Institute Core Logo
SEE YOU THERE IN...
  • days
  • Hours
  • Minutes
  • Seconds

International Relations Highlighted Training Track


Presented by APPA’s International Relations Committee

The International Relations Committee proudly presents a dynamic training track spotlighting innovation, collaboration, and reform in probation and parole. Featuring justice experts from the Turks and Caicos Islands, Netherlands, Republic of Georgia, and the United States, this series explores diverse, evidence-based approaches to community supervision.

Sessions will highlight strategic planning, restorative justice, trauma-informed practices, and the use of technology, offering insights from both long-established and emerging systems. Designed to promote cross-border learning, this track provides practical strategies and global lessons to advance community corrections at home and around the world.

Workshops

CHARTING THE PATH FORWARD: A RESEARCH-PRACTITIONER APPROACH FOR COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING
MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH | 9:15 AM - 10:45 AM ET

Presenters:

Jaron Harvey

Jaron Harvey
Director, Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services
Ministry of Public Safety & Utilities of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government

Deborah Koetzle

Deborah Koetzle
Director & Professor
The Corrections Lab, John Jay College

Jeff Mellow

Jeff Mellow
Deputy Director & Professor
The Corrections Lab, John Jay College

Stephanie Spiegel

Stephanie Spiegel
Senior Research Associate
The Corrections Lab, John Jay College

Effective strategic planning is essential for probation and parole agencies to enhance public safety and to address the complex needs of justice-involved individuals. This workshop highlights a successful researcher-practitioner partnership with the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Supervision (DRCS) of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Drawing on this partnership, the workshop will outline a comprehensive and collaborative approach to strategic planning. Participants will learn to identify focus areas, foster a shared vision for change, and establish realistic timelines to meet the strategic plan’s goals, objectives and strategies. Key takeaways include actionable strategies for implementing a collaborative strategic plan within community corrections to drive measurable improvements.


200 YEARS OF DUTCH PROBATION: LESSONS LEARNED AND GLOBAL OBLIGATIONS FOR A PROGRESSIVE PROBATION SYSTEM
MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET

Presenters:

Julie Truschel

Julie Truschel
CEO
Supervision Around the World (SAW) Project

Jochum Wildeman

Jochum Wildeman
Director International Bureau
Dutch Probation

This presentation draws on the rich history and evolution of Dutch probation practices—spanning two centuries—to offer valuable insights for the international probation and parole community. By examining how the Netherlands shifted from a punitive approach to a rehabilitative, community-based model, the presentation will highlight strategies that have contributed to lower incarceration rates, reduced recidivism, and enhanced reintegration efforts. This topic is particularly timely for APPA’s 50th Anniversary Conference in August 2025 in New York, as it underscores both historical achievements and future obligations for effective probation practices worldwide.


A GLOBAL RETROSPECTIVE: KEY MILESTONES IN PROBATION DEVELOPMENT
MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH | 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM ET

Presenters:

Joseph Arvidson

Joseph Arvidson
Executive Director
The Paragon Group

Iason Nachkebia

Iason Nachkebia
Head of Analytical Department
National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation (Republic of Georgia)

Julie Truschel

Julie Truschel
CEO
Supervision Around the World (SAW) Project

Jochum Wildeman

Jochum Wildeman
Director International Bureau
Dutch Probation

As the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) celebrates its 50th Anniversary, this workshop brings together international experts for a forward-thinking discussion on the evolution of probation and community supervision worldwide. By examining lessons from diverse systems—both emerging and long-established—we will explore how history informs current practices and future innovations. Key themes include: Global Retrospective – Examining major milestones in probation’s development. Adapting to Change – Strategies for maintaining effectiveness in evolving correctional landscapes. Innovating for the Future – Emerging trends, international collaborations, and technology in supervision. Featuring: Iason Nachkebia (Republic of Georgia) – Insights on building a probation system from the ground up; Jochum Wildeman (Netherlands) – Lessons from a system with over 200 years of history. Join us for an engaging Q&A discussion, gaining global insights into the future of probation.


COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION AND OFFENDER REINTEGRATION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27TH | 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET

Presenters:

Joseph Arvidson

Joseph Arvidson
Executive Director
The Paragon Group

Iason Nachkebia

Iason Nachkebia
Head of Analytical Department, National Agency for Crime Prevention
Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation (Republic of Georgia)

The session will provide an in-depth overview of the probation service's evolution in Georgia, a country on Europe's eastern edge that has experienced significant challenges since its independence in 1991. Enduring wars and hybrid threats, Georgia has progressively reformed its criminal justice system, with a growing focus on rehabilitation and, more recently, the integration of advanced technologies. The session will analyze how these strategic changes have manifested in critical areas such as policy development, legal frameworks, and enforcement practices. A particular focus will be placed on Georgia’s three-level crime prevention model, which, alongside traditional probation activities, includes a domain rarely found in most probation organizations. The development of restorative justice, innovative rehabilitation programs, and one-stop technological solutions for anonymous reporting and services is complemented by targeted interventions for juveniles below the age of criminal responsibility and the active involvement of public schools in juvenile crime prevention. Together, these initiatives create a comprehensive approach to crime prevention, while breaking down the strategy into specific execution steps offers valuable insights and inspiration for a broader audience.

PREMIER SPONSOR

Tyler Tech Logo

MILESTONE SPONSOR

Cognisen Logo

HERITAGE SPONSOR

Journal Logo
VISIONARY SPONSORS
Catalis Logo
Casebase Logo
FieldWare Logo
Prem Rawat Foundation Logo
MHS Logo
Securus Monitoring Logo
TFS Logo
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
The Correctional Management Institute of Texax Logo
Minds Against Crime Logo
Reconnect Logo
NCTI Logo
WOMEN'S SYMPOISUM
GEO Care Logo
AECF Logo
JUDICIAL ROUNDTABLE
CSS Logo
Tyler Tech Logo
C3 SPONSOR
Scram Logo
CAREER FAIR CO-HOST AND SPONSOR
Honest Job Logo
Aventiv Logo
REFORM Logo

Contributing Sponsors

Casebase - BOD Luncheon  |  Cognisen - Expo Hall Bingo  |  CSS - Lanyards  |  Empower Community Care - Expo Hall Bingo  |  FieldWare - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Journal Technologies - Expo Hall Bingo  |  MHS - Expo Hall Bingo  |  NCTI - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Noble Software Group - Expo Hall Bingo  |  The Prem Rawat Foundation - Expo Hall Bingo  |  SCRAM - Conference Bags  |  Securus Monitoring - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Sinter Technologies - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Smart Start - Lanyards  |  Solus Guard - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Thermo Fischer - Expo Hall Bingo  |  Tyler Tech - Expo Hall Bingo

Also, special thanks goes to our Corporate Members!