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Sentencing young adults with juvenile sanctions in The Netherlands: increasing risk or no differences on the chance of recidivism

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Abstract

Objectives

In the Netherlands, adolescent criminal law makes it is possible to sentence young adult offenders with juvenile sanctions. This study examines the effectiveness of juvenile sanctions for young adults on recidivism.

Methods

A quasi-experimental design with judicial observational data and matched control groups was used. The effects were tested for a composition of juvenile sanctions and a subsample with unconditional juvenile detention. Cox survival analyses and negative binomial regression analyses were used to examine the effects of juvenile sanctions on recidivism.

Results

Young adults sentenced with a composition of juvenile sanctions have a significantly higher chance of (serious) recidivism for both prevalence and frequency compared to young adults sentenced with adult sanctions. For young adults in juvenile or adult detention, the chance of recidivism and recidivism frequencies are comparable.

Conclusion

This study underlines the importance of adhering to what works principles during the implementation of a significant policy measure.

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Data availability

No data is available due to restrictions on access to the judicial data used in this study. All analysis codes are available on request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research and Documentation Centre (WODC), Ministry of Justice and Security, POBOX 20301, 2500, EH, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Lise J. C. Prop, André M. van der Laan & Marinus G. C. J. Beerthuizen

  2. Health and Youth Care Inspectorate, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, POBOX 2518, 6401, DA, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    Charlotte S. Barendregt

  3. Tilburg University, TRANZO, Scientific Center for Care and Wellbeing, POBOX 90153, 5000, LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

  4. Institute for Mental Health Care Eindhoven (GGzE), Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, P.O. Box 909, 5626 ND Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen

Authors
  1. Lise J. C. Prop
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  2. André M. van der Laan
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  3. Marinus G. C. J. Beerthuizen
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  4. Charlotte S. Barendregt
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  5. Chijs van Nieuwenhuizen
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Lise Prop and Marinus Beerthuizen. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Lise Prop, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lise J. C. Prop.

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Prop, L.J.C., van der Laan, A.M., Beerthuizen, M.G.C.J. et al. Sentencing young adults with juvenile sanctions in The Netherlands: increasing risk or no differences on the chance of recidivism. J Exp Criminol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-023-09593-7

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