Reconviction rates in Scotland: 2015-2016 offender cohort

Trends in reconviction statistics up to the latest cohort of 2015-2016.


Table 19: Individuals convicted in 2016-17, by gender, age and number and type of previous convictions in 10 years from 2007-08 to 2016-171

Number and
type of previous convictions
from 2007-08 to 2016-17
Total Gender Age2 (Last) sentence in 2015-16
Male Female under 21 21 to 25 26 to 30 31 to 40 over 40 Custody3 Community sentence (CPO, CSO, PO, RLO, DTTO)4 Monetary Other5
Number of persons
with charge proved
41,612 34,223 7,389 4,287 6,979 7,070 11,620 11,656 6,255 11,415 13,693 10,249
All previous convictions6
None 14,490 11,228 3,262 2,334 2,266 1,761 3,218 4,911 815 3,322 5,654 4,699
1 or 2 10,159 8,399 1,760 1,087 1,799 1,623 2,779 2,871 837 3,135 3,916 2,271
3 to 10 11,476 9,809 1,667 741 2,048 2,349 3,587 2,751 2,319 3,665 3,251 2,241
Over 10 5,487 4,787 700 125 866 1,337 2,036 1,123 2,284 1,293 872 1,038
Previous custodial sentences
None 30,557 24,170 6,387 3,806 5,334 4,706 7,642 9,069 1,887 8,739 11,559 8,372
1 or 2 4,617 4,190 427 252 689 874 1,586 1,216 1,298 1,326 1,152 841
3 to 10 4,955 4,499 456 221 816 1,131 1,756 1,031 2,203 1,106 843 803
Over 10 1,483 1,364 119 8 140 359 636 340 867 244 139 233
Previous community sentences
None 24,694 19,675 5,019 2,994 3,773 3,531 6,343 8,053 2,188 5,947 9,617 6,942
1 or 2 10,499 9,032 1,467 906 1,823 1,995 3,287 2,488 2,105 3,376 2,928 2,090
3 to 10 6,222 5,365 857 383 1,336 1,490 1,927 1,086 1,889 2,036 1,125 1,172
Over 10 197 151 46 4 47 54 63 29 73 56 23 45
Previous solemn convictions7
None 34,216 27,400 6,816 3,906 5,676 5,363 9,078 10,193 3,337 9,681 12,145 9,053
1 or 2 6,307 5,767 540 350 1,116 1,375 2,160 1,306 2,245 1,559 1,429 1,074
3 to 10 1,087 1,054 33 31 185 332 382 157 671 175 119 122
Over 10 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Previous convictions for crimes of violence8
None 27,109 21,817 5,292 3,390 4,087 3,708 7,216 8,708 2,591 7,099 9,890 7,529
1 or 2 11,102 9,433 1,669 776 2,131 2,304 3,454 2,437 2,269 3,430 3,201 2,202
3 to 10 3,356 2,946 410 121 759 1,032 941 503 1,366 881 599 510
Over 10 45 27 18 0 2 26 9 8 29 5 3 8
Previous convictions for crimes of dishonesty9
None 30,631 25,083 5,548 3,721 5,222 4,800 7,718 9,170 3,067 8,479 11,096 7,989
1 or 2 5,750 4,866 884 438 1,152 1,216 1,722 1,222 1,328 1,689 1,603 1,130
3 to 10 3,823 3,115 708 124 533 820 1,455 891 1,241 958 803 821
Over 10 1,408 1,159 249 4 72 234 725 373 619 289 191 309
Previous convictions for drug offences
None 33,458 27,082 6,376 4,050 5,946 5,391 8,321 9,750 4,143 9,261 11,355 8,699
1 or 2 6,548 5,730 818 226 919 1,379 2,521 1,503 1,610 1,800 1,922 1,216
3 to 10 1,581 1,387 194 11 112 295 763 400 492 349 412 328
Over 10 25 24 1 0 2 5 15 3 10 5 4 6

1. This table is compiled on a different basis to tables 1-13. It counts individuals convicted in 2016-17 and counts their previous convictions over 10 years. If they were convicted more than once in 2016-17, their final conviction in the year is counted as the index conviction and the earlier convictions are counted as previous convictions.

2. Age as at date of last conviction in 2016-17.

3. Custodial sentence includes: Imprisonment, Young Offenders Institution, Orders for Lifelong Restriction, Extended Sentences, and Supervised Release Orders.

4. Community Sentence refers to Restriction of Liberty Orders, Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, Community Service Orders, Probation Orders and Community Payback Orders (CPOs).

5. The 'Other' category includes Supervised Attendance Orders. It also includes: remit to children's hearing; community reparation order; caution; admonition; absolute discharge; insanity; guardianship; and hospital order.

6. Convictions for crimes, and offences of common assault, breach of the peace, racially aggravated conduct or harassment, firearms offences or social security offences. Excludes convictions outside of Scotland.

7. Convictions in the high court or in a sheriff and jury court.

8. Crimes of violence now includes common assault, in line with Tables 6 and 7. Therefore numbers in this category are not comparable with those presented in previous bulletins.

9. Crimes of dishonesty now includes social security offences, in line with Tables 6 and 7. Therefore numbers in this category are not comparable with those presented in previous bulletins.

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