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This publication provides figures for the re-offending rates of individuals released from prison or having received a court fine sentence in the years 2011 to 2019 (the 2011 to 2019 cohorts).
The term “offences” in this report refers to crime incidents known to An Garda Síochána and recorded as such in the Garda PULSE (Police Using Leading Systems Effectively) system. Because of timing issues with respect to the extraction of data, figures may be revised after this publication.
CSO's publication of prison related re-offending from 2020 onwards has been adjusted to include some methodological updates.
Further details of these are available at: Prison Re-offending Estimates 2011-2017 Technical Note and Prison Re-offending Estimates 2011 - 2018 Methodological Updates.
There are four key changes that have taken place:
1. The release date of individuals now incorporates early release dates to measure the time periods to re-offending incidents. Early release takes place when an individual receives a reduction in their custodial period and is released earlier than the court sentence they received. Historically, only the courts custodial release date was used to calculate periods to re-offending incidents. Incorporating the early release data has resulted in:
2. A re-committal to prison by a released individual during the re-offending periods (three and one year) has now been included as a re-offending indicator in addition to the existing Garda PULSE identifiers of incidents and convictions. It has resulted in:
3. Prison related re-offending is now separated into custodial and fine sentence re-offending indicators. The update aims to provide a clearer indicator of re-offending related to two different forms of sanction. "Custodial / Prison re-offending" indicators are focused on individuals who have served custodial sentences while fine sentence related re-offending is mainly related to non-custodial reprimands.
4. Offences linked to Road and Traffic related incidents that are dealt with through the courts (and outside of the penalty points system) that were traditionally excluded from the measurement of re-offending have now been included as a qualifying re-offending offence.
CSO's publication of prison related re-offending from 2021 onwards has been adjusted to include some further methodological updates. More details are available at : Prison Re-offending Statistics 2011-2018 Methodological Updates
Overall, 6% of individuals who received a sanction of a fine sentence from court served a custodial period greater than 1 day between 2011 to 2019. See Table 8.2.
Data collection
These figures were produced using a combination of An Garda Síochána and Prison records. Since there is no direct link between the two systems, a statistical matching protocol was devised by the CSO to match Prison and Garda records. This protocol was updated in 2019 to capitalise on technological improvements that have become available in the 5 years since the report was first published. This revised matching process was applied to the 2011 to 2018 cohorts and will be applied to all subsequent cohorts until further notice.
Due to the absence of a unique identifier in the Irish Criminal Justice system, the matching process involves the comparison of individual records. In the region of 90% of all matches are matched automatically. That is, the name, address and date of birth details for the subject in the Prison dataset corresponds exactly with those details in the Garda PULSE dataset.
Due to data quality issues and limitations on the reliability of some information provided to law enforcement authorities, the remaining 10% of matches require manual examination. There are clear guidelines in place in relation to the selection or rejection of matches, but a certain level of subjectivity is inevitable in the absence of a unique identifier.
Crime recording
Incidents reported, or which become known to members of An Garda Síochána, are recorded when, on the balance of probability, a Garda determines that a criminal offence defined by law has taken place and there is no credible evidence to the contrary. If it is subsequently determined that a criminal incident did not take place, the record is invalidated and is not counted in the statistics. If a person makes a report and subsequently withdraws it, then this too is invalidated unless there is evidence to suggest that, by reasonable probability, the offence has taken place.
For criminal incidents where victim confirmation is required (e.g. assault, fraud), a criminal incident is recorded only where the victim confirms the incident or where there is evidence to suggest that by reasonable probability it occurred.
Custodial/Non-custodial court outcomes
For the purposes of showing re-offending sanctions in this publication, court outcomes have been classified to provide aggregate estimates of either a custodial or non-custodial reprimand. The following outcomes have been classified for this purpose under either custodial or non-custodial sanction.
Classification | Court Outcome Description |
Custodial | Detention Detention - Consecutive Detention - Part Suspended Juvenile Detention between the ages of 12 - 17 yrs Juvenile Detention Consecutive Sentence 12 -17 yrs Imprisonment Imprisonment - Consecutive Imprisonment - Consecutive & Part Suspended Imprisonment - Part Suspended Imprisonment in Absence Imprisonment in Absence - Consecutive Remand on Continuing Bail |
Non-Custodial | Disqualification - FOR LIFE Detention - Suspended Conviction / Probation Act Orders Dismiss Probation Act 1(2) Disqualification Conviction / Probation Act Orders Forthwith Fine Fine Imprisonment - Suspended Juvenile Fine Order Community Service Order Strike Out Community Service Order - Consecutive Unusual Result ‘Withdrawn Imprisonment - Consecutive & Suspended Detention - Consecutive & Consecutive & Suspended |
Crime Classification
A criminal incident is classified as a particular offence type at the initial recording of that incident. However, upon investigation, it may later become apparent that an alternative offence type should be used. In this event, the record is amended to reflect this. Re-classification based on court proceedings only occurs in relation to homicide offences. The classification is used in this publication is the ICCSq.
