A drop in the number of Queensland’s criminals released from prisons who then re-offend has been put down to the impact of COVID lockdowns and the pandemic.

According to the Queensland Corrective Services’ annual report, 51.6 per cent of prisoners being released are being sentenced again for new crimes within two years, that’s down from 57.5 per cent the year before.

Bond University criminologist, Dr Terry Goldsworthy, a former detective said it was an aberration on the trend in recent years.

“Where you see these recidivism rates coming through, we are seeing a failure of rehabilitation I guess you could say, which is one of the ultimate goals of our justice system.”

He said crime has reduced in almost all jurisdictions due to the impact of COVID lockdowns and the pandemic.

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