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Offending While on Bail

NCJ Number
140622
Journal
Research Bulletin Issue: 32 Dated: (1992) Pages: 23-27
Author(s)
P F Henderson; T Nichols
Date Published
1992
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study reports on the findings of two British surveys (one conducted by the Home Office and one conducted by the Metropolitan Police) on offending while on bail.
Abstract
A national study of persons on bail in 1978, using convictions for an offense committed while on bail as the definition of "offending," yielded two rates for offending: one for bail granted during proceedings at the magistrates' courts and the other for bail granted on committal for trial to the Crown Court. Combining these rates for offending on bail revealed a national rate of 9 percent and a Greater London rate of 12 percent. The corresponding figures obtained from the two studies considered in this article were 10 percent from the Home Office study and 12 percent from the Metropolitan Police study. Using charges for an offense committed while on bail as the definition of "offending," the 1988 Metropolitan Police data found a rate of 18 percent, but no comparable figure was obtained in 1978. Thus, where comparisons can be made, figures indicated that there has been virtually no change in the rate of offending on bail between 1978 and 1988. All three studies have shown that the categories of defendant most likely to offend on bail were males, between 17 and 20 years old, charged with burglary or with theft of or from a vehicle, and those with previous convictions. Those least likely to offend were females, aged 30 and over, on bail for an offense of violence, and with no previous convictions. 1 table and 5 references

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