“What works” in the Social Reintegration of Law Offenders

Premise: The issue of social reintegration of the persons who committed offenses arouses interest. Our study aims to draw attention on the need for psychosocial intervention programs based on the model “what works” for the offenders’ social reintegration. This paper brings together key concepts of the probation field, like: criminogenic and social needs, psychosocial intervention programs, ethics of intervention, social reintegration process, trying to explain their role and how they affect people's lives. So, we started from the premise that psychosocial intervention programs influence the decrease of the criminogenic and social needs, awareness of the consequences of crime and therefore the reintegration in the community of the persons under the supervision of the Probation Service. The research methods consisted of documentation and interview on a sample of 30 subjects, with ages between 19 and 30 years old, under the supervision of the Probation Service. Results: Generally, the perception of the persons monitored in the intervention programs is positive and we notice significant changes in attitudes and behavior in the persons who underwent an intervention program. Conclusions and recommendations: Combining the main components of the community supervision (control and psychosocial assistance) is necessary and, even more, represents the key to success in the social reintegration of the persons who have committed crimes. We believe that new approaches are needed in order to carry many intervention programs that involve many service customers.