Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj yesterday shared what he described as very “scary” data from the police and prison service which show that more than half of people who are imprisoned return to society and continue to commit crimes.

He further said there is a state of crisis in Trinidad and Tobago where more than 50% of young people who go to prison return to criminal activity.

Maharaj said, between 2015 and 2025, a total of 53,183 persons were arrested and charged for various offences in Trinidad and Tobago and, of that figure, there was a recidivism rate of approximately 22%.