ICCSQ Offence Groups | ||
01 | Homicide Offences | Murder Manslaughter Infanticide Manslaughter (traffic fatality) Dangerous driving causing death |
02 | Sexual Offences | Rape of a male or female Rape Section 4 Unlawful carnal knowledge/Criminal law (Sexual Offences Act) 2006 Buggery Sexual offence involving mentally impaired person Aggravated sexual assault Sexual Assault Incest Child pornography offences Child pornography – obstruction of warrant Gross indecency |
03 | Attempts or Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments and Related Offences | Murder – attempt Threat to kill or cause serious harm Assault causing harm Poisoning Assault or obstruction of Garda/official, resisting arrest Minor assault Coercion Harassment, stalking, threats Demanding payment of debt causing alarm Housing Act Menacing phone calls Incitement to hatred offences |
04 | Dangerous or Negligent Acts | Dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm Driving/In charge of a vehicle while over legal alcohol limit Driving/In charge of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs Endangerment with potential for serious harm or death Abandoning a child, child neglect and cruelty Unseaworthy/dangerous use of a boat or ship False alarm/interference with aircraft or air transport facilities Endangering traffic offences |
05 | Kidnapping and Related Offences | False imprisonment Abduction of person under 16 years of age Human trafficking offences |
06 | Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences | Robbery of an establishment or institution Robbery of cash of goods in transit Robbery from the person Blackmail or extortion Carjacking, hijacking/unlawful seizure of aircraft/vessel |
07 | Burglary and Related Offences | Aggravated burglary Burglary (not aggravated) Possession of an article (with intent to burgle, steal, demand) |
08 | Theft and Related Offences | Theft/Unauthorised taking of a vehicle Interfering with vehicle (with intent to steal item or vehicle) Theft from person Theft from shop Theft from vehicle Theft/Unauthorised taking of a pedal cycle Theft of, or interference with, mail Handling or possession of stolen property Theft of other property |
09 | Fraud, Deception and Related Offences | Fraud, deception, false pretence offences Forging an instrument to defraud Possession of an article for use in fraud, deception or extortion Falsification of accounts Offences under the Companies Act Offences under the Investment Intermediaries Act Offences under the Stock Exchange Act Money laundering Embezzlement Fraud against the European Union Importation/Sale/Supply of tobacco Counterfeiting notes and coins Counterfeiting of goods Bad debts criminal (Debtors Ireland) Corruption (involving public office holder) |
10 | Controlled Drug Offences | Importation of drugs Cultivation or manufacture of drugs Possession of drugs for sale or supply Possession of drugs for personal use Forged or altered prescription offences Obstruction under the Drugs Act |
11 | Weapons and Explosives Offences | Causing an explosion Making of explosives Possession of explosives Chemical weapons offences Discharging a firearm Possession of a firearm Possession of offensive weapons (not firearms) Fireworks offences (for sale, igniting etc.) |
12 | Damage to Property and to the Environment | Arson Criminal damage (not arson) Litter offences |
13 | Public Order and Other Social Code Offences | Affray/Riot/Violent disorder Public order offences Drunkenness offences Air rage-disruptive or drunken behaviour on aircraft Forcible entry and occupation (not burglary) Trespass on lands or enclosed areas Liquor licensing offences Registered clubs offences Special restaurant offences Provision of intoxicating liquor to under 18 year olds Purchase or consumption of alcohol by under 18 year olds Sale of intoxicating liquor to under 18 year olds Brothel keeping Organisation of prostitution Prostitution, including soliciting etc. Offences under the Betting Acts Collecting money without permit, unauthorised collection Offences under Gaming and Lotteries Acts Permit/License offences for casual/street trading Allowing a child (under 16 years) to beg Bigamy Bestiality Indecency Begging |
14 | Road and Traffic Offences (NEC) | Driving licence-failure to have, produce etc. Insurance-failure to have, produce, display etc. No tax, non-display of tax, unregistered vehicle etc. Misuse of Trade Licence Misuse of trailers, weight and other offences Obstruction under road traffic acts Other road offences Road transport – carriage of goods offences Public service vehicle offences Light rail offences (Luas) |
15 | Offences against Government, Justice Procedures and Organisation of Crime | Treason Breaches of Offences Against the State Acts Breaches of Official Secrets Act Impersonating member of An Garda Síochána Electoral offences including personation Public mischief-annoying phone calls, wasting police time Criminal Assets Bureau offences (organised crime) Conspiracy to commit a crime Perjury Interfering with a jury (embracery) Assisting offenders Public mischief, pervert course of justice, conceal offence Escape or help to escape from custody Prison offences Breach of Domestic Violence Order (protection, safety, barring) Breach of order under Family Law Act Breach of bail Failure to comply under Sex Offenders Act Other failure to comply with court order, jury summons, warrant etc. |
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