Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 9, 2026

A Procedure to Study Stress-Induced Relapse of Heroin Seeking after Punishment-Imposed Abstinence
Published on: March 23, 2022
A Systematic Review of Criminal Recidivism Rates Worldwide: Current Difficulties and Recommendations for Best
1University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Objectives:
To systematically review recidivism rates internationally, report whether they are comparable and, on the basis of this, develop best reporting guidelines for recidivism.
Methods:
We searched MEDLINE, Google Web, and Google Scholar search engines for recidivism rates around the world, using both non-country-specific searches as well as targeted searches for the 20 countries with the largest total prison populations worldwide.
Results:
We identified recidivism data for 18 countries. Of the 20 countries with the largest prison populations, only 2 reported repeat offending rates. The most commonly reported outcome was 2-year reconviction rates in prisoners. Sample selection and definitions of recidivism varied widely, and few countries were comparable.
Conclusions:
Recidivism data are currently not valid for international comparisons. Justice Departments should consider using the reporting guidelines developed in this paper to report their data.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regression Toward the Mean
Systematic Error: Methodological and Sampling Errors
Sampling errors originate from improper sampling methods or the wrong sample population. These errors can be minimized by refining the sampling strategy. Defective instruments or faulty calibrations are the sources of instrumental...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Longitudinal Research

