Reconviction rates in Scotland: 2014-2015 offender cohort

Annex D - Transitional period between legacy community order and Community Payback Order between 2009-10 and 2013-14

D1 There has been a transition period between the phasing out of the legacy orders and the establishment of CPOs between 2010-11 up to 2013-14, due to the different disposals being given for offences committed before or after the 1 ^st February 2011. The first cohort of offenders with an index disposal of a CPO in 2010-11 was therefore very small as they had to commit a crime and also be convicted between 1 February and 31 March 2011. As CPOs have become established, the number of offenders with an index disposal of a CPO increased from 174 in 2010-11 to 10,854 in 2014-15, whereas those with an index disposal of a legacy order decreased from 8,245 to 109 in the same period ( Table 8).

During the transition period from legacy orders to CPOs between 2010-11 and 2013-14, there were changes in the characteristics of offenders that were given these disposal types. Therefore caution is needed when comparing changes between the two disposal types during the transition period. Changes in offender characteristics are also likely to be responsible for the decreases in reconvictions of offenders given CPOs and legacy orders during the transition period, as both disposals showed an increase in the proportion of groups of offenders that typically have lower reconviction rates.

As CPOs have become more established, one can now be more confident in comparing changes in reconvictions for CPOs over time. Care should be taken in comparing reconviction rates between legacy orders and CPOs, as the type of offender they are given to may differ, and this may affect the rate.