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<table><tbody><tr><td><p>We do not hold reoffending rates based on whether offenders
are the subject of a community order but instead hold data based on those who have
started a community order in a given period. As such, we cannot tell whether an offender
is still subject to a community order at the time of their reoffence. Please see the
available data in the table provided. There is persuasive evidence showing community
sentences, in certain circumstances, are more effective than short custodial sentences
in reducing reoffending. The MoJ study ‘The impact of short custodial sentences, community
orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending’ published in 2015 involved around
350,000 sentencing occasions over 4 years and used 130 different variables to construct
matched groups of offenders and examine the effect of short sentences relative to
community sentences. This study found a reduction of around 3 percentage points in
proven reoffences if offenders receiving sentences of less than 12 months were to
get a community order instead. This is statistically significant and equates to around
30,000 proven reoffences in total over a one-year period. This means fewer victims
of crime. Unless we tackle the underlying causes of offending, we cannot protect the
public from being victims of crime. Effective community orders can address offenders’
behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, and provide
reparation for the benefit of the wider community.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
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