Rates of recidivism in Ontario
Learn about rates of recidivism or re-offending in Ontario.
About recidivism
Recidivism is defined in Ontario as a return to provincial correctional supervision on a new conviction within two years of completing either:
- probation, parole or conditional sentence
- a provincial jail sentence of six months or more
Recidivism rates
This information is for Ontario only and does not include those in the federal correctional system.
| Year | 6+ month jail sentences | Community supervision |
|---|---|---|
| 2001/02 | 55.2% | 21.2% |
| 2002/03 | 49.6% | 20.8% |
| 2003/04 | 38.7% | 20.8% |
| 2004/05 | 41.8% | 21.9% |
| 2005/06 | 45.4% | 22.7% |
| 2006/07 | 40.5% | 23.8% |
| 2007/08 | 42.8% | 24.0% |
| 2008/09 | 44.7% | 23.4% |
| 2009/10 | 43.5% | 24.5% |
| 2010/11 | 43.6% | 23.6% |
| 2011/12 | 43.9% | 22.3% |
| 2012/13 | 42.9% | 20.7% |
| 2013/14 | 37.4% | 21.4% |
| 2014/15 | 34.9% | 20.7% |
| 2015/16 | 37.0% | 22.6% |
Causes of re-offending
There are certain factors that are associated with risk of re-offending. These include:
- anti-social attitudes
- anti-social peers
- anti-social personality pattern
- history of anti-social behavior
- family and marital factors
- education and employment factors
- lack of pro-social leisure activities
- substance use
Offenders that are under community supervision, or serving a provincial jail sentence of more than 90 days, undergo a risk assessment, which can assist in predicting recidivism.
Intervention strategies and techniques are used to address risk factors with a goal of reducing recidivism or chance of re-offending.
Adult releases by assessed risk level
The proportion of higher risk offenders in our population has an impact on our overall recidivism rates. The table shows the large proportion of offenders assessed as being at high or very high risk to re-offend, along with their recidivism rates.
| Assessed Risk Level | Institutional Releases from 6+ month sentences | Community Releases | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of releases | Number and percentage re-convicted | Number of releases | Number and percentage re-convicted | |
| Very low | 76 (3%) |
2 (2.6%) |
4,082 (12%) |
153 (3.7%) |
| Low | 265 (10%) |
10 (3.8%) |
7,936 (24%) |
704 (8.9%) |
| Medium | 668 (26%) |
113 (16.9%) |
11,247 (34%) |
2,174 (19.3%) |
| High | 934 (36%) |
359 (38.4%) |
7,139 (22%) |
2,654 (37.2%) |
| Very high | 667 (26%) |
431 (64.6%) |
2,484 (8%) |
1,411 (56.8%) |