In this paper we present a framework to map the social costs and benefits of the Dutch probation services and present the initial results of a social cost benefit analysis using large data sets. The social benefits of the Dutch probation services seem to add up to about double the costs of probation. Even though there is still a margin of uncertainty in the analysis, and the social benefits of the probation services’ impact on the probationerandapos;s environment and avoided victims are not yet included, it can already be concluded that the benefits of the Dutch probation services exceed the costs.