Women more likely than men to reoffend after release from prison - CSO

The rate of people who reoffend after release from prison has continued to fall and is now almost 10 per cent lower than a decade ago.

According to the latest statistics from the Central Statistics Office, 45 per cent of prisoners released in 2019 reoffended within one year. The figure for those released in 2016 was 48 per cent while for 2011 it was 54 per cent.

The steady decrease in reoffending rates resumed in 2018 after rising in 2015 and 2016. It is now just above the record low of 44 per cent recorded in 2014. Analysis of reoffending figures first started in 2011.

The figures for those who reoffend in the three years after their release have also improved. Sixty two per cent of prisoners released in 2016 went on to reoffend within three years, down from 68 per cent for those released in 2011.

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Women and young people are the groups who are most likely to reoffend. Seventy per cent of women were caught committing a further offence within three years of release, compared to 62 per cent of men. This is despite males making up 92 per cent of those released during the period under examination.

More than 80 per cent of people under 21 reoffended during the same period, compared to just 30 per cent of over-50s.

A person was more likely to reoffend if they served a shorter sentence. Those who served between three and six months in prison were the most likely to reoffend within one year (58 per cent) while those who served more than a year were much less likely (37 per cent).

There is also a link between the seriousness of a crime and the likelihood of reoffending. Sixty per cent of people released from public order sentences in 2019 reoffended while only 13 per cent of those released after serving sentences for homicide did so.

Those convicted for burglary were also highly likely to reoffend, with 77 per cent committing another offence within three years. In comparison, sexual offenders had a low reoffending rate at 23 per cent.

Just more than half of those imprisoned for road traffic offences went on to reoffend within three years of release.

A person who reoffends may not commit the same crime that saw them go to prison initially. Regardless of the initial offence, those released from prison were most likely to reoffend by committing theft or public order offences. This includes those who served sentences for murder and sexual assault or rape.

Twenty per cent of reoffenders released in 2016 (327) were caught committing theft within three years while a similar percentage committed public order type offences.

Just more than 46 per cent of people who received a fine instead of a prison sentence reoffended within one year. In this category, men are more likely to reoffend than women (47 compared to 42 per cent).

The figures were released with the “under reservation” warning label due to continuing concerns about the accuracy of Garda statistics.