NCJ Number
137323
Date Published
1990
Length
156 pages
Annotation
This is the first of two reports on recidivism rates of offenders released from Massachusetts Department of Correction facilities during 1987.
Abstract
The recidivism rate in 1987 was 28 percent, slightly higher than the 1986 rate (27 percent). The number of releases increased from 2,767 in 1986 to 2,859 in 1987, a 3-percent increase. The recidivism rate varied by security level of the institution from which the offender was released: 50 percent for maximum, 35 percent for medium, 25 percent for minimum, 19 percent for minimum/prerelease, 21 percent for State prerelease, and 22 percent for contract prerelease. The recidivism rate for males was 29 percent, an increase of 1 percent from 1986; and the rate for females was 23 percent, also a 1-percent increase from the previous year. Recidivists were returned for a variety of reasons: 22 percent for technical parole violations, 54 percent for a parole violation that involved a new arrest, 24 percent for reincarceration on a new offense, and less than 1 percent to await trial for a new offense. Offenders released by parole had a higher recidivism rate (36 percent) than those who were discharged (15 percent). Offenders who previously had been paroled and violated parole on their present sentence had higher rates of recidivism than those who were first releases (51 percent vs. 19 percent). For males, those committed for property offenses had the highest recidivism rate (44 percent); and for females, those committed for drug offenses had the highest recidivism rate (26 percent). 9 tables