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

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Recidivism in Australia: findings and future research
(continued)
Table 4: Australian research on adult prisoner recidivism
Observation
period Key findings
Author Context/sample Data Quantification
43% reported a history of prior
imprisonment. The average
number of prior imprisonment
episodes was 3 and the average
time since the last imprisonment
episode was 32 months.
Observation period
was retrospective
for each prisoner’s
lifetime. The
observation will vary
depending on the
age of the prisoner.
Self-report data Episode of
imprisonment
irrespective of
offence type
This study surveyed the
female prisoner population
in 2003. There were 470
adult female respondents.
Johnson 2004.
Drugs and crime: a
study of incarcerated
female offenders
38% of prisoners across Australia
were reimprisoned within two
years of their release. A further
7% of prisoners were retuned to
other corrective services orders
within two years – a total return
rate of 45%.
Observation period
was consistent for
all offenders – two
years from being
released from prison
Episode of
imprisonment or
custodial supervision
irrespective of
offence type
Corrective
services data
The report on government
services examines the proportion
of prisoners in each Australian
state and territory who return to
corrective services supervision
within two years of their release
from prison. The sample includes
offenders who were released from
prison into further non-custodial
correctional supervision orders.
SCRGS 2006.
Report on
government
services 2005
68% of parolees reappeared in
court, 64% were reconvicted and
41% were reimprisoned within two
years of release.
Observation period
was consistent for
all offenders –
two years from
being released
from prison
Episode of court
appearance,
conviction or
imprisonment
Court
appearance data
This study explored patterns of
reoffending among 2,793 New
South Wales offenders released
to parole supervision in the
2001–02 financial year.
Jones C et al. 2006
Risk of reoffending
amongst parolees
Court
conviction data
This study also showed that the
risk of reoffending was increased
for parolees who: had multiple
prior imprisonment episodes; had
at least one prior drug conviction;
were younger; were Indigenous;
and were given parole by the court
rather than the parole authority.