Date: November 22, 2024 Fri

Time: 12:21 pm

Results for recidivism

773 results found

Author: Scott, Wayne Title: Effective Clinical Practices in Treating Clients in the Criminal Justice System Summary: This paper was developed as a part of a set of papers focused on the role of system stakeholders in reducing offender recidivism through the use of evidence-based practices in corrections. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2008 Source: Crime and Justice Institute; National Institute of Corrections Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117298 Keywords: Corrections Recidivism

Author: Daly, Reagan Title: Treatment and Reentry Practices for Sex Offenders: An Overview of States Summary: This report provides an overview and analysis of existing treatment and reentry practices for sex offenders who are involved with the criminal justice system. It focuses, specifically, on four broad areas of practice: treatment in prison, treatment under community supervision, reentry programming, and community supervision. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2008 Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 115185 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Sex Offenders

Author: Kirk, David S. Title: Lessons from Hurrican Katrina: A Natural Experiment of the Effect of Residential Change on Recidivism. Summary: In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Louisiana Gulf Coast, damaging many of the neighborhoods where ex-prisoners typically reside. Given the residential destruction resulting from Hurricane Katrina, it is unclear whether the resulting geographic displacement of returning prisoners has had any adverse, or even beneficial, impact on the likelihood of recidivism. In this study, a natural experiment is utilized as a means of addressing the selection issue, and seek to establish whether the migration of ex-prisoners away from their former place of residence will lead to lower levels of recidivism. Findings suggest that moving away from former geographic areas substantially lowers an ex-prisoner's likelihood of re-incarceration. Details: Ann Arbor, MI: National Poverty Center, University of Michigan, 2008 Source: National Poverty Center Working Paper Series: #08-10: Accessed April 25, 2018 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254046054_Lessons_from_Hurricane_Katrina_A_Natural_Experiment_of_the_Effect_of_Residential_Change_on_Recidivism Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254046054_Lessons_from_Hurricane_Katrina_A_Natural_Experiment_of_the_Effect_of_Residential_Change_on_Recidivism Shelf Number: 117092 Keywords: Communities and Crime Ex-Offenders Hurricane Katrina Natural Disasters Recidivism

Author: Hanson, R. Karl Title: A Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Treatment for Sexual Offenders: Risk, Need, and Responsivity Summary: The effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders remains controversial, even though it is widely agreed that certain forms of human service interventions reduce the recidivism rates of general offenders. The current review examined whether the principles associated with effective treatments for general offenders (Risk-Need-Responsivity: RNR) also apply to sexual offender treatment. Based on a meta-analysis of 23 recidivism outcome studies meeting basic criteria for study quality, the unweighted sexual and general recidivism rates for the treated sexual offenders were lower than the rates observed for the comparison groups (10.9% [n = 3,121] versus 19.2% [n = 3,625] for sexual recidivism; 31.8% [n = 1,979] versus 48.3% [n = 2,822] for any recidivism). Programs that adhered to the RNR principles showed the largest reductions in sexual and general recidivism. Given the consistency of the current findings with the general offender rehabilitation literature, we believe that the RNR principles should be a major consideration in the design and implementation of treatment programs for sexual offenders Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2009. Source: Online Resource: Accessed April 17, 2018 at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2009-01-trt/2009-01-trt-eng.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2009-01-trt/2009-01-trt-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 117105 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Analysis Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders

Author: Japan. Ministry of Justice Title: White Paper on Crime: 2007: The Circumstances and Attributes of Repeat Offenders and Countermeasures to Recidivism Summary: This report reveals the importance of countermeasures against repeat offenders and the recent trends in repeat offenses mainly through analysis of criminal records/statistical data and takes an overview of the actual circumstances of repeat offenders from various points of view, such as the offense, age, sentencing and attributes. Details: Tokyo: 2007 Source: Year: 2007 Country: Japan URL: Shelf Number: 117045 Keywords: Offenders Recidivism

Author: Apel, Robert John Title: The Effect of Criminal Justice Involvement in the Transition to Adulthood Summary: The last 30 years in the United States have witnessed unprecedented expansion in criminal justice institutions. In an era of rapidly declining crime rates, scholars have begun to call into question the wisdom of continued expansion. There are at least two reasons for such reservations. First, the crime-control potential of expansion in the use of criminal justice sanctions is limited by the law of diminishing returns. Holding constant the composition of the offender pool (e.g., criminal propensities, offense mix), at a certain point the number of crimes prevented by sanctioning one additional offender (via deterrence or incapacitation) will begin to decrease. This is to say, simply, that a newly sanctioned offender today is less of a danger to society, on the margin and all else equal, than a newly sanctioned offender 30 years ago. Second, if criminal justice involvement has adverse causal effects on life outcomes that are correlated with criminal offending, large-scale growth in formal sanctioning might have the perverse effect of sustaining criminal behavior rather than deterring it. Indeed, evidence is mounting that formal sanctions stigmatize an ever larger class of individuals and potentially disrupt conventional achievements in a variety of life domains such as employment, education, civic involvement, and family formation and stability (Hagan and Dinovitzer, 1999). Steadily rising prison admissions, in particular, have given rise to increased attention by researchers and policymakers on issues of reentry and reintegration (Petersilia, 2003). By way of example, from the 1930s through the early 1970s, the U.S. incarceration rate hovered around 110 per 100,000 residents, at which point it began a steady increase that by midyear 2005 had attained 738 per 100,000 (Harrison and Beck, 2006). At yearend 2006, moreover, the total population confined in jails and prisons was almost 2.4 million (Sabol, Couture, and Harrison, 2007). The growth and scope of incarceration is truly impressive, so much so that contemporary discourse is increasingly attuned to the collateral consequences of so-called "mass imprisonment" policies (Garland, 2001; Mauer and Chesney-Lind, 2003; Pettit and Western, 2004; Useem and Piehl, 2008). The rather stark realization of the emerging reentry literature is that virtually all of these offenders will return to the community at some point (Travis, 2005). It is an unmistakable irony that policies of mass imprisonment might actually exacerbate the crime problem over the long run if these released offenders struggle to maintain a law-abiding lifestyle because of the stigma associated with their confinement experiences. What the discussion thus far implies is that criminal justice involvement is a catalyst that initiates a causal sequence of downward mobility for sanctioned offenders, ultimately resulting in persistence (if not escalation) in criminal offending. In other words, a criminal record causes further crime (in part) through its indirect effect on an offender's status attainment prospects. The empirical evidence for an inverse correlation between criminal justice involvement and status attainment, especially with respect to employment success, is voluminous. Extant theory and research provide a number of plausible explanations for such a relationship: The problem of civil disabilities or employer discrimination, the accumulation of a spotty work history, a lack of legitimate job contacts, and a dearth of good neighborhood-based employment opportunities, among others. Although the precise mechanism is not yet well understood, existing findings do suggest (not universally, it should be noted) that criminal justice involvement tends to reduce the probability of employment, increase the length of unemployment, lower wages and earnings, and promote high-school dropout. Studies that take such factors into consideration also tend to suggest that sanctioned individuals fare the worst when they are comparatively minor offenders (e.g., property or drug offenders), when they are of higher social status (e.g., middle-class individuals), and when they experience incarceration (as opposed to arrest or conviction). Yet a longstanding problem is ascertaining whether these unintended consequences of criminal justice involvement are attributable to the causal role that it has on status attainment as opposed to factors that jointly determine criminal justice involvement and low status attainment. The latter is known as the selection problem. In words, individuals with a criminal record might fare poorly in the legitimate labor market and drop out of high school because they had low prospects to begin with, not because criminal justice involvement acts as a genuine turning point in their work and education careers. The brute fact is that sanctioned offenders, in all likelihood, suffer deficits that would greatly limit status attainment even in the absence of an official sanction. It is this pernicious question-whether the relationship between criminal justice involvement and low status attainment signifies a causal effect or a selection artifact-that guides the present study. In this Executive Summary, we provide an overview of the results from a large-scale investigation of the causal effect of criminal justice involvement in the late teens and early twenties on later status attainment. The remainder of the summary proceeds as follows. First, we briefly describe the data and methodology used in the study (a summary of Chapter Two in the final report). Second, we present the key findings with respect to the relationship between incarceration and status attainment (a summary of Chapter Three). Third, we summarize the findings with respect to the effect of conviction on status attainment (a summary of Chapter Four). Fourth, we make some concluding remarks with an emphasis on the policy implications that flow from our findings (a summary of Chapter Five). Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, 2009. 146p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228380.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228380.pdf Shelf Number: 116668 Keywords: Juvenile Delinquents Juvenile Offenders Longitudinal Studies Recidivism

Author: Hawken, Angela Title: Managing Drug Involved Probationers with Swift and Certain Sanctions: Evaluating Hawaii's HOPE Summary: This report describes an evaluation of a community supervision strategy called HOPE (Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement) for substance-abusing probationers. HOPE began as a pilot program in October 2004 and has expanded to more than 1500 participants, about one of six felony probabtioners on Oahu. Details: S.I.: s.n., 2009 Source: National Institute of Justice Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117401 Keywords: Community Supervision Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Probation Probation Violations Probationers Recidivism

Author: Lawrence, Alison Title: Cutting Corrections Costs: Earned Time Policies for State Prisoners Summary: This report explores cost-cutting policies that speed the release of inmates who complete programs and activities designed to increase their chances of success once they return to the community. This report also presents a statutory review for 31 states and summarizes several research studies on recidivism and earned time policies. Details: Denver, CO: National Conference of State Legislators, 2009 Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116317 Keywords: Corrections Programs Recidivism

