“Punishment should serve as a corrective measure, not lead to recidivism,” said Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, a member of the Supervisory Board of the State Penitentiary Service and founder of Strategic Advocacy LLC.

The World Congress on Probation and Parole is currently underway in Indonesia, where participants are discussing modern approaches to criminal justice and the rehabilitation of offenders. For the first time, Ukraine is presenting its own model for the reintegration of veterans—developed amid a full-scale war—at this international forum.

“Isolating a person does not always solve the problem. On the contrary—it often severs social ties, plunges them into a criminal environment, and increases the risk of reoffending. Probation, on the other hand, allows individuals to remain in society, keep their jobs and families, and receive support, which is significantly more effective in terms of preventing recidivism,” noted Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, a member of the Supervisory Board of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation included Roman Bochkala, Chair of the Advisory and Expert Council at the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine; Dmytro Andriyev, a representative of the State Penitentiary Service; and Valentin Kim, a clinical psychologist and head of the KER working group. They are the ones presenting the Ukrainian approach to working with veterans who, upon returning from the front lines, find themselves in the probation system.

According to Roman Bochkala, this experience is already attracting interest from the international community.

“Our experience is absolutely unique. The number of military conflicts in the world is growing, and the issue of veteran reintegration is becoming relevant for many countries,” he noted.

As of early 2026, approximately 60,000 people are enrolled in the probation system in Ukraine. Of these, more than 1,400 are war veterans, and another 4,600 have military service experience. About 66% of veterans who have committed offenses remain in the community, underscoring the role of probation as an alternative to incarceration.

The presented model combines supervision and support: individual risk assessment, psychological assistance, access to employment, and engagement with family and the social environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that offenses committed by veterans are often linked not to criminal behavior per se, but to the consequences of war—trauma, stress, and difficulties with adaptation.

The congress, held every two years, brings together representatives of probation systems, courts, and law enforcement agencies from dozens of countries. This year, it is being hosted by Indonesia, where the probation system is undergoing reform, making the Ukrainian experience particularly relevant to the international discussion.