PRO-VOCEM – Vocile din Probațiune care Reînvie Amintiri

Context of the Conference

The West University of Timișoara, in partnership with the Romanian National Probation Directorate,
Penal Reform International, General Directorate Execution of Sentences from Bulgaria, Solidart
Association – Basca Theatre is pleased to announce the 9 th International Conference –
Multidisciplinary Perspectives in the Quasi-Coercive Treatment of Offenders (SPECTO 2026).
Building on the scientific tradition of the SPECTO conferences, which have established an
international platform for dialogue among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students in
the fields of criminal justice, probation, social work, psychology, criminology, and law, SPECTO
2026 aims to foster critical reflection on contemporary challenges affecting vulnerable populations
involved in criminal justice systems. Previous editions have emphasized the importance of
multidisciplinary perspectives in understanding offender rehabilitation, community sanctions,
technological innovation, and evidence-informed criminal justice policies.
The 2026 edition places particular emphasis on the objectives and results of the PRO-VOCEM
project, which investigates the historical roots of discrimination, racism, social exclusion, forced
migration, and marginalization experienced by Roma probationers, especially Roma women.
Through oral histories, personal narratives, educational initiatives, professional training, and
community engagement activities, the project seeks to connect historical experiences of oppression
with contemporary inequalities within criminal justice systems.
The conference will provide a forum for the dissemination of project findings while encouraging
broader academic and professional discussions on probation, social inclusion, restorative practices,
migration, victim support, domestic violence and innovative approaches to offender rehabilitation.

Conference Objectives

• To provide an international, multidisciplinary platform for the exchange of research, policy and
practice on the quasi-coercive treatment of offenders;
• To disseminate the scientific and practical outcomes of the PRO-VOCEM project to the wider
academic and professional community;
• To examine the intersections between probation, migration, discrimination, ethnicity, gender,
and social inclusion, with particular attention to the experiences of Roma probationers and
Roma women;
• To strengthen dialogue and cooperation among researchers, probation professionals, public
institutions, NGOs and civil society organizations;
• To offer early-career researchers and students a forum in which to present and discuss their
work alongside established academics and practitioners.

Proposed Topics

The Scientific Committee welcomes original, unpublished contributions on topics including, but not
limited to:
 Probation and Offender Rehabilitation
‒ Desistance and community safety
‒ Evidence-based probation practice
‒ Risk, needs, and responsivity approaches
‒ Social reintegration
‒ Professional competencies in probation services
‒ Desistance and community safety
 Roma Communities, Discrimination, and Social Justice
‒ Historical and contemporary discrimination affecting Roma populations
‒ Forced migration and historical trauma
‒ Roma probationers and criminal justice experiences
‒ Gendered dimensions of social exclusion
‒ Minority rights and equal access to justice
‒ Anti-discrimination strategies and inclusive policies
‒ Cultural competence in criminal justice interventions

 Migration and Social Inclusion
‒ Vulnerability, marginalization, and social integration
‒ Migrant experiences within criminal justice systems
‒ Intersectionality and social inclusion policies
 Victim Support and Protection
‒ Prevention and intervention strategies
‒ Domestic Violence and Vulnerability
‒ Risk assessment and case management
‒ Victim-centered approaches
‒ Interagency cooperation in domestic violence cases
‒ Gender-based violence and vulnerable groups
‒ Trauma-informed interventions
‒ Victims’ rights and access to justice
‒ Trauma and resilience
 PRO-VOCEM Project Results
‒ Research findings from project partners
‒ Educational resources and training programmes
‒ Forum theatre experiences
‒ Advocacy and policy recommendations
‒ Future directions for culturally responsive probation practice.

We welcome original research, case studies, examples of good practices, analyzes or comments
regarding benchmark policies or programs, critical analysis of institutional practices; innovative
proposals that contribute to advancing knowledge and improving professional practice that address
emerging societal challenges from multidisciplinary perspectives are particularly encouraged.

Programme

The conference programme will combine opening ceremony, plenary sessions, keynote lectures
delivered by distinguished specialists in the major thematic areas, parallel scientific sessions, and
thematic workshops.

Participants

• PRO-VOCEM project partners and team members
• Researchers and academics in criminology, social work, psychology, law and related fields
• Professionals working in social work, psychology, law, probation, criminal justice, migration,
and human rights
• Representatives of public institutions and social partners
• NGOs and civil society organizations
• Policymakers
• Students (Master, PhD, postdoctoral)

Publication Opportunities

Selected conference contributions will be considered for publication in an edited scientific volume
dedicated to the PRO-VOCEM project theme, after the conference, subject to peer-review and
editorial requirements. Further publication guidelines will be announced on the conference website.

Registration

Participants must submit the abstracts of their presentations by October 10, 2026 the latest.
Presentations may be individual or co-authored.
The abstract will contain 250–300 words (excluding title, authors, affiliations, and keywords), in
English. The abstract should clearly state: the background or context of the study; the aim(s) or
research objectives; the methodology or approach; the main findings or expected outcomes; the
significance and contribution of the work. To register an abstract, please fill out the registration
form HERE (https://forms.gle/WKpT1PE2TCVyDEtYA).
Please pay close attention to filling your e-mail address correctly, as we will use it to further
communicate to you all the details of the event!
All submitted abstracts will go through a review process before being accepted.
Notification of acceptance: November 1 st , 2026

Practical Information

• Attendance: on-site at West University of Timișoara, Bv. Vasile Pârvan no. 4, Timișoara-
300223, Romania
• Language: English
• Certificates: digital certificates of participation will be issued to all attendees.
• Fee: participation is free of charge. The costs associated with the organization of the conference
are covered by the European Union within the framework of Project 101196353 – PRO-
VOCEM – Probationers’ Voices Reviving Memories.
• Travel and accommodation: Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own
travel and accommodation expenses. The organizers will not be able to provide reimbursement.
• Discover a range of accommodation options, situated close to the conference venue!
 Hotel Atlas – https://atlashotel.ro/
 Hotel Timisoara – https://hoteltimisoara.ro/
 Hotel Savoy – https://www.hotelsavoytimisoara.ro/ro
 Hotel Victoria – https://victoria-hotel-timisoara.hotelmix.ro/
 Hotel Continental – https://hotelcontinental.ro/en/hotel-continental-timisoara/
• About Timișoara: https://visit-timisoara.com/

Processing of personal data

West University of Timișoara is a personal data operator as defined in art 4 (7) of the European
General Regulation 2016/679 on the protection of personal data (GDPR) – see
https://www.uvt.ro/en/gdpr/. The method of processing personal data, entrusted to us by you (or
legal representatives), the purposes, means and legal grounds are presented in the Information on the
protection of personal data available in electronic format at: https://www.uvt.ro/en/gdpr/. In the
entire registration process, the WUT complies with the applicable legislation in the field of personal
data protection.

Contact

Conference Chair, Professor Mihaela Tomiță, West University of Timișoara, Romania
For further information about the conference and the PRO-VOCEM project, please visit
https://www.uvt.ro/provocem/ or contact provocem.project@e-uvt.ro.
We warmly invite researchers, practitioners and professionals from across Europe and beyond to
join SPECTO 2026 – PRO-VOCEM in Timișoara and contribute to advancing multidisciplinary
dialogue, innovative research and evidence-based practice in probation, criminal justice and social
inclusion.

*We kindly encourage you to share this Call for Conference within your academic and professional
networks.