January 31, 2012

Recent Study Produces Local-Level Recidivism Statistics for Parolees in New York City

In 2009, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 1.4 million adults had spent at least some time on parole supervision nationally and of those exiting supervision during that same year, 34% were re-incarcerated and 11% had another unsuccessful outcome, including revocation without incarceration or absconding (Glaze and Bonzcar, 2010). There is not much information, however, on parolees in local jurisdictions that are often home to a large number of formerly incarcerated persons. For example, New York City accounts for the majority of parolees supervised in New York State (56%). An understanding of the outcomes of New York City parolees can help community corrections officials focus their efforts on a local level to improve outcomes for individuals and the overall system...

...Almost one-fourth (23%) were returned to prison on a technical violation which occurs when parolees violate the conditions of their supervised release (can include an arrest for a new crime or conviction for a misdemeanor offense). Only 6% of parolees were returned to prison as a result of a new felony conviction. The rate of return to prison for New York City (29%) is lower than the national average of 34% reported in the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2009 Report.

A promising result of this study was that the revocation rates have declined over time since the early 2000s (from 32% of individuals released in 2002 to 26% of individuals released in 2006). Possible explanations for this finding as well as additional results are discussed further in the report.

For complete article, see:
Recent Study Produces Local-Level Recidivism Statistics for Parolees in New York City, by Bryn Herrschaft, Senior Research Associate, Center for Court Innovation, January 30 2012

For full report:
Recidivism Among Parolees in New York City, 2001-2008, by Bryn A. Herrschaft with Zachary Hamilton, Center for Court Innovation, November 2011