Samenvatting

In an attempt to reduce re-offending rates in the Netherlands, the Dutch government has developed the Prevention of Recidivism program, which started in 2002. The current study aims to describe the content of this program, and aims to give an overview of the state of the art concerning the execution and effectiveness of the program. Results show that the number of detainees taking part in the program is fairly limited. Moreover, in many cases, correctional interventions are not part of the imposed rehabilitation program. An extensive literature study shows that the execution of the Prevention of Recidivism program and various correctional intervention show a number of implementation problems, which probably hamper the program’s effectiveness. However, further research is necessary to assess if the Prevention of Recidivism program successfully lowers recidivism rates amongst program participants.