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Minister comments on reconviction statistics
09/10/2007
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today commented on figures on Reconvictions of Offenders Discharged from Custody or given Non-Custodial Sentences in 2003-04.
He said:
"This report helps to demonstrate the challenge this Government faces in achieving a progressive and coherent penal policy.
"Nearly two thirds of people released from prison were reconvicted within two years. That is not acceptable.
"Although the percentage of people reconvicted following community service has fallen ten percentage points in ten years, there are still too many people on these kind of sentences who are re-offending.
"I believe that the time is now right for a more focussed approach to the community disposals available to the courts. That is why we are currently reviewing community sentences to revitalise them. We want tough community sentences to protect the public and improve reparation and rehabilitation for persistent offenders.
"A coherent penal policy requires prison for serious and dangerous criminals and tough community punishments for low level offenders. We believe less serious offenders currently filling our jails should be paying back their debts to society - not adding to society's bill for their bed and board.
"We will come down hard on serious offenders, but people who could more appropriately be dealt with in the community should not be sent to our already overcrowded prisons."