Description
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of the research was to examine the effectiveness of probation systems in reducing recidivism rates and improving the resocialisation of offenders, using the examples of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia.
Methodology: The methodology was based on comparative legal and institutional analysis of legislative acts, probation programmes, and their practical implementation.
Results: The findings demonstrated that in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, restorative justice-based probation practices were integrated. In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia, there was a gradual formation of probation institutions oriented towards adaptation to international standards and the expansion of social and educational programmes. In these countries, restorative practices were increasingly being used to address the harm caused by criminal behaviour. A synthesis of the obtained results confirmed that the effectiveness of probation systems was determined by their level of institutional maturity, their capacity to combine supervisory and supportive elements, and their ability to ensure cooperation with national security agencies and restorative justice practitioners.
Conclusion: The conclusions of the study emphasised the importance of harmonising legal standards and developing comprehensive models of probation to strengthen criminal justice and reduce the burden on penitentiary institutions.
Keywords: criminal law, resocialisation, radicalisation, recidivism, preventive strategies.
