Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1983

• NCJ Number: 116261
• Date Published: April 1989
• Author(s): A. J. Beck; B. E. Shipley
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Series: BJS Special Reports
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Survey

Annotation

Based on a sample of over 16,000 prisoners (of a total of 108,580) released in 11 States during 1983, findings indicated that within three years, 62.5 percent were rearrested for a felony or misdemeanor, 46.8 percent were reconvicted, and 41.4 percent were reimprisoned. Prior to their release, the prisoners had been charged with an average of 12 offenses each, two-thirds had been arrested for a violent offense in the past, and two-thirds had previously been jailed.

Abstract

An analysis of the criminal records of more than 16,000 men and women, representing the almost 109,000 offenders who were released from prisons in 11 States during 1983. The study links correctional data with Federal and State criminal history records to provide a complete portrait of criminal careers for more than a half of the State prisoners released during 1983. About 47% of the former prisoners were convicted of a new crime and 41 percent were sent back to prison or jail.