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Institute of Restorative Justice and Criminology Faculty of Law, Comenius University

Published articles

Probation and its effectiveness in the conditions of the Slovak Republic

An analysis of reoffending among probation service clients in 2019-2024

  • doc. JUDr. Ján Novák, PhD.
  • Mgr. Martin Bielik
  • December 5, 2025
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Abstract

The article analyses the effectiveness of probation supervision in Slovakia through the reoffending rate of probation service clients and compares it with reoffending among people released after an unsuspended prison sentence.

1. Methodology

The analysis covered a cohort of 2,340 probation service clients placed under supervision between 2019 and 2021, with reoffending tracked for three years from the end of supervision.

Chart 1: Three year reoffending by type of sanction (%)
Probation supervision24
Financial penalty29
Community service31
Unsuspended prison sentence47
Figure 1: Comparison of reoffending. Source: IRK own research.

2. Conclusion

The results confirm that community sanctions show markedly lower reoffending than an unsuspended custodial sentence, even after the risk profile of offenders is taken into account.

Bibliography

  • Annual reports of the Corps of Prison and Court Guard, 2019-2024.
  • Novák, J. (2024). Penology. Bratislava: Faculty of Law, Comenius University.

How to cite

doc. JUDr. Ján Novák, PhD.; Mgr. Martin Bielik (2025). Probation and its effectiveness in the conditions of the Slovak Republic. Bratislava: Institute of Restorative Justice and Criminology.

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