Reconviction rate among released prisoners rises

The reconviction rate for people released from prison has increased as the total rate for all offenders has stagnated, figures show.

Statistics issued by the Scottish Government on Wednesday show 42.8% of offenders released from prison in 2021-22 went on to reoffend within a year, an increase from 39.6% the previous year.

When the sentence is of one year or less, the reconviction rate increased to 52.6%.

But the total reconviction rate, which includes those who were released from custody or had a community sentence in that same year, was 27.1%, slightly up from 27% the previous year.

According to the figures, the rate for non-sexual crimes of violence reduced by 0.2% to 22.4%, while it increased for those convicted of sexual offences, from 8.8% to 10.6%.

Crimes of dishonesty remained the highest reconviction rate at 43.4%, an increase from 40.8% the previous year, while damage and reckless behaviour dropped from 30.9% to 28.5%, and drug offences rose from 19.5% to 21%.

The rate for threatening and abusive offences rose slightly from 27.4% to 27.6%.

The Scottish Government has consistently attempted to reduce the number of people who are sent to prison, including bringing in a presumption against short sentences in the hope of reducing the number of people locked up for 12 months or less.

The prison estate has been struggling under the weight of overcrowding in recent years with the Government forced to release prisoners early to reduce pressure.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “Reconviction rates remain at one of the lowest levels recorded and Scotland continues to be a safe place to live.

“As these statistics show, community-based interventions can be more effective at reducing reoffending than short-term imprisonment, leading to fewer victims and safer communities.

“That is why we are investing £159 million in community justice this year – an increase of £11 million.

“This is in addition to work to further enable a shift away from the use of custody, where safe and appropriate.

“An independent commission set up to review sentencing and penal policy will also present recommendations to the Scottish Government by the end of the year.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain – a former police officer – said more needs to be done to “prevent a revolving door of reconvictions”.

She added: “The SNP spent years ignoring the warning signs of prison overcrowding.

“This has now escalated into a crisis that makes it much tougher for staff to work with prisoners and stop them from reoffending when they are released.

“There’s been a decline in education, training and work activities across the prison estate. These ought to be at the heart of prison life to increase the chances of people making positive contributions to society when they leave.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see a modern prison estate that strikes the correct balance between punishing, rehabilitating and reducing reoffending. To achieve that, the Government need to get serious about giving staff the resources they need and easing overcrowding by driving down the use of remand.”