NCJ Number
248292
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2014 Pages: 1044-1073
Date Published
December 2014
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Recent scholarship has highlighted the potential implications of in-prison experiences for prisoner reentry and, in particular, recidivism.
Abstract
Recent scholarship has highlighted the potential implications of in-prison experiences for prisoner reentry and, in particular, recidivism. Few penological or reentry studies, however, have examined the relationship between one experience that may be especially consequential, inmate misconduct, and recidivism. The goal of this study is to address this gap in the literature by employing a matching design that estimates the effect of inmate misconduct on reoffending, using data on a release cohort of Florida prisoners. The results indicate that inmates who engage in misconduct, violent misconduct in particular, are more likely to recidivate. Consistent with prior scholarship, we find that this relationship holds only for adult inmates. These findings underscore the importance of prison experiences for understanding recidivism, examining youthful and adult inmate populations separately, and devising policies that reduce misconduct. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor Francis.