Author: Griffiths, Curt T. Title: The Social Reintegration of Offenders and Crime Prevention Summary: Comprehensive crime prevention programs should include effective measures to prevent recidivism and to stop the cycle of failed adaptation by repeat offenders. According to the authors, a key feature of successful crime prevention strategies is their attention to the social reintegration of ex-prisoners to the community and the development of interventions designed to reduce the levels of recidivism. This text offers an overview of current practices and was prepared to set out some of the primary lessons that can inspire and guide practitioners in designing measures and strategies that are adapted to their circumstances. The overview concludes with a number of practical considerations that should be considered in planning future interventions. Details: Ottawa: National Crime Prevention Centre, 2007 Source: A review prepared for the Policy, Research and Evaluation Division; Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada Year: 2007 Country: Canada URL: Shelf Number: 114878 Keywords: Crime Prevention Intervention Programs Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Scotland. Social Work Inspection Agency Title: Multi-Agency Inspection: Assessing and Managing Offenders Who Present a High Risk of Serious Harm 2009 Summary: This report presents the findings of an inspection of the management of high risk of serious harm offenders. The inspection team comprised inspectors from the Social Work Inspection Agency, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland. This report identifies where practice and procedures to minimize and manage risk can become better, and adds to the body of knowledge about the management of high-risk offenders in Scotland. Details: Edinburgh: Social Work Inspection Agency, 2009 Source: A joint report by the Social Work Inspection Agency, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and HM Inspectorate of Prisons Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 115399 Keywords: Offenders Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Virginia. State Crime Commission Title: HJR 113 (2008) Final Report: Study of Virginia's Juvenile Justice System: To the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia Summary: From the executive summary: "during the 2006 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Delegate Brian Moran introduced House Joint Resolution 136 (HJR 136), which directed the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the Virginia juvenile justice system over a two-year period. Specifically, the Commission was to examine recidivism, disproportionate minority contact within the juvenile justice system, quality of and access to legal counsel, accountability in the courts, and diversion. The Commission was also tasked with analyzing Title 16.1 of the Code of Virginia to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of current statutes and procedures relating to juvenile delinquency. Because of the detailed information that was produced during the first two years of the study, an additional year was needed to fully examine the newly-identified issues in conjunction with the current matters cited in the initial resolution." Details: Richmond, Commonwealth of Virginia, 2009 Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116673 Keywords: Diversion Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Justice System Recidivism

Author: Eisenberg, Mike Title: Validation of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Risk Assessment Instrument Summary: Probation and parole agencies across the country use risk assessment instruments to predict the likelihood that individuals under supervision will reoffend. Like other departments across the nation, the Division of Community Corrections of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections requires that the "Admission to Adult Field Caseload" risk classification instrument be completed for all felony and assaultive misdemeanor cases at the time an offender is admitted to field supervision. This instrument, commonly referred to as the DOC 502, is used not only to estimate risk probabilities for supervision purposes, but also to help determine staff workload and deployment. The DOC 502 risk assessment instrument was last validated in 1984 and department officials have sought to examine the validity of their risk instrument on a more contemporaneous population. To address the need for revalidation, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections contracted with the Council of State Governments Justice Center to conduct a validation study of the DOC 502 risk assessment instrument. This report reviews general issues associated with the use of risk assessment instruments in classifying offenders and presents the results of a validation study of the DOC 502 risk assessment instrument. Validity of risk assessment instruments is the most important supportive principle behind the proper utilization of these instruments. Namely, the instruments' predictions must be supported by research showing it can identify different groups of offenders with different probabilities of reoffending. Details: New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2009. 56p. Source: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/WIRiskValidationFinalJuly2009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/WIRiskValidationFinalJuly2009.pdf Shelf Number: 116250 Keywords: Corrections Prisoner Classification Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: New Mexico. Governor Richardson's Task Force on Prison Reform Title: Increasing Public Safety in New Mexico Before, During and After Incarceration: New Directions for Reform in New Mexico Corrections Summary: From the executive summary: "This report examines the current corrections system in New Mexico. It proposes a comprehensive reform package to increase public safety, control prison population, and decrease recidivism rates. It also proposes a system to divert offenders, consistent with public safety, and in appropriate circumstances, from prison into treatment and other alternatives to incarceration. The Task Force recommends a more concerted effort to coordinate state resources and a shoring-up of infrastructures to treat endemic substance abuse and other behavioral health problems among offenders and ex-offenders. Additionally, the Task Force recommends the creation of new employment, education, and other opportunities for ex-offenders in order to facilitate successful reentry and transition back into the community. Details: Santa Fe, NM: 2008. 59p., app. Source: Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116545 Keywords: Diversion Prisoners Recidivism Reentry

Author: Braga, Anthony A. Title: Controlling Violent Offenders Released to the Community: An Evaluation of the Boston Reentry Initiative Summary: The Boston Reentry Initiative (BRI) is an interagency initiative to help transition violent adult offenders released from the local jail back to their Boston neighborhoods through mentoring, social service assistance, and vocational development. This study uses a quasi-experimental design and survival analyses to evaluate the effects of the BRI on the subsequent recidivism of program participants relative to an equivalent control group. The study found that the BRI was associated with significant reductions -- on the order of 30 percent -- in the overall and violent arrest failure rates. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government and the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, 2008. 24p. Source: Accessed May 8, 2018 at: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/rappaport/files/braga_BRI_final.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/rappaport/files/braga_BRI_final.pdf Shelf Number: 116690 Keywords: Mentoring Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration Violent Offenders (Boston) Vocation Education and Training

Author: Brazzell, Diana Title: From the Clasroom to the Community: Exploring the Role of Education During Incarceration and Reentry Summary: This report surveys the current landscape of correctional education, discussing both the educational needs of people involved in the criminal justice system and the programs being provided to meet those needs. It reviews research on the effectiveness of correctional education; outlines the guiding principles for effective programming; discusses the issues involved in providing education in correctional settings; and identifies some potential responses to these challenges. The report closes by looking to the future and highlighting key issues and new directions in research, policy, and practice. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2009. 50p. Source: Internet Resource; John Jay College of Criminal Justice Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116495 Keywords: Correctional Education Recidivism

Author: Yang, Min Title: Applying Neural Networks and Other Statistical Models to the Classification of Serious Offenders and the Prediction of Recidivism Summary: This methodological study aims primarily to explore the applicability of data mining techniques, including Neural Networks and Classification Tree models, in predicting the risk of violent recidivism, together with their predictive validity in comparison with conventional logistic regression. Its aim is to lead to the development of better risk assessment. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2010. 31p. Source: Ministry of Justice Research Series 6/10 Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117796 Keywords: Classification of Offenders Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Mulheirn, Ian Title: Prison Break: Tackling Recidivism, Reducing Costs Summary: Crime costs the UK 72 British pounds each year. The failure to crack re-offending among prisoners serving short-term sentences is a key driver of these costs. This report calls for a new approach to tackle re-offending with much less public money. Its recommendations include the following: splitting the short- and long-term prison populations to enable more accountabile rehabilitation of persistent offenders on short-term sentences, and contracting out end--to-end offender management for all sub-12-month offenders to regional providers paid by results to reduce recidivism. Details: London: Social Market Foundation, 2010. 74p. Source: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Publication-Prison-Break-Tackling-recidivism-reducing-costs.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117864 Keywords: Costs of Crimes Prisons Privatization Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: McManus, Rob Title: Recidivism among sex offenders in South Carolina Summary: This report replicates the BJS report which analyzed recidivism among sex offenders released from prisons in several states in 1994 examining recidivism for a cohort of sex offenders released from South Carolina prisons in 2001. It expands upon this analysis by also examining recidivism among a cohort of offenders admitted to community correctional supervision in 2001. Undertaken as part of a multi-site initiative, the results will be included in a forthcoming publication of the Research and Statistics Association. Details: Columbia, SC: South Carolina Department of Corrections, South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, South Carolina Budget & Control Board, South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 2007, 81p. Source: Internet Source Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117598 Keywords: Community Based Corrections Recidivism Sex Offenders

Author: Dandurand, Yvon Title: Conditional Release Violations, Suspensions and Revocations: A Comparative Analysis Summary: Managing the social reentry of sentenced offenders is a potentially cost-effective way of preventing crime. Different types of conditional release programs can be used to support the social reintegration of offenders and improve public safety. This study is a preliminary comparative attempt to examine the decision-making process involved in selected jurisdictions in cases of alleged breach of conditions by offenders released on conditional release. Details: Vancouver, BC: International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy, 2008. 50p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 114604 Keywords: Parole Parole Violations Recidivism Rehabilitation Revocations

Author: Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending Title: Denying Parole at First Eligibility: How Much Public Safety Does It Actually Buy? A Study of Prisoner Release and Recidivism in Michigan Summary: This report examined 76,721 cases of Michigan prisoners sentenced to indeterminate terms after 1981 and released for the first time from 1986 through 1999. The report answers two questions: (1) Does continuing to incarcerate people who have served their minimum sentences actually improve public safety and, if so, to what extent and at what cost?; (2) Specifically, does denying parole at the minimum only to release a person a year or two thereafter have a substantial impact on re-offense rates? Details: Lansing, MI: Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending, 2009. 74p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116251 Keywords: Parole (Michigan) Prisoners (Michigan) Recidivism

Author: Van Vleet, Russell K. Title: Evaluation of the FOCUS Program for DUI Offenders Summary: This report presents an evaluation of the FOCUS, Facilitating Offender CommUnity Supervision program operated by Salt Lake County Criminal Justice Services. The evaluation examined FOCUS (n=311) and DUI Probation (PROB;n=612) participants who were on supervision, pimarily, between 2004 and 2007. Both programs required participants to initiate probation, report monthly to their probation case manager, pay supervision fees, and commit no new violations. In addition, FOCUS participants were required to complete the following FOCUS conditions: bi-monthly reporting to their case manager, 47 hours of community service, attend the Victim Impact Panel, attend community panels, and complete all FOCUS assignments. Recidivism rates, as well as successful completion rates, indicate that FOCUS is having an impact on its participants and leading to better outcomes than DUI probation. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2008. 73p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 114824 Keywords: Driving Under the Influence Drunkenness Probation Recidivism

Author: Raphael, Steven Title: Improving Employment Prospects for Former Prison Inmates: Challenges and Policy Summary: This paper analyzes the employment prospects of former prison inmates and reviews recent evaluation of reentry programs that either aim to improvement employment among the formerly incarcerated or aim to reduce recidivism through treatment interventions centered on employment. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2010. 32p. Source: NBER Working Paper Series; Working Paper 15874 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117607 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offenders (Employment) Recidivism Reentry

