NCJ Number
159758
Date Published
1996
Length
62 pages
Annotation
This analysis of violent crime concludes that most prison inmates are violent or repeat criminals, that prisons reduce crime, and that about one-third of all persons arrested for violent crimes are on probation, parole, or pretrial release.
Abstract
In 1993, the actual number of completed violent crimes was 10.8 million 5.6 times higher than the 1.9 million violent crimes reported to the police. Rates of violent juvenile crime and weapons offenses have been increasingly dramatically. Only about 1 criminal goes to prison for every 100 violent victimizastions, and most violent inmates serve less than half their sentences before being released. Since 1974, more than 90 percent of State prisoners have committed a violent crime or been sentenced to incarceration or probation one or more times in the past. Even most nonviolent prisoners have long adult and juvenile criminal histories. Many State prisoners are probation or parole violators whose latest convictions were for violent crimes including murder and rape. Millions of violent and property crimes are averted each year by keeping plea-bargained convicted criminals in prison. Efforts are needed to find better ways of preventing crime. However, the first priority must be restraining known, convicted, violent, and repeat criminals. Figures, tables, and footnotes