title: A Systematic Review of Criminal Recidivism Rates Worldwide: Current Difficulties and Recommendations for Best Practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Seena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fazel
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Lane, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000066479:Criminal Behavior; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data