Measuring the Readiness for Desistance (PID186)

12pm – 12.30pm EDT, 5 September 2024 ‐ 30 mins

Workshop Session

Recidivism rates are essential but limited, as they are unable to capture the nuances in offenders’ behavioural change and only provide feedback two to five years after an inmate's release. Therefore, Singapore Prison Service is exploring a range of indicators beyond recidivism rates to measure individual and rehabilitation effort success. One project we have initiated involves the development of a new quantitative measure to indicate inmates’ progress towards desistance. 
This presentation offers an overview of the Desistance Quotient (DQ) tool and its development roadmap. The DQ measures a range of domains, including attitudes towards drugs and offending, perceived social support, and motivation to change. We aim for inmates to complete the DQ at specific milestones during their incarceration and while serving community-based programmes. The aggregated results will provide timely individual and organisational-level feedback on the effectiveness of current efforts and activities in promoting desistance. This presentation will also provide an interim analysis of DQ’s statistical reliability, validity, and factor structure. The DQ aims to promote more effective rehabilitation efforts and ultimately facilitate long-term desistance.