Initiation and continuation of a criminal career. Who are the most active and dangerous offenders in the Netherlands?

Abstract

This report is intended primarily for Dutch policymakers. In addition, it aims to describe, for a criminological audience, the research design and analysis methods of the Recidivism 1977 research project. Consequently, the report contains both a Dutch overview of the research and an extensive English review containing methodological details. The Dutch overview contains only the most important tables and figures, but discussen findings that are layed out in precise detail in the English section of the report. This report asks the following question: Of those people found guilty of a criminal offense in the Netherlands in 1977, was there a group of particularly active and dangerous people, who would be responsible within the next six years for serious crimes out of proportion to their numbers?