CRIME WITHOUT TIME
SOME REPEAT OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF MORE THAN 30 CRIMES BEFORE THEY’RE SENT TO PRISON
NEARLY 8,000 people a year are sent to prison for the first time despite having at least three previous convictions.
The figures were disclosed by the Ministry of Justice under Freedom of Information laws.
They show a total of 13,527 people were jailed for the first time during 2016 for an indictable offence, despite having at least one previous conviction. Nearly a quarter of those - or 3,428 - had one previous conviction for which they had not been jailed. A further 2,170 had two previous convictions before being jailed for their third offence. A significant number of people jailed for the first time during the year had far longer criminal records, though.
There were 3,684 people jailed for the first time despite having five to 10 previous convictions, while 1,109 had 11-20 and 121 had 21-30.
A total of 26 people were jailed for the first time despite having more than 30 previous convictions.
There were also 9,181 people in the year sent to prison having received no previous convictions.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Generally, community sentences do more good than short prison sentences particularly when it comes to reducing reoffending.
“But sentencing is a matter for judges who take into account the full facts of each case and do so independently of the government.”
Andrew Neilson, campaigns director at the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “People in the criminal justice system, particularly those who offend frequently but not seriously, often face a mix of problems, including poor mental health, drugs and alcohol, and issues with employment and accommodation. “The reality is that the journey to be free of crime is complex and difficult. What we do know is that community sentences that attempt to tackle the underlying causes of crime are more effective than short spells behind bars, where people get no help but often learn new ways to commit more crime on release.”