NCJ Number
19516
Date Published
1975
Length
46 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY OF 1971 RELEASEES FROM MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (MCI) IN WHICH DATA ON INMATES' BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS AND RECIDIVISM RATES WERE STUDIED TO DETERMINE POST-RELEASE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS.
Abstract
THE STUDY REVEALED THAT 25 PERCENT OF THE RELEASEE POPULATION RETURNED TO PRISON WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THEIR RELEASE. WHEN THE RELEASEE POPULATION WAS STUDIED IN TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL INSTITUTION OF COMMITMENT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WALPOLE COMMITMENTS WHO WERE TRANSFERRED TO AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASED FROM THESE OTHER MCI'S HAD A SIGNIFICIANTLY LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE THAN THOSE WHO REMAINED AT WALPOLE UNTIL THEIR RELEASE. THIS FINDING SUGGESTS A REINTEGRATIVE OR REHABILITATIVE QUALITY IN THE MOVEMENT FROM MAXIMUM TO MEDIUM AND TO MINIMUM SECURITY LEVELS, AS OPPOSED TO AN ABRUPT RELEASE DIRECTLY FROM MAXIMUM SECURITY. LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATES WERE FOUND FOR SEX OFFENDERS, WHILE HIGHER RATES WERE FOUND FOR DRUG OFFENDERS AND OFFENDERS AGAINST PROPERTY. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE OLDER AN INDIVIDUAL IS AT THE TIME OF RELEASE, THE LESSER THE CHANCE THAT HE WILL RECIDIVATE. TABULATIONS OF CRIMINAL HISTORY, PERSONAL BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS, AND COMMITMENT VARIABLES BY STRENGTH OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO RECIDIVISM RISK CATEGORIES ARE PROVIDED. ALSO INCLUDED IS A COMPARISON OF 1971 RELEASEE RECIDIVISM RATES WITH 1966 MCI RELEASEE RECIDIVISM RATES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)