to facilitate women clients’ success in probation.

Intensified support for juvenile offenders on probation: Evidence from Germany

AbstractThis paper studies a probation program in Cologne, Germany. The program, which has a clear rehabilitative focus, offers intensified personal support to serious juvenile offenders over the first 6 months of their probation period. To evaluate the program's impact on recidivism, we draw on two research designs. Firstly, a small‐scale randomized trial assigns offenders to probation with regular or intensified support. Secondly, a regression discontinuity design exploits a cutoff that defines program eligibility. The results suggest that the program reduces recidivism. The effect seems persistent over at least 3 years. Our evidence further indicates that the drop in recidivism is strongest among less severe offenders.

Перспективы расширения круга принудительных мер воспитательного воздействия, применяемых при освобождении несовершеннолетних от уголовного наказания

The release of minors from criminal punishment is one of the manifestations of the method of encouragement in the criminal law of Russia. The expansion of the range of alternative measures to criminal punishment applied to minors has great importance. The article analyzes the legislation of application of measures alternative to criminal punishment in number of foreign countries. An analysis of French legislation has shown that the French model of juvenile justice assumes an individual approach to a juvenile offender, creating for him the most favored regime in terms of release from punishment. There are several measures that deserve attention in the legislation of a number of countries near Russia abroad, along with compulsory measures of educational influence, similar to the measures provided for in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In particular, the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova provides for such a measure as imposing on a minor the obligation to participate in a probation program. Such programs differ both in orientation (probation programs for the correction of social behavior or social reintegration) and in the way minors participate in them (group or individual probation programs). The essence of compulsory measures of educational influence is the upbringing of minors and restriction of misconduct. According to the authors’ opinion, compulsory measures of educational influence, not being any form of realization of criminal responsibility, can, if properly applied, have a greater educational effect on minors than criminal punishment or another form of criminal responsibility. The Russian legislator pays obviously insufficient attention to the regulation of compulsory measures of educational influence. The range of compulsory measures of educational influence in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation should be significantly expanded, which will contribute to the individualization of the release of minors from criminal punishment. It is proposed to include in the range of compulsory measures of educational influence such measures as imposing the obligation to publicly or in another form determined by the court to apologize to the victim; imposing the obligation to take a course of psychological assistance; imposing the obligation to take a course of compulsory education; imposing the obligation to participate in the probation program; gratuitous socially useful educational work (in institutions and organizations that provide social and medical assistance).

The use of methamphetamine in the probation population

Objective: Our research aimed to determine the frequency of methamphetamine use among people referred to health institutions for treatment with the probation decision and to reveal the sociodemographic and clinical profile of people who use methamphetamine. Method: Four hundred and forty-two consecutive cases between 18 and 65 years of age who were referred for treatment to the Probation Outpatient Clinic in Bakirkoy Prof. Mazhar Osman Training and Research Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology, and Neurosurgery were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical information of the cases, substance use and treatment histories, and criminal histories were recorded and evaluated with a semi-structured form. Urine toxicology results, which were taken as one of the obligations of the probation treatment program, were examined. Results: Substance metabolites were detected in the urine toxicological analysis of 81% of the cases. Methamphetamine use was detected in 24.4% of the sample. It was the second most common illicit substance after cannabis and the fourth common seized. Inhalation was the most common method of methamphetamine use. Of the cases still using methamphetamine, 90.7% (n=98) were found to use at least one substance other than methamphetamine. Emergency admissions for substance-related problems, inpatient addiction treatment, outpatient psychiatric treatment, and forensic histories were significantly higher in the group with methamphetamine use than in the group without methamphetamine use. Conclusion: Our study is the first to evaluate the rate of methamphetamine use in the probation population and the sociodemographic and clinical profile of people with methamphetamine use. According to the data obtained, one-fourth of the probation population was using methamphetamine. This group represented a more criminally engaged subgroup of substance users with more inpatient addiction treatment and outpatient psychiatric treatment needs with a high rate of polysubstance use. Recognizing the profile of methamphetamine users is essential to develop strategies to meet their treatment needs. In addition, a probation program might provide an opportunity to raise awareness of substance-related medical and social problems and to motivate individuals who are relatively less engaged with treatment to initiate a therapeutic process.

BEST PRACTICES IN THE PREVENTION OF RECIDIVISM – CURRENT STATE AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCE

The article is highlighting best practices in the prevention of recidivism and international standards in this area. Current international standards for the treatment of convicts include, inter alia, provisions relating to interference with prison activities, including education, training and other programs, as well as the need to ensure contact with the outside world; early release of convicts; providing assistance and support to convicts after release; community involvement in the reintegration process; and standards that encourage the use of NGO programs as an alternative to imprisonment. International standards provide for the formation of strategies for the reintegration of offenders, which should include, inter alia: analysis of the problems that the offender will face after release from prison and ways to solve them; mobilization of available resources and cooperation of various bodies to solve the problems of persons released from prisons; special attention is paid to the needs of women released from prisons, criminals living in rural areas or belonging to national minorities, etc. The issues related to the practical implementation of probation legislation in Ukraine are analysed and it is concluded that there is no existing regulation. The author emphasizes that at this stage it is impossible to talk about a comprehensive approach of the state to the prevention of recidivism due to the existence of effective national programs to prevent it, which are reflected in relevant programs and, in turn, in individual plans to combat new crimes for specific criminal offenders. Also, the probation programs currently available in Ukraine are essentially training courses that contribute to the acquisition of a specific skill, but are not sufficient for comprehensive changes in the life of a person at high risk of recidivism. Without diminishing the role of controlling the behaviour of a person who has already committed a criminal offense, more attention should be paid to feedback from criminal offenders and helping them to resolve issues related to employment, housing and social networking. Thus, there is a need to implement scientifically and normatively approved national programs developed in accordance with foreign experience and international standards by the best scientists with the active participation of the public.

Hepatitis C Testing and Linkage to Care Among Adults on Probation in a Large US City.

BackgroundDespite constituting the largest segment of the correctional population, individuals on probation remain largely unstudied with respect to hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage to care. We implemented an HCV testing and patient navigation program at an adult probation department.MethodsAdults were tested at a local probation department with a rapid point-of-care HCV antibody (Ab) assay followed by a laboratory-based HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) assay if anti-HCV positive. All individuals received counseling rooted in harm reduction principles. Individuals testing positive for HCV Ab were immediately linked to a patient navigator in person or via telephone. The patient navigator assisted patients through cure unless the patient was lost to follow-up. Study participation involved an optional survey and optional point-of-care human immunodeficiency virus test.ResultsOf 417 individuals tested, 13% were HCV Ab positive and 65% of those tested for HCV RNA (34 of 52) had detectable HCV RNA. Of the 14 individuals who linked to an HCV treatment provider, 4 completed treatment, as measured by pharmacy fill documentation in the electronic medical record, and 1 obtained sustained virologic response. One hundred ninety-three individuals tested for HIV; none tested positive.ConclusionsThe study cohort had a higher HCV seroprevalence than the general population (13% vs 2%), but linkage to care, completion of HCV treatment, and successful test-of-cure rates were all low. This study indicates that HCV disproportionately impacts adults on probation and prioritizing support for testing and linkage to care could improve health in this population. Colocalization of HCV treatment within probation programs would reduce the barrier of attending a new institution and could be highly impactful.