NCJ Number
67895
Journal
Howard Journal Volume: 19 Dated: (1980) Pages: 42-51
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF AN EARLY INTERVENTION EXPERIMENT IN THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, FINDS THAT A TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS WHO CONTACT OFFENDERS WITHIN 48 HOURS OF ARREST PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND SHORTEN DETENTION.
Abstract
NETHERLANDS LAW PROVIDES FOR FOUR LEVELS OF DETENTION--DETENTION FOR QUESTIONING (6 HOURS AFTER BEING PICKED UP BY POLICE), POLICE DETENTION (A FURTHER PERIOD OF 48 HOURS), REMAND IN CUSTODY FOR 6 DAYS (WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER 6 DAYS), AND REMAND IN CUSTODY FOR 30 DAYS (WHICH MAY BE EXTENDED TWICE). IN ALL CASES, THE SUSPECT MUST BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL BEFORE 102 DAYS. IN THE HAGUE, A TEAM OF FOUR SOCIAL WORKERS ATTEMPTS TO TALK WITH A SUSPECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER ARREST TO FIND OUT IF FURTHER DETENTION IS NECCESSARY AND TO SUGGEST REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES. DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD, JUNE TO OCTOBER 1977, 859 PERSONS WERE DETAINED IN POLICE CUSTODY. OF THESE, 47 PERCENT WERE CONTACTED BY A MEMBER OF THE EARLY INTERVENTION TEAM, 30 PERCENT WHILE STILL AT THE POLICE STATION, AND 17 PERCENT AT THE PALACE OF JUSTICE. MOST OF THE INTERVIEWS CONCERNED THE SUSPECT'S FEARS AND PROVIDED LEGAL INFORMATION AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. MOST INTERVIEWS WERE OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TYPE; LONG-TERM INTERVENTION WAS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE TEAM AND WAS CONDUCTED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. EXAMINING MAGISTRATES AND PUBLIC PROSECUTORS FELT EARLY INTERVENTION DID LITTLE TO LIMIT THE USE OF REMANDS BUT DID LIMIT THEIR LENGTH. TEAM MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THOSE SUSPECTS FOR WHICH CONTINUED DETENTION WAS NOT NECESSARY. THE INTERVIEWS ALSO HELPED THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT PREPARE PRETRIAL REPORTS. THE EVALUATION RECOMMENDS GREATER CONTINUITY BETWEEN EARLY INTERVENTION AND LATER REHABILITATION EFFORTS AND THE EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAM TO OTHER TOWNS.