Social Ecology and Recidivism: Implications for Prisoner Reentry

• NCJ Number: 223526
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 301-340
• Author(s): Daniel P. Mears; Xia Wang; Carter Hay; William D. Bales
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 40 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined a sample (n=49,420) of prisoners released to Florida communities, in order to examine how 2 dimensions of social ecology--resource deprivation and racial segregation--might independently, and in interaction with specific populations, influence recidivism.

Abstract

Findings showed that resource deprivation was associated with higher levels of recidivism for violent crime but not for property crime; however, it was associated with lower rather than higher levels of drug crime, although this effect disappeared when racial segregation was included. There was no evidence of a direct effect of racial segregation. Violent and drug recidivism, especially drug recidivism, was disproportionately greater among young non-White males. Property-crime recidivism was greatest among young Whites; all other race-age groups had relatively comparable levels of recidivism for such crime. Resource deprivation did not condition the race-age interaction, but racial segregation did lead to higher drug and property recidivism. Young non-White males were more likely than other groups to be reconvicted for drug crimes, but this difference decreased in more segregated areas. For other groups, increased segregation was associated with an increased risk of recidivism, especially among older non-Whites. For property reconviction, the recidivism of not only young non-White males but also older White males increased in areas of greater segregation. Young Whites and older non-Whites were at less risk of recidivism in areas with more segregation. Implications of these findings for theory, research, and policy are discussed. Data for this study pertained to males released from Florida prisons between January 1998 and June 2001 (n=49,420). Recidivism was defined as instances in which inmates were convicted of a new felony that resulted in correctional supervision any time within 2 years after release. Data were obtained on individual-level variables, contextual variables, and control variables. 3 tables, 3 figures, 103 references, and 1 appendix