NCJ Number
84881
Date Published
1981
Length
79 pages
Annotation
Since 1974, changes in Dutch laws have enabled early intervention work with arrested suspects at police stations. The legislative and procedural changes were instituted in the hope of limiting use and duration of remand in custody.
Abstract
Early assistance by agents of the probation/parole serivce primarily consists of obtaining background information on arrestees and ascertaining their personal and social circumstances and their possible needs for assistance. The service is to contribute to detention decisions, provide support in dealing with immediate problems, and initiate the assistance process. Research phases of program evaluation involved examining the organization of service provision at the local level, obtaining views of the social workers and judicial officials involved, and interviewing the assisted clients. This report summarizes the third phase in which 166 adult suspects in police detention (34 percent of the total number of intervention contacts made over the study period) were interviewed. About half said they had benefited much or very much from early intervention; the other half had received little or nothing from it. Favorable responses were based largely on the moral support clients had received and came mostly from persons without former contact with the probation/parole service. The evaluation raises questions about whether the program is achieving two of its goals -- helping magistrates make remand decisions and initiating the assistance process. Charts, tabular data, and an English summary are provided. The reference list contains 11 citations. For report of study phases 1 and 2, see NCJ 73791 and NCJ 84894.