NCJ Number
179624
Date Published
1999
Length
22 pages
Annotation
In the 5-year period between 1994 and 1998, 60 inmates escaped from the custody of the New York Department of Correctional Services (DCS); only 7 inmates escaped in 1998, considerably less than the average of the previous 4 years.
Abstract
Most escapees (85 percent) in the 1994-1998 period were from minimum- security facilities or were inmates assigned to work details outside the security perimeter. Two escapes from secure custody occurred in 1998. Over the 5-year period, 13 percent of escapes were from maximum-security prisons, 22 percent at medium-security facilities, and 65 percent at minimum-security facilities. In 1998, 2 of the 7 escaped inmates were incarcerated for drugs. About 25 percent of escaped inmates between 1994 and 1998 had been imprisoned for burglary compared to 9 percent of the custody population. Over the 5-year period, escapees were younger compared to the total inmate population; 37 percent were under 25 years of age, while 20 percent of custody inmates were under 25 years of age. Approximately 35 percent of escapees between 1994 and 1998 had served less than 1 year in DCS custody, and 35 percent had served 3 years or more. Of 1998 escapees, 29 percent had served less than 1 year in custody. Of 60 escapees between 1994 and 1998, 60 percent were caught within 12 hours and 88 percent were apprehended within 72 hours. In 1998, 6 of 7 escapees were caught within 48 hours, and 1 minimum-security inmate remained at large. Appendixes tabulate summary data on escapes by facility and on methods of escape. 8 tables and 8 charts