Revolving Door at the Prison Gate: Exploring the Dramatic Increase in Recalls to Prison

• NCJ Number: 215282
• Journal: Criminology & Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 329-352
• Author(s): Nicola Padfield; Shadd Maruna
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 24 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the recent and tremendous increase in the number of people in England and Wales recalled to prison, those prisoners released and then recalled to prison during the license period of their sentence.

Abstract

The revolving door involves released prisoners who are recalled to prison during the license period of their sentence. On license, former prisoners need not commit a new criminal offense in order to be returned to prison, but instead can find themselves back inside when there is evidence that they have violated the terms of their license. The current recall system in England and Wales can be seen as unfair. Offenders are recalled without notice and for reasons ranging from failure to keep appointments with probation officers to committing a serious crime. In recent years, the number of prison recalls in England and Wales has increased three to four times. In addition, this trend is seen as increasing due to the release provisions of the Criminal Justice Act of 2003. Little is known about best practices in prisoner recalls worldwide. However, due to the costs and perceived inefficiencies of the recall process, a system of graduated, community-based sanctions for probation violators, culminating in a return to prison in only the most extreme case is recommended. This method of escalating sanctions seems encouraging in the way of compliance, however much research is necessary in the design of these sanctions. An additional suggestion is that responses to rule breaking be therapeutically directed. Regardless, additional research is necessary on the effectiveness of such programs and on whether they actually reduce the number of recalls, as well as in the general decisionmaking to recall. By examining the published Parole Board and prison statistics, this study draws attention to the recent increase in the number of people in England and Wales recalled to prison during this license period. In addition, a description is provided on the existing law and the recent changes in the law exacerbating this uphill trend. References