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Younger prisoners most likely to re-offend

Official figures show that almost half of those released from a custodial sentence in 2018 re-offended within one year.

An analysis carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) also showed that just over 60% of those released in 2015 re-offended within three years.

In the 2018 cohort, those who served custodial sentences of between three and six months prior to release had the highest probability of re-offending within a year.

Burglary

Two-thirds of those who re-offended received another custodial sentence, while a quarter of those who re-offended did so by committing public order and other similar offences.

The CSO figures also showed that younger age groups continued to have higher custodial re-offending rates, with more than 80% of individuals aged under 21 re-offending within three years of being released.

Those freed in 2015 from sentences related to burglary had the highest likelihood — almost 80% — of re-offending within three years. In contrast, only 20% of individuals released from custodial sentences for sexual offences re-offended within three years.

Theft and related offences accounted for just over one-fifth of re-offences among those released in 2015.

Rates falling

Although 93% of offenders in the 2015 analysis were male, females had a slightly higher likelihood of re-offending within three years of release — 66% compared with 61% for males.

“It is worth noting that re-offending rates are falling over time, whether one looks at three-year or one-year windows for re-offending following release from custody,” said CSO statistician Felix Coleman.

The one-year figure for 2011 was 54%, while the three-year figure for the same year was 68%.

The CSO said the figures were calculated using data provided by the Irish Prisons Service and an Garda Síochána's PULSE reporting system. It added that the analysis now included, for the first time, those convicted of more serious road-and-traffic offences.