NCJ Number
117207
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study followed a random sample of 200 paroles from New Jersey state prisons for 36 months to determine their rate of recidivism, concluding that recidivism rates in New Jersey are similar to those of other jurisdictions.
Abstract
The random sample of 200 adult parolees was selected from a population of 1,926 individuals paroled in 1982. Within the three-year period following parole from State prison, 62 percent were arrested and 49 percent of those arrested were convicted. Many parolees were arrested for crimes in the same categories as their paroling offenses. Absconders and State prison returnees accounted for a negative outcome rate of 31 percent. The study also found that a small proportion of the offenders were responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime: 20 offenders were responsible for nearly half of all arrests. Younger parolees were more likely to become recidivists than were older offenders, and criminal activity subsided after age 40. Seventy-seven percent of parolees aged 20 or younger were returned to prison as recidivists. Arrests of parolees was usually for property crimes. These statistics are within the range of arrest and prison return rates reported by other States. 5 references.