Massachusetts Inmates Report High Use of Prison Program, But Face Postrelease Challenges With Substance Abuse and Limited Employment

• NCJ Number: 222694
• Author(s): Simona Combi; Diane Wiffin
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: United Nations Publications
• Sale Source: United Nations Publications
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded May 13, 2008

Annotation

This article summarizes Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC) findings from a 2002 male inmate recidivism study.

Abstract

Findings show that former prisoners in Massachusetts returned to prison at a significantly lower rate than the national average. The research clarified some misconceptions and realities about recidivism, while focusing on the transition out of prison into the community. The study found that 47 percent of those who returned to prison came back within one year of being release; at least 72 percent of them at release had been incarcerated more than once; inmates released for the first time had lower recidivism rates (38 percent) than those who were rereleased (44 percent). Committing a violent crime was not a good predictor of a higher risk to reoffend; 43 percent of nonviolent offenders returned to prison, compared with 36 percent of violent offenders; property offenders were back in prison at the highest rate at 57 percent. On average, recidivists were younger when they entered the criminal justice system than those who did not return to prison and accumulated more arraignments, convictions, and incarcerations. 41 percent of respondents reported committing a crime while in the community. Respondents not under parole supervision who were reincarcerated for a new crime were far more likely to report criminal activity (70 percent) than those on parole who were returned for technical violation (22 percent). After release from prison, 49 percent of respondents lived with someone who had a problem with drinking or drug use and 38 percent lived with someone who had been incarcerated. Only 33 percent returned to the same neighborhood they had lived for the last incarceration. Partnerships involving the DOC, parole agencies and community service providers can facilitate treatment and training for returning prisoners and support safer communities once they are released. Data collected from a Massachusetts DOC survey taken by 1,786 male inmates released in 2002.