Samenvatting

The article examines the evolution of community corrections, emphasizing probation and parole services. The term ‘community correctional’ encompasses both probation and parole, which vary globally in distinction and overlap. The article compares the practices of 1995 and 2024, highlighting the shift from stigmatizing language to a person-first approach to reduce negative labelling and move towards desistance. It explores changes in mission, structure, population size, performance, treatment programs, compliance management, and technology use in community corrections. The authors identify four grand challenges to advance the field: establishing community corrections as a standalone sanction, supporting desistance through relationship-building and community support, promoting fair treatment, and investing in resources to foster desistance and rehabilitation. This overview aims to improve the effectiveness of community corrections worldwide. This article summarizes findings from countries that contributed to a special handbook on global community corrections.