Study of alcohol or drug treatment requirements assessing
engagement and reconviction outcomes using justice (including
probation notes) and health data.
Pathways between probation and
addiction treatment in England: a follow-up study
Pathways between probation and
addiction treatment in England: a follow-up study - Data
Tables
Pathways between probation and
addiction treatment in England: a follow-up study -
Methodology
Pathways between probation and
addiction treatment in England: a follow-up study:
Methodology
Pre release access
Details
Background
This follow‑up to the 2023 report links probation case management
data (nDelius) with National Drug Treatment Monitoring System
(NDTMS) records and introduces Natural Language Processing (NLP)
to analyse probation contact notes. This improves identification
of treatment engagement for people on Alcohol Treatment
Requirements (ATRs) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs)
and examines associated reconviction outcomes.
Coverage
Community Orders and Suspended Sentence Orders with ATRs or DRRs
issued in England between August 2018 and March 2023.
Key findings
- Up to 90% of ATRs and DRRs showed some form of treatment
engagement when combining data linkage with NLP contact‑note
analysis.
- Reconvictions were lower for people linked to structured
treatment, especially those who completed or remained in
treatment.
- Engagement and reconviction patterns varied by age, sex,
accommodation status, region, and time taken to access treatment.
Methodology
- Probabilistic data linkage was used because there is no
shared unique identifier.
NLP was applied to requirements not linked to structured
treatment to identify additional treatment activity.
Reconvictions represent a minimum estimate due to processing
delays.
Previous report
The previous report can be found here - Pathways between probation
and addiction treatment in England: report - GOV.UK
