Probation service to check people convicted of sexual offenses

Lithuania’s Probation Service will intensify checks in September on people under supervision who have committed violent or sexual offenses against women or children.

The service said the preventive measures would operate nationwide on both weekdays and weekends. Probation officers will assess risks, monitor behavior and check whether people comply with court orders, including restrictions on visiting certain places or contacting specific people or groups.

Teams made up of officers, psychologists and resocialization specialists will visit supervised people at home. They will check whether anyone is using psychoactive substances and speak with supervised individuals and their relatives about behavior, changes during the sentence and emerging risks.

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Preventive checks will focus on people under probation supervision who have committed violent or sexual offenses against women and children.

The service also uses electronic monitoring, behavior-change programs and continuing psychological consultations. It works with addiction counselors as part of its supervision measures.

This year, more than 1,700 people on probation have either been ordered by courts or chosen voluntarily to attend anger-management and behavior-change programs for people who use violence in the family. Specialists will also assess social, psychological and other support needs in the home environment and provide consultations to supervised people and their relatives.

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During the preventive measures, with intensified control of the behavior of people under probation supervision, teams of probation specialists will visit these people's homes.