Do intervention plans meet criteria for effective practice to reduce recidivism? How probation officers forget about social capital and basic needs

Authors Jacqueline Bosker, Cilia Witteveen, Jo Hermanns
Published in European Journal of Probation
Publication date 2013
Research groups Working with Mandated Clients
Type Article

Summary

The increased use of instruments for assessing risks and needs in probation should lead to intervention plans that meet the criteria for effective practice. An analysis of 300 intervention plans from the Dutch probation service showed that the match between the assessed criminogenic needs and the goals and interventions in the intervention plan is fairly low. It was also found that the so-called risk principle is not fully applied by probation officers. In addition, personal goals that the offender values are often not taken fully into account. Finally, the intervention plans have a strong focus on improving human capital, while improving social capital and basic needs often is not part of the intervention plans, even if they were assessed as dynamic criminogenic needs.

On this publication contributed

Language English
Published in European Journal of Probation
Year and volume 2013 1
Key words risk assessment, offenders, probation, intervention, recidivism
Page range 65-85

Jacqueline Bosker

Jacqueline Bosker

  • Professor
  • Research group: Working with Mandated Clients