Samenvatting

Reliability in decision making about intervention plans is a necessary condition
for evidence-based probation work and equal treatment of offenders. Structuring
decision making can improve agreement between clinical decision makers. In a former
study however, we found that in Dutch probation practice structured risk and needs
assessment did not result in acceptable agreement about intervention plans. The
Dutch probation services subsequently introduced a tool for support in decision
making on intervention plans. This article addresses the question whether the use
of this tool results in better agreement between probation officers. A significant and
meaningful improvement in agreement was found on all domains of the intervention
plan. Implications for probation practice are discussed