Reconviction outcomes among Swedish male probationers: Pattern analysis by substance use
| Published date | 01 September 2005 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455050505200308 |
| Date | 01 September 2005 |
| Author | Anne H. Berman |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
07_055146_ResReps_(JB-D) 27/7/05 3:28 pm Page 296
296 Probation Journal 52(3)
Reconviction outcomes among Swedish male
probationers: Pattern analysis by substance use
A review of studies published between 1951 and 1987 shows that factors strongly
associated with probation success or failure include: employment status, earlier
criminal record, age, sex, income and marital status. However, the reliability of
these results is qualified by: the absence of control groups; a wide range of follow-
up periods; and varying definitions of failure (Morgan, 1996). More recent studies
show that marital status, employment, educational attainment, gender, prior
criminal record, level of supervision and length of supervision are strongly
associated with successful probation completion (Morgan, 1995). Additional
variables found to be associated with reconviction, revocation due to technical
violations, probation failure, and self-reported criminal activities, have included;
age at first conviction, drug abuse (excluding alcohol) (Sims and Jones, 1997),
race, financial status, conviction for a drug crime (Johnson and Jones, 1998), and
involvement in probation violation behaviour (MacKenzie et al., 1999).
This research study conducted between 1997 and 2001 in Sweden explored
reconviction outcomes among male probationers subject to a 12-month super-
vision order. It analysed the Swedish Probation Outcome Form (SPOF) completed
by probation staff in respect of 3286 male offenders in the Stockholm area. Of
the total sample, 87 per cent (2867) were ‘successful’, that is, not reconvicted, and
13 per cent (419) were unsuccessful (reconvicted during the 12-month probation
period). In order to examine drug use the probationers were divided into three
categories: no drugs, alcohol use, drug use. Of the sample, 46 per cent (1504)
were non-drug users, 19 per cent (618) were alcohol users and 35 per cent (1164)
were drug users.
In the Swedish Prison and Probation Administration, probation officers supervise
two categories of clients: parolees who have been incarcerated for a period of at
least three months; and probationers that have been sentenced directly by the courts
to supervision. Probation supervision in Sweden can also be combined with court
orders for community service, or treatment and supervision lasts for a period of 12
months unless extended. The SPOF...
296 Probation Journal 52(3)
Reconviction outcomes among Swedish male
probationers: Pattern analysis by substance use
A review of studies published between 1951 and 1987 shows that factors strongly
associated with probation success or failure include: employment status, earlier
criminal record, age, sex, income and marital status. However, the reliability of
these results is qualified by: the absence of control groups; a wide range of follow-
up periods; and varying definitions of failure (Morgan, 1996). More recent studies
show that marital status, employment, educational attainment, gender, prior
criminal record, level of supervision and length of supervision are strongly
associated with successful probation completion (Morgan, 1995). Additional
variables found to be associated with reconviction, revocation due to technical
violations, probation failure, and self-reported criminal activities, have included;
age at first conviction, drug abuse (excluding alcohol) (Sims and Jones, 1997),
race, financial status, conviction for a drug crime (Johnson and Jones, 1998), and
involvement in probation violation behaviour (MacKenzie et al., 1999).
This research study conducted between 1997 and 2001 in Sweden explored
reconviction outcomes among male probationers subject to a 12-month super-
vision order. It analysed the Swedish Probation Outcome Form (SPOF) completed
by probation staff in respect of 3286 male offenders in the Stockholm area. Of
the total sample, 87 per cent (2867) were ‘successful’, that is, not reconvicted, and
13 per cent (419) were unsuccessful (reconvicted during the 12-month probation
period). In order to examine drug use the probationers were divided into three
categories: no drugs, alcohol use, drug use. Of the sample, 46 per cent (1504)
were non-drug users, 19 per cent (618) were alcohol users and 35 per cent (1164)
were drug users.
In the Swedish Prison and Probation Administration, probation officers supervise
two categories of clients: parolees who have been incarcerated for a period of at
least three months; and probationers that have been sentenced directly by the courts
to supervision. Probation supervision in Sweden can also be combined with court
orders for community service, or treatment and supervision lasts for a period of 12
months unless extended. The SPOF...
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