NCJ Number
106424
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (1987) Pages: 201-210
Date Published
1987
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The present study examines the effect of prison overcrowding upon postrelease behavior and shows that prison density is a poor predictor of recidivism.
Abstract
Drawing from official prison data from Georgia for the years 1971 through 1978, researchers examined 2-year rates of return to prison. Tracking periods ranging from 6 months to 5 years show that peaks and troughs in the 2-year rate are well formed and highly predicative of the 3-, 4-, and 5-year rates. As prison density does not seem to be an important factor in recidivism, it is argued that research that uses aggregate data is susceptible to overestimating relationships. It is suggested that the crucial variable in understanding recidivism is age. Younger prisoners with fewer arrests are often released during times of high density. During times of high prison crowding, a disproportionate amount of the releases were white. Economic offenders and younger offenders are most likely to become involved in subsequent criminality. Blacks are overrepresented in the violent and personal crime categories and do not have the possibility of early release given to many whites during times of high prison crowding. Those most likely to be released in mass are most likely to be recidivists. There is no true relationship between the density of this prison population in this study and the amount of recidivism. 3 tables, 2 graphs, 3 notes, and 33 references. (Author abstract modified)