NCJ Number
199093
Date Published
February 2002
Length
89 pages
Annotation
This Colorado study analyzed information on all offenders (n=3,054) who were terminated from 25 community corrections facilities during FY98 and examined why some clients failed community corrections and others succeeded.
Abstract
The study tracked approximately 2,000 cases that were successfully terminated from the programs for 24 months to obtain recidivism information about persons who were arrested and charged in district court. Researchers conducted site visits to each facility and interviewed 206 staff and offenders. Within 24 months of leaving a community corrections program, 31 percent of those who completed community corrections had a new felony or misdemeanor crime filed in court. Only 2.4 percent of community corrections clients committed a new crime while in the facility. Offenders with high scores on Colorado's battery of substance abuse assessment tools were more likely to recidivate with a substance abuse crime. Prior criminal history, young age, high Level of Supervision Inventory score, and a lack of post-release supervision statistically predicted recidivism. Women who successfully completed community corrections recidivated less often than men (24.8 percent and 32.4 percent, respectively). Among 10 recommendations were that service delivery should be improved and standardized; special populations require specialized programming; intensive treatment and therapeutic community models should be replicated in jurisdictions across the State; and every halfway house program should implement specific aftercare services and post-release supervision. 27 tables, 9 figures, 16 references, and appended data collection instruments and a description of the sample