Quantitative Data on Early Assistance

• NCJ Number: 80048
• Journal: Justitiele verkenningen Issue: 2 Dated: (1979) Pages: 71-87
• Author(s): P J Linckens; L C M Tigges
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

Statistics on the frequency of early assistance in the Netherlands and on the time use of Dutch rehabilitation social workers providing early assistance to recently arrested offenders are compared for the first half of 1977 and of 1978.

Abstract

The results of a 1977 study of early assistance show that the number of individuals detained for offenses varied considerably from district to district (27 to 50 percent). Furthermore, early assistance efforts were most successful when rehabilitation social workers visited suspects in jail rather than just working with folders, when police notified the rehabilitation-parole office by telephone rather than by letter, and when rehabilitation services were also provided on weekends. Use of the above operating procedures was increased of their positive influence on service effectiveness. A second study in 1978 indicates that the number of individuals placed in custody increased from 27 to 28.4 percent over the 1-year period. The number of detained suspects visited by rehabilitation workers rose slightly overall, but varied widely among districts. District variations were affected by the number of detainees, by the organization of early assistance, and by the attitude of the particular office toward early assistance. The use of social worker teams for rehabilitative work proved so effective in the Hague that it is recommended for other cities. Despite the importance of early assistance reports, they remained rare in most districts. Full-time social workers spend very little time on early assistance activities, although more work is done directly in jail rather than through clients' folders. In general, social workers find early assistance contacts less relevant and more stressful and difficult than other client contacts. It is recommended that the number of social worker visits to offenders be increased and that social workers spend more assistance time with clients. Tables are supplied.