Bringing the Message Home: Can Writing to Offenders Influence Their Offending?†

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this article was to explore the utility of ‘Nudge’ in a crime reduction context through the design of two letter variants focussing predominantly upon levels of personalization. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design (176 individuals versus 183 comparisons matched on key crime and demographic variables). The study outcomes focussed upon levels of offending, speed of offending, and location of offending—in the 6 months subsequent to receipt of letter. The results were mixed with no clear narrative: some individuals to receive a letter were slightly less likely to offend, others offended quicker, in some there appeared to be a potential delay in their offending and others offended further away from their home area. The results are discussed—in particular—on the wider appropriateness of the Nudge theory within such a complex context as reoffending alongside wider reflections around implementation and evidence-based learning.