NCJ Number
182686
Date Published
February 1999
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This report presents a statistical overview for October 1998 through March 1998 of a New York correctional program that requires a counselor to evaluate an eligible inmate’s program performance and provide it to the parole board before the inmate’s initial parole board hearing.
Abstract
A total of 11,150 hearings during the 6-month period involved inmates evaluated for a Certificate of Earned Eligibility. Seventy percent received a certificate prior to the hearing, 22 percent were denied certificates, and 8 percent were determined to be noncertifiable for earned eligibility, mainly due to insufficient time in programs due to no fault of their own. The parole board granted parole to almost 60 percent of the inmates issued a certificate, 25 percent of those denied a certificate, and 38 percent of those granted noncertifiable status. The highest release rates were for youthful offenders (83 percent) and drug offenders (74 percent) who received certificates. The program has produced additional releases that have resulted in an estimated cost savings of more than $540 million since its beginning in July 1987 through September 1998. Offenders who received certificates returned the Department of Corrections at a lower rate than inmates denied certificates in 1994. Tables and figure