Forensic social professionals work with mandated clients who pose a risk to others. They work in a wide range of occupational fields, such as probation services, juvenile detention centres, prisons and forensic care facilities. This work requires a specific set of skills, effective methods and targeted training. Our research group contributes to the professionalism and continuity of this field.

Lines of research within the research group

Supervising and reintegrating mandated clients often involves a number of different institutions, departments and employees. For successful reintegration, it is important that clients experience a consistent approach during the supervision and care provided by different professionals. The line of research Continuity examines what forensic social professionals need in order to achieve this consistency or ‘continuity’.

Among other things, we study:

  • the needs of clients and professionals when it comes to ongoing care and support;
  • collaboration between workers from different organisations and different specialities;
  • existing initiatives to promote continuity.

Projects

  • Mea culpa The complexity of financial problems among probation clients

What makes the daily activities of forensic social professionals effective? How do they successfully assist clients in reducing delinquent or antisocial behaviour, and how do they support such clients to reintegrate into society? What skills, attitude and knowledge are required?

This line of research focuses on the professional quality of this occupational group. Among other things, we look at how professionals make effective use of scientific knowledge, establish connections with the experiential knowledge of other professionals and with the clients preferences and experiences. Our research also takes the role of personal beliefs into consideration.

Projects

  • Working alliance between professionals and mandated clients
  • Joined forces

Publications


Education

The Research group Working with Mandated Clients contributes to higher professional education in various ways. The research group develops new degree programmes and modules, including the Master Forensic Social Professional, which was developed in collaboration with the Institute for Law. We also collaborate with other knowledge institutions.

Research group Working with Mandated Clients Jacqueline Bosker | Professor | Working with Mandated Clients

“Effective action by forensic social professionals is of great importance for the reduction of delinquency and other forms of risky behaviour, to support the inclusion of offenders back into society and to increase the safety of children and young people.”

Jacqueline Bosker Professor at the Research Group Working with Mandated Clients

Collaboration

The research group is co-funded by Reclassering Nederlands (the Dutch Probation Services), the Stichting Verslavingsreclassering GGZ (GGZ Addiction Rehabilitation Foundation), and the Leger des Heils Jeugdzorg & Reclassering (Salvation Army Youth Care & Probation Service).

The research group collaborates on a structural basis with the Research group Value of Rehabilitation of the Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the Research group Addiction Science of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen.

Reclassering Nederland
Stichting Verslavingsreclassering GGZ
Leger des Heils Jeugdbescherming en Reclassering | Salvation Army Youth Care and Probation Service

Our professors and researchers

Jacqueline Bosker

Professor Working with Mandated Clients Show profile
Vivienne de Vogel | Professor | Working with Mandated Clients

Vivienne de Vogel

Professor Working with Mandated Clients Show profile
Gercoline van Beek | Researcher / PhD candidate | Working with Mandated Clients and Debt and Debt Collection

Gercoline van Beek

Researcher Debt and Debt Collection, Working with Mandated Clients Show profile

Marieke Cirkel

Researcher Working with Mandated Clients Show profile

Would you like to collaborate or do you have any questions?

Monique Cillessen

  • Senior Management Assistent