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2017 Results

    These statistics are categorised as Under Reservation. This categorisation indicates that the quality of these statistics do not meet the standards required of official statistics published by the CSO.

    For further information please refer to the Under Reservation FAQ page.

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Although most probation orders are issued to individuals aged 25-44 (2,936 out of 4,909 in total), the highest proportion of re-offending from individuals who received probation orders in 2017 took place from individuals aged under 18 years old. In this age category 42% re-offended within a year of receiving a probation order. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.1.

Table 3.1 Offender numbers classified by sex, age group, probation type, probation referral offence and whether there was a re-offence within one year, 2017

One-year re-offending rate
<1842.1
18-2435.0387596899225
25-4426.2261580381471
45-6416.3672654690619
65 +8.10810810810811
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The highest level of re-offending took place by individuals that received probation orders in relation to Public Order and other social code offences. This category of offences mostly contains offences related to threatening and abusive behaviour, failure to comply with direction of Members of An Garda Síochána and intoxication in a public place. Individuals linked to probation orders received for offences related to Sexual (3%) or Kidnapping related offences (6%) were the least likely to re-offend. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.2.

Public order and other social code offencesTheft and related offencesBurglary and related offencesDangerous or negligent actsRoad and traffic offencesAttempts/Threats to Murder, assaults, harassments and related offencesControlled drug offencesKidnapping and related offences Sexual offences
Probation referral offence38.229755178907735.42739443872329.729729729729725.925925925925925.25050100200422.623574144486720.53789731051345.93.125
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Individuals that received a Probation Order from court proceedings in 2017 (32%) had a higher tendency to re-offend than individuals who also received a Post Release Supervision Order (17%) or Community Service Order (28%). Post Release Supervision Orders generally include a higher level of supervision and monitoring after release while individuals that receive a Probation Order primarily give undertakings to the court committing to avoid further crime and to obey the conditions of the order. See Table 3.1 and Figure 3.3.

Re-offending rate
Community Service27.5
Post Release Supervision Order16.5
Probation Order31.5
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In 2017 the highest level of 1-year probation related re-offending took place from individuals with registered addresses in the Mid-West (34%). This region includes the counties Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. In contrast to the Mid-West, the West region (23%) had the lowest level of 1-year re-offending. See Table 3.2 and Map 3.1.

Table 3.2 Probation re-offending rate by regional authority area and county of residence of offender, 2017 cohort

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Probation re-offending that takes place within a year of a probation order being issued mostly takes place within the first 6 months of the orders’ issue date. In total, over two thirds (67%) of re-offences take place during this period with the remaining third taking place within six to twelve months after probation. See Table 3.3 and Figure 3.4.

Table 3.3 Re-offender numbers classified by time period to first re-offence, sex, age group and probation type, 2017

%
0-6 months66.8
6-12 months33.2
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Individuals that re-offended within a year of receiving their probation orders in 2017 were most likely to re-offend with an offence linked to Road and Traffic offences (23%). In contrast, individuals linked with court convictions relating to Homicide (0.1%) or Sexually related offences (0.1%) were least likely to re-offend. See Table 3.4 and Figure 3.5.

Table 3.4 Re-offenders classified by re-offending offence and custodial indicator, 2017

Road and traffic offencesPublic order and other social code offencesTheft and related offencesControlled drug offencesOffences against Government, justice procedures and organisation of crime Burglary and related offencesDamage to property and to the environmentAttempts/Threats to Murder, assaults, harassments and related offencesWeapons and explosives offences
Probation referral offence23.122.117.312.68.63.93.42.72.5
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Individuals that re-offended within a year of probation were most likely to receive a custodial sanction for their re-offence if the re-offence was linked to Homicide (100%), Sexual Offences (100%) or Burglary and related offences (68%), although very few re-offences within the Homicide or Sexual related categories took place (2 in total) . Of the 44 individuals who re-offended with a Burglary related offence, thirty (68%)  received a custodial sanction for the re-offence. Re-offences linked to Public Order related re-offences (17%) were least likely to receive a custodial sanction for the re-offence. Overall, re-offences that took place within a year of probation resulted in a custodial sanction 30% of the time. See Table 3.5 and Figure 3.6.

Table 3.5 Re-offenders classified by re-offending offence and custodial indicator, 2017

%
Custodial
sentence
29.5
Non-
custodial
sentence
70.5
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Just over 4 in 10 (43%) of the re-offending that takes place within a year of probation by adults under 25 takes place in just two offence categories, Public order (22%) and Road and Traffic offences (21%). Also, Controlled drug (14%) and Theft and related offences (14%) account for more than a quarter of other re-offending convictions. See Table 3.6.

Table 3.6 One year Re-offenders aged under 25 classified by re-offending offence and custodial indicator, 2017

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