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This chapter outlines some more details about individuals who re-offended within 3 years of release from custody, and who secured a court conviction within a further 2 years. It does not include details of the relatively small number of persons committed to prison for the non-payment of a fine (details on persons who receive a fine sentence generally can be found in Chapter 5).
Younger age groups of individuals released from custody continue to have a higher likelihood of re-offending. In 2015, over four out of five (83.6%) of under 21-year olds re-offended within 3 years of being released. In comparison, just over one quarter (27.0%) of over 50’s re-offended within 3 years of release. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.1.
| Re-offended within 3 years | |
| < 21 years | 83.6 |
| 21 - 25 years | 75.4 |
| 26 - 30 years | 70.1 |
| 31 - 35 years | 57.7 |
| 36 - 40 years | 51.1 |
| 41 - 50 years | 44.6 |
| Aged 50 and over | 27.0 |
Individuals that were released from custodial sentences that related to Burglary (78.5% of whom re-offended) or Damage to property and the environment (76.3% of whom re-offended) were the most likely to re-offend within 3 years of release. See Table 3.2 and Figure 3.2.
The lowest level of re-offending took place amongst individuals released from custody for offences related to the Sexual offences offence group. Estimates indicate 19.7% of this group of individuals released from custody in 2015 re-offended within 3 years. See Table 3.2 and Figure 3.2.
| Re-offended within 3 years | |
| 07 Burglary and related offences | 78.5 |
| 12 Damage to property and to the environment | 76.3 |
| 08 Theft and related offences | 75.6 |
| 13 Public order and other social code offences | 73.2 |
| 11 Weapons and explosives offences | 70 |
| 04 Dangerous or negligent acts | 67.1 |
| 06 Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences | 66.7 |
| 03 Attempts/Threats to Murder, assaults, harassments and related offences | 61.8 |
| 14 Road and traffic offences | 61.8 |
| 05 Kidnapping and related offences | 55 |
| 16 Offences not elsewhere classified | 45.5 |
| 09 Fraud, deception and related offences | 41.2 |
| 10 Controlled drug offences | 40.6 |
| 01 Homicide and related offences | 38.9 |
| 15 Offences against Government, justice procedures and organisation of crime | 38.1 |
| 02 Sexual offences | 19.7 |
A total of 344 out of 1,607 re-offenders (21.4%) re-offended in offences related to Theft and related offences. A significant proportion of re-offences also took place in the category related to Road and traffic offences with 258 out of 1,607 re-offenders (16.1%) linked to this group after being released from custody. See Table 3.3.
Of the total 231 individuals that re-offended after release in 2015 from serving sentences related to homicide, sexual offences or attempts/threats to murder or assaults, just 20 (or 8.7% of this group) re-offended in the same offence types as their custodial related offence. Re-offending indicators related to these groups indicate the most likely re-offending category was Public order and other social code offences (49 out of 231 or 21.2% of this group). See Table 3.3.
Most individuals that were released from custody in 2015 are male (93.2%), however females (65.7% of whom re-offend) remain more likely to re-offend than males (61.4%). See Table 3.4 and Figure 3.4.
| Re-offended in 3 years | |
| Male | 93.2 |
| Female | 6.8 |
Go to next chapter: Details of 1-year Custodial Re-offending
