reoffendingn.
/ˌriːəˈfɛndɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌriəˈfɛndɪŋ/ rare in 18th and 19th centuries.
The action of offending again; spec. the committing of another offence; recidivism.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > [noun] > violation of law > committing an offence or a crime > again
reoffending1644
1644 S. Rutherford Lex, Rex xxxi. 327 Re-offending is policy's last refuge.
1687 A. Shields Hind let Loose 594 That Law which alloweth comparative re-offending, so as to kill rather than be killed, teacheth Resistence.
a1832 J. Bentham Let. in Wks. (1841) xvi. 549/2 Power of reoffending cut off in part.
1968 Los Angeles Times 11 Mar. iv. 13/4 Close to 80% were child molesters and showed less likelihood than other sex deviates of reoffending.
1989 Daily Tel. 6 July 3/7 It is hardly surprising the rate of reoffending is so high. Sex offences are a form of addiction.
2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 17 June 26/2 The tribunal heard Cullen was considered a low risk of re-offending.
Compounds
reoffending rate n.
ΚΠ
1963 Rep. Commissioners of Prisons 47 in Parl. Papers 1962–3 (Cmnd. 2030) XXIII. 497 26 of those attending in 1960..had offended again within a year of first attending the centre, a yearly re-offending rate of 26 per cent.
2001 Times 14 Sept. 6/6 A scheme in Australia led to a 38 per cent reduction in reoffending rates.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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