NCJ Number
164911
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report examines challenges involved in supervising first-time convicted felony offenders in the community, based on recidivism rates of a sample of 3,772 offenders sentenced to community corrections in Texas for 3 years.
Abstract
The sample of 3,772 offenders represented 27,748 felony offenders sentenced to community corrections in 1991 in the seven most populous counties of Texas. The offenders were tracked using data from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Institutional Division and Pardons and Paroles Division and from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Three years after receiving a probated sentence in 1991, 37 percent of offenders under community supervision had been sentenced to prison. The corresponding rate for offenders who received deferred adjudication was 26 percent. Offenders were more likely to fail during the first year of community corrections supervision than at any other time. More than 40 percent of those incarcerated during the 3-year period were incarcerated during their first year of supervision. Offenders convicted for drug and property offenses had the highest recidivism rates. Of offenders probated for drug and property offenses, 41 percent and 40 percent, respectively, had been sentenced to prison after 3 years, compared to 35 percent of those probated for violent offenses. Offenders probated for property and drug offenses had similar recidivism rates regardless of criminal history. Offenders probated for violent offenses who had a felony history had a higher recidivism rate (44 percent) than those with no felony history (34 percent). Younger offenders on community supervision were much more likely to recidivate than older offenders. Offenders under 21 years of age had a 3-year incarceration rate of 46 percent, while offenders over 30 years of age had a rate of 32 percent. Recidivism rates varied considerably among the seven Texas counties. Tables and figures