Community service and suspended sentences have significant impact on reoffending, UCD study finds
Posted 4 June, 2020
Greater use of non-custodial sentences could aid in reducing the rate of re-offending, new UCD research has found.
(opens in a new window)A report on recidivism by (opens in a new window)Professor Ian O’Donnell, of the UCD Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, found that the use of community service and suspended sentences had a significant impact on reoffending rates.
The findings, published by the Department of Justice and Equality, also showed how structured early release from prison can reduce the potential for former prisoners to return to crime.
Short-term prison sentences tend to be “very disruptive” but community service can offer a more effective and less costly alternative to prison, and reoffending rates are lower among individuals given community service compared to those serving prison sentences.
“Prison sentences of a few months can result in people losing their homes or seeing their children go into care and the sentence is not long enough to address the reasons that led to the offending behaviour,” Professor O’Donnell said at the report’s launch.
“If prison causes crime” he continued “the arguments in favour of using it less are persuasive. While necessary as a last resort, a more parsimonious approach is required.”
How fairly prisoners feel they are treated also influences the likelihood that they might re-offend, he added.
A perception of procedural unfairness can lead to alienation, resistance and noncompliance.
The age at first offence, the number of previous convictions, a history of substance misuse, and unemployment were all found to increase the risk of re-offending.
The study examined different approaches adopted by prison and probation services across Europe, with research showing a strong relationship between employment and recidivism.
“If people have a meaningful job that provides a legitimate source of income and gives structure to their day, the likelihood that they will re-offend is reduced,” Professor O’Donnell said. Programmes that teach problem-solving and coping skills have also been shown to be effective.
“On balance, the evidence points to a significant treatment effect associated with cognitive behavioural interventions delivered both in community and custodial settings,” the report states.
According to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office, 46% of those released from Irish prisons re-offended within three years of their release, while a similar number of offenders managed by the Probation Service re-offended within three years.
The report was welcomed by Aidan O’Driscoll, Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality, as an important contribution to the debate about community safety.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust has called upon the incoming government to act on Professor O'Donnell’s findings, saying that evidence-based policy to reduce re-offending was “absolutely key to promoting community safety and public confidence in the criminal justice system”.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
