This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Management of re-offenders
31/10/2006
Historic figures out today on offenders' reconvictions prove Ministers were right to drive forward major reform of the offender management system in Scotland, according to Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson.
The figures show that 45 per cent of offenders discharged from prison or given a non-custodial sentence in 2002-03 were reconvicted within two years - an increase in comparison with a similar analysis in the late 1990s.
Ministers made the case for change three years ago highlighting Scotland's poor re-offending rates in a consultation - and subsequently in the 2004 Criminal Justice Plan.
Ms Jamieson pointed to three major initiatives since then, designed to tackle the long-standing problem:
- New legislation and offender management arrangements brought in through the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2005
- Legislation to end the unconditional early release of prisoners from jail and replace it with a regime that ensures that all offenders released from prison are placed on licence
- Increases in the range of effective community sentences available to the courts, while delivering investment in the prison estate to tackle conditions and overcrowding
Ms Jamieson said:
"Crime in Scotland today is falling. Last year there were 20,000 fewer crimes recorded by the police and violent crime is at its lowest level since devolution. Nevertheless, these historic figures for reconvictions show the scale of the challenge we face in terms of reducing the number of repeat offenders.
"Three years ago when we made our case for substantial change to the offender management system I heard views that the existing one would deliver results - it just needed more time. Today's figures simply prove we were right to make tough decisions and drive through our reforms.
"There are too many people now in our prisons who shouldn't be. We must ensure they are not full of less serious offenders whose behaviour could be better addressed through tough community sentences. Reducing this churn of short-term prisoners will ensure time and resources can be better focused on tackling more serious offenders.
"Our vision to tackle that revolving door and Scotland's unacceptably high re-offending rates has three main elements.
"First, the delivery of reforms which will improve the management of offenders in prison and in the community. And ensure that all local agencies - work together more effectively to reduce re-offending.
"Second, scrapping the current discredited system for automatically releasing short-term offenders. Our new Bill will deliver a reformed system which will give greater consideration to an offender's risk, ensure better end to end management of offenders, and ensure all offenders released from prison are placed on licence.
"And third, we will sustain our efforts to increase the range of effective community sentences available, while delivering investment in the prison estate to tackle conditions and overcrowding - creating the right conditions for staff and offenders to work together to address offending behaviour.
"I believe the debate we had three years ago about the need for reform is - like these figures - historic. I am delighted by the commitment shown during recent months by local authorities, SPS and other agencies to work together to ensure the new offender arrangements work. Together we can reduce reconviction rates in the future - for the benefit of communities across the country."