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<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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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>
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