NCJ Number
236967
Journal
Criminology & Public Policy Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 881-908
Date Published
November 2011
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the Montana Department of Corrections' early release program that was designed to mitigate a State budget deficit.
Abstract
Findings from the study indicate that offenders released under the early release program in Montana were more likely to recidivate than offenders who were conditionally released from prison. This result however, was found to be affected by two dominant factors: the degree to which changes in one area of the criminal justice system might have unintended effects on another area of the system; and the possibility that early release might have created a reduced deterrence effect for those offenders released under the program. This study examined the effectiveness of the Montana Department of Corrections' (MDOC) early release program that was designed to mitigate a State budget deficit. Data for the study were obtained from the MDOC on all releases (n=5,668) from both prison and community correctional facilities for the period June 1, 2000, to January 1, 2001. The data included information on demographics of offenders, historical movements within the correctional system, sentencing information, and whether the offender was part of the conditional release group. The dependent variable for the study was the amount of time, if any, in which the offender returned to the same level of custody or higher during the study time frame. The findings indicate that offenders released under the early release program may have had higher rates of recidivism due to the reduced deterrence effect as a result of a reduced sentence or the fact that the increased number of offenders released from prison as a result of the program may have affected the ability of parole officers to monitor the releases. Implications for continued use of the program are discussed. Tables and references