3.3

• Overall recidivism of 28% in 2019 (taking into account all released prisoners, suspended sentences, community sentences, fines and warnings)
• On average those that reoffend commit 4 crimes each but this figure is rising
• Recidivism rates


  • All ex prisoners 36%
  • Prisoners released from short sentence 64%
  • Juvenile offenders 37% within a year
  • Juveniles from custody 63% are reconvicted within a year
• The dark figure of reoffending also needs to be considered
• Patterns of reoffending


  • Male offenders reoffended at a higher rate of 25.2% compared to female offenders who reoffended at a rate of 19.3%
  • 10-14 year olds had the highest reoffending rates of 35% in 2021
  • 15-17 had reoffending rates of 2021
• 1 in 20 women found employment 6 weeks after release, but 1 in 10 men found employment
• 2019- 22% of men were first time offenders, however 35% of women were first time offenders- less likely to convict women of violence, more likely to have addictions
• Reoffending peaks in mid teens, but steadily decreases
• Highest reoffending rates for crimes

  • Theft with 46%
  • Juveniles have 28% violent crimes against a person, however adults have 25% violence against a person
  • Juveniles had 50% of fraud crimes, however adults had 21% of fraud crimes
• In 2018, almost half the offenders with 10+ previous offences offended again
• Offenders most likely to reoffend


  • Drug/alcohol/homeless/no qualifications/unemployed
• Those on licence who reoffend and are recalled to prison partially account for the rise in prison population
• Sentences are also getting longer eg) indictable offences were on average 26 months longer in 2018 than the previous ten years, and the average sentence for murder increased from 12.5 years in 2003 to 21.3 years in 2016
• Right realists argue


  Prison works due to the rational choice of offenders
• Marxists argue


  It is not surprising that unemployed offenders are likely to reoffend since they have little chance of meeting their material needs on benefits
• Issues faced by newly released prisoners

  • Lack of money - earn little in prison and are released with £46
  • Lack of job - only ¼ of prisoners have a job to go to
  • Homelessness - 1 in 9 have no accommodation upon release
• Need to find a place to live, but they shut at four on a Friday and don't open until Monday
• Need a doctors appointment, but they aren't open over the weekend and don't accept same day appointments
• Need to apply for benefits, however I have to have an ID and a bank account
• Need to go to a probation meeting 3 days after release, however they aren't open on weekends so I must go on that Friday
• Community sentences are more successful at reducing recidivism. Only 34% reoffend within 12 months
• Issues with community sentences

  • Inadequate support for complex needs - drugs,mental health, homelessness
  • Inadequate supervision by probation - critics say it is too lax and allows offenders to miss appointments
  • Failures of private rehab companies - falting to meet targets for support resulting in CRC contracts being ended in 2020
• 2019- Home Secretary announced it would be easier for police to stop and search for a weapon without suspicion. Criminal Justice order act 1994
• The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom prohibiting or restricting certain types of dogs and codifying the criminal offence of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control
• Dogs covered by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

  • Pit Bull Terrier
  • Japanese Tosa
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • XL Bully
• Police can set local priorities
• In the event that a constable in uniform has reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle has been driven in a careless and inconsiderate or anti-social manner, the constable can order the person driving the vehicle to stop and the vehicle may be seized
• The Greater MAnchester Violence reduction unit will invest £500,000 in a community led pilot to develop placed approaches and solutions
• The Early intervention youth fund is £11 million
• Policies affecting social order

  • Instruct councils to amend their town architecture by funding a new town garden area/hostile shop fronts
  • Police move them on/arrest them
  • Build affordable housing (council houses)/ hostels/ shelters
  • Give travel incentives to move them
  • Fund drug treatments, drug rooms/decriminalise drugs
  • Welfare state (benefits, universal credit)
• Local police/organisations can also see that they have an issue with particular crimes, such as knife crime in Glasgow
• The Serious Violence Strategy is a multi-agency approach of creating better social order, involves police powers (high discretion stop and search for weapons), youth services, social services, NHS and education
• Moral Panic


  Public concern/extreme anxiety about the stability and safety of society
• The evidence for moral panics originated with Cohen's study of the Mods and Rockers
• Exaggeration of the event through distortion. Created symbolism, labelled each group clearly. Prediction of events creates the moral panic of youth crime. Police then prioritise, crack down= pressure on government to create/amend the new law
• The Crown Prosecution Service prosecutes the criminal cases that have been investigated in the UK. Review the evidence to ensure there is enough to take it to court
• Beyond reasonable doubt


  There is no doubt that the offender is guilty based on the evidence- overwhelming evidence, otherwise the Jury has to judge as Not Guilty as there is a chance they are
• Adversarial system


  Two sides opposing each other- prosecution vs defence
• Magistrates' Court


  Deals with minor offences and can give minor sentences (maximum of 12 months) and fines (maximum of £5000), lowest court in the hierarchy and has 3 magistrates rather than a Judge and Jury
• Probation service


  Supports the offenders in their rehabilitation- helps them through courses such as anger management, provides them support once out of prison to prevent them reoffending