Recidivism Issues

Ultimately recidivism is the act of a criminal reoffending after being released from prison. Over the years there have been several studies conducted in order to show recidivism rates in the United States. The four major national research organizations consist of The Pew Center on the States, The Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Sentencing Commission, and The National Institute of Justice. All four of these organizations interpret recidivism in different ways. With recidivism many issues arise that affect the community and law

One of most recent studies conducted was The Pew Center on the States report in April 2011. Another study that was conducted was by The Bureau of Justice Statistics This report defines recidivism as the act of reengaging in criminal acts despite having been punished. The study focused on offenders for a period of three years after their release. It was concluded that offenders are returned to prison for the following reasons, one reason is for committing new crimes that result in a new conviction or for a violation of not reporting to their parole or probation officer or failing a drug test. Overall the report concluded that more than four in ten offenders nationwide return to state prison within three years of being released. Another study conducted was by The Bureau of Justice Statistics defines recidivism as criminal acts that resulted in the rearrests, reconvictions, or return to prison with or without a new sentence during a three-year period following the prisoner’s release. A study was conducted that tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison in 2005. It was found that within three years of being released, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of their release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were

According to The U.S. Sentencing Commission, there are two definitions used to describe recidivism, one is defined the first occurring of any one of the following three types of events during the offender’s initial two years back in the community, which are reconviction of a new offense, a re-arrest with no conviction, or a probation revocation. The second definition applies only if the offender was reconvicted during the two years back in the community. The U.S. Sentencing