Author: Di Tella, Rafael Title: Criminal Recidivism After Prison and Electronic Monitoring Summary: We study re-arrest rates for two groups: individuals formerly in prison and individuals formerly under electronic monitoring (EM). We find that the recidivism rate of former prisoners is 22% while that for those treated with electronic monitoring is 13% (40% lower). We convince ourselves that the estimates are causal using peculiarities of the Argentine setting. For example, we have almost as much information as the judges have when deciding on the allocation of EM; the program is rationed to only some offenders; and some institutional features (such as bad prison conditions) convert ideological differences across judges (to which detainees are randomly matched) into very large differences in the allocation of electronic monitoring. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009. 43p. Source: NBER Working Paper Series; Working Paper 15602 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118434 Keywords: Electronic Monitoring Judges, Decision-Making Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Trimboli, Lily Title: Drink-driving and Recidivism in NSW Summary: This bulletin provides information on re-offending among drink-drivers in New South Wales. Overall, 15.5 percent of drink-drivers returned to court for another drink-driving offense within five years, and 14.3 percent returned to court within five years charged with a non-PAC driving offense, such as a registration, a roadworthiness or a driving license offense. Reconviction rates were found to be higher among men, Indigenous offenders, offenders aged less than 25 years, offenders who lived in areas with the highest level of socio-economic disadvantage, offenders that received a driver licence disqualification of between one and six months, and offenders with two or more convictions in the five-year period prior to their index offense. It is estimated that, within five years of their index offense, more than a third of drivers with these characteristics will be reconvicted of another drink-driving offense, and nearly half will be reconvicted for a driving licence, a motor vehicle registration or a motor vehicle roadworthiness offense. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 16p. Source: Crime and Justice Bulletin; Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 135 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118547 Keywords: Driving Under the Influence (Australia) Drunk Driving (Australia) Recidivism

Author: Lulham, Rohan Title: The Recidivism of Offenders Given Suspended Sentences: A Comparison with Full-Time Imprisonment Summary: Between 2000 and 2007, the number of suspended sentences imposed by the New South Wales Local Court rose 300 percent, from 1,704 to 5,172. In 2000, suspended sentences accounted for about one percent of all penalties imposed by the Local Court. By 2007, this figure had risen to 4.6 percent. One issue of contention is whether suspended sentences have the same deterrent effect on re-offending as prison sentences. This study compares rates of re-offending among offenders who received suspended sentences with rates of re-offending among a matched control group who received a full-time prison sentence. For offenders with no prior prison sentence, there was no statistically significant difference in re-offending between offenders who received a suspended sentence and those who received a prison sentence. Among offenders who had previously been to prison, however, those who received a prison sentence re-offended substantially quicker than those who received a suspended sentence. The study concludes that there is no evidence full-time imprisonment exerts a greater deterrent effect than a suspended sentence of imprisonment. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 16p. Source: Crime and Justice Bulletin; Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 136 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 118548 Keywords: Imprisonment Recidivism Sentencing Suspended Sentences (Australia)

Author: Warren, Roger K. Title: Evidence-Based Practice to Reduce Recidivism: Implications for State Judiciaries Summary: This white paper discusses the implications of principles of evidence-based practice to reduce recidivism for state judiciaries. The paper discusses how diligent application of those principles to state sentencing practices, processes, and policing can restore much-needed balance to our current sentencing systems -- sentencing systems that have swung from one extreme to the other over the last 30 years, in neither case proving very effective in addressing the problem of crime. The paper also suggests that the courts have a key leadership role to play in implementing evidence-based practices, and that evidence-based practice promises to revitalize judges' interest in sentencing just as it has rejuvenated the corrections profession. Details: Boston, MA: Crime and Justice Institute; Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Corrections, Community Corrections Division, 2007. 55p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118572 Keywords: Courts Judges Recidivism Sentencing (U.S.)

Author: Loffman, Matt Title: Investigating Alternatives to Imprisonment Within Council of Europe Member States Summary: Most people leaving prison re-enter society with a drug addction, few qualifications, and no money and return to the lives within which their crime(s) took place in the first instance. Others will have lost local connections to their family, their job, and their home. In situations such as these the likelihood of repeat offending is high. Acknowledging this, and the fact that the practice of sending individuals to prison frequently leaves the needs of the victims, the offenders themselves, and their respective communities unmet, the Quaker Council for European ffairs has undertaken research into the use of alternatives to imprisonment sentences in Council of Europe members states. This report is the result of this research. Information has been compiled on how frequently different alternatives are used, what their costs are, and how they impact on the offender. The study also analyzed the available information regarding recidivism for imprisonment and the alternatives. This information has been gathered systematically from the criminal justice systems of the members states. The report concludes with reommendations for improvements to the use and management of alternatives to imprisonment sentences. Details: Brussels: Quaker Council for European Affairs, 2010. 112p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 118700 Keywords: Alternative to Incarceration Imprisonment Recidivism

Author: Lichtenberger, Eric Title: Utilizing Post-Release Outcome Information To Measure the Effectiveness of Correctional Education Programs Summary: This paper provides correctional education administrators and research analysts with strategies for effectively collecting post-release outcome data and putting it to use both internally and externally. The paper highlights the approaches used by select states, as well as their outside evaluators and researchers, to measure the extent to which the programs meet post-release program goals and objectives. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, 2008. 36p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119117 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Recidivism

Author: Bazos, Audrey Title: Correctional Education as a Crime Control Program Summary: This study compares the cost-effectiveness of two crime control methods - educating prisoners and expanding prisons. One million dollars spent on correctional education prevents about 600 crimes, while that same money invested in incarceration prevents 350 crimes. Correctional education is almost twice as cost-effective as a crime control policy. Additionally, correctional education may actually create long-run net cost savings. Inmates who participate in education programs are less likely to return to prison. For each re-incarceration prevented by education, states save about $20,000. One million dollars invested in education would prevent 26 re-incarcerations, for net future savings of $600,000. Details: Los Angeles: UCLA School of Public Policy and Social Research, Department of Policy Studies, 2004. 33p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119115 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Cost-Benefit Analysis Recidivism

Author: O'Connell, John P., Jr. Title: Delaware Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Project 2003 to 2006 Evaluation with Recidivism Follow-up Results Summary: This report presents program implementation issues and outcome data from Delaware's Serious and Violence Offender Reentry Project (SVORI). Implementation issues included selecting elible offenders offenders to complex issues concering the extent to which legal and societal barriers would affect successful reentry. Recidivism rates for the program were similar to that found in other reentry programs. Of the 303 participants, approximately one third successfully completed the program and approximately one quarter remained arrest-free at one year following release from prison. Details: Dover, DE: Delaware Statistical Analysis Center, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119199 Keywords: Recidivism Reentry (Delaware) Rehabilitation Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Program Violent Offenders

Author: Ward, Rebecca Title: ACCESS: Assertive Continuing Care Ensuring Sobriety and Success Final Evaluation Report Summary: As formerly incarcerated youth return to the community, they are often faced with significant barriers to effective reintegration, including lack of educational and housing options, gang affiliation, an institutional identity, and substance abuse and mental health problems. During recent years, more attention has been paid to these reentry issues, which has resulted in the development of a number of evidence-based reentry models. One of these, Assertive Continuing Care (ACC), uses intensive case management, home visits, and parental/caregiver involvement to directly target the multiple barriers these youth face to successful reentry. In 2004, Using ACC as a model, Phoenix House of San Diego, Inc., created the ACCESS program to address the needs of youg offenders reentering local communities from detention facilities in San Diego County. This report provides a description of clients who entered the program and information on services provided, as well as outcomes measured by initial and six-month follow-up interviews, risk assessments, and criminal and placement history information. Results indicate that youth who successfully complete the program reported increased mental health, higher resiliency scores, and were less likely to recidivate. Details: San Diego, CA: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), 2009. v.p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119221 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (San Diego) Mental Health Services Recidivism Reentry, Juveniles Rehabilitation

Author: Gaes, Gerald G. Title: The Impact of Prison Education Programs on Post-Release Outcomes Summary: This paper reviews the evidence on the impact of correctional ecuction programs on post-release outcomes. Details: Unpublished paper presented at the Reentry Roundtable on Education, March 31 and April 1, 2008. 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119130 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: McGlaze, Aidan Title: Making the Most of California's Correctional Education Reform: A Survey and Suggestions for Further Steps Summary: This paper surveys California's correctional education reform, arguing for expanded services on the grounds that improved education reduced recidivism, saves money, and facilitates prisoner reentry. People with educational difficulties are more likely to end up members of the incarcerated population, and those who improve their educational status while incarcerated are less likely to commit future crimes. After exploring the widespread consensus that effective education for incarcerated individuals yields tangible and demonstrable benefits and examining national data on the educational deficits observable in incarcerated populations, the paper turns to an analysis of the current programming reform in California, advocating for careful data collection and analysis, universal assessment and programming participation, and the consideration of computer-facilitated education. Details: Unpublished paper available at http://ssrn.com/abstract=977001 Source: Internet Resource Year: 7001 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119180 Keywords: Correctional Education (California) Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: McNeill, Fergus Title: Changing Lives? Desistance Research and Offender Management Summary: This report provides a literature review on desistance from crime which explores the purposes of offender management; understanding and supporting desistance; desistance and the process of offender management; desistance and compliance with offender management; and, desistance and the credibility of offender management. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2010. 77p. Source: Internet Resource; Report No.03/2010 Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118820 Keywords: Desistance from Crime Offender Management Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Scotland. Community Justice Services Title: Review of the Glasgow & Fife Drug Courts: Report Summary: This review evaluates the impact and effectiveness, including cost effectiveness, of the Glasgow and Fife Drug Courts. This will inform future policy and funding regarding drug courts in Scotland. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2009. 18p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119253 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Scotland) Drug Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Scotland. Community Justice Services Title: Review of the Hamilton & Airdrie Youth Courts: Report Summary: Pilot Youth Courts were established at Hamilton Sheriff Court in June 2003 and at Airdrie Sheriff Court in June 2004. This review assesses the Youth Courts' impact on reoffending rates, with regard to the impact on the Youth Courts of the recent reforms of summary justice. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2009. 25p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119226 Keywords: Juvenile Courts Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Youth Courts (Scotland)

Author: Prospero, Moises Title: Evaluation of Project 180 for Gang Offenders Summary: Project 180 is a gang prevnetion and intervention program that is part of West Valley City's strategy to implement the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model. Project 180 integrates all elements of the Comprehensive Gang Model but the program focuses on social intervention by providing an approximately three month long program that includes mentoring and life skills groups and recreation activities. This evaluation found that Project 180 has had some early successes in increasing community involvement and decreasing antisocial attitudes, school suspension and arrests. Additionally, the evaluation revealed improvement in the participants' interpersonal behavior, such as cooperating with rules, talking to others in a friendly way, and not physically fighting with family or peers. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, S.J. Quinney College of Law, University of Utah, 2008. 39p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 114822 Keywords: Gangs (Utah) Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Cloyes, Kristin G. Title: Time to Return to Prison for Serious Mentally Ill Offenders Released from Utah State Prison 1998-2002 Summary: This report describes the first stage in a program of research examining the effects of prison-based and community-based mental health treatment on the length of time that offenders with serious mental illness (SMI) in Utah State remain out of prison. The preliminary study reported here analyzed recidivism in offenders with SMI released from Utah State Prison 1998-2002 compared with non-SMI offenders released in the same period. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2007. 49p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 114817 Keywords: Mental Health Services Mentally Ill Offenders (Utah) Recidivism

