Who Returns To Prison? An Oklahoma Study

We have been looking to reduce recidivism and a good place to start is by trying to find out who is most likely to return based on the data. Michael Connelly over at Corrections Sentencing has a number of articles that he has posted to help us understand how corrections works and doesn't work. It is important to be able to ascertain in advance at some level who is at risk to return to prison. Only then can we begin to provide the correct services necessary to help them be successful in their reintegration or better yet, prevent them from going in the first place.

Who Returns to Prison?: A Survival Analysis of Recidivism Among Adult Offenders Released in Oklahoma, 1985-2004

This study tracked 60,536 adult offenders released from Oklahoma prisons between 1985 and 1999, in order to identify the factors linked to any return to prison (recidivism) before May 31, 2004. The study found that property offenders were at greater risk of recidivism than drug, violent, or sex offenders. Other factors linked to recidivism were being released to probation rather than being discharged; having a history of violent offenses; having a greater number of past incarcerations; and being young, male, and of a minority race. Sentence length and the length of time in prison had weak but significant associations with recidivism.

Corrections Sentencing Research