Reconviction rates for offenders in Scotland have reached the lowest level for 17 years, according to new figures.
Official statistics show that in 2013-14 about three in 10 (28%) of offenders were reconvicted within a year.
The average number of reconvictions per offender fell to 0.51, an 18% drop since 1997/98.
The fall has been attributed largely to a decline in youth re-offending, which has dropped by almost a third over the past decade.
In contrast, re-offending in the over-30s age group has risen over the same period.
Those sentenced to a drug treatment and testing order (DTTO) had the highest average number of reconvictions per offender, with a value of 1.66.
Offenders released from custodial sentences of three months or less had, on average, a higher number of reconvictions (1.33) compared to those released from sentences of between three and six months (1.08) and those given given a community payback order (0.55).
On average, men have more reconvictions than women and those who committed a crime of dishonesty had the highest number of reconvictions per offender while those who had committed a sexual crime had the lowest.
Justice Secretary Michael Matheson said: “The continued fall in reconvictions is testament to the work done by our police, courts and other partners in communities across Scotland to prevent offending and, where crimes do occur, stop people going on to commit further offences.
“I have set out my vision for a Scotland where people are held to account for their offending and are then given the opportunity to change their lives and become active members of society.
“The evidence backs up our approach that robust community sentences, such as CPOs, are more effective at reducing reoffending than short custodial sentences.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur called for an increase in the use of community sentences.
He said: “These figures show re-offending rates remain stubbornly high and there is evidence that we have gone backwards in efforts to help young men and men over 40 change their lives.
“We know that community sentences are twice as effective as short-term imprisonment in terms of preventing re-offending. We need to see their use increased.
“That is why Liberal Democrats have called for a presumption against short-term sentences and increased use of community sentences.”
