New research examines impact of court-imposed alcohol interventions on reoffending
New research from the University of Liverpool’s School of Law and Social Justice investigates the effectiveness of court-imposed alcohol interventions in reducing reoffending in England and Wales.
The study, conducted by Dr Carly Lightowlers, Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, is the first of its kind in evaluating court-imposed alcohol orders.
This research, published by Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK), evaluated the use of alcohol treatment and abstinence monitoring requirements as part of community sentences. These measures have often been applied in cases where alcohol consumption has played a role in the offending, however, little was known about their long-term effectiveness in preventing future crimes.
Findings showed that abstinence requirements reduced the likelihood of reoffending, but that treatment requirements did not.
Abstinence monitoring requirements were found to reduce the likelihood of reoffending by 24-33% within the study period (2014 – 2020). However, the study found no evidence that alcohol treatment requirements had the same impact.
Individuals receiving treatment orders were found to be more likely to reoffend, which factors like housing status or entrenched alcohol dependency suggested to play a role in this outcome.
The findings raise important questions around the effectiveness of alcohol treatment in reducing crime. While abstinence requirements appear to reduce reoffending, further research is needed to understand why alcohol treatment does not have the same effect.
This research used linked probation and magistrates' court datasets through the Ministry of Justice’s Data First programme. Full details of the research findings are available on Administrative Data Research UK’s website.
These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners looking to refine the use of alcohol interventions in the criminal justice system.
Access the blog published on Administrative Data Research UK for further insights.