Some Results of Research on Recidivism of Convicts After the Execution of the Prison Sentence (From Troisieme seminaire regional du CICC en Europe centrale, 1976, V 1 - Les mesures post-penales, P 155-162, Alice Parizeau, ed. - See NCJ-70486)

• NCJ Number: 70494
• Author(s): T Szymanowksi
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: French
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Results of a report examining the recidivism of about 6,500 Polish juvenile delinquents sentenced to prison and the effectiveness of the Polish correctional system in dealing with the recidivism problem from 1961 to 1973 are reported.

Abstract

Two examinations were made of study subjects 5 and 10 years after release from prison to determine if new convictions had occurred. The first group consisted of 6,193 young male convicts and 320 female convicts all 17 to 23 years old at the time of release. The second group encompassed 2,082 selected male convicts, 70 percent from the city and 30 percent from rural areas; 1888 of the group had no previous records while 894 had served previous terms. Most of the sentences had been for 6 months to 2 years. Findings indicate that recidivism rates were high: 57 percent of the persons not previously imprisoned and 82 percent of those formerly incarcerated spent time in prison during the study period, 45 percent and 70 percent, respectively, within 5 years of their release. Recidivism was more pronounced among urban dwellers without previous records than among comparable rural residents and among recidivists convicted for the first time at age 16 than for those convicted initially at 18. Recidivism rates rise in proportion to the seriousness of the crime, the strictness of the sentence, and number of repetitions of serious crimes. Crime rates of recidivists did not differ appreciably with regard to prior convictions but urban recidivists had higher property crime rates and lower rates of offenses against health than rural recidivists. Thus, no statistical interdependence seems to exist between the volume and intensity of subsequent recidivism on the one hand and such factors as prison terms served, the regime and type of prison, and the recidivists' line of work on the other. However, education acquired during imprisonment tends to reduce recidivism. Furthermore, recidivism among individuals released on some form of parole is lower than recidivism of individuals who serve their whole terms. Over a period of 10 years, the execution of penalties does not play an important role in the prevention of recidivism. It can be concluded that in the Polish context, as in many others, the sentence of imprisonment does not contribute to resocialization. Limitation of the use of the sentence, modification of the repressive nature of the sentence, and introduction of therapeutic solutions are recommended.