NCJ Number
198798
Date Published
2001
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This report presents return-to-custody information on a cohort of inmates who were released from the New York State Department of Correctional Services in 1997.
Abstract
In this report, return-to-custody information and data are presented for all inmates released from the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) in 1997. The return rates are based on a 3-year follow-up period and are analyzed relative to several demographic and legal history characteristics, such as release type, time to return, gender, release crime, readmission crime, age, ethnicity, predicate felons, and regions. Return rates are compared with those found for earlier release groups, as well as returns among an aggregated release cohort covering 1985 to 1997. In addition, a partial follow-up analysis is presented for 1998 and 1999 releases. Selected findings include: (1) among the 26,821 inmates released in 1997, 10,839 (40 percent) returned to custody within 3-years; (2) inmates released by a decision of the Board of Parole had return rates similar to inmates released at their conditional release dates (41 and 42 percent, respectively); (3) almost 62 percent of the 10,839 return-to-custody inmates were recommitted within the first 18 months after their release; (4) women had a lower rate of return (26 percent) than men (42 percent); (5) inmates sentenced to DOCS as a result of a Youthful Offender adjudication had the highest rate of return (49 percent); (6) half of the 1997 releases who returned for the commitment of a new crime were returned for a new drug offense; (7) younger releases were more likely to return to DOCS than older inmates; (8) Black inmates had the highest rate of return (45 percent) followed by Hispanics (37 percent); (9) offenders who had been sentenced as predicate felons had a higher return rate (45 percent) than offenders sentenced as first felony offenders; and (10) overall return rates varied very little by region of commitment. Tables, figures, and Appendices A-H