Mentoring
Evidence-rated crime-reduction intervention (EMMIE).
Effect on crime
mixed evidence
Evidence quality
strong
What the evidence says
Mentoring involves pairing offenders with more experienced individuals to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Evidence suggests that while mentoring can reduce crime and reoffending rates, there is also some indication that it might increase them in certain cases. This summary is drawn from multiple reviews assessing the effectiveness of mentoring as a crime reduction tool, with a focus on healthy development and support for mentees.
How it works
Mentoring reduces crime by diverting individuals from criminal activities and fostering positive development through emotional support and advocacy. The interaction encourages mentees to adopt healthier behaviors and attitudes, thanks to the guidance of experienced mentors.
Implementation
Effective mentoring requires regular and meaningful interactions between mentors and mentees to establish strong relationships. While there are no strict training protocols, the context in which mentoring occurs (e.g., pre-sentence) significantly impacts its success.
Source: College of Policing Crime Reduction Toolkit (What Works Centre for Crime Reduction). Summarised 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the College of Policing.