Recidivism and all that crime

Published last month, this report summarises patterns of reconviction amongst almost 5000 offenders who were released from prison over a twelve-month period in 2002/03.

By the end of 3 years 44 percent had been re-imprisoned.

I asked the Corrections Department how many people were released from prison in 2006?

Answer; 12,623 people were released from a New Zealand prison in the 2006 calendar year.

Just assuming the recidivism rate remains steady, 5554 people were released last year to go out and commit more crime.

But that's not all.

Note, It is of course acknowledged that reconviction figures give only an indication of actual re-offending. Surveys of crime victims indicate that, on average, between 35 - 40% of all crimes are reported to Police. Further, even when reported, not all crimes are resolved. The latest Police crime statistics suggest that resolution rates can vary from around 80% for violent offences to as low as 20% for dishonesty offences. Finally, a proportion of crimes may be “resolved” but do not necessarily progress to the conviction and sentencing of an offender (e.g., Police Diversion cases).

Thus no attempt is made here to suggest that the figures in any way account for the full extent of actual re-offending behaviour of this cohort of released prisoners; these inevitably must be considerably higher.

Isn't it ironic that the reasoning used against predominantly innocent people, ie a very small number of you are a risk so all will be penalised, eg dog microchipping and criminalising smacking, is oddly missing here.

It can be predicted with certainty that at least half of released prisoners will go on to commit more crime against person or property, yet all are freed. All are given the benefit of the doubt.

It is a very, very warped world we live in.