NCJ Number
241435
Date Published
February 2013
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a study examining recidivism rates in Pennsylvania.
Abstract
Highlights of findings from this study examining recidivism rates in Pennsylvania include the following: while recidivism rates in Pennsylvania have remained stable for the past 10 years, the study found that 6 in 10 released inmates recidivated within 3 years following release; offenders returning to urban areas were more likely to be rearrested while those returning to rural areas were more likely to be re-incarcerated; more than half of released inmates who returned to prison did so within the first year; younger inmates were more likely to recidivate than older inmates; and released inmates with more prior arrests were more likely to recidivate than those with fewer prior arrests. Additional findings provide information about recidivism rates by crime type, by geographic area, and by type of release, as well as costs of recidivism. These findings suggest that recidivism rates among released inmates in Pennsylvania have remained virtually unchanged over the previous decade, presenting an opportunity for instituting recidivism reduction efforts within the State's criminal justice system. The report examines the use of community corrections centers as a means for reducing recidivism rates among recently released offenders. This study was conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in order to examine efforts by the State's criminal justice system to reduce crime. Data for the report covered re-arrest and re-incarceration rates for offenders released from Pennsylvania correctional facilities for the period 2000-2010. Tables, figures, and appendixes