Half of burglars not jailed reoffend

Half of convicted burglars and gunmen who serve their sentences in the community reoffend within three years.

New research shows the average rate of reoffending among those given non-custodial penalties instead of prison fell from 49% for 2007 offenders to 41% for the 2008 group.

Researchers followed up on their criminal records three years on, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.