Justice in numbers

Reduce reoffending


Reoffending

Proven reoffending rate

Proportion of all offenders who reoffend (%).

Although not directly affected by the operational restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this latest offender cohort period does overlap with a period of on-going recovery for the courts and with the Criminal Bar Association strikes.

Period Proven reoffending rate
Apr - Jun 2009 30.7%
Jul - Sep 2009 30.9%
Oct - Dec 2009 31.0%
Jan - Mar 2010 31.3%
Apr - Jun 2010 31.3%
Jul - Sep 2010 31.5%
Oct - Dec 2010 31.7%
Jan - Mar 2011 31.8%
Apr - Jun 2011 31.8%
Jul - Sep 2011 31.6%
Oct - Dec 2011 30.9%
Jan - Mar 2012 30.8%
Apr - Jun 2012 30.8%
Jul - Sep 2012 30.8%
Oct - Dec 2012 30.8%
Jan - Mar 2013 31.3%
Apr - Jun 2013 31.7%
Jul - Sep 2013 31.5%
Oct - Dec 2013 30.7%
Jan - Mar 2014 30.6%
Apr - Jun 2014 30.5%
Jul - Sep 2014 30.3%
Oct - Dec 2014 29.8%
Jan - Mar 2015 29.4%
Apr - Jun 2015 29.5%
Jul - Sep 2015 29.2%
Oct - Dec 2015 29.6%
Jan - Mar 2016 29.6%
Apr - Jun 2016 29.4%
Jul - Sep 2016 29.5%
Oct - Dec 2016 29.4%
Jan - Mar 2017 29.2%
Apr - Jun 2017 29.8%
Jul - Sep 2017 29.3%
Oct - Dec 2017 28.8%
Jan - Mar 2018 28.7%
Apr - Jun 2018 28.8%
Jul - Sep 2018 28.6%
Oct - Dec 2018 28.1%
Jan - Mar 2019 26.7%
Apr - Jun 2019 26.3%
Jul - Sep 2019 26.0%
Oct - Dec 2019 25.2%
Jan - Mar 2020 24.7%
Apr - Jun 2020 29.0%
Jul - Sep 2020 23.5%
Oct - Dec 2020 23.1%
Jan - Mar 2021 24.3%
Apr - Jun 2021 24.8%
Jul - Sep 2021 25.2%
Oct - Dec 2021 25.4%
Jan - Mar 2022 25.5%
Apr - Jun 2022 25.8%
Jul - Sep 2022 26.5%

Jul - Sep 2022

26.5%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Proven reoffending statistics (quarterly) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024. Next publication: 31 October 2024 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 November 2024.


Rehabilitation and reintegration

Housed on release from custody (MI014)

The proportion of individuals in settled or temporary accommodation on the night of release from custody.

Period Housed on release from custody (MI014)
Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 80.2%
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 85.5%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 86.8%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 86.3%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 85.7%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

85.7%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender accommodation outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (MI015a)

The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post release for custodial sentences.

Period Settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (MI015a)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 74.4%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 75.3%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 75.6%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 73.5%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

73.5%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender accommodation outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal (MI015b)

The proportion of individuals in settled accommodation at three months post disposal for community sentences.

Period Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal (MI015b)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 82.5%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 84.8%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 85.1%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 85.2%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

85.2%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender accommodation outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (MI016)

The proportion of individuals in employment at six weeks after release from custody.

Period Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (MI016)
Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 12.8%
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 9.6%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 13.0%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 17.4%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 19.3%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

19.3%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender employment outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Employed at 6 months post release from custody (MI017A)

The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post release for custodial sentences.

Period Employed at 6 months post release from custody (MI017A)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 14.0%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 17.3%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 25.9%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 31.1%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

31.1%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender employment outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Employed at 6 months post community disposal (MI017B)

The proportion of individuals in employment at six months post disposal for community sentences.

Period Employed at 6 months post community disposal (MI017B)
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 36.7%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 38.8%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 44.5%
Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 46.4%

Apr 2023 - Mar 2024

46.4%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Offender employment outcomes (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Substance dependency

Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)

The percentage of random mandatory drug tests which show drugs to be present, hence a downward trend is positive. This measure excludes tests for new psychoactive substances.

The values for 2018/19 onwards are calculated using a new weighted methodology - please refer to the HMPPS Annual Digest 2018 to 2019 for more details.

Period Random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)
Apr 1998 to Mar 1999 18.1 %
Apr 1999 to Mar 2000 14.4 %
Apr 2000 to Mar 2001 12.0 %
Apr 2001 to Mar 2002 11.4 %
Apr 2002 to Mar 2003 11.4 %
Apr 2003 to Mar 2004 12.3 %
Apr 2004 to Mar 2005 11.8 %
Apr 2005 to Mar 2006 10.3 %
Apr 2006 to Mar 2007 8.8 %
Apr 2007 to Mar 2008 9.1 %
Apr 2008 to Mar 2009 7.7 %
Apr 2009 to Mar 2010 7.8 %
Apr 2010 to Mar 2011 7.1 %
Apr 2011 to Mar 2012 7.0 %
Apr 2012 to Mar 2013 7.2 %
Apr 2013 to Mar 2014 7.5 %
Apr 2014 to Mar 2015 7.0 %
Apr 2015 to Mar 2016 7.8 %
Apr 2016 to Mar 2017 9.3 %
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 10.9 %
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 10.4 %
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 10.5 %

Apr 2019 to Mar 2020

10.5 %

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Random mandatory drug testing - new psychoactive substances only

The percentage of random mandatory drug tests which show drugs to be present, hence a downward trend is positive. This measure includes tests for new psychoactive substances ("NPS"), as defined in the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Note this measure replaces "random mandatory drug testing including new psychoactive substances".

Period Random mandatory drug testing - new psychoactive substances only
Apr 2017 to Mar 2018 12.9 %
Apr 2018 to Mar 2019 9.0 %
Apr 2019 to Mar 2020 4.3 %

Apr 2019 to Mar 2020

4.3 %

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the HM Prison and Probation Service annual digest publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 July 2024.


Prisoners completing treatment free from dependence

The percentage of adults exiting treatment free from dependence on drugs or alcohol.

Period Prisoners completing treatment free from dependence
Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 22.4%
Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 25.6%
Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 28.1%
Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 25.9%
Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 25.8%
Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 31.0%
Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 32.3%
Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 35.5%

Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

35.5%

Data source

The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Substance misuse treatment in secure settings (annual) publication.

Publication date

Published: 25 January 2024. Next publication: 30 January 2025 9:30am.