Study Finds Non-Violent Offenders More Likely to Reoffend in Belize

How likely are Belize’s prisoners to return behind bars? A new study by Terrence Alladin sheds some light on recidivism in Belize’s correctional system. In it, he found that it costs about three thousand, six hundred and fifty dollars a year to keep one prisoner, and while exact reoffending rates are difficult to measure, Belize’s numbers remain relatively low compared to many developed countries. The study revealed some striking patterns in that non-violent offenders are more likely to return to prison than violent ones. Furthermore, Creoles face a slightly higher risk of reincarceration than other ethnic groups. Between 2019 and 2021, recidivism fluctuated from twenty-six percent in 2019, climbing to forty-four percent in 2020, before falling again to twenty-four percent in 2021. Alladin links much of this to social and economic inequality, with many offenders coming from poor communities affected by outdated laws. Still, he notes Belize’s comparatively low recidivism rate stands out as a reflection of its unique approach to corrections and peacemaking criminology.