The Department of Justice (DoJ) today published Research and Statistics Bulletin:

'Adult and Youth Reoffending In Northern Ireland (2018/19 Cohort)'.

This annual Official Statistics publication provides information on the one year proven reoffending rate for offenders who received a non-custodial disposal at court, a diversionary disposal or who were released from custody during 2018/19 within Northern Ireland.  Information is presented in relation to the full cohort and also disaggregated in relation to adults (those aged 18 and over) and youths (those aged 17 and under). The main findings of this report are presented below.

Adult and Youth Reoffending in Northern Ireland (2018/19 Cohort)

• This annual bulletin provides information on the one year proven reoffending rate for offenders who received a non-custodial disposal at court, a diversionary disposal or who were released from custody during 2018/19 within Northern Ireland.  Information is presented in relation to the full cohort and also disaggregated in relation to adults (those aged 18 and over) and youths (those aged 17 and under).

• Of the 20,856 people included in the 2018/19 cohort, 3,860 (18.5%) reoffended during the one year observational period (adults 17.9%, youths 30.1%).

• The 2018/19 cohort was made up of 19,841 adults (95.1%) and 1,015 young people (4.9%). Of the adults within the cohort, 17.9% reoffended. The corresponding figure for young people was 30.1%.
• Of the 3,860 who reoffended, over two-fifths (44.9%) committed their first reoffence within the first three months (adults 44.2%, youths 52.9%).
• In terms of offending history, 63.8% of the 20,856 had committed previous offences, ranging from one to 590 distinct offences, (adults 65.2%, youths 35.1%).
• Overall, 13.7% of females and 19.7% of males had reoffended (adult females 13.2% and adult males 19.1%, youth females 23.6% and youth males 31.9%).
• The one year proven reoffending rate for[1];

  • custody releases was 45.6% (adults 44.9% and 19 of 22 youths).

• court community disposal (supervision) was 33.9% (adults 32.0%, youths 56.8%).
• court community disposal (no supervision) was 18.0% (adults 17.7%, youths 45.1%).
• diversionary disposal was 15.7% (adults 13.0%, youths 26.2%).
• The highest reoffending rates were found amongst those who had committed a baseline offence in the 'Burglary' category (46.7%), followed by 'Robbery' (34.7%).  This was the same for adults only, ('Burglary' 47.8% and 'Robbery' 35.6%). For youths, the highest reoffending rates were found amongst those who had committed a baseline offence of 'Criminal Damage' (37.4%).