CSO Study: Individuals placed on Probation Orders or Community Service Orders in 2009 and their subsequent levels of re-offending

14th December 2015

The Central Statistics Office has published a study which examines individuals who were placed on Probation Orders or Community Service Orders in the year 2009, and their subsequent levels of re-offending.

Some of the key findings highlighted include:

• In 2009, 3,854 individuals were placed on Probation orders or Community service orders. Of these, 37.3% re-offended within a three-year period.
• Recidivism rates fell by 3.8% between 2008 and 2009.
• As of 2009, 38.3% of males reoffended within three years, while the corresponding figure for females was 30.4%.
• While 62.3% of individuals aged less than 18 years re-offended; the recidivism rate fell to 26.0% in the 45-64 year age category, and to 0% in the 65 years and older age category.
• Of those placed on Community service orders 32.5% re-offended within a three-year-period.  In contrast, the recidivism rate of those issued with Probation orders was 40.3%.
• The Re-offending rate for those who had been referred for Dangerous and Negligent Acts offences was 26.2%. The re-offending rates for those who had been referred for Burglary and Related Offences was 49.4% and for Weapons and Explosives Offences was 42.3%.
• Of the individuals who re-offended, 40.9% did so within the first twelve months, while an additional 28.9% did between the 12 to 24 months of referral to the Probation Service.

To read the full report click: here