NCJ Number
127369
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 10 Issue: 9 Dated: (March 1986) Pages: 11,13-15
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Inmates in minimum-security or community facilities accounted for 89 percent of corrections' escapes during 1984, according to a survey by the Contact Center.
Abstract
Forty-nine State systems plus the Federal Bureau of Prisons reported 7,903 escapes from correctional facilities during 1984. Although the number of escapes in 1984 appears high, escape rates were not. Data from 18 systems indicate that the likelihood of escape, especially from a secure facility, is remote. Seventeen of the 18 systems had escape rates of less than 1 percent from secure (medium and maximum) facilities. In minimum-security and community-level facilities, the escape rate was less than 5 percent in 10 of the 18 systems. In 6 of the 18 systems, between 5 and 15 percent of minimum-security and community-level inmates escaped. More than 80 percent of reported escapees were returned to prison, and deaths or injuries to inmates or officers as a result of escapes were uncommon. Eight systems reported death to inmates or officers, and five systems reported escape-related injuries. Escapees in six systems caused known death or injury to private citizens. In addition to displaying escape information, a chart describes States escape statutes and corresponding range of punishment. A table shows the odds of escape from each type of facility for the 18 States.