Reconviction

Reconviction is the act or outcome of a person being convicted of a crime after a prior conviction. In criminology and criminal justice, reconviction refers to a second or subsequent conviction, typically within a defined period following release from confinement or completion of a sentence. The term is frequently used in statistics known as reconviction rates, which express the proportion of individuals with prior convictions who are convicted again within the chosen time frame. Reconviction is a component of the broader concept of recidivism; while recidivism can include rearrest or re-imprisonment, reconviction specifically denotes a conviction by a court.

Reconviction data are used to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, risk assessment tools, parole and probation policies, and public safety outcomes. They are usually calculated for cohorts such as released prisoners, people under supervision, or individuals with prior convictions, and reported for intervals such as one, two, or five years after release.

Several factors are associated with higher or lower reconviction risk, including age at first offense, offence type and severity, time since release, engagement in education or treatment programs, and stability of housing and employment. Jurisdictional differences in laws, policing, and prosecutorial practices also shape reconviction statistics.

Limitations include the fact that reconviction undercounts re-offending that is not detected or does not result in a new conviction, and that changes in law or enforcement can alter rates independently of actual criminal behavior.

See also: recidivism, recidivism rate, criminal justice statistics.