Probation and Corrections Services

The Probation and Corrections Services are a corrections authority and provide probation assistance. They work to reduce the risk of recidivism in offenders. On this site, you will find interesting information on our tasks and responsibilities, purview, and organizational structure.

Table of contents

About us

The main objectives of the Probation and Corrections Services (Bewährungs- und Vollzugsdienste) include the social integration of offenders and the offenders taking on personal responsibility. In their work, the employees take into account the clients’ specific offences, risk potential, and developmental needs.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Probation and Corrections Services

  • manage the execution of penal measures and of court-ordered custodial sentences in a prison or in one of the special regimes: community service, electronic monitoring, and semi-detention
  • implement learning programmes
  • provide probation assistance and supervision of compliance with the terms of probation in the case of suspended custodial sentences, conditional releases, or penal measures
  • manage inpatient and outpatient measures and recommend therapists or adequate institutions
  • write reports and requests for courts and prosecution authorities
  • help with debt management

The supervision and corrections tasks are performed by 140 employees from 4 areas of the corrections system. Generally, they have a basic education in social work, law, or administration.

Additionally, people in pre-trial detention and prison inmates are counselled by team72 employees.

Purview

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The professional support and learning programmes division comprises the department for learning programmes (LP) and the department of forensic psychological testing (Abteilung für forensisch-psychologische Abklärungen, AFA). Both departments perform tasks by request of both external clients and parties from within the Probations and Corrections Services.

Department of forensic psychological testing

In the Eastern Switzerland Corrections Concordat (Ostschweizer Strafvollzugskonkordat, OSK), the department of forensic psychological testing is affiliated to the Zurich Probation and Corrections Services, in the Northwestern and Central Switzerland Concordat (Nordwest- und Innerschweizer Konkordat, NWI), it is affiliated to the Probation and Corrections Services of the Canton of Bern.

The departments of forensic psychological testing perform important services for their corrections concordat for the implementation of risk-oriented execution of sanctions (Risokoorientierter Sanktionenvollzug, ROS): forensic expert support and risk assessments (www.rosnet.ch / Glossar / forensischer Fachsupport und Risikoabklärungen, in German).

The department of forensic psychological testing is a ROS-specific organizational unit. Tasks, responsibilities, and competences of the departments of forensic psychological testing are defined in the AFA Standard and the ROS Standard (www.rosnet.ch / Glossar / ROS-Standards, in German). The mandate of the department of forensic psychological testing is not to be adapted or expanded by the respective Concordat or by the canton to which the department is organizationally affiliated. This can only be initiated be the ROS inter-concordat coordination unit (Interkonkordatliche Koordination ROS).


ROS administration

Organizationally, the ROS administration is part of the Probation and Corrections Services of the Canton of Zurich. Concerning administrative and personnel matters, it is subordinate to the office. Concerning topical matters and expert knowledge, however, the office has no authority over the ROS administration. Tasks, responsibilities, and competences of the ROS administration are defined in the ROS Standard (www.rosnet.ch / Glossar / ROS-Standards, in German).

The ROS administration is responsible for the concept. This comprises:

  • quality management to ensure an implementation of ROS that is true to the concept as well as the further development of ROS tools and the ROS process (cf. QS concept);
  • specifying subject- and content-specific quality standards for the departments of forensic psychological testing and making sure they are complied with;
  • the responsibility for the technical implementation of the ROS tools in the application ROSnet;
  • organizational tasks.

The ROS administration organizes and coordinates the following ROS services for all ROS cantons and ROS work partners:

  • quality management and quality development;
  • professional and technical support;
  • ROSnet support, further development and training (cf. ROSnet Standard);
  • information and communication for all things ROS (i.a. events and the management of the website www.rosnet.ch).
Learning programmes

The Probation and Corrections Services carry out targeted learning programmes on a cognitive and behaviour-oriented basis with specific groups of offenders. At the moment, nine different programmes are available. In order to achieve good results, the trainings are preceded by extensive evaluation sessions.

Enforcement of sentences

Manages and coordinates the execution of custodial sentences in prisons, penal institutions, and the special regime of semi-detention.

Alternatives to imprisonment

In charge of the execution of unsuspended custodial sentences in the special enforcement forms community service and electronic monitoring.

The department for imprisonment alternatives is also in charge of the enforcement of fines and monetary penalties in the form of community service.

Probation assistance

Implements probation assistance and conduct orders as well as outpatient treatments under art. 63 of the Swiss Penal Code after conditional release.

Debt management

Counselling, management, and regulation in matters of debt.

Probation assistance, supervision of compliance with the terms of probation, and implementing and accompanying outpatient and inpatient measures.

There are three departments, divided according to their function:

Measures & Probation 1
  • Outpatient treatments for psychological illnesses based on art. 63 of the Swiss Penal Code
  • Inpatient treatments for psychological illnesses based on art. 63 of the Swiss Penal Code
  • Probation assistance, supervision of compliance with the terms of probation and activity prohibition, contact prohibition and exclusion order
Measures & Probation 2
  • Outpatient treatments for alcohol addictions and/or for narcotics addictions based on art. 63 of the Swiss Penal Code
  • Inpatient treatments for alcohol addictions and/or for narcotics addictions based on art. 60 of the Swiss Penal Code
  • Probation assistance, supervision of compliance with the terms of probation and activity prohibition, contact prohibition and exclusion order
Administration & Organization Enforcement 2

Handling administrative and organizational tasks. Carrying out sub-processes in case management.

Specialized team for the enforcement of indefinite incarcerations, custodial sentences, and outpatient and inpatient measures, as well as the implementation of probation assistance and supervision of conduct orders for offenders with a very high risk potential.

Management

Function Name
Head of the Probation and Corrections Services main department
Daniel Treuthardt
Deputies Nathalie Dorn and Pascal Muriset
Staff department Alexandra Zürcher
Executive assistants Samantha Büchner und Barbara Serratore
Legal services Melanie Schwaller
Projects and professional support Daniel Schlüsselberger
Professional support and learning programmes Joder Regli
Enforcement 1 Pascal Muriset
Enforcement 2 Nathalie Dorn
Enforcement 3 Simone Stoll and Christoph Sidler
   

Contact

Probation and Corrections Services

Address

Hohlstrasse 552
Postfach
8090 Zürich
Route (Google)

Phone

+41 43 258 34 00

Phone

Email

info-bvd@ji.zh.ch