NCJ Number
136555
Date Published
1992
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study measured the subsequent criminal involvement of adult offenders released from New Jersey State prisons in 1984 and compared these findings with trends found in the 1982 release-outcome study.
Abstract
In contrast to the 1982 release-outcome study, which used a random sample of 200 releasees in 1982, the 1984 study included all adults released from State prisons in 1984 as recorded by the Department of Corrections' Offender Based Correctional Information System. This sample consisted of 3,634 releasees. Since research indicates that most recidivism occurs in the first years after release, subsequent criminal activity in New Jersey recorded in the Offender Based Transactions System/Computerized Criminal History was identified for 3 years following release. This report presents data on release outcome rates for 1982 and 1984; arrest following release; conviction following release; incarceration following release; release outcome by sex, race, age, time served, and most serious offense; length of criminal record and age at first adult arrest; prior violent arrest; and prior drug arrest. This study found that 62 percent of all offenders released from State prison in 1984 were rearrested within 3 years with an average of 2.6 arrests per offender. This is the same rearrest rate as in 1982. This rate is within the range found within other jurisdictions in the United States. 12 tables and 7 figures