Reconviction Rates (Hansard, 8 May 1996)

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders are(a) convicted of further offences during the two-year period following the completion of the custodial section of prison sentences and (b) convicted of further offences which were committed during the two-year period following the completion of the custodial section of prison sentences. [27611]

§ Miss Widdecombe
The most recent available information relates to a sample of sentenced prisoners discharged from prison in 1992. The percentage who were convicted of a further offence during the two-year period following release was 51 per cent. There is no information centrally available on how many of those offences were committed during this period.

§ Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the reconviction rates for(a) two years and (b) five years after release for (i) adults, (ii) 14 to 16-year-olds, (iii) 15 to 17-year-olds, (iv) 16 to 18-year-olds and (v) 18 to 21-year-olds in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [28236]

§ Miss Widdecombe
The information requested is available only for all the age bands requested for those released between 1987 and 1992. Reconviction rates within five years of release from prison are currently available only for those released during 1987.
The available information is as follows: 163W

Five year reconviction rates¹ for sentenced prisoners discharged from Prison Service establishments during 1987

England and Wales Age at sentence Percentage

Adults 62

Aged 14–16 91

Aged 15–17 89

Aged 16–18 86

Aged 18–20³ 81

Aged 18–21 77

All young offenders 83

Total 70

¹ Relates to convictions for "standard list" offences only. These offences include all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. Rates are based on samples of prisoners.

² Reconviction rates for those discharged prior to 1987 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years due to a change in methodology. Prior to 1987 the overall rates will be lower by around 5 to 6 percentage points due to this change; further details are given on page 6 of the Home Office publication 'Prison statistics, England and Wales, 1994' (Cm. 3087). Information is not available for some of the age groups requested and the figure for 14 to 16 year olds relates to male prisoners only.

³ Figures are supplied for those aged 18 to 20 in addition to those aged 18 to 21 as prisoners aged 21 at sentence are included among adults.

Five year reconviction rates¹ for sentenced prisoners discharged from Prison Service establishments during 1987
England and Wales Age at sentence	Percentage
Adults	62
Aged 14–16	91
Aged 15–17	89
Aged 16–18	86
Aged 18–20³	81
Aged 18–21	77
All young offenders	83
Total	70
¹ Relates to convictions for "standard list" offences only. These offences include all indictable offences and some of the more serious summary offences. Rates are based on samples of prisoners.
² Reconviction rates for those discharged prior to 1987 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years due to a change in methodology. Prior to 1987 the overall rates will be lower by around 5 to 6 percentage points due to this change; further details are given on page 6 of the Home Office publication 'Prison statistics, England and Wales, 1994' (Cm. 3087). Information is not available for some of the age groups requested and the figure for 14 to 16 year olds relates to male prisoners only.
³ Figures are supplied for those aged 18 to 20 in addition to those aged 18 to 21 as prisoners aged 21 at sentence are included among adults.