Author: Drake, E.K. Title: Increased Earned Release From Prison: Impact of a 2003 Law on Recidivism and Crime Cost, Revised Summary: The 2003 Washington State Legislature passed ESSB 5990, which increased “earned early release time” for certain types of offenders. The bill authorized the Washington State Department of Corrections to release certain eligible offenders earlier if they have demonstrated good behavior in prison. This report presents an evaluation of the effect of the 2003 law. Ooverall recidivism findings remain consistent with those in the original November 2008 report; the cost-benefit analysis for this revised version has been strengthened and the study found that the law generates benefits of $1.88 per dollar of cost. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2009. 15p. Source: Internet Resource; Document No. 09-04-1201 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 114903 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Early Release Earned Release Recidivism

Author: Brace, Charlotte Title: The Relationship Between Crime and Road Safety Summary: The aim of this project was to review the literature on the relationship between crime and road safety, to identify pertinent Victorian crime and road safety data, and discuss how such data can be utilised to examine the relationship between crime and road safety. Of specific interest was the relationship between criminal activity of individuals and the likelihood of these individuals being involved in a fatal or serious injury outcome road crash. The key findings of this research suggests that t here is a positive relationship between: general negative behaviour (e.g. involvement in antisocial behaviours) and risky driving behaviour; criminal behaviour and traffic offences (specifically violence, theft & burglary and recidivist/drink driving, driving whilst disqualified; risky traffic behaviour contributing to a crash and criminal history (particularly for violent crime, vandalism, property crime, and involvement in traffic crime), and; crash involvement, drink driving and general criminal history including theft, car theft, drug and alcohol related crimes, violence and property damage. This report documents a variety of approaches that have been adopted internationally to examine these relationships, and highlights that such work has not been undertaken in Victoria to date. Moreover, the limitations and barriers for linking crime and road safety data in Victoria are discussed and these predominantly concern privacy and ethics, matching of data, issues with data analysis and cost/resource factors. A number of recommendations are made to overcome these data limitations, and to explore more fully the relationship between crime and road safety in Victoria. Details: Victoria, Australia: Monash University, Accident Research Centre, 2009. 60p. Source: Internet Resource; Report No. 284 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119337 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime Automobile Theft Crime (Victoria, Australia) Drunk Driving Motor Vehicle Theft Recidivism Traffic Offenses Vandalism

Author: Willison, Janeen Buck Title: Evaluation of the Ridge House Residential Program: Final Report Summary: The Ridge House is a faith-based transitional housing program operating in Reno, Nevada, that provides prisoner reentry services to men and women leaving prison. The evaluation: (1) documents the logic and operations of the program; the barriers to and facilitators of successful operations; and whether program outcomes were achieved; (2) assesses the impacts of the program in reducing recidivism and improving employment, housing, and drug use outcomes of participants compared to a parolee comparison group; and (3) provides a cost-benefit analysis. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2010. 92p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119367 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Parole Parolees Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Muntingh, Lukas Title: Prisoner Re-Entry in Cape Town - An Exploratory Study Summary: "Every month in South Africa approximately 6000 sentenced prisoners are released, some on parole and some on expiry of sentence. After serving their prison sentences it is society’s expectation that they will refrain from committing crime and be productive citizens. They are expected to find employment, rebuild relationships with their families and communities, and cease from engaging in certain activities and avoiding the risks that caused their imprisonment in the first instance. Unfortunately, it is the case that many released prisoners commit further offences and find their way back to prison, some in a remarkably short period of time while others return after several years. This study is concerned with the immediate post-release period and asked a very simple question: “What happens to people immediately after they have been released from prison?” The question is aimed at gaining a deeper and empirical understanding of what prisoner re-entry and reintegration into society mean and what the obstacles are to successful reintegration. When people’s lives have effectively been put on hold for several months or years, how do they pick up the strings where they had left them, if there are indeed strings to pick up? " Details: Bellville, South Africa: Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, 2008. 37p. Source: Internet Resource; CSPRI Research Paper No. 14 Year: 2008 Country: South Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119383 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Services for Prisoner Reentry Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Rael, Roberta M. Title: Incarcerated youth Perspectives on Violence: The Voices from the Inside. New Mexico Incarcerated Youth Speak Out about Violence Summary: New Mexico has some of the highest rates of youth violence in the country. Suicide and homicide are the second and third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds in New Mexico. In 2002, New Mexico was among the states with the highest rates of homicide and suicide for all ages. Youth participation in violence prevention work is integral: youth perspective has proven to be valuable to policy and program processes. Youth who participate have a sense of inclusion, involvement and empowerment. These are three basic components of developing a sense of personal value and self-esteem. The intent of this special project is to provide a voice from a segment of the community that typically does not have an opportunity to participate in program, policy and institutional change. This report reflects what incarcerated youth in New Mexico had to say about their own life history related to violence, how incarceration impacted their lives, and what risk and protective factors exist that will prevent or propel them into the adult system of incarceration after they are released from their current commitments. This information was retrieved through the use of focus groups that were designed specifically for this population of incarcerated youth. Details: Albuquerque, NM: Office of Injury Prevention, Injury and Behavioral Epidemiology Bureau, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 2007. 31p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119388 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Detention Juvenile Inmates Juvenile Offenders (New Mexico) Recidivism

Author: Fontaine, Jocelyn Title: Evaluation of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Corporation for Supportive Housing's Pilot Program: Interim Report, Oct. 2007-Sept. 2008. Summary: The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the Corporation for Supportive Housing Ohio Office developed a pilot program that provides permanent supportive housing to individuals released from several Ohio prisons. The Pilot intends to reduce recidivism and homelessness/shelter usage and decrease the costs associated with multiple service system use. The Urban Institute is evaluating the Pilot to explore whether it is meeting its intended goals. This Interim Report covers the first year of the evaluation—describing the Pilot and its eligibility requirements; the UI evaluation methods; and the characteristics and preliminary outcomes of the Pilot's first 57 clients. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2009. 34p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119279 Keywords: Ex-Prisoners (Ohio) Housing Recidivism Reentry

Author: Keaton, Sandy Title: Families as Healers: Phoenix House San Diego's Family Services Enhancement Program Summary: The goal of the Families as Healers (FAH) program is to strengthen and expand Phoenix House San Diego’s Family Services programming to improve the quality and access of services while enhancing a program that promotes healthy behaviors. The project, which received initial funding from The California Endowment, aimed to provide services to approximately 50 unduplicated youths between August 1, 2006, and July 31, 2008. This funding was extended with a grant from the Alliance Healthcare Foundation to enhance the specialized health and mental services as well as extend the follow-up period through September 2009. During this period the program exceeded its goal to serve 50 youth and their families, with a total of 320 youth enrolled and agreeing to participate in the evaluation. The Criminal Justice Research Division of SANDAG conducted the impact evaluation of the FAH program by analyzing data on participants at intake, exit, and six months post exit. Data showed that FAH clients were dealing with multiple issues including severe substance use, mental health symptoms, and delinquent behavior. Additionally, compared to outpatient clients, residential clients were at higher risk in most categories. Exit and data follow-up data exit showed that youth made positive gains in substance use, school/employment participation, and delinquency. This is the sixth and final report. Details: San Diego: SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments), 2009. 27p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118764 Keywords: Drug Treatment Family Interventions Juvenile Offenders (San Diego) Mental Health Services Recidivism Rehabilitation, Juveniles Substance Abuse

Author: Hickert, Audrey O. Title: Evaluation of the Utah Juvenile Drug Courts: Final Report Summary: The report examines 6 Utah Juvenile Drug Courts (JDCs) in Weber, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Emery, and Grand counties, providing descriptive statistics on population served, services offered, and during and post-JDC juvenile recidivism. The four largest JDCs are compared to similar probationers on post-program juvenile and adult recidivism, with a 30 month follow-up period. There were no significant differences on alcohol/drug recidivism between probation and JDC after controlling for other significant factors; however, JDC had significantly less delinquency/criminal recidivism, even after controlling for other significant factors. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2010. 75p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119410 Keywords: Juvenile Drug Courts (Utah) Juvenile Drug Offenders Juvenile Probation Juvenle Offenders (Utah) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Roberts, Colin H. Title: Displaying Effectiveness: Evaluation Report on the IRIS Project Summary: The Intensive Recidivist Intervention Scheme (IRIS) is a prolific offender (PO) project conceived and managed by the Thames Valley Police, in collaboration with the Thames Valley Probation Area. During the first year of operation the project focused on offenders living in the Oxford Local Police Area, and was run from the Police Station in Oxford (St Aldates). The project had two major aims when it commenced in September 2003. 1. To reduce the number of acquisitive crimes committed in the Oxford area by the targetted IRIS offenders and thereby helping to protect the public by limiting the harm to victims within the community. 2. To develop in the IRIS scheme participants a sense of personal responsibility, by encouraging them to improve their life skills and increase their levels of victim empathy. This report presents an evaluation of the program for the period from September 2003 to the end of December 2004. Details: Oxford, UK: University of Oxford, Centre for Criminology & Probation Studies Unit, 2005. 49p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119466 Keywords: Offender Treatment Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Boggs, Breann Title: Treatment of Juveniles in the Wisconsin Criminal Court System: An Analysis of Potential Alternatives Summary: The 1995 reforms to the juvenile justice code increased the number of juveniles prosecuted in adult criminal court. The policy change transferred all 17-year-olds to adult criminal court jurisdiction. Judicial waiver, which allows the juvenile court to transfer a case to adult court, was expanded to include 14-year-olds. Juveniles prosecuted in adult court face adult criminal penalties. Juvenile correctional facilities offer educational programming and a variety of ageappropriate treatment options. Juveniles in the adult system miss out on these resources. A 2008 Legislative Audit Bureau report shows higher rates of recidivism among younger offenders placed into the adult correctional system. Recidivism rates among 17-year-old defendants in Wisconsin are estimated to be as high as 48 percent, three times higher than for adult offenders or younger juveniles in the juvenile system. The Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council requested an analysis of the juvenile justice process in Wisconsin and examination of current practices in other states. This report evaluates the status quo policy and two categories of alternative policies: waiver laws and blended sentencing. Time constraints prevented the development of a more formal analysis of recidivism rates among these alternatives; however, we conclude that the current system fails to meet the particular treatment needs of younger offenders and that this failure likely contributes to the high recidivism rate among this population. We encourage the Joint Legislative Council to re-examine the 1995 reforms and request a comprehensive audit of the treatment of juveniles in the Wisconsin correctional system that would assess the effectiveness of treatment options available to younger offenders in the juvenile and adult correctional systems. Details: Madison, WI: Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008. 31p. Source: Internet Resource; Prepared for the Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119519 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers (Wisconsin) Juvenile Offenders (Wisconsin) Recidivism

Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: Prison Populations and Correctional Outlays: The Effect of Reducing Re-Imprisonment Summary: "Between 1998 and 2008, the Australian imprisonment rate (per capita) rose 20 per cent. In 2008, net recurrent and capital expenditure on prisons in Australia exceeded $2.6 billion per annum. Efforts to reduce the prison population through the creation of alternatives to custody have not been very successful. This bulletin explores the potential savings in prison costs and prison numbers of reducing the rate at which prisoners return to custody. The results of our analysis suggest that modest reductions in the rate at which offenders are re-imprisoned would result in substantial savings in prisoner numbers and correctional outlays. A ten per cent reduction in the overall re-imprisonment rates would reduce the prison population by more than 800 inmates, saving $28 million per year. Comparable reductions in the number of new sentenced prisoners also produce benefits but they are smaller. The potential benefits of reducing the rate of re-imprisonment among subgroups of offenders with a high re-imprisonment rate are particularly noteworthy. A 10 per cent reduction in the Indigenous re-imprisonment rate, for example, would reduce the Indigenous sentenced prisoner population by 365 inmates, resulting in savings of more than $10 million per annum." Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 11p. Source: Internet Resource; Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 138; Accessed August 8, 2010 at http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb138.pdf/$file/cjb138.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb138.pdf/$file/cjb138.pdf Shelf Number: 119575 Keywords: Costs of Corrections Inmates Prison Overcrowding Prison Population (Australia) Prisons Recidivism

Author: Redding, Richard E. Title: Juvenile Transfer Laws: An Effective Deterrent to Delinquency? Summary: In an effort to strengthen the sanctions for serious juvenile crimes, a number of States have enacted laws increasing the types of offenders and offenses eligible for transfer from the juvenile court to the adult criminal court for trial and potential sentencing. These laws have lowered the minimum transfer age, increased the number of offenses eligible for transfer, and limited judicial discretion, while expanding prosecutorial discretion for transfers. Among the principal goals of such transfer laws are the deterrence of juvenile crime and a reduction in the rate of recidivism, but what does the research indicate about their effectiveness in addressing these ends? Several studies have found higher recidivism rates for juveniles convicted in criminal court than for similar offenders adjudicated in juvenile courts. The research is less clear, however, in regard to whether transfer laws deter potential juvenile offenders. This Bulletin provides an overview of research on the deterrent effects of transferring youth from juvenile to criminal courts, focusing on large-scale comprehensive OJJDP-funded studies on the effect of transfer laws on recidivism. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/220595.pdf; Juvenile Justice Bulletin, June 2010 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/220595.pdf; Juvenile Justice Bulletin, June 2010 Shelf Number: 119607 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Courts Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Listwan, Shelley Johnson Title: The Erie County Drug Court: Outcome Evaluation Findings Summary: Since 1989 with the inception of first drug court Miami Florida, over 360 courts have emerged and approximately 220 more are in the planning process (National Association of Drug Court Professionals, 2000). Currently, drug courts exist in every state in the nation and have served over 140,000 individuals. The U.S. Department of Justice also placed a high priority on drug courts; since 1995, the Drug Courts Programs Office provided $56 million in funding for development and research (Belenko, 1998). Given the degree of support and fiscal commitment, the implementation of these specialized courts will likely increase. Recognizing the need to evaluate the efficacy of the drug court model, the Supreme Court of Ohio contracted the University of Cincinnati’s, Center for Criminal Justice Research, to develop an outcome evaluation model and data collection process. The long-term objective of the Supreme Court is to utilize the evaluation model and data collection process to engage in on-going evaluations of Ohio’s drug court programs. Currently, there are 34 operating drug courts in Ohio. This report represents the outcome results from the drug court in Erie County, Ohio." Details: Cincinnati, OH: Center for Criminal Justice Research, 2001. 44p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 16, 2010 at: http://www.uc.edu/ccjr/Reports/ProjectReports/ErieCountyreport.pdf Year: 2001 Country: United States URL: http://www.uc.edu/ccjr/Reports/ProjectReports/ErieCountyreport.pdf Shelf Number: 101491 Keywords: Drug Courts (Ohio) Drug Offenders Recidivism

Author: Greenwood, Peter Title: Preventing and Reducing Youth Crime and Violence: Using Evidence-Based Practices Summary: This report presents a list of programs and strategies that are most likely to prevent and reduce youth crime and violence. The list is relatively short, describing 27 programs and 25 strategies that are suitable for implementation primarily by probation departments and schools, and 11 programs and strategies that do not work. This list is the starting point for a public safety investment strategy. (Excerpts from document) Details: Sacramento, CA: California Governor's Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy, 2010. 15p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 16, 2010 at: http://www.calgrip.ca.gov/documents/Preventing_and_Reducing_Youth_Crime_and_Violence.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.calgrip.ca.gov/documents/Preventing_and_Reducing_Youth_Crime_and_Violence.pdf Shelf Number: 119613 Keywords: Juvenile Crime, Evidence -Based Practices Juvenile Delinquency Recidivism Youth Violence

Author: Cortoni, Franca Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of the National Sexual Offender Program Summary: "The purpose of the current study was to assess the effectiveness of the National Sexual Offender Program (NaSOP) in reducing recidivism. The NaSOP is a cognitive-behavioural program offered to low and moderate risk male sexual offenders. It is a therapeutic and semi-structured intervention designed to help offenders develop effective self-management skills. In addition, the program targets cognitive distortions, deviant arousal and fantasy, social skills, anger and emotion management, empathy, and victim awareness. Following the principles of effective correctional interventions (Andrews & Bonta, 2003), the program is offered at both moderate and low intensity. The moderate intensity program is offered in institutions and typically consists of 10 to 14 hours of group work over a period of 4 to 5 months. The low intensity program is delivered both in the institutions and the community. This program typically constists of 3 to 5 hours of weekly group work over the course of 2 to 3 months. The program is delivered by psychologists and program delivery officers that have experience in the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders and who have completed standardized training in the delivery of the NaSOP. The NaSOP was given international accreditation in 2000 and was fully implemented across CSC by 2002. The study examined whether sexual offenders who had completed the NaSOP demonstrated reductions in recidivism when compared to a group of untreated sexual offenders. It included 347 sexual offenders who had participated in the NaSOP between 2000 and 2004. A comparison group comprised of 137 untreated sexual offenders as drawn from Motiuk and Porporino's (1993) database. Motiuk and Porporino (1993) conducted an exhaustive review of a representative sample of sexual offenders under federal jurisdiction (in institutions and in the community) at the time. They collected a wide range of information on these offenders in their sample, including whether they had participated in sexual offender treatment. Offenders identified in the database as not having participated in such treatment were selected for the comparison group. All offenders in the study had sufficient file information to permit the scoring of the STATIC-99, an actuarial assessment instrument specifically designed to assess risk of sexual recidivism. Two different approaches were utilized to examine whether NaSOP participants demonstrated reduced recidivism. The first approach was a cohort design, in which the rates of recidivism of the NaSOP participants were compared to those of the comparison group. After statistically controlling for risk and time-at-risk in the community, results showed that the offenders who participated in the NaSOP had a 68% reduction of sexual recidivism, an 83% reduction of violent recidivism, and a 77% reduction in any type of recidivism when compared to the untreated offenders. The second approach was a risk-band design, in which the actual recidivism rates are compared to actuarially-established projected rates of recidivism. Rates from the STATIC-99 normative sample were used as the comparison in this case. Cox regression analyses showed that the NaSOP group had an 88% lower rate of sexual recidivism than would have been expected based on the STATIC-99 normative sample. The odds of sexual recidivism for the comparison group, however, did not differ from those that would be expected based on their STATIC-99 scores. It is possible that year of release, as a result of socio-politic factors (e.g., willingness to report sexual offenders; societal reactions to sexual offending) affects recidivism rates. As the median year of release was 2003 for the NaSOP participants and 1992 for the comparison group, Cox regression analyses were conducted separately for the NaSOP and the comparison groups to examine the potential impact of year of release. For the NaSOP group, release year was not associated with recidivism of any type. For the comparison group, release year was not associated with sexual recidivism. It was associated, however, with violent recidivism. This indicates that for the comparison group, the predicted rate of violent recidivism increased by 56% with each one-year increase in release year. The results from this study are consistent with meta-analytical research on correctional treatment programs for sexual offenders (e.g., ATSA Collaborative Database), indicating that structured cognitive-behavioral interventions that target the factors specifically related to sexually offending behavior are effective methods to reduce recidivism among sexual offenders. The current findings provide evidence that the NaSOP is an effective intervention for reducing recidivism among low to moderate risk sexual offenders." Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, 2008. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report R-183; Accessed August 19, 2010 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r183/r183-eng.shtml Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r183/r183-eng.shtml Shelf Number: 118804 Keywords: Correctional Programs Recidivism Sex Offenders (Canada) Treatment, Sex Offenders

Author: Woods, Daniel J. Title: Unpacking the Impact of Restorative Justice in the RISE Experiments: Facilitators, Offenders, and Conference Non-Delivery Summary: Restorative Justice (RJ) programs are often evaluated in terms of their outcomes (e.g. impact on crime), with little attention to the process. RJ's impact is often assessed by examining the difference between RJ “treated” groups with controls who typically experience standard criminal justice system processing. This strategy yields average effects across individuals who experience RJ differently. The present dissertation unpacks these different effects in three separate inquiries utilizing data from the Reintegrative Shaming Experiments (RISE) conducted in Canberra, Australia from 1995 - 2000. First, borrowing a medical model, we descriptively assess the extent to which conference facilitators engender perceptions of procedural justice and legitimacy in offenders who attend RJ. We graphically examine the number of conferences delivered per facilitator (experience), sequential conferences (practice-makes-perfect) and the timing between conferences (skill maintenance). Certain conference facilitators are just who are good at promoting perceptions of procedural justice and legitimacy, two concepts that are linked with reduced criminal behavior. Second, we utilize trajectory analysis to assess the impact of assignment to RJ on subsequent criminal offending for individuals following different offending trajectories. The impact of RJ varies by offending group, with negative effects observed for Aboriginal offenders. Finally, utilizing multinomial logistic regression, we examine the characteristics associated with non-delivery of RJ, either due to offender-related or administrative-related reasons. From a practical standpoint, randomized controlled trials, such as RISE, rely on treatment integrity to best assess the impact of the assigned treatment. From a policy standpoint, the most efficient use of resources would rely on successful conference delivery. We find that the time between random assignment and the first conference attempt is significantly related to successful delivery. Specifically, organizing a conference too soon or too late increases the chance that the conference will fail. This dissertation takes important steps in understanding the importance of unpacking the impact of RJ and helps inform who should conduct RJ conferences, what groups of individuals to include in future studies, and what impacts non-delivery of RJ conferences. Details: Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2009. 112p. (Thesis) Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2010 at:http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=edissertations Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=edissertations Shelf Number: 119642 Keywords: Recidivism Restorative Justice

