Clinical trial NCT06353204: Effectiveness of the Justice Diversion Halt-intervention
Official title: The Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Diversion Measure Halt-intervention: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Criminal Recidivism
Delinquency
Antisocial Behavior
Lead sponsor: Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en Datacentrum
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
Collaborators: name: Utrecht University
name: Leiden University
First posted: 2024-04-09
Enrollment: 1300
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 12
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: A comparison between two groups will be made. One half of the participants will be randomly assigned to a group that receives the Halt-intervention, while the other group receives no Halt-intervention.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: In the current study the effectiveness of the Dutch diversion measure Halt is investigated using a randomized controlled trial. Because of the thorough scientific substantiation of the intervention theory, it is hypothesized that receiving the Halt-intervention will lead to less recidivism in comparison to receiving no intervention.

Detailed description: The Halt-intervention is a widely used Dutch diversion measure for youth (aged 12-17) who committed a minor offence. In the current study, it will be investigated whether the Halt-intervention is successful in reducing recidivism and in achieving the intervention goals. The effectiveness will be assessed using a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental condition in which participants will receive the halt intervention or to the control condition in which participants will not receive an intervention. Participants fill out three self-reported questionnaires over a time period of one year. With these questionnaires is it investigated whether the intervention is successful in achieving the different intervention goals (improving social skills, taking responsibility, correct wrongdoing or damage, improving conventional beliefs and improving support from the social network) and in achieving a reduction in recidivism. Furthermore, the adherence to children's rights in the practice of Halt is investigated. Lastly, two years after the first contact with Halt recidivism is assessed using official police and judicial records.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Juveniles who have been referred to Halt after committing a minor offence that is eligible for the Halt-intervention.
* Juveniles between the ages of 12 and 18.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants who do not speak Dutch or who do not speak Dutch fluently.
* Participants who have already participated in the study before.
* Participants who are participating in the following Halt-programs: 'Hack_right', 'Respect Online' or 'Sport en Spel'.
* Participants of whom it is suspected that their are serious concerns for their safety.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Criminal Recidivism based on self-report
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Criminal Recidivism based on official police records
timeFrame: T3 (24 month follow up)
measure: Criminal Recidivism based on official judiciary records
timeFrame: T3 (24 month follow up)
measure: Truancy based on self-report
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Conventional beliefs
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Minimizing/mislabeling
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Social skills
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Taking responsibility for the consequences of behavior
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Correct wrongdoing
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Support from social network
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Experienced legitimacy
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Experienced treatment
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Receiving adequate information
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: The right to be informed
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Experienced voluntariness
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Access to legal assistance
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Knowledge of not obtaining a criminal record
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Experienced stigmatisation
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Experienced re-integration
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Other outcomes:
measure: Mental health problems during the last six months
timeFrame: T0 (baseline)
measure: Experienced problems
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Delinquent friends
timeFrame: T0 (baseline; T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Parental involvement
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Demographical characteristics
timeFrame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
measure: Halt-intervention program integrity
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Characteristics Halt-employee
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Perceived relationship with Halt-employee
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Educational attainment
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Type of criminal offense
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Characteristics of referral to Halt-intervention
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Types of modules used during the Halt-intervention
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
measure: Parts of the Halt-intervention carries out as group or solo intervention
timeFrame: T1 (100 days follow up)
Locations:
city: The Hague
country: Netherlands
facility: WODC
state: Zuid-Holland
Study officials:
affiliation: Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en Datacentrum
name: André M. van der Laan, Prod. Dr.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: