NCJ Number
132574
Date Published
1991
Length
26 pages
Annotation
A sample of 278 persons sentenced to probation during the year 1983 were followed up to determine their rate of recidivism, defined as being sentenced to prison or to probation within 6 years.
Abstract
Results indicate that about half of the subjects have recidivated. Of those with previous convictions, most were sent to prison. Crimes of opportunity were the most common offenses committed by the recidivists. Their conviction most often occurred within the first year of probation, oftentimes within 6 months. About a third of the recidivists had received one conviction within the time period, another half had received two convictions. The most significant sanction was a prison sentence for nearly two-thirds of the recidivists. Younger offenders (20 years and under) had the higher rates of recidivism than older offenders, and those with previous criminal convictions had higher rates than those without previous convictions. Offenders convicted of crimes of opportunity had higher rates of recidivism than those convicted of other crimes.