The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-custodial sanctions and measures: Summary report of a comparative study in Member States of the European Union

In order to reduce prison populations to manage the spread of COVID-19, many states turned to the use of non-custodial sanctions and measures and the adoption of early or emergency release schemes. While the impact of the pandemic on prisons has been well documented, it is less clear how COVID-19 and the different measures governments have adopted in response to the pandemic have impacted the use, implementation, management and experience of non-custodial sanctions and measures as well as release preparation and support.

This summary comparative report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the imposition and implementation of non-custodial sentences and the preparation of individuals for release from prison is part of a wider comparative study conducted by the University of Coimbra as part of the EU-funded project ‘Promoting non-discriminatory alternatives to imprisonment across Europe‘, and is based on national-level research across 21 EU Member States.

The report is published with the financial support of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF) as part of the project ‘Addressing gaps in the implementation and management of alternatives to imprisonment and post-release support during the COVID-19 global pandemic.’ The project received IPPF funding in support of the Foundation’s goal to ensure that criminal justice systems equitably and effectively deal with the impact of COVID-19 on offenders who are in either custodial or non-custodial settings. 

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