Recidivism in Australia : findings and future research - Australian ...

Selected recidivism research 1995–2006
Publication
year Title Key recidivism findings Comments
Author
The main purpose of this study was to identify the
causes and correlates of high volume offending
among juvenile detainees. The exploratory
analysis illustrated that factors relating to current
lifestyle were more important for predicting high
volume offending than developmental factors.
These lifestyle factors were:
This study examined the self-reported offending
frequency for a sample of 247 juveniles detained
in NSW for a most serious offence of break
and enter, motor vehicle theft or shoplifting.
The results indicated that in the six months
immediately preceding the arrest which led
to their detention, the self-reported (median)
offending frequencies were:
Salmelainen P 1995 The correlates
of offending
frequency: a
study of juvenile
theft offenders
in detention
• level of school attendance
• residential mobility
• employment
• use of drugs and poly drug use.
• one shoplifting offence per week for those
who reported shoplifting
• one break and enter offence every three weeks
for those who reported break and enter
• one motor vehicle theft every four weeks for
those who reported motor vehicle theft.
The recidivism rate was higher for:
• younger offenders
This study aimed to identify the prevalence
of recidivism among prison releasees in NSW.
Recidivism was defined as returning to prison
within two years of release. The results were:
Thompson B 1995 Recidivism
in NSW:
general study
• offenders with prior imprisonment
• offenders with a higher security
classification at the time of discharge
• offenders sentenced for and property,
violent offences compared with drug
and sex offences
• 35% of males were retuned to prison
within two years
• 38% of females were returned to prison
within two years.
• Indigenous offenders.
Appendix A
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