NCJ Number
248106
Date Published
May 2014
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This report provides data on two cohorts of female offenders released from California State prison in the first year (October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012) after the enactment of California's Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011, which transferred jurisdiction and funding for managing lower level criminal offenders from the State to the counties.
Abstract
Since October 1, 2011, probation departments have administered a system of post-release community supervision (PRCS) to complement State parole. State parole agents continue to supervise high-risk sex offenders, lifers and any other female offenders who are released from prison after having been incarcerated for a current/prior serious or violent crime. All other female inmates released from prison are placed on PRCS. The current report presents data on two cohorts of female offenders: a Pre-Realignment cohort released between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011; and a Post-Realignment cohort released between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012. Overall, the data show very little difference between female offenders and their outcomes following release from State prison before and after Realignment. The post-Realignment arrest rate was slightly higher than pre-Realignment (1.5 percent), and the post-Realignment conviction rate was slightly lower (1.2 percent). The post-Realignment and pre-Realignment groups of female offenders were similar demographically, with minor changes in the composition of age and race. Based on the California Static Risk Assessment, the percentage of female offenders with low and medium risk levels increased slightly from pre- to post-Realignment (3.3 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively), while the percentage of high-risk offenders decreased (3.3 percent). 10 tables, 7 figures, 7 references, and appended supplementary data