Training Orders in Flanders, Belgium: A Novel Approach

• In Event: WG CSM Panel 1: Experiences by Probation Officers and People under Probation

Abstract

In 2022, the landscape of training orders in Flanders underwent a major change. Training orders can be understood as structured training programmes aimed at influencing a person’s thinking, attitudes, and behaviours, with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism. They are generally delivered in groups, but most programmes also include one-to-one sessions. More than one year into the transformation, the time seems right to assess the impact of these changes. Drawing on focus groups (N=6), observations (N=8), key informant interviews (N=10), surveys, a literature review, and a document analysis, this study examines the implementation and effectiveness of training orders in Flanders. In this presentation, we will first map the current landscape of training orders, focussing on what training orders entail, how they have evolved, and how they compare to similar community sanctions used abroad. Secondly, we will discuss the goals behind this structural reform and evaluate how far these goals have been met. Thirdly, we will reflect on the effectiveness of training orders in their current form. How appropriate are training orders for different types of offending? And how does a group-based approach stack up against an individual approach? Lastly, we will consider the implications of these preliminary findings for policy and practice.

Authors

• Sigrid Raets, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Lars Breuls, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Kristel Beyens, Vrije Universiteit Brussel