Effectiveness of the Justice Diversion Halt-intervention

March 4, 2025 updated by: André van der Laan, Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en Datacentrum

The Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Diversion Measure Halt-intervention: a Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

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.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1300

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Netherlands
    • Zuid-Holland
      • The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, 2500EH
        • WODC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

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.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Experimental group: Halt-intervention
The experimental group will receive the Halt-intervention.
Behavioral: Halt-intervention
The Halt-intervention is a Dutch extrajudicial, or diversion, measure for minors (aged 12-17) who committed a minor offence. The intervention can consist of conversations with the Halt-employee, working or learning assignments to learn from the mistakes made or to work on certain skills, such as social skills, and/or apologizing to the victim.
No Intervention: Control group: No Halt-intervention
The control group will not receive the Halt-intervention, nor will they receive any other intervention or form of punishment.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Criminal Recidivism based on self-report
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Assessed using the items from the Youth Delinquency Survey.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Criminal Recidivism based on official police records
Time Frame: T3 (24 month follow up)
Assessed using official Dutch Police registration records.
T3 (24 month follow up)
Criminal Recidivism based on official judiciary records
Time Frame: T3 (24 month follow up)
Assessed using official Dutch judicial records.
T3 (24 month follow up)
Truancy based on self-report
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Assessed using the items from the Youth Delinquency Survey.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Conventional beliefs
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Self-reported degree of conventional beliefs, or attitude towards delinquency, assessed using the Dutch translation of the Attitudes Towards Delinquent Behavior (ATDS) questionnaire (translated by the WODC).
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Minimizing/mislabeling
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree in which the consequences of delinquent behavior are minimized, mislabeled or seen as acceptable, assessed using the How I Think (HIT) subscale 'Minimizing/Mislabeling' using the Dutch translation ('Hoe Ik Denk (HID)).
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Social skills
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree in which pressure from friends to conduct delinquent behavior is experienced, assessed using a (self-developed) Dutch translation of the Peer Pressure Scale.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Taking responsibility for the consequences of behavior
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree to which a sense of guilt, or responsibility, for the consequences for delinquent behaviour is experienced, assessed using the How I Think (HIT) subscale 'Blaming Others' using the Dutch translation ('Hoe Ik Denk' (HID)).
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Correct wrongdoing
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree in which the wrongdoing and/or damages are corrected, assessed using a self-developed scale consisting of four question about having a conversation with the victim, apologizing to the victim, paying for the victim's damages and correcting the damages made.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Support from social network
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree in which support from the social network is experienced and the degree in which respondents experience that they can ask their social network for help or advise (for example friends and family). Assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Scale is translated to Dutch by the WODC.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Experienced legitimacy
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Experienced legitimacy during the first contact with Halt (experimental and control group) and during the Halt-intervention (experimental group), assessed using a four-item scale.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Experienced treatment
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Experienced treatment during the first contact with Halt (experimental and control group) and during the Halt-intervention (experimental group) by the Halt-employee, assessed using a seven-item scale.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Receiving adequate information
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
The degree to which the information given during the first contact with Halt (experimental and control group) and during the Halt-intervention (experimental group) about the Halt-intervention is experienced as adequate and comprehensible, assessed using a self-developed six-item scale.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
The right to be informed
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
The degree to which participants have the feeling that they are heard during the first contact with Halt (experimental and control group) and during the Halt-intervention (experimental group), assessed using a self-developed six-item scale.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Experienced voluntariness
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
The degree to which participants experience being forced to confess the crime they committed, assessed using a self-developed three-item scale. Participants are asked (1) whether they feel that they were forced to confess their crime, (2) whether they feel it is justified that they are referred to Halt and (3) whether they feel that it is their own choice to go to Halt. These items will be presented to participants in the experimental and control group during T0 and to participants in the experimental group during T1.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Access to legal assistance
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
The degree to which participants have access to an attorney, assessed using two self-developed questions. Participants are asked whether they had the opportunity to (1) speak to a lawyer about their offence and had the opportunity to (2) speak to a lawyer about their referral to Halt. These items will be presented to participants in the experimental and control group during T0 and to participants in the experimental group during T1.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Knowledge of not obtaining a criminal record
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Whether or not participants are aware of the fact that completion of the Halt-intervention results in not obtaining a criminal record (yes/no). These items will be presented to participants in the experimental and control group during T0 and to participants in the experimental group during T1.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up)
Experienced stigmatisation
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree of experienced stigmatization, assessed using the four-item Stigmatisation subscale of the Re-integrative Shaming questionnaire.
T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Experienced re-integration
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree of experienced re-integration, assessed using the four-item Re-integration subscale of the Re-integrative Shaming questionnaire.
T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mental health problems during the last six months
Time Frame: T0 (baseline)
The degree to which risk and/or protective factors are present, assessed using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SGQ) using the Dutch translation.
T0 (baseline)
Experienced problems
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Experienced problems in different domains (at home, school, alcohol, money, drugs, health, mental health, gaming) and whether their has been professional help for these problems using the ten-item scale from the Youth Delinquency Survey.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Delinquent friends
Time Frame: T0 (baseline; T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree in which participants have delinquent friends, assessed using a six-item scale from the Youth Delinquency Survey.
T0 (baseline; T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Parental involvement
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The degree of parental control, parental monitoring and parental solicitation, assessed using the Dutch translation of the Parental Monitoring Questionnaire.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Demographical characteristics
Time Frame: T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
The different demographical characteristics of respondents, such as gender and age.
T0 (baseline); T1 (100 days follow up); T2 (12 month follow up)
Halt-intervention program integrity
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
Questionnaire is being developed.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Characteristics Halt-employee
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
Questionnaire is being developed.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Perceived relationship with Halt-employee
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
Questionnaire is being developed.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Educational attainment
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
The most recent completed type of education assessed using the registration system of the Halt-intervention. .
T1 (100 days follow up)
Type of criminal offense
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
The type of criminal offense (e.g. shoplifting, petty theft) as registered in the registration system of the Halt-intervention.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Characteristics of referral to Halt-intervention
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
The organisation that referred to Halt (police or truancy officer) assessed using the registration system of the Halt-intervention.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Types of modules used during the Halt-intervention
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
The Halt-intervention contains of different modules, such as 'Handling Anger'; 'Handling Peer Pressure'; 'Making an apology to the victim'. These modules will be assessed using the registration system of the Halt-intervention.
T1 (100 days follow up)
Parts of the Halt-intervention carries out as group or solo intervention
Time Frame: T1 (100 days follow up)
The Halt-intervention can be offered as a solo of as a group intervention. The different forms used are assessed using the registration system of the Halt-intervention.
T1 (100 days follow up)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en Datacentrum

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Leiden University
Utrecht University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: André M. van der Laan, Prod. Dr., Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek en Datacentrum

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 12, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 4, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 9, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 4, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 3325

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

This study is part of a dissertation consisting of multiple articles which will be offered for publication to peer reviewed journals. First the study protocol article will be written and offered for publication to a peer reviewed journal, including a brief Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) and as supplement the Informed Consent Form (ICF). Thereafter the study results articles will be offered for publication to peer reviewed journals asap. During this period there is no plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings