NCJ Number
146129
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes New York State earned eligibility evaluation outcomes, parole dispositions, and program impact on release rates for individuals who appeared before the parole board; the report also analyzes the recidivism rate for individuals who earned certificates and were released by the parole board at their first hearing before April 1991, allowing for a minimum of 12 months exposure.
Abstract
The Earned Eligibility Program evaluates an inmate's program performance during incarceration. This evaluation occurs before the inmate's initial parole board hearing. Results of the evaluation are provided to the parole board to be used in deciding whether to parole the inmate. The objective of the program is to increase the release rate for those inmates who have served their required minimum sentence and have shown a general pattern of progress in appropriate programs. Of the 11,167 hearings that involved eligible inmates, 67 percent were issued a certificate before their initial board hearing. Twenty-two percent were denied certificates, and 11 percent were found noncertifiable for earned eligibility at the time of review, primarily due to insufficient time in programs. Inmates who were issued certificates of earned eligibility were substantially more likely to be granted parole than those denied a certificate or those granted noncertifiable status. During this period, 81 percent of those inmates who were issued a certificate were granted parole compared to 37 percent of those denied a certificate and 57 percent of those granted noncertifiable status. This report also provides data on the program's impact on the return rate of earned eligibility cases. 7 tables