The Reconviction Rate of Federal Offenders

June 2003:

Recidivism is an important and widely used performance measure for correctional programs, but there is no single, standard measure of recidivism. The report notes that it is often difficult to compare recidivism rates because various methods are used and these produce different results.

Using the RCMP's criminal records to measure all new offences, the study found that reconviction rates for federal offenders released in three consecutive fiscal years -1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 - were 44 per cent, 43 per cent, and 41 per cent, respectively. Non-violent offences accounted for the majority of reconvictions. The violent reconviction rate was approximately 13 per cent, and the sexual reconviction rate was very low (0.7 per cent to 1.7 per cent).

The major goal of the present study was to derive a standard measure of recidivism for use by the Portfolio of the Solicitor General. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages of different measures of recidivism, the Committee chose a new conviction for an offence committed within two years as the most acceptable measure from the choices available.

However, a choice had to be made as the public deserves a uniformly reported measure of recidivism rather than the confusing range of statistics presently offered. We hope that by outlining the limitations of the present methodology and the reasons for choosing reconviction as our measure of recidivism we give a common language to the correctional agencies of the federal government. ..more.. by James Bonta, Tanya Rugge, Mia Dauvergne, Solicitor General Canada