Reoffending In Scotland Hits 10-Year High

Thu, 02 September 2010 Courtesy of: Scottish Police Federation

The number of criminals in Scotland who go on to reoffend within two years has reached its highest level in a decade, according to official figures.

The statistics also reveal stark differences in reoffending between those who served a short prison sentence and offenders given a community service order, with the Scottish Government claiming this backs its emphasis on community penalties as an alternative to custody.

Lawbreakers given a fine or community service are least likely to be reconvicted within two years, with a reoffending rate of 40%, but almost three-quarters of people completing a sentence of six months or less were found guilty of another offence within two years of their release.

“those who are given custodial sentences rather than community sentences have usually already reoffended many times – they are, by definition, more serious criminals”

A total of 23,419 out of 53,260 criminals in 2006/07 were re-convicted within two years. The overall rate was down slightly from 2005/06, but the actual number of reconvictions has not been higher since 1997/98, when there were 22,783.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “The key to breaking the cycle of reoffending can be found in these statistics. Short sentences simply don’t work for low level offenders. They are both ineffective and of no practical benefit to communities. That is the view shared by a wide range of experts – and, it seems, the new UK Government.

“Community-based sentences work. These statistics show they can help prevent offenders committing crime again in the future – and we’re increasingly seeing the benefits to be gained for the community by getting these offenders out doing some hard work rather than sitting for a couple of weeks in a prison cell.”

The Scottish Parliament recently passed proposals which will phase out jail sentences of three months or less in favour of tougher community sentences.

Mr MacAskill added: “If we are serious about improving the safety of our communities, we need to ensure our prisons focus on the most serious criminals for whom prison is the only option.”

The total number of offenders soared by more than 10,000 in a six-year period, the statistics revealed, from 41,561 in 2000/01. Men were more likely than women to be reconvicted and were twice as likely to end up back in prison after being found guilty of a crime for the second time within two years.

Labour criticised the decision to end prison sentences of three months or less, pointing out that last year the 6897 people who received this punishment included those guilty of serious assault, attempted murder, knife crime, robbery and indecent assault.

James Kelly, Labour’s community safety spokesman, said: “Kenny MacAskill’s approach to dealing with reoffending is a recipe for disaster. It is ludicrous to suggest these figures justify the SNP approach on community sentencing.

“Claims that reoffending for community sentences is lower don’t stand up to any scrutiny because those who are given custodial sentences rather than community sentences have usually already reoffended many times – they are, by definition, more serious criminals.

“The only people that will be cheering Mr MacAskill are Scotland’s criminals.”

Tory justice spokesman John Lamont said: “We are not re-habilitating criminals successfully when they are behind bars, and we are failing to get them off the conveyor belt of crime. But that does not mean we should be letting them off jail sentences altogether.

“What is worrying is that these figures relate to a period before the SNP Government extended home detention curfews and scrapped short sentences, both measures which Scottish Conservatives opposed. Public opinion is clear. Prison has to remain an option and you cut the prison population by cutting crime.”