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Reconvictions of Offenders 2003-04
09/10/2007
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics on Reconvictions of Offenders Discharged from Custody or Given Non-Custodial Sentences in 2003-04.
Figures show that 45 per cent of offenders discharged from custody or given a non-custodial sentence in Scotland in 2003-04 were reconvicted within two years. This is the same level of reconvictions as the 2002-03 cohort.
Reconvictions of Offenders Discharged from Custody or Given Non-Custodial Sentences in 2003-04
The main findings are:
- The likelihood of reconviction increased markedly with the number of previous convictions: 26 per cent of offenders with no previous convictions were reconvicted within two years compared with 75 per cent of offenders with over 10 previous convictions. Of those with over 10 previous custodial convictions, 62 per cent received a further custodial reconviction within two years
- Males were more likely to be reconvicted than females for all age groups: 46 per cent of males and 38 per cent of females were reconvicted within two years
- Those discharged from a custodial sentence (64 per cent) or given probation (61 per cent) were on average more likely to be reconvicted within two years than those given community service (39 per cent) or a monetary penalty (41 per cent). However, once the age, sex and number of previous convictions of offenders are taken into account, these differences are less pronounced