Women Released From Custody: Investigating Risk Factors and Reoffending

Abstract

This article draws on life-course and desistance theory to explore the relationship between the factors of age, ethnicity, offence type, and incarceration history for a sample of 1,035 women released from custody between January 2013 and January 2014, data gathered from the Australian Queensland Corrective Services administrative dataset. It also explores their impact on recidivism and the time between release and reoffending (known as “time to failure”) until September 2017. The data indicate substantial rates of reoffending with 70% of the sample reoffending (a return to custody/parole/probation) within the 2- to 4-year observation period. Notably, 50% of women reoffended in their first year post-release, 36% within 6 months, and 23% within the first 3 months. Regression results show that violent offenders are considerably more likely to be recidivists and older offenders are less likely to be recidivists; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders were also more likely to reoffend. Incarceration history is significantly associated with reoffending and “time to failure”. It is clear that there needs to be increased intervention and support for female offenders during the first 2 years post-release from custody. This is particularly important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and those with an extensive history of incarceration.

The associations between social determinants of health, mental health, substance-use and recidivism: a ten-year retrospective cohort analysis of women who completed the connections programme in Australia

“…RTC group women were significantly younger; with higher proportions identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, having lower educational attainment and limited work experience compared to no-RTC group women. These findings are consistent with existing research that has found younger age, low educational attainment, unemployment and being a First Nations person or person from a culturally and linguistically diverse community to be correlated with recidivism [ 71 – 75 ].…”

The needs and experiences of mothers while in prison and post-release: a rapid review and thematic synthesis

“…Women have specific reproductive health needs in relation to pregnancy and childbirth (Bard et al, 2016 ) and have a high risk of returning to custody. A recent study in Queensland found that 70% women returned to custody within 2–4 years after release with 50% returning to custody within 1 year (De Rooy et al, 2019 ). Risk factors for re-offending included violent offenses, longer incarceration, younger age and identifying as Indigenous (De Rooy et al, 2019 ).…”

“…A recent study in Queensland found that 70% women returned to custody within 2–4 years after release with 50% returning to custody within 1 year (De Rooy et al, 2019 ). Risk factors for re-offending included violent offenses, longer incarceration, younger age and identifying as Indigenous (De Rooy et al, 2019 ).…”

An intervention development study of an mHealth app to manage women’s health and safety while on probation

“…Consequently, there is an increasing need to address the sexual health and safety of women on probation. Over 70% of women are rearrested and return to jail for technical violations within their first three years on probation (De Rooy et al, 2019 ). Some recurrent arrests appear to be related to limited access to community-based health services that can be somewhat more easily accessed while incarcerated (De Rooy et al, 2019 ; Sawyer, 2019 ).…”