Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.
Halt signalling tool
- Publication category
- Impactful algorithms
- Impact assessment
- DPIA
- Status
- In use
General information
Theme
Begin date
Contact information
Link to publication website
Responsible use
Goal and impact
Every young person deserves a second chance after cross-border behaviour. Halt offers young people - between the ages of 12 and 18 - the space to learn from mistakes, make amends and helps young people not to cross (again) (legal) boundaries.
In signalling and screening, the Halt employee uses the Halt-SI. The Halt-SI is administered during the initial interview and is used to:
- get as complete a picture as possible of the young person and his/her circumstances;
- gain an insight into the likelihood of re-offending;
- identify what the young person needs to prevent re-offending;
- deploy appropriate modules and learning assignments;
- if necessary, refer them to appropriate help.
With the information obtained from the interview, the referrer (e.g. the police) and the Halt-SI, the Halt staff member will complete the agreements of the Halt contract together with the young person and parent(s)/carer(s). The contract will contain agreements that young people have to fulfil in order to properly complete the Halt intervention. This could include the use of learning assignments or a work assignment. In addition, a referral can be made to help or, if domestic violence and/or child abuse is suspected, a care report can be made to Safe Home.
Considerations
The Halt-SI is a scientifically based questionnaire. The Halt-SI is part of the Landelijk Instrumentarium Jeugdstrafrechtketen (LIJ). The aim of the LIJ is to reduce recidivism (the repetition of criminal behaviour) by young people between 12 and 18 years old, through an appropriate approach based on proper assessment. Think about providing the right intervention, help or care to each young person.
Research shows that staff make a better assessment when their judgement is supported by a science-based tool. The calculation model behind the recidivism figures is based on scientific research into factors influencing young people's recidivism. The result of the Halt-SI, together with the professional judgement of the staff member and the opinion of the young person and parent(s)/carer(s) leads to the completed Halt contract.
Human intervention
The use of the Halt-SI always involves meaningful human intervention. The Halt-SI serves to support the choice of the most appropriate approach: the Halt-SI officer checks the outcome of the Halt-SI and whether it matches the young person's own impression. The staff member, in consultation with the young person and parent(s)/carer(s), makes the final choice for the most appropriate interpretation of the Halt intervention. The staff member has the opportunity to coordinate with colleagues from the team or from the national policy team.
Risk management
The effectiveness of the Halt-SI is regularly tested scientifically. The results of these tests are checked by an independent scientific review committee. The Halt-SI is only used by authorised, trained staff.
Only involved Halt staff can look at the outcome of the Halt-SI in the system. If a young person comes into contact with the police again and the Child Care and Protection Board (RvdK) starts a council investigation, the RvdK can request the Halt-SI via the legal department of Stichting Halt. The legal department ensures that the Halt-SI is only shared if it has been a maximum of six months since the instrument was completed. The purpose of sharing the information is to include the information already known by then within the council investigation.
What are the risks?
1. Privacy violation: the likelihood that the results of The Halt-SI are shared when no explicit consent has been given to do so
2. Erroneous assessment due to incorrect or incomplete recording. If staff do not report the answers right away, incorrect or incomplete answers may be filled in, leading to a distorted picture of risk factors and protective factors. This may result in the young person receiving a less appropriate interpretation of the Halt intervention.
3. Language problems: If the young person and/or parent do not (fully) speak the Dutch language, an interpreter can be used. The Halt employee and young person and/or parent(s) are then dependent on a correct translation by the interpreter.
4. Stigma: People may feel unfairly labelled.
How are risks mitigated?
- Halt staff receive training on information sharing around the Halt-SI, among other things. Agreements have been made with the Child Protection Council on sharing the Halt-SI.
- Probation officers are trained in administering and interpreting the Halt-SI. The results of the Halt-SI are only used to supplement other information.
- The deployment of experienced interpreters/interpreters is facilitated by Stichting Halt.
- Halt staff also receive training in discussing the results of the Halt-SI and then, in consultation with the young person and/or parent(s)/caregiver(s), incorporating them in the Halt contract (which contains the agreements between Halt and the young person).
