NCJ Number
207662
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 108-111
Date Published
October 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This 1994 study examined recidivism rates for periods up to 5 years following discharge from a residential community corrections facility in northern Colorado; this is followed by a discussion of recidivism and Robert Martinson's conclusion in his 1975 study of corrections programs, i.e., that "... corrections has not as yet found satisfactory ways to reduce recidivism by significant amounts."
Abstract
The study defined recidivism as "any misdemeanor or felony arrest following the release of an offender from supervision." A random sample of 60 offenders was selected from a compilation of all offenders who had been discharged from the residential facility 2 years earlier. All offenders were either negatively or positively terminated from the residential portion of the program. The program provides diversified in-house services as well as referrals to outside professionals. Among the services provided are a weekly substance abuse education group, a regular life-skills program, onsite GED classes, and instruction in financial budgeting. Of all the offenders selected for the samples over the years, almost all have participated in at least one of these in-house services. These programs are in addition to the regular case-management meetings, mandated employment, and random drug/alcohol monitoring. Recidivism rates after 5 years ranged from 69.5 percent to 73.7 percent. These findings, along with those from the relevant literature, indicate that Martinson's conclusion continues to hold. This article suggests that corrections program success might better be measured by the length of time until reoffending occurs and a reduction in the seriousness of offenses. 2 figures and 12 notes