BAY AREA (CA) DISCHARGE PROJECT - THE EFFECT OF PAROLE VERSUS DISCHARGE FROM PAROLE ON RECIDIVISM - INITIAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 54077
• Author(s): P G JACKSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 41 pages
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RECIDIVISM RATES ARE COMPARED FOR CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY WARDS ASSIGNED TO REGULAR PAROLE SUPERVISION AND WARDS GRANTED EARLY DISCHARGE FROM PAROLE.

Abstract

THE STUDY SAMPLE CONSISTED OF APPROXIMATELY 200 YOUTHS, RANDOMLY ASSIGNED EITHER TO CONTINUE UNDER REGULAR PAROLE SUPERVISION (PAROLEES) OR TO BE DISCHARGED FROM PAROLE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ANTICIPATED EXPIRATION OF YOUTH AUTHORITY JURISDICTION (DISCHARGEES). A 13-MONTH FOLLOWUP STUDY FOUND ESSENTIALLY NO SYSTEMATIC DIFFERENCES IN RECIDIVISM BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. ONE OR MORE SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS WERE RECORDED FOR 62 PERCENT OF THE DISCHARGES AND FOR 61 PERCENT OF THE PAROLEES. THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN NUMBER OF ARRESTS PER INDIVIDUAL BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. THE ONLY NOTABLE DIFFERENCE IN ARREST RECORDS WAS THAT PAROLEES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED FOR PROPERTY CRIMES, WHEREAS DISCHARGEES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS OR IN DRUG- AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES. WHILE THE TWO GROUPS DID NOT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE NUMBER OF SENTENCES RECEIVED INVOLVING JAIL, STATE LOCKUP, OR PROBATION, PAROLEES WERE SOMEWHAT MORE LIKELY THAN DISCHARGEES TO BE SENTENCED TO STATE LOCKUP. THE MAJOR IMPLICATION OF THE FINDINGS IS THAT IT MAY BE FEASIBLE TO REDUCE THE DURATION OF PAROLE WITHOUT INCREASING RISK TO THE PUBLIC. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ARE POINTED OUT. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)