NCJ Number
104977
Date Published
1985
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This Texas study details specific inmate populations that apparently responded favorably to early release and also identifies groups that should not be considered favorably for early release.
Abstract
Some form of early release will be required to meet the current overcrowding crisis in Texas prisons. Although early release will never be popular, selection criteria based on research ensures responsible selection of inmates for release. A sample of 2,072 cases released from the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) between January and June 1983 was followed for 1 year to determine release outcome. Approximately 55 percent of the sample were parolees, 16 percent were mandatory cases, and 29 percent were early mandatory cases. Early mandatory releasees were released primarily to halfway houses under intensive supervision. A majority had nonassaultive histories. Although early mandatory cases had a high percentage of cases in the 'trouble' category (report of violation, arrest, pre-rev warrant not resulting in a return to TDC), the percentage returned to TDC during the 1-year followup period was similar to regular mandatory cases. Data show the percentage of releasees returned to TDC by release type according to salient factor score, age at release, drug/alcohol abuse history, and education. 3 tables and 4 graphs.