Why is this National Indicator important?
Crime affects us all. By reducing criminal reoffending, we reduce the emotional, social and economic impact of crime on our communities - and enable offenders to make a more positive contribution to society. We want to build safer and stronger communities, where offenders are made to take responsibility for their actions and given the opportunity, where appropriate, to make amends for the damage they have caused. Reconviction rates are one of the main ways of measuring how well we are managing offenders in our criminal justice system.
What will influence this National Indicator?
The factors that impact on reconviction rates are many and complex, and will include wider economic and social trends. However, there are a number of key factors which, if effectively addressed, should lead to a reduction in reoffending. These include:
- Levels of education, training and employment.
- Alcohol and drug misuse.
- Physical and mental health.
- Homelessness.
- Patterns of offending behaviour.
- Community, peer and family relationships.
- Victimisation and exposure to offending behaviours - there is growing evidence of a correlation between the likelihood of young people offending and the experience of victimisation. More effective responses to the victimisation of young people may deter some from resorting to offending behaviour.
These factors have an impact both on an individual's motivation and choice to continue offending, as well as on their motivation and ability to take positive steps towards living a more constructive and law-abiding life.
What is the Government's role?
The National Strategy for the Management of Offenders sets out the Government's framework for reducing reoffending. Through legislation, we have established eight Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) across Scotland. Each CJA is tasked with working in partnership with local key agencies, including local authorities, Scottish Prison Service, health boards, police and voluntary agencies. With support from the National Advisory Body on Offender Management, we ensure that CJAs are making the most effective use of their joint local resources to address the critical factors that influence reconviction.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/19094327/0
How are we performing?
The trend in the reconviction rate for offenders released from custody or given a non custodial sentence rose slowly from 42% for the 1998-99 cohort to 45% for the 2002-03, before falling to 44.7 per cent for the 2003-04 cohort. The two year reconviction rate has decreased a further 0.2 percentage points to 44.5 per cent for the 2004-05 cohort.
Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Offenders Index
Methodology
This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 1 percentage points of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. A decrease of 1 percentage points or more suggests the position is improving; whereas an increase of 1 percentage points or more suggests the position is worsening.
For information on general methodological approach, please click here.
Further Information
2007 Spending Review Technical Note
Statistics Topic Page
Who are our supporting delivery partners?
Related Strategic Objective(s)
Wealthier and Fairer
Safer and Stronger