Reconviction rates in Scotland

Scotland's Chief Statistician has published details on reconviction rates in Scotland for the 2009-10 offender cohort.

Key findings of the data include:

• The one year reconviction rate has declined over the past eight years by 2.8% between the 2002-03 and 2009-10 cohorts. The one year reconviction rate and the one reconviction frequency rate are now at their lowest levels in each of the last 13 years.
• There has been a 6% fall in the one year reconviction rate for the under 21 age group between the 1997-98 and 2009-10 cohorts.
• The one year reconviction rate for offenders given Drug Treatment and Testing Orders has fallen by just over 16% from the 2003-04 to the 2009-10 cohort.
• Offenders released from custodial sentences of three months or less have higher reconviction rates than those released from longer sentences. The one year reconviction rate for those released from a custodial sentence of three months or less is 58.4%, compared to 39.9% for those released from sentences of six months to two years. The reconviction rate for those given a Community Service Order is 23.9%.
• Direct measure disposals introduced under Summary Justice Reform can be issued by the police and procurators fiscal in Scotland. These aim to provide robust and quicker alternatives to prosecution for certain low level offences, freeing up court time for more serious business.
• In 2009-10, 80.5% of police disposals were anti social behaviour fixed penalty notices, and 27.5% of offenders given police disposals were given another non-court disposal within one year.
• In 2009-10, 56.8% of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal disposals were fiscal fines, and 23.4% of offenders given Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal disposals were given another non-court disposal within one year.