Author: Zgoba, Kristen Title: Megan's Law: Assessing the Practical and Monetary Efficacy Summary: This research concerns the various impacts of community notification and registration laws (Megan’s Law) in New Jersey. Although this report includes a variety of interesting findings and many ideas that will be explored upon post grant period, this research was embarked upon, in general, to investigate: 1) the effect of Megan’s Law on the overall rate of sexual offending over time; 2) its specific deterrence effect on re-offending, including the level of general and sexual offense recidivism, the nature of sexual re-offenses, and time to first re-arrest for sexual and non-sexual re-offenses (i.e., community tenure); and 3) the costs of implementation and annual expenditures of Megan’s Law. These three primary foci were investigated using three different methodologies and samples. Phase One was a 21-year (10 years prior and 10 years after implementation, and the year of implementation) trend study of sex offenses in each of New Jersey’s counties and of the state as a whole. In Phase Two, data on 550 sexual offenders released during the years 1990 to 2000 were collected, and outcomes of interest were analyzed. Finally, Phase Three collected implementation and ongoing costs of administering Megan’s Law. This report presents the major findings of the three phases of the study. Details: Trenton, NJ: New Jersey Department of Corrections, Office of Policy and Planning, Research & Evaluation Unit, 2008. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225370.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225370.pdf Shelf Number: 113931 Keywords: Megan's Law (New Jersey) Recidivism Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders

Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Prisons Title: Alcohol Services in Prisons: An Unmet Need Summary: "This report draws on inspection surveys of 13,000 prisoners between 2004 and 2009, 72 inspection reports between 2006 and 2009, and surveys of drug coordinators in 68 prisons in 2009. The data cover all kinds of prisons holding those over 18. The survey results, particularly for the most recent year, are startling. Within the whole sample, 13% of prisoners surveyed reported having an alcohol problem when they entered their prison. In the most recent year, 2008-09, this rose to 19%, nearly one in five. It was even higher among young adults (30%) and women (29%). These figures almost certainly underestimate the scale of the problem, as many of those with alcohol problems will fail to recognise or acknowledge them. While most alcohol users, particularly women, reported concurrent use of illegal drugs, there was a significant proportion of male substance misusers for whom alcohol was the only problematic substance. This was true for half of the men in local prisons who reported having an alcohol problem. Among young adults, only a minority reported having drug problems, but no alcohol problem. Prisoners with alcohol problems are likely to be more problematic in general and to need greater support. More are high risk offenders and more had been in prison before. They were more likely than other prisoners to come into prison with pre-existing difficulties, such as housing needs and health, particularly mental health, issues. Alcohol use is accepted as a key risk factor in predicting violent reoffending. Yet this report shows that at every stage in prison, their needs are less likely to be either assessed or met than those with illicit drug problems. On entry to prison, alcohol problems are not consistently or reliably identified, nor is the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some establishment drug coordinators’ estimates of the extent of the problem in their prison appeared to be considerably at odds with our survey findings. Few prisons had an alcohol strategy based on a current needs analysis, and even where analyses had been carried out, some were likely to underestimate need. Services for alcohol users were very limited, particularly for those who did not also use illicit drugs. There was a shortage of healthcare staff with training in alcohol misuse, or dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use). Interventions so far have largely consisted of Alcoholics Anonymous, an abstinence-based self-help approach which is not suitable for all those with alcohol problems. CARATs (counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare service) teams are not resourced to work with those who have only an alcohol problem. Most drug coordinators identified the lack of specific funding as a major barrier to providing adequate services, even when new interventions became available – whereas there has been ring-fenced funding for illicit drug users." Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2010. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/docs/Alcohol_2010_rps.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-prisons/docs/Alcohol_2010_rps.pdf Shelf Number: 119213 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Correctional Programs Prisoners, Health Care Recidivism

Author: Orchowsky, Stan Title: Improving State Criminal History Records: Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released in 2001 Summary: JRSA is working with the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) on a project designed to improve state criminal history records. The project allows State Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs) to develop the capacity to obtain and analyze their states' criminal history records or, in the case of SACs that already have this capacity, to participate in coordinated studies of key topics of interest to state justice decisionmakers. SACs will provide feedback to their state criminal history repositories on errors in the data discovered as the analyses are undertaken. This ongoing process of analysis and correction of data in the files will help improve the overall quality of the data in the criminal history records. The first project involved SACs in nine states (Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah) studying sex offender recidivism using the criminal history records data. This report presents the findings of this analysis. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Research and Statistics Association, 2009. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2010 at: http://www.jrsa.org/programs/sex-offender-final-report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/programs/sex-offender-final-report.pdf Shelf Number: 119682 Keywords: Criminal Records Recidivism Sex Offenders

Author: Yan, Jiahui Title: A Multidisciplinary Study on Juvenile Recidivism and Multilevel Impacts - Risk Factors, Neighborhood Features, and Juvenile Justice Intervention Summary: This study incorporates the economic theories of crime, human capital investment, reasoned action, extended theory of subjective expected utility, as well as developmental criminological theories in a life-course perspective to develop a conceptual model to explore factors related to juvenile recidivism. The study aims to provide information for practitioners to help identify potential chronic and serious offenders, to explore evidence to validate risk and needs assessment tools, and to probe the significant factors to be used as the basis for evidence-based programs. Recidivism is measured as count data in both frequency and severity level of subsequent offenses. Count data are data in which the observations can take only nonnegative integer values and the integers arise from counting. A unique combination of data from five public sources is obtained to examine the influence of individual-level risk factors, neighborhood dharacteristics, and juvenile justice intervention on juvenile recidivism. Exploratory factor analysis and principle component analysis are applied to solve issues related to assessment and census data. Four different regression models for count data are compared to propose the one with the best fit and the most predictive power for each response variable. Results indicate that the most consistent and influential indicators for identifying potential chronic and serious offenders are being older, being male, having a more serious first offense, showing a tendency towards violence, scoring high on the overall factor that represents problematic attitude, behavior, and social relations, and the existence of harmful parental impact. Race is not identified as a significant indicator after controlling other risk factors and socioeconomic differences between youth of different racial groups. Results indicate that where the youth lives matters. As compared with juveniles located in neighborhoods with positive socio-economic characteristics, those from the most disadvantaged areas are found to recidivate more frequently and more seriously. Findings also suggest that available community services might play a role in youth behavior. Cognitive-behavioral and supervisory programs are shown to have great potential in reducing recidivism. However, only when juveniles successfully complete the assigned programs, are they involved in fewer subsequent delinquent behaviors. Details: Columbia, MO: University of Missouri, 2009. 163p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation, University of Missouri: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/6128/research.pdf?sequence=3 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10355/6128/research.pdf?sequence=3 Shelf Number: 119702 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Neighborhoods Race Recidivism Socioeconomic Status

Author: Morales, Luz Anyela Title: Treatment Effectiveness in Secure Corrections of Serious (Violent or Chronic) Juvenile Offenders Summary: This study examines the outcomes of the best available empirical research regarding the effectiveness of treatment programmes implemented in secure corrections to prevent the recidivism of serious (violent or chronic) juvenile offenders (from 12 to 21 years old). In this review 31 experimental and quasi-experimental studies are analyzed. The global effect size of these 31 studies assuming a random-effects model in terms of the odds ratio was or+ = 1.269, being positive in favour of the treatment groups and statistically significant (p = .005). Its translation into a correlation coefficient was r = 0.072, meaning that the subjects that received any intervention programme exhibited, on average, 7.2% less recidivism into crime than those of the control groups. With relation to serious recidivism, we obtained a significant mean odds-ratio that supported the effectiveness of the treatment (or+ = 1.488). Moderator variables did not show statistically significant results to explain the heterogeneity effectiveness of the treatment. However, we found evidence to suggest desirable effects of cognitive-behavioural treatments and of multi-focused programmes. Details: Stockholm: Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, 2010. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2010 at: http://www.bra.se/extra/measurepoint/?module_instance=4&name=Treatment_effectiveness_in_secure_corrections_of_serious_juvenile_offenders_webb.pdf&url=/dynamaster/file_archive/100609/0b7d97fe2cb2d25c238e8f384376b694/Treatment%255feffectiveness%255fin%255fsecure%255fcorrections%255fof%255fserious%255fjuvenile%255foffenders%255fwebb.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.bra.se/extra/measurepoint/?module_instance=4&name=Treatment_effectiveness_in_secure_corrections_of_serious_juvenile_offenders_webb.pdf&url=/dynamaster/file_archive/100609/0b7d97fe2cb2d25c238e8f384376b694/Treatment% Shelf Number: 119719 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections, Treatment Programs Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Violent Juvenile Offenders

Author: Welsh, Brandon C. Title: Effects of Closed Circuit Television Surveillance on Crime Summary: Closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras serve many functions and are used in both public and private settings. The prevention of personal and property crime is among the primary objectives in public space, which is the main focus of this review. CCTV is viewed as a technique of “formal surveillance” and in this regard it is seen to enhance or take the place of security personnel. Results of this review indicate that CCTV has a modest but significant desirable effect on crime, is most effective in reducing crime in car parks, is most effective when targeted at vehicle crimes (largely a function of the successful car park schemes), and is more effective in reducing crime in the United Kingdom than in other countries. These results lend support for the continued use of CCTV to prevent crime in public space, but suggest that it be more narrowly targeted than its present use would indicate. Future CCTV schemes should employ high-quality evaluation designs with long follow-up periods. Details: Oslo: Cambell Collaboration, 2008. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Reviews, 2008: 17: Accessed September 8, 2010 at: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/243/ Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/243/ Shelf Number: 119767 Keywords: Closed-Circuit Television Electronic Surveillance Evidence-Based Practices Punishment Recidivism Risk Assessment Sentencing (U.S.) Situational Crime Prevention

