Written by: Lars Højsgaard Andersen and Christopher Wildeman

Over 2,000 cases allocated to 36 probation or parole officers in Copenhagen were analysed. Probation officers are allocated by rotation in Copenhagen, which makes it possible to measure any effect arising from which probation officer a convicted person has. Some probation officers are slightly more successful than others in reducing recidivism. Others have some influence on whether or not offenders find work. The influence of some officers appears to be positive in these areas, while others seem to have a negative influence. However, the effect of whether an offender who is on probation or provisionally released from prison is allocated to one or another probation or parole officer is in general very limited.