Reconviction rates in Scotland: 2015-2016 offender cohort

Annex D: Transitional period between legacy community orders and Community Payback Orders

D1 There has been a transition period between the phasing out of the legacy orders (Community Service Orders and Probation Orders) and the establishment of CPOs 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.

D2 As CPOs have become established, the number of offenders with an index disposal of a CPO increased from 175 in 2010-11 to about 10,500 from 2013-14 onwards. The number of those with an index disposal of a legacy order decreased from 8,242 to 203 between 2010-11 and 2013-14. There has been a very small number of offenders with an index disposal of a legacy order since 2013-14 (Table 8).

D3 During the transition from legacy orders to CPOs, there were changes in the characteristics of offenders that were given these disposal types. Therefore caution is needed when comparing changes between the same cohort year for the two disposal types since the introduction of CPOs. 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 (females, older offenders, and offenders with fewer previous convictions). The characteristics of offenders given CPOs as they became fully established is similar to the legacy sentences prior to the introduction of CPOs. See Annex D of the Reconviction Rates in Scotland: 2013-14 cohort publication for further comparison of the characteristics of offenders given CPOs and legacy orders.

D4 As CPOs have become established, changes in reconvictions for CPOs can be compared over time and CPOs can be compared with legacy orders prior to the introduction of CPOs. Care should be taken in comparing reconviction rates between legacy orders and CPOs from the same cohort year, as the type of offender they are given to differs.