NCJ Number
75257
Journal
Popular Government Volume: 43 Issue: I Dated: (Summer 1977) Pages: 36-40
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the recidivism after release from prison of 641 men in medium- and minimum-security prisons in North Carolina in 1969 and 1971 and identifies some prisoner characteristics associated with recidivism.
Abstract
The data, which were originally collected for work-release evaluations, included information on such factors as the offender's criminal record, age, race, education, marital status, and history of alcohol or drug abuse. Of the 641 men studied, 450 (or 70 percent) were found to have been recovicted during the followup period after their release from prison. Statistical analysis indicated that the following factors had a significant and substantial relationsip to whether a released man was reconvicted: the nature of the offense (i.e., whether the offense was a felony or misdemeanor), the number of previous convictions, existence of a serious alcohol or drug abuse problems, race, age at the time of arrest and release, and type of release (unconditional or on parole). The released North Carolina prisoner with the most optimistic prognosis was an older nonwhite who did not abuse drugs or alcohol, was released on parole, and had no previous convictions. The study recommends that inmates with a high likelihood of recidivism should receive more intensive parole supervison. The study includes statistical data in chart form.