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<p>The overall proven reoffending rate has broadly decreased over the past ten years
from 30.9% in 2009/2010 to 25.6% in 2019/20 (although the latest figures have been
impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic).</p><p>Evidence suggests that community sentences,
in certain circumstances, are more effective in reducing reoffending than short custodial
sentences. A MoJ 2019 study, attached, found that the one-year reoffending rate(1)
following short term custodial sentences of less than 12 months was higher than if
a community sentence had instead been given (by 4 percentage points).</p><p>Sentencing
in individual cases is wholly a matter for our independent courts. Sentencers should
continue to have the option of imposing a short custodial sentence where appropriate.
However, custody should be a last resort and we recognise that, if we are to break
the cycle of re-offending, solutions will often lie in robust and effective community
sentences.</p><p>1 One-year reoffending rate means the percentage of offenders, in
any cohort, who were released from custody, or received a non-custodial conviction
or a caution, and then went on to commit a subsequent proven offence within a 12 month
follow up period (plus a six-month waiting period).</p>
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