Abstract:
In the field of Dutch criminal law there is a comprehensive
policy programme called ‘Working on Reduction
of Recidivism’. Various measures are being
implemented to help reduce the risk of prosecuted
offenders relapsing into criminal behaviour. Some
years ago, definite targets were formulated with
respect to two offender groups. Between 2002 and
2010, the medium-term recidivism for both juvenile
offenders sanctioned by court or PPS, and adult exprisoners
will have to be reduced by 10 percentage
points (VbbV, 2007). With regard to the latter group,
the target was recently enhanced: by 2020, the reconviction
rate of ex-prisoners must be reduced by
25 percent (MvJ, 2009).
The Recidivism Monitor study constitutes a means of
checking whether the realisation of the target figures
holds a steady course. Each year, the WODC calculates
the reconviction rate of Dutch offenders.
Nearly all persons in the Netherlands who came into
contact with the Dutch judicial system as a suspect
are included in the study. The measurements relate
to five populations: adult offenders sanctioned by
court or Public Prosecutor’s Service (PPS), juvenile
offenders sanctioned by court or PPS, ex-prisoners,
former inmates of juvenile detention centres and
former offenders placed under an entrustment order.
Recently, the relapse among former offenders placed
under an entrustment order was reported separately
(Bregman & Wartna, 2010). This fact sheet outlines
recidivism in the other four offender populations.
Specifically, the study relates to juveniles and adults
who were sanctioned by court or PPS or released
from a penitentiary institution in the 1997-2007
period.
