NCJ Number
114378
Journal
Just Released Volume: 1 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1988) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effects of the early release provision of New Zealand's 1985 Criminal Justice Act on rehabilitation and recidivism.
Abstract
The Act extended eligibility for early release to most prisoners after they had completed half or 7 years of their sentence, whichever was earlier. During a follow-up period of 1 year, this research examined 656 offenders released before the Act and 500 offenders released after the Act. It also compared recidivism rates among three different types of release after the Act: early release on supervision (ER), not released early and not on supervision (NER), and not released early and subject to supervision (NERS). The first comparison revealed no change in recidivism rates after the legislation's introduction. The second comparison indicated that the ER offenders had substantially lower recidivism rates than the NER and NERS groups. The report profiles both study populations and offers possible explanations for the lower recidivism rates. Tables.