NCJ Number
82660
Date Published
1981
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This research project followed 138 inmates paroled by the Ontario, Canada correctional system for a 1-year period after release and then compared their recidivism rates and characteristics with 125 inmates who had been released at the expiration of their sentences.
Abstract
Data sources on the entire sample included observation of the parole hearing, the inmates' institutional records, and files maintained by the parole officers. The report first describes the 138 paroled offenders with regard to demography, work history, alcohol and drug abuse, institutional records, amount of parole supervision received, parole performance, and the parole hearing process. These findings indicated that the average parole period lasted about 8 months and that one-quarter of the parolees had their parole revoked. Over half these revocations resulted from new charges being laid against the parolees. An examination of recidivism rates for the entire sample over the followup period focused on the offenders' recontacts with the correctional system, terms of incarceration, new probation orders, current status at the end of the year, and other factors related to recidivism such as personal problems and age at time of first parole hearing. Half the total sample had official recontact with the Ministry of Correctional Services within 1 year of release. However, the study found that inmates released when their sentences expired were more likely to recontact the correctional system than parolees. Successful parolees made a more positive adjustment to the community, displayed acceptable behavior, and required less supervision by parole officers. They also had less correctional experience, were generally older, had more stable working habits, and were often candidates for work release programs. Parolees who recidivated tended to have more correctional experience and exhibited personal, behavioral, or substance abuse problems. The study also discovered that when the parole board opted to release an offender at the initial hearing, the probability of recidivism was lower than for offenders paroled after subsequent hearings or released upon sentence expiration. Tables and 19 references are included. (Document summary modified)