NCJ Number
100985
Date Published
1985
Length
73 pages
Annotation
One-year followup data and detailed social and criminal history data were obtained for 2,072 Texas inmates released between January and June 1983 to identify recidivism factors.
Abstract
Recidivists were most likely to be young males who had not graduated from high school. They tended to have unstable employment histories prior to incarceration and were raised by relatives rather than their natural parents. Race was not a factor in recidivism nor was the amount of time served in prison. Releasees with juvenile arrests, convictions, or incarcerations were more likely to recidivate than those without juvenile criminal histories. Those with two or more prior incarcerations, probation revocations, or parole revocations were more likely to recidivate. Releasees who committed instant drug offenses, sex offenses, or murder were less likely to recidivate than those who committed burglary, theft, or assault. Poor institutional adjustment was related to a higher recidivism rate, and those receiving low salient factor scores from the parole board were less likely to reoffend than those receiving high scores. There was little difference in the recidivism rates of persons with alcohol abuse histories and those without such histories. Those with drug abuse histories, however, were significantly more likely to recidivate than those with no abuse history. Tabular and graphic data.