The average age at first sentence was 15.7 for reoffenders and 16.7 for Offenders’ average age when they committed the offence that attracted their first sentence was 15.1 for reoffenders and 15.8 for Almost half of the reoffenders (45%) had at least one prior conviction, compared with 18% of non-reoffenders. Factors associated with reoffending are explored further in Chapter 5. Has the standardised reoffending rate changed over time? To assess any changes in short-term reoffending rates for more recently sentenced offenders, the Council examined the one- and two-year reoffending rate for offenders sentenced in the Children’s Court in each year from 2008–09 to 2012–13. Figure 14 shows stability in the reoffending rate. The one-year reoffending rate ranged from 19% to 21%, while the two-year reoffending rate ranged from 39% to 42%. Figure 14: One- and two-year reoffending rates for offenders sentenced in the Children’s Court, by financial year, 2008–09 to 2012–13 Financial year After 1 year 2 years 2008–09 20% 40% 2009–10 19% 39% 2010–11 21% 40% 2011–12 21% 42% 2012–13 21% 42% The stability in reoffending rates coincided with a decline in the number of children and young people sentenced in the Children’s Court (see Figure 15). Between 2008–09 and 2012–13, the number of children and young people sentenced in the child jurisdiction dropped by 36% (from 5,385 to 3,442). Likewise, the number of children and young people who reoffended within two years of their index sentence declined by 33% across the five years (from 2,134 to 1,434). Therefore, while the number of children and young people sentenced each year is decreasing (and there is a corresponding decrease in the number of reoffenders), the proportion of those sentenced who reoffend has remained roughly the same.
The average age at first sentence was 15.7 for reoffenders and 16.7 for Offenders’ average age when they committed the offence that attracted their first sentence was 15.1 for reoffenders and 15.8 for Almost half of the reoffenders (45%) had at least one prior conviction, compared with 18% of non-reoffenders. Factors associated with reoffending are explored further in Chapter 5. Has the standardised reoffending rate changed over time? To assess any changes in short-term reoffending rates for more recently sentenced offenders, the Council examined the one- and two-year reoffending rate for offenders sentenced in the Children’s Court in each year from 2008–09 to 2012–13. Figure 14 shows stability in the reoffending rate. The one-year reoffending rate ranged from 19% to 21%, while the two-year reoffending rate ranged from 39% to 42%. Figure 14: One- and two-year reoffending rates for offenders sentenced in the Children’s Court, by financial year, 2008–09 to 2012–13 Financial year After 1 year 2 years 2008–09 20% 40% 2009–10 19% 39% 2010–11 21% 40% 2011–12 21% 42% 2012–13 21% 42% The stability in reoffending rates coincided with a decline in the number of children and young people sentenced in the Children’s Court (see Figure 15). Between 2008–09 and 2012–13, the number of children and young people sentenced in the child jurisdiction dropped by 36% (from 5,385 to 3,442). Likewise, the number of children and young people who reoffended within two years of their index sentence declined by 33% across the five years (from 2,134 to 1,434). Therefore, while the number of children and young people sentenced each year is decreasing (and there is a corresponding decrease in the number of reoffenders), the proportion of those sentenced who reoffend has remained roughly the same.