The situation and significance of the activity of penitentiary probation officers in the light of the current legal regulation

Abstract

In our study we present the diverse activities of the probation officer as a crime prevention specialist, both within and outside the walls of prisons, with the main goal of the effective social reintegration of aboutto-be-released and released prisoners. During the performance of his/her tasks, both the validation of the support and control functions and also the maintenance of the balance between the two modes are emphasized. However, his/her work will be effective if he/she has an extensive network of contacts, pays attention to the involvement of cooperating partners. His/her activities also serve crime prevention purposes, which contribute to the improvement of the public’s sense of public security, thereby strengthening the social acceptance of the Hungarian Prison Service. Implementing a comprehensive system of tasks helps greatly to reduce the risk of recidivism and relapse.