NCJ Number
82800
Date Published
1981
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study focuses on the effect of time served in prison on parole outcome; the study sample was drawn from all male felon inmates who received parole dates from California prisons from March through August 1970.
Abstract
The number of inmates in the sample totaled 3,556. Those who were not excluded by the Adult Authority Division formed the pool from which were drawn the experimental and control groups. Following each Adult Authority hearing, the prison records officer prepared a listing of all inmates who received a parole date at least 6 months from the hearing date. The Research Division in Sacramento used a table of random numbers to divide the names on the list into two groups. The inmates assigned to the experimental group had their parole dates advanced by 6 months, thereby reducing their prison terms by 6 months. Comparability of the two groups was checked through numerous sets of selected characteristics. Recidivism was determined through analysis of the information obtained from the California Department of Corrections' routine parole followup reporting system. It was concluded that prison terms may be reduced by 6 months without affecting recidivism, as reflected by the study sample. Two footnotes, eight tables, about 20 references, and an appendix, of parole outcome categories are provided.