Reimprisonment rate brings call for alternatives
28 Jun 06
Scotland's return-to-prison rate remains one of highest in Europe
Nearly half of the prisoners released from custody in Scotland are reimprisoned within two years, according to latest statistics from the Scottish Prison Service.
The figure shows a 2% improvement from the previous year but remains high by European standards. Of the 6,840 criminals released in 2002, 48% were back in jail within 24 months, either for reoffending or for breach of licence conditions.
The Management of Offenders Act passed by the Scottish Parliament last year contains a range of measures designed to reduce reoffending.
A spokesman for the Howard League for penal reform in Scotland said that the figure showed that prison did not work as a means of rehabilitation, and should act as an incentive to seek alternatives to custodial sentences.