Building Bridges Across the Overseas Territories
The Community Justice Overseas Territories Network (CJOT) was born from a simple but powerful idea: no probation professional should feel isolated in their work. Across the fourteen British Overseas Territories (BOTs), nine have permanent populations and probation services:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- St Helena (including Ascension and Tristan da Cunha)
- Turks and Caicos Islands
These services vary in size and scope, with many probation officers working alone. That reality sparked the creation of CJOT—a supportive network linking professionals across BOTs and Crown Dependencies. What began as two practitioners offering each other peer support has grown into a vibrant international community.
From Ottawa to a Global Network
The idea took root at the 5th World Congress on Probation and Parole in Ottawa in 2022. Laura Aston (St Helena), Nicola Robinson (Falkland Islands), and Fiona Campbell (formerly St Helena, now at Sheffield Hallam University) met in person after months of remote connection. Recognizing the value of professional socialization, they committed to creating a permanent space for connection.
Their chosen symbol—a hummingbird—was inspired by Elder Dan Ross, an Algonquin First Nation keynote speaker. He shared a fable of a hummingbird fighting a forest fire by carrying drops of water in its beak. When told it wasn’t enough, the bird replied: “I’m doing what I can.” This spirit of small but meaningful action became the heart of CJOT.
What CJOT Stands For
CJOT’s mission rests on three aims:
- Knowledge Exchange – Learning and sharing across jurisdictions
- Peer Support – Combating the isolation of small territories
- Evidence-Based Practice – Strengthening probation work through research
Membership now includes all nine BOTs with probation services, plus Guernsey and Jersey.
From Peer Support to Shared Practice
Since its launch in 2023, CJOT has held quarterly meetings where members exchange ideas and support each other. For example, Gibraltar’s expertise in domestic abuse awareness informed training in the Falkland Islands, later shared with Ascension. Spotlight sessions on Community Service have also helped territories adapt and refine best practices.
CJOT members have presented research internationally, published in leading journals, and earned recognition such as the Probation Institute’s Graham Smith Award. Achievements across the BOTs include risk assessment validation in Turks and Caicos, electronic monitoring in Bermuda and Anguilla, and research on probation engagement in the Falklands.
The London Conference: A Milestone
In March 2025, CJOT partnered with the UK Ministry of Justice to host the first Probation in the British Overseas Territories Conference in London. Members met face-to-face, toured UK courts and prisons, and learned from scholars like Professor Rob Canton. A memorable highlight was dining at The Clink, a restaurant run by incarcerated individuals at HMP Brixton.
Looking Ahead
CJOT has set out an ambitious three-year plan:
- 2023/24 – Establishing the network (achieved)
- 2024/25 – Hosting an online conference (scheduled late 2025)
- 2025/26 – Hosting an in-person international conference
Future goals include promoting probation’s value in each BOT, expanding training, developing best practices, and producing new academic research—the first comprehensive study on probation in the BOTs is already underway.
A Global Community, Rooted in Local Action
From two lone practitioners to a global network, CJOT shows the power of connection. Like the hummingbird, each member is “doing what they can” to strengthen probation and community justice in their unique contexts.
For more information or to connect with CJOT, email: cjotnetwork@outlook.com