Effectiveness of probation supervision recognised in Estonia-Netherlands seminar
30. June 2005
In the two-day joint
seminar for officials shaping Estonian and Dutch criminal policies
held in Laulasmaa Hotel and ending today, Dutch participants admitted
that a probation supervision system is an effective means of
combating crime.
"Once again I
was assured that the criminal policy goals set by us are reasonable,"
said Justice Minister Rein Lang at the seminar. “Estonia is on the
right track in trying to use its well-functioning probation
supervision system even more effectively and to a larger extent. A
probationer will not lose touch with society and will not obtain new
criminal knowledge. This is the key to the effectiveness of the
system. The Dutch have experience from the time when they did not
have a probation supervision system, but they admit that abolition of
it was a big mistake and they are currently rebuilding it."
The seminar touched
upon the problems of law enforcement in Estonia and Europe and the
possibilities of combating crime both within the framework of the law
enforcement system and outside of it. Estonian and Dutch law
enforcement specialists discussed the development of Estonian
criminal policy and possible priorities. Changes to national law
enforcement systems related to ‘Europeanisation’ were also
discussed.
"We learned
that there are indeed areas where we’re ahead of the Dutch,"
said the Minister. "For instance, the use of information
technology. The Dutch were very interested in the e-file project
launched in Estonia. They are not even planning to use information
technology tools to such an extent in criminal proceedings."
In addition to the
Ministry of Justice, the event was attended by several police chiefs,
the Public Prosecutor, circuit prosecutors, representatives of the
Supreme Court, researchers, representatives of the Tax and Customs
Board, the State Audit Office and the Ministries of Internal Affairs
and Justice.
Kristi Künnapas Public Relations Division Ministry of Justice Phone 620 8118 Mobile phone 56 215
672