Author: Jacobson, Jessica Title: Making Amends: Restorative Youth Justice in Northern Ireland Summary: The Youth Conference Service, established in Northern Ireland in 2003, placed restorative justice at the heart of the youth justice system, integrated within both the prosecution and sentencing processes. Since then, the number of young people engaged in youth conferencing has grown year on year and, to date, more than 5,500 referrals have been made to the service. There is sound evidence that victims who attend conferences express high-levels of satisfaction with the process and outcomes, and levels of participation are reasonably high. There are encouraging signs that youth conferencing is leading to a reduction in reoffending rates. The establishment of the Youth Conference Service has also contributed to an overall decline in the use of custody for young offenders, and to an increasing rate of diversion of young people out of the formal criminal justice process. This report, commissioned as part of the Prison Reform Trust’s strategy to reduce child and youth imprisonment in the UK, explores the experience and impact of youth conferencing in Northern Ireland and looks at the potential benefits of introducing a similar model to the youth justice system in England and Wales. Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource" Accessed September 13, 2010 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/making_amends.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/uploads/documents/making_amends.pdf Shelf Number: 119785 Keywords: Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Restorative Justice Youth Conferencing

Author: Lipsey, Mark W. Title: Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Criminal Offenders Summary: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is among the more promising rehabilitative treatments for criminal offenders. Reviews of the comparative effectiveness of different treatment approaches have generally ranked it in the top tier with regard to effects on recidivism (e.g., Andrews et al., 1990; Lipsey & Wilson, 1998). It has a well-developed theoretical basis that explicitly targets “criminal thinking” as a contributing factor to deviant behavior (Beck, 1999; Walters, 1990; Yochelson & Samenow, 1976). And, it can be adapted to a range of juvenile and adult offenders, delivered in institutional or community settings by mental health specialists or paraprofessionals, and administered as part of a multifaceted program or as a stand-alone intervention. Meta-analysis has consistently indicated that CBT, on average, has significant positive effects on recidivism. However, there is also significant variation across studies in the size of those treatment effects. Identification of the moderator variables that describe the study characteristics associated with larger and smaller effects can further develop our understanding of the effectiveness of CBT with offenders. Of particular importance is the role such moderator analysis can play in ascertaining which variants of CBT are most effective. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the relationships of selected moderator variables to the effects of CBT on the recidivism of general offender populations. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2007. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Review, 2007:6: Accessed September 16, 2010 at: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/143/ Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/143/ Shelf Number: 119821 Keywords: Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: McDonald, Douglas Title: The Effectiveness of Prisoner Reentry Services as Crime-Control: The Fortune Society Summary: The Fortune Society, located in New York City, provides various services on a voluntary basis to offenders who have been incarcerated previously, at an average cost (in 2005) of about $3,265 per client. This study examines the extent to which receipt of these services reduces recidivism and homelessness following release. Recidivism is measured by an arrest leading to conviction; homelessness is indicated by a request to the NYC Department of Homeless Services for shelter. Fortune clients released to NYC from state prisons or from NYC jails during 2000-2005 are examined and their outcomes are compared to outcomes observed for state prisoners or local jail inmates released during same period but who did not go to Fortune. Multivariate survival analyses and propensity score analyses are used to estimate program effects on recidivism. No evidence of positive effects on recidivism is found. Indeed, Fortune clients were more likely to recidivate than non-clients, even after controlling for several measured differences among them. This should not be interpreted as showing that Fortune has negative effects on clients but instead that all differences associated with risk were not measured for lack of sufficient information. Fortune clients typically have long criminal records, little education, no legitimate employment, few employable skills, and are dependent upon others for housing. Their participation rates in Fortune’s services were generally low: one in four dropped out, and fewer than half completed the course of services. Half participated in no more than nine group sessions, whereas the most active 25% received 36 or more group sessions. Given clients’ generally dire circumstances, such low participation rates make it unlikely that positive program effects are achievable for the client population as a whole. Released prisoners are at high risk of homelessness. Using multivariate survival analysis techniques to account for the effects of measured differences among clients and non-clients, we estimate that participation in Fortune’s services has a positive effect on released jail prisoners’ ability to avoid homelessness throughout the years following release. No similar effect was found for released state prisoners, however. One possible explanation of this is that returning state prisoners have more access to services than returning city jail prisoners (90% of state prisoners leave under parole supervision), with the result that Fortune’s contribution of services is relatively greater for city prisoners, and possibly more effective for them. This hypothesis was not tested for lack of information about services to non-clients. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates, 2008. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesssed September 22, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225369.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/225369.pdf Shelf Number: 113422 Keywords: Homelessness Recidivism Reentry Voluntary and Community Organizations

Author: Barnoski, Robert Title: Washington's Offender Accountability Act: Department of Corrections' Static Risk Instrument Summary: The 1999 Offender Accountability Act (OAA) affects how the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) supervises convicted felony offenders in the community. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (Institute) was directed by the Legislature to evaluate the OAA. The OAA requires DOC to supervise felony offenders according to their risk for future offending. Risk for future offending is estimated using instruments that classify offenders into groups with similar characteristics. Criminal behavior is difficult to predict; even the most accurate instruments, like this one, cannot predict with absolute certainty who will subsequently reoffend. In our 2003 report, the Institute evaluated the validity of DOC’s risk assessment tool and found that the tool could be strengthened by including more information about an offender’s prior record of convictions. Subsequently, DOC asked the Institute to develop a new “static risk” instrument based on offender demographics and criminal history because of the following advantages: Increased predictive accuracy; Prediction of three types of high risk offenders: drug, property, and violent; Increased objectivity; Decreased time to complete the assessment; and Accurate recording of criminal history for use in other DOC reporting requirements. This report describes our evaluation of the validity of the static risk instrument developed for DOC. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2007. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2010 at: http://www.asca.net/documents/07-03-1201-WSIPPStaticRisk.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.asca.net/documents/07-03-1201-WSIPPStaticRisk.pdf Shelf Number: 114887 Keywords: Classification of Offenders Felony Offenders Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Wartna, B.S.J. Title: Recidivism Report 1997-2006: Developments in the Reconviction Rate of Dutch Offenders Summary: For some years, the Research and Documentation Centre of the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC) has conducted a study of the reconviction rate of Dutch offenders. The measurements relate to five study populations: adult offenders sanctioned by court or Public Prosecutor’s Service (PPS), juvenile offenders sanctioned by court or PPS, ex-prisoners, former inmates of juvenile detention centres and former offenders placed under an entrustment order. The Recidivism Monitor study covers almost the entire field of Dutch criminal law application. Nearly all persons in the Netherlands who came into contact with the Dutch judicial system as a suspect occur in one or more of the offender populations. Recidivism among former offenders placed under an entrustment order is reported separately. This fact sheet outlines recidivism in the other four populations. The study includes all persons who were sanctioned by court or PPS or released from a penitentiary institution in the 1997-2006 period. In a former report, published in 2008, 2004 was the last year included in the study period. This report includes two more years. Details: The Hague: Ministry of Justice, 2009. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2010 at: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/actualisering-sancties-2009.aspx Year: 2009 Country: Netherlands URL: http://english.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/actualisering-sancties-2009.aspx Shelf Number: 119871 Keywords: Adult Offenders Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reconviction

Author: Drake, Elizabeth K. Title: Washington's Offender Accountability Act: Final Report on Recidivism Outcomes Summary: The 1999 Offender Accountability Act (OAA) directs the Department of Corrections (DOC) to perform a formal assessment of each offender’s risk for recidivism and then to allocate agency resources accordingly. The law also requires the Institute to evaluate the OAA and provide results by 2010. This report presents our findings on whether the OAA has had an effect on recidivism. On average, offenders today have a greater risk for recidivism than historically; the general rise in recidivism over the last 20 years is largely explained by the increased underlying risk of DOC’s offender population. Since the OAA was implemented, however, something favorable has happened to cause recidivism rates to be lower than expected. Unfortunately, our statistical analysis does not allow us to identify whether this beneficial change can be attributed specifically to the OAA or other policies, or other unknown factors that occurred during the same time period. Regardless, the good news from our evaluation is that, after at least a decade of increasing recidivism, Washington is now beginning to observe improvements in adult felony recidivism. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2010 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/10-01-1201.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/10-01-1201.pdf Shelf Number: 119879 Keywords: Adult Felony Offenders Community Supervision Recidivism

Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: The Effect of Prison on Adult Re-Offending Summary: The effect of prison on re-offending was examined by comparing time to re-conviction among 96 matched pairs of convicted burglars and 406 matched pairs of offenders convicted of non-aggravated assault. One member of each pair received a prison sentence, while the other received some form of non-custodial sanction. All offenders were matched on offence type, number of concurrent offences, prior prison experience, number of prior appearances in court and bail status at final appearance. Cox regression was used to control for age, age of first conviction, gender, race, plea, number of counts of the principal offence, legal representation and prior breach of a court order. In the case of non-aggravated assault an additional control was included: prior conviction for a violent offence. The study found that offenders who received a prison sentence were slightly more likely to re-offend than those who received a noncustodial penalty. The difference was just significant for non-aggravated assault but not significant for burglary. The study concluded that there is no evidence that prison deters offenders convicted of burglary or non-aggravated assault. There is some evidence that prison increases the risk of offending amongst offenders convicted of non-aggravated assault but further research with larger samples is needed to confirm the results. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 143: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB143.pdf/$file/CJB143.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB143.pdf/$file/CJB143.pdf Shelf Number: 119884 Keywords: Prison Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Evans, Michael Title: Recidivism Revisited Summary: The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has adopted the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) definition of recidivism: …any felony offense committed by an offender within 36-months of being at-risk in the community which results in a Washington State conviction. This was done in an effort to accurately compare recidivism rates to other states and organizations, to evaluate current prison programs, and to improve planning efforts. Recidivism rates for Washington offenders peaked for those released in 2003 at 34.8 percent, and have since declined to 31.1 percent for those released in 2006. Recidivism rates are impacted by re-offense behavior, risk level, law changes and measure of recidivism selected (i.e., programs, sentencing, amount of supervision after release, etc.). DOC recidivism rates do not currently include jail data; hence recidivism rates are actually higher than those presented. DOC recently started collecting jail data through a joint effort with the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and plan to add jail recidivism to prison data in the future. Jail data will enhance future correction research, and further the comparison of Washington state recidivism rates to other states recidivism rates across the county. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Corrections, 2010. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2010 at: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/docs/RecidivismRevisitedFinal8.26.10.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/docs/RecidivismRevisitedFinal8.26.10.pdf Shelf Number: 119892 Keywords: Recidivism

