Most research which has investigated the outcome of probation has assessed the outcome of the order in terms of reconviction rates. For the reasons outlined in Chapter 1, this project employed alternative measures of success and failure. The extent to which orders were considered to have been ‘successful’ or ‘unsuccessful’ was assessed by a variety of criteria. These were:

whether there had been any continuation in offending (as reported by the probationers themselves and their supervising officers);

regardless of whether an individual had offended, the extent to which the probationers appeared to be desisting; and

the extent to which impediments to desistance had been removed.