Recidivism report 1997-2007. Trends in the reconviction rate of Dutch offenders

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