Summary

There is considerable interest in reoffending by released prisoners. This paper presented information on the prior and post conviction histories of the 22,340 inmates who were released from prison between 1995 and 1998.

Over two-thirds (70%) of the inmates had more than 10 convictions prior to being imprisoned. Only 5% of the inmates had no prior convictions. However, for nearly one-fifth (18%) of these "first offenders", while they had no prior convictions, they had prior proved offences in the Youth Court. Almost two-thirds (65%) of the imprisoned "first offenders" were convicted of a violent or sexual offence, almost one-quarter (24%) were convicted of a property offence (mostly burglary or fraud), and 6% were convicted of drug dealing.

A little under two-thirds (62%) of the inmates had been imprisoned previously. Sixteen percent of the inmates had been to prison on more than five previous occasions.

Over a third (37%) of inmates were reconvicted of some offence within six months of release, while over half (58%) were reconvicted within a year. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of inmates were reconvicted within two years of their release, and most inmates (86%) were reconvicted within five years.

Thirteen percent of inmates were reimprisoned within six months of release, while a quarter (25%) were reimprisoned within a year. Over a third (37%) of inmates were reimprisoned within two years of their release, and just over half the inmates (51%) were reimprisoned within five years.

There was little difference in reconviction and reimprisonment rates for inmates released in different years between 1995 and 1998.

Male inmates were significantly more likely than female inmates to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned. Within two years of their release from prison, 74% of male inmates were reconvicted compared with 64% of female inmates, and 38% of male inmates were reimprisoned compared with 23% of female inmates.

Maori were significantly more likely than non-Maori to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned. Within two years of their release from prison, 68% of European inmates and 66% of Pacific people inmates were reconvicted compared with 78% of Maori inmates. Within two years of their release from prison, 31% of European inmates and 32% of Pacific people inmates were reimprisoned compared with 43% of Maori inmates.

Younger inmates were considerably more likely than older inmates to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned. Within two years of their release from prison, 91% of teenage inmates were reconvicted compared with 43% of inmates aged 40 or more, and 59% of teenage inmates were reimprisoned compared with 17% of inmates aged 40 or more. The age of the inmate, together with the number of previous convictions, were the two variables (of those available) that were found to be most strongly associated with the likelihood of being reconvicted within two years. In addition, the age of the inmate, together with the number of previous prison sentences, were the two variables (of those available) that were found to be most strongly associated with the likelihood of being reimprisoned within two years.

The likelihood of both reconviction and reimprisonment within two years was significantly greater for property offences, offences against justice, and offences against good order compared to other offences. Only 16% of the inmates released after serving a prison sentence for a drug offence were reimprisoned within two years - a significantly lower proportion than for other offence types.

In general, inmates released after serving shorter prison sentences were more likely to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned than inmates released after serving longer prison sentences.

The more often people had been convicted previously, the more likely they were to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned following their release from prison. Within two years of their release from prison, 41% of first-time offenders were reconvicted compared with 85% of inmates with more than 20 previous convicted cases, and 18% of first-time offenders were reimprisoned compared with 48% of inmates with more than 20 previous convicted cases.

The more often people had been imprisoned previously, the more likely they were to be both reconvicted and reimprisoned following their release from prison. Within two years of their release from prison, 60% of first-time inmates were reconvicted compared with 90% of inmates with more than 10 previous imprisonment sentences, and 22% of first-time inmates were reimprisoned compared with 64% of inmates with more than 10 previous imprisonment sentences.

Eight percent of inmates imprisoned for a violent offence were reconvicted of another violent offence within six months of release, while 17% were reconvicted of another violent offence within a year. Over a quarter (28%) of inmates imprisoned for a violent offence were reconvicted of another violent offence within two years of their release, and a little under half (45%) were reconvicted of another violent offence within five years.

The more often in the past violent offenders had been convicted of a violent offence, the more likely they were after their release to be convicted for another violent offence. Also, the more often in the past violent offenders had been convicted of a violent offence, the more likely they were after their release to be reconvicted for multiple violent offences.

In general, violent offenders released from a prison sentence for homicide or sex offences had lower violent offence reconviction rates than inmates released from prison for all other violent offences. Inmates released from prison for "minor assault" were the most likely of the violent offenders to be reconvicted of another violent offence (46% of cases within two years and 67% of cases within five years).

Inmates released for offences against justice (29%) or offences against good order (33%) had a slightly greater likelihood of reconviction for a violent offence within two years than was the case for violent offences as a group (28%).

Inmates released after serving a sentence for a sex offence had relatively low reconviction rates overall, and in particular, had very low reconviction rates for sex offences. Only 3% of the sex offenders released from prison between 1995 and 1998 were reconvicted within two years of a sex offence, and 7% were reconvicted within five years of a sex offence.

Only a very small proportion of all released inmates are reconvicted for very serious offences, and the type and seriousness of the offence that a person was imprisoned for is not a reliable predictor of the likelihood that they will commit a serious offence in the future.