Managing Risk or Supporting Desistance? A Longitudinal Study on the Nature and Perceptions of Parole Supervision in the Netherlands

• In Event: The Impact of Agency, Self, and Social Control Factors on Desistance from Crime

Abstract

Little is known about how ex-prisoners’ parole supervision experiences relate to desistance. The aim of this paper therefore is to gain insight into (1) the nature of release conditions and parole supervision of ex-prisoners, (2) parolees’ perceptions of their supervision, and (3) the relationship between parole supervision experiences and different aspects of the desistance process. A total of 23 Dutch parolees were interviewed in depth at three waves in the one year period after their release from prison. A thematic analysis was undertaken to analyse the 69 interviews combined with their parole files containing information about conditions, violations and sanctions. Parole files revealed the practice of highly engaged parole officers, who worked with parolees to strengthen factors known to foster desistance. However, the interviews showed that most parolees found their parole experience predominantly surveillance-oriented and not very helpful for desistance. Parole was experienced as most beneficial when parole officers used their discretionary power to adjust conditions creating ‘space’ for trial-and-error. This longitudinal study suggests that a policy culture and discourse of risk management do not necessarily preclude desistance support in parole supervision in the Netherlands, due to discretionary power of parole officers

Authors

• Jennifer Doekhie, Leiden University

• Esther van Ginneken, Leiden University

• Anja Dirkzwager, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• Paul Nieuwbeerta, Leiden University