NCJ Number
219905
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 87 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 344-366
Date Published
September 2007
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed parole release data from the National Corrections Reporting Program to identify individual-level predictors of parole success in four States and to assess the relative impact of demographic and legal factors on different offender groups (by race).
Abstract
Result highlights include: (1) race has a significant impact on the likelihood of revocation- African-American offenders are 19 percent more likely than White offenders to have their parole revoked for a new offense; (2) the size of both legal and demographic effects on the likelihood of revocation varies; (3) time on parole is a significant predictor of parole success- the longer offenders spend on parole, the more likely they are to succeed; (4) the magnitude of many of the effects uncovered differs between White and African-American offenders- the significantly larger effect of gender on African-American offenders is entirely because of a higher likelihood of revocation for African-American males than White males; (5) the significant differences found between the States strongly suggest the importance of looking at parole revocation decisionmaking in the context of jurisdictions rather than trying to look at them in aggregate. The parole revocation decision is extremely important, as important, one might argue, as the original incarceration decision. This study was interested in why some people are sentenced to spend time behind bars while others are not. It identifies predictors of reincarceration for individuals who have been in prison and subsequently released on parole. Of particular interest is the role of race in the decisionmaking process. The study sample consisted of individuals exiting parole in four States in 2000. The four States, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and Utah, were selected according a set of criteria. Table, references