Legal basis
The law defines the tasks and powers of Halt. These tasks are performed by Halt on the basis of Article 77e of the Criminal Code (Sr), the Halt Regulation (February 2022) and the Decree Designating Halt Offences. Halt's statutory task is detailed in five main pillars:
1. Advising chain partners in the criminal justice chain on the deployment of a Halt intervention;
2. National coordination and implementation of Halt offences;
3. Further development and innovation of the work so that it matches current forms of youth crime and the living environment of young people;
4. Making a contribution to ZSM / (judicial) networks with the aim of the (preventive) approach to youth crime / settlement procedures for young people in the context of a Halt intervention;
5. Aftercare and warm transfer of juveniles to the local care or assistance domain.
The processing of personal data by Halt takes place for the fulfilment of a statutory task of general interest as referred to in Article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The receipt and processing of (ordinary and criminal) personal data by Halt is regulated in:
- Article 8a in conjunction with Article 39e(1)(g) of the Judicial and Criminal Records Act (Wjsg);
- Article 18 of the Police Data Act (Wpg) and Article 4:2(1)(f) of the Police Data Decree;
- For data originating from special investigating officers (BOAs): Article 46 Wpg and the Police Data (BOAs) Decree.
The use of the Halt-SI fits within this legal task of Halt.
Links to legal bases
- Article 77e Penal Code: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001854&boek=Eerste&titeldeel=VIII_A&artikel=77e&z=2012-07-01&g=2011-07-02
- Scheme Halt 2022: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0047314&z=2022-10-19&g=2022-10-19
- Decision on designation of Halt offences 2024: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0049846&z=2024-07-01&g=2024-07-01
- Section 8a Judicial and Criminal Records Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0014194&titeldeel=2&afdeling=2&artikel=8a&z=2025-07-01&g=2025-07-01
- Section 39e Judicial and Criminal Records Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0014194&titeldeel=2A&afdeling=2&artikel=39e&z=2025-07-01&g=2025-07-01
- Article 18 Police Data Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0022463¶graaf=3&artikel=18&z=2025-07-01&g=2025-07-01
- Section 4:2 Police Data Decree: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0023086¶graaf=4&artikel=4:2&z=2025-09-05&g=2025-09-05
- Article 46 Police Data Act: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0022463¶graaf=7&artikel=46&z=2025-07-01&g=2025-07-01
- Police Data Extraordinary Investigating Officers Decree: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0041971&z=2025-01-01&g=2025-01-01
Elaboration on impact assessments
In 2021, a DPIA was conducted on "the Halt intervention". The Halt-SI fell within the scope of this DPIA, and was therefore brought under the scope and findings of this DPIA.
Impact assessment
Operations
Data
The Halt-SI algorithm processes personal data of young people and, to a limited extent, of their parents/carers. It covers the following categories:
- Identifying data
School where the young person is enrolled.
- Education-related data
School situation, truancy behaviour, importance attached to education.
- Health data (special category)
Data on intellectual disability (IQ score, social adaptability), mental health, neglect, maltreatment, sexual abuse.
- Behavioural and social data
Leisure activities, online behaviour and gaming, social media problems, peer relationships (prosocial, antisocial, criminal group), admiration for antisocial behaviour.
- Family data
Parental supervision, communication about online behaviour, family financial situation.
- Addiction and risk behaviour
Frequency and extent of alcohol and drug use.
- Attitude and skills
Attitude towards authority, respect for property, impulsiveness, problem-solving skills, level of aggression.
- Assistance
Contact with assistance and need for (additional) help.
Links to data sources
Technical design
The Halt-SI is a questionnaire and consists of digitally completed and scored fields. The Halt-SI consists of 28 questions and is divided into the following risk domains: school, mental health, leisure and social media, family, relationships, alcohol and drugs, skills, aggression and additional questions on (involved) assistance.
The answers are accompanied by points. The choice of scoring is scientifically based:
0 points = no risk
1 point = risk
2 points = higher risk
The outcome of the points is made visible in a diagram (the choice tool) in which the risk factors are displayed per question. Halt staff receive the following instruction:
- Use this selection tool to make a targeted and well-founded choice of what to deploy in terms of components within the Halt intervention, appropriate to the needs of the young person.
- If the answer option with a score of 1 or more applies to the young person's situation (looking at the past 6 months), this means that this factor contributes to the young person's risk profile. The selection tool provides insight into which components within the Halt intervention you can then think about deploying.
By mapping the protective and risk factors of the young person (and other context information), the Halt-SI looks at which interpretation of the intervention would fit best, e.g. a learning assignment, a work assignment or extra conversations. Together with the young person and parent(s)/caregiver(s), the Halt staff member decides which interpretation of the Halt intervention best suits what the young person needs in order to learn from the mistake, make up for it and prevent repetition in the future.
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