VIDI grant contributes to life course research into the use and effects of interventions

Many individuals who commit crimes face multiple criminal justice interventions in their lives, such as fines, community service orders or prison sentences. They often also rely on social assistance or other forms of support to make ends meet financially.

At the same time, evidence-based policy for this group is largely based on research that focuses on a single intervention from a single discipline. The focus is also on severe interventions such as prison sentences.

With her Vidi grant, Ramakers is investigating the use and effects of a wide range of common interventions in the criminal justice and social domains. In doing so, she aims to address the mismatch between policy and practice and offer scientifically based solutions.

Intervention pathways throughout the life course

In criminology, much is known about how crime develops over the course of a lifetime and which events at which points in life constitute turning points. What is still lacking, however, is a life course perspective on the response to crime.

With her Vidi grant, Ramakers therefore focuses not on individual interventions, but on complete intervention pathways: the sequence of interventions in a person's life. She investigates which interventions are used at what point in time, how they are carried out and experienced, and what consequences they have for further intervention and reintegration.

To this end, the project uses birth cohort data, which reveals how trajectories of crime, work and interventions develop over the life course of people who commit crimes.

This data is supplemented with self-reported data on crime, work and intervention experiences. This data is also crucial for answering questions about the use and effects of interventions. Ramakers uses a recently started longitudinal data collection among individuals who receive a liberty-restricting sanction (such as a Halt intervention, community service or probation supervision in the case of a suspended sentence).

Strengthening of research group and SANCTION Study

Within the NSCR, Ramakers is programme leader of the research group ‘Responses to crime and their effects’ and, together with Maria Berghuis from the WODC, she leads the aforementioned multi-year SANCTION Study. This programme investigates important questions about the decision-making, implementation and effects of various sanctions that restrict freedom. It is being carried out under the leadership of the NSCR and WODC and is made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of Justice and Security, the three probation organisations (3RO), the Child Protection Board, Stichting Halt, the WODC and the NSCR (see also www.sanctionstudy.nl).

Ramakers: ‘The VIDI grant makes it possible to establish a new line of research within the research group in the field of intervention pathways and to strengthen the ongoing SANCTION Study.’

About the Vidi grant

Together with the Veni and Vici grants, Vidi is part of the NWO Talent Programme, which gives researchers the freedom to conduct their own research based on creativity and passion. The programme stimulates innovation and curiosity. Free research contributes to and prepares us for tomorrow's society. NWO selects researchers based on the scientific quality and innovative nature of the research proposal, the scientific and/or societal impact of the proposed project, and the quality of the researcher.

Ramakers: 'Thanks to the committee, reviewers and colleagues who read the manuscript. In particular, Beate Völker, Daan van Uhm, Evelien Hoeben, Marco Last, Paul Nieuwbeerta, Peter van der Laan, Steve van de Weijer, Tamara De Beuf and Veroni Eichelsheim. It is a personal grant, but it can only be obtained through joint effort!'

Read more on the earlier announcement about the appointment of Anke Ramakers as programme leader.