NCJ Number
57297
Date Published
1979
Length
30 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE PRESENTED FROM A 5 YEAR STUDY OF RECIDIVISM AMONG 65 PROBATIONERS CONVICTED OF VIOLENT OFFENSES IN MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Abstract
THE SAMPLE STUDIED CONSISTED OF 65 PERSONS PLACED ON PROBATION IN MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD (SEPTEMBER 1, 1970 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 1975). CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS WERE OBTAINED FROM THE STATE POLICE, AND EACH CASE WAS FOLLOWED THROUGH APRIL 24, 1978. A PROFILE OF THE SAMPLE OF PROBATIONERS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING FACTS ABOUT SUBJECTS' CRIMINAL HISTORIES: (1) ALMOST ALL COMMITTED SOME DEGREE OF EITHER ASSAULT OR ROBBERY; (2) TERMS OF PROBATION RANGED FROM LESS THAN A YEAR TO 5 YEARS; (3) SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF HAD PRIOR CONVICTIONS; (4) MOST OF THE OFFENDERS (85 PERCENT) HAD NOT SERVED PRIOR PROBATION TERMS; AND (5) AT LEAST 40 PERCENT HAD DRUG (EXCLUDING ALCOHOL) ABUSE HISTORIES. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS STUDY, RECIDIVISM IS DEFINED AS CONVICTION FOR ONE OR MORE CRIMINAL ACTS WHILE SERVING A PROBATION TERM AND/OR DURING THE FIRST 3 YEARS FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF PROBATION FOR A PRIOR CONVICTION. RECIDIVISM FINDINGS REVEALED THAT: (1) SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF HAD NOT BEEN REARRESTED; (2) THE MAJORITY (60 PERCENT) HAD NOT BEEN RECONVICTED; (3) ALMOST TWO-THIRDS (65 PERCENT) OF THE RECIDIVISTS HAD COMMITTED NO NEW OFFENSES OF VIOLENCE; (4) MOST RECIDIVISTS COMMITTED THEIR NEW OFFENSES DURING EITHER THE FIRST YEAR ON PROBATION OR THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THE TERMINATION OF PROBATION; AND (5) PERSONS WITH HISTORIES OF DRUG ABUSE WERE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT MULTIPLE SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES THAN SUBJECTS WITHOUT HISTORIES OF SUCH ABUSE. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND THE APPENDIXES REPORT VIOLENT CRIME RATES AND ARREST RATES IN NEW JERSEY COUNTIES AND ISSUES INVOLVED IN DEFINING RECIDIVISM. (RCB)