The Council for Penological Co-operation (PC-CP) is the expert committee of the Council of Europe responsible for reviewing and revising standards and principles in the field of execution of custodial and non-custodial penal sanctions and measures.
It contributes to the Council of Europe’s role as an important standard-setting organisation and a platform for the exchange of experience and professional inspiration. The Working Group is composed of 9 elected members who are renowned experts in the prison and probation field. The Committee holds once a year a Plenary meeting with representatives of the 46 Council of Europe member States. Read more »
Promoting more humane and socially effective penal sanctions
Alternative sanctions to imprisonment grow moderately in Europe
The use of community sanctions and measures that allow individuals to remain in the community - also known as alternatives to imprisonment - continues to grow overall in Europe, although at a moderate pace, according to the latest Council of Europe annual penal statistics on persons under the...
9 July 2026
Serious overcrowding and increasing proportions of older and women detainees in European prisons
19 May 2026
Education in prison: the Council of Europe updates its Recommendation to account for recent developments
8 April 2026
Alternative sanctions to imprisonment: Council of Europe publishes 2024 annual survey
6 November 2025
