NCJ Number
128924
Date Published
1991
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Five cohorts of adult misdemeanants sentenced to probation in New York State between 1984 and 1988 were studied to determine patterns of recidivism and to compare the patterns to those exhibited by felon probationers.
Abstract
The findings show that the population of adult misdemeanant probationers increased in counties outside New York City, while an increasing number of felons sentenced to probation were located within New York City. Drug offenders constituted an increasing proportion of both misdemeanants and felons sentenced to probation. The short term recidivism rate for misdemeanor probationers did not increase substantially during the reporting period except for drug probationers located outside of New York City. As with felons, recidivism rates varied among subgroups of misdemeanants; rates were higher in New York City and among blacks, males, young probationers, and those with a prior arrest record. Recidivism was highest among drug probationers and lowest among DWI probationers. Misdemeanants constitute a decreasing proportion of offenders sentenced to probation and, when controlled for geographic location, had a higher recidivism rate than felons. 2 tables, 9 figures, and 1 reference