Author: Lulham, Rohan Title: The Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment Program: Impact of Program Participation on Re-Offending by Defendants with a Drug Use Problem Summary: This bulletin reports on the evaluation of re-offending outcomes for the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) drug diversion program in New South Wales, Australia. MERIT provides defendants in NSW Local Courts with the option of undertaking formal drug treatment while on bail. Re-offending outcomes for a cohort of 2,396 defendants who participated in the MERIT program were compared with a comparison group of defendants who did not participate in the MERIT program but who broadly met the eligibility criteria. To estimate the impact of the program we used a treatment effects model with correction for selection bias. Acceptance into the MERIT program, regardless of completion, was found to significantly reduce the number of defendants committing any theft re-offence by an estimated four percentage points. Acceptance and completion of the MERIT program significantly reduced the number of defendants committing any type of offence by an estimated 12 percentage points, and any theft re-offence by four percentage points. This evaluation provides strong support that participation in the MERIT program reduces defendants’ propensity to commit theft offences and, for those who complete the program, substantially reduces their propensity to commit any type of re-offence. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 131: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb131.pdf/$file/cjb131.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb131.pdf/$file/cjb131.pdf Shelf Number: 119897 Keywords: Diversion Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Re-Offending Recidivism Theft

Author: Letourneau, Elizabeth J. Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Policies for Reducing Sexual Violence Against Women Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of one state’s sex offender registration and notification policy in reducing sexual violence. The problem of sexual violence is a national legislative priority as evidenced by numerous sex offender-specific policies enacted at the federal level over the past 15 years. Specifics vary among states regarding criminal justice responses to sex offending, but all such policies have as their primary goals the prevention of sexual violence and the reduction of sexual re-offending. The present study examined the effects of comprehensive registration and community notification policies on rates of sexual violence in South Carolina. Specifically, the present study proposed to evaluate whether broad sex offender registration and notification policies have reduced recidivism or deterred new sexual offenses. Additionally, this study proposed to examine whether unintended effects of broad registration and notification policies have occurred. Of note, the present study focused almost exclusively on the effects of registration and notification as pertains to offenses committed by adults. Given that registration and notification policies often target juveniles adjudicated delinquent as minors, the investigative team has been involved in separate research pertaining to the effects of these policies as pertains to juveniles. This study examined whether the introduction of sex offender registration and notification laws in South Carolina were associated with reductions in sexual crimes and, if so, whether this reduction could be attributed to an actual reduction in sexual violence and/or recidivism (i.e., an intended effect) or to changes in criminal judicial processing of individuals for registry crimes (i.e., an unintended effect). In the context of this project, “sex offender” typically refers to anyone with one or more sex crime convictions. Specific sex crime charges are listed in Table 1 and include contact and noncontact offenses against children and adults. Specific study aims included: (1) To examine whether South Carolina registration and notification policies have the intended effect of preventing first time sexual offending; (2) To examine whether South Carolina registration and notification policies have the intended effect of reducing sexual recidivism for known sex offenders; and (3) To examine whether South Carolina registration and notification policies have the unintended effect of reducing the probability that individuals who commit sexual crimes will be prosecuted or convicted for such crimes. In addition to these primary aims, we also investigated (4) whether registration violations (e.g., failure to register) were associated with sexual or general recidivism. Details: Charleston, SC: Medical University of South Carolina, 2010. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/231989.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/231989.pdf Shelf Number: 119926 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders Sexual Violence

Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: The Specific Deterrent Effect of Custodial Penalties on Juvenile Re-offending Summary: It is widely assumed that placing offenders (juvenile or adult) in custody acts as a deterrent to further offending. The present study was designed to see whether juvenile offenders who receive a detention sentence are less likely to re-offend, controlling for other factors, than juvenile offenders given some other form of sentence. Two groups of offenders (152 given an detention sentence, 243 given a non-custodial sentence) were interviewed at length about their family life, school performance, association with delinquent peers and substance abuse. They were then followed up to determine what proportion in each group was reconvicted of a further offence. Cox regression was used to model time to reconviction. The study found no significant difference between juveniles given a custodial penalty and those given a non-custodial penalty in the likelihood of reconviction, even after controlling for factors that differ between the two groups. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 132: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb132.pdf/$file/cjb132.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb132.pdf/$file/cjb132.pdf Shelf Number: 116635 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Sturrock, Fiona Title: Effectiveness of Youth Court Supervision Orders: Measures of Re-offending Summary: This research reports on the effectiveness of Youth Court supervision orders in reducing the frequency and seriousness of re-offending. It was conducted to provide information on the outcomes for youth offenders following Youth Court supervision orders. This research involved the analysis of administrative data covering January 2002 to June 2007 from CYF and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, Centre for Social Research and Evaluation, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resoruce: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/youth-court-supervision/index.html Year: 2009 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/youth-court-supervision/index.html Shelf Number: 119946 Keywords: Juvenile Court Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Allard, Troy Title: The Efficacy of Strategies to Reduce Juvenile Offending Summary: The purpose of this report was to examine the national and international research literature relating to the efficacy of a range of strategies to reduce juvenile offending. These strategies were categorised according to Tonry and Farrington’s (1995) framework of four groupings of crime prevention strategies: (i) developmental and early interventions, (ii) law enforcement and criminal justice approaches, (iii) community crime prevention, and (iv) situational crime prevention (SCP). Specifically, the Tender Document (Appendix 1, p. 167) asked the consultants to: (i) Summarise the strategies that are available to reduce juvenile offending/recidivism as identified by Tonry and Farrington (1995). (ii) Examine the key features of programs that have been implemented within each strategy. (iii) Explore the evidence base of each strategy by examining the effectiveness of programs in terms of reducing juvenile offending/recidivism. (iv) Note the cost of programs and outcomes of any cost-benefit evaluations that have been undertaken (if available). (v) Comment on the feasibility of conducting meta-analyses on the various program options. (vi) Based on available evidence, provide a summary of the effectiveness of each strategy. (vii) Where possible, provide an assessment about the effectiveness of programs for Indigenous young people. Studies included in the review were based on the researchers’ knowledge about intervention programs that had been undertaken, recent reviews that had been conducted, and a search of websites that contained some Australian evidence. Research incorporated in the review was focused on preventing juvenile offending and was scientifically robust, usually having a treatment and control group. While focus was placed on interventions that reduced juvenile offending, many interventions discussed are also likely to result in reductions in adult offending. This is not surprising given the high proportion of young people who initiate offending during their teen years which continues into adulthood. It must be acknowledged that while this review focuses on preventing the initiation of offending and recidivism, there may be other positive outcomes to intervention programs. Examining these other outcomes was beyond the scope of this review. A consistent theme throughout this report is the lack of scientifically rigorous Australian research to determine the efficacy of the interventions examined. In Chapter 1, an overview of the methodologies that have been employed to evaluate programs is provided. While systematic reviews and meta-analyses have been conducted on developmental/early intervention and criminal justice approaches, there was little evidence of the evaluations in other areas reaching the standards required for meta-analyses. For our knowledge of ‘what works’ in preventing juvenile offending and re-offending to advance, it is imperative that programs are rigorously evaluated. Details: Mt. Gravatt, Australia: Griffith University, Justice Modelling@Griffith, 2007. 169p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 23, 2010 at: http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/208120/Efficacy-of-Strategies-to-Reduce-JJ-Offending-2007-Report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/208120/Efficacy-of-Strategies-to-Reduce-JJ-Offending-2007-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 120060 Keywords: Crime Prevention Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Victoria. Parliament. Drugs and cRime Prevention Committee Title: Inquiry into the Impact of Drug-Related Offending On Female Prisoner Numbers - Interim Report Summary: The Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee and was given the mandate to examine the impact of drug-related offending on female prisoner numbers. Specifically, the committee was asked to (a) examine the impact of drug-related crime on the female prisoner population; (b) review the demographic profiles of women in custody for drug offences and the types of drug offences; (c) examine underlying causal factors which may influence drug-related offending and repeat offending that result in women entering custody; and (d) recommend strategies to reduce drug-related offending and repeat offending by women, including strategies to address underlying causal factors. Whilst the Committee was unable to complete the reference, particularly as further investigation into the recent increase in prison numbers is required, we were concerned about some of the information provided to us both in submissions and during public hearings. This evidence particularly related to the problems women face when in prison, when released from prison and their high rates of recidivism. The information provided to us was almost unanimous – the housing problem in particular being identified as a significant issue for many post-release women. Accordingly, we have made some recommendations for the post November 2010 government to consider and we hope the 57th Parliament of Victoria will make further recommendations on the other issues we have raised. Details: Melbourne: Government Printer for State of Victoria, 2010. 118p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 25, 2010 at: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/dcpc/Women_prisoners/Female_prisoners_inquiry_-_interim_report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/dcpc/Women_prisoners/Female_prisoners_inquiry_-_interim_report.pdf Shelf Number: 120086 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners Housing Recidivism Reentry

Author: Markman, Joshua A. Title: Evaluation of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Corporation for Supportive Housing's Pilot Program: Interim Re-Arrest Analysis Summary: In March 2007, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and the Corporation for Supportive Housing Ohio Office (CSH) developed a permanent supportive housing pilot program. The pilot was designed to house approximately 100 individuals returning from select prisons throughout Ohio to the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Toledo communities. The 13 institutions participating in the pilot included the Allen, Chillicothe, Grafton, Hocking, London, Lorain, Madison, Marion, Pickaway, and Trumbull Correctional Institutions; the Ohio Reformatory for Women; and the Franklin and Northeastern Prerelease Centers. The pilot, funded primarily by the ODRC, but also a part of CSH’s Returning Home Initiative, has three main goals: to reduce recidivism; to reduce homelessness; and to decrease the costs associated with multiple service use across the criminal justice, housing/homelessness, and mental health service systems. The Urban Institute (UI) is evaluating the pilot to assess the impact on recidivism and residential stability and to test whether the benefits associated with the pilot outweigh its costs. The final report will be complete in summer 2012. In this paper, we report the results of an interim analysis of re-arrest for both the treatment and comparison groups, including descriptive statistics on the study sample. Details: Washington DC: Urban Institute, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2010 at: http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/412224-interim-recidivism-analysis.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/412224-interim-recidivism-analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 120093 Keywords: Homelessness Housing Mental Health Services Recidivism Reentry

Author: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services Title: Improving State Criminal History Records Through Analysis: Profiling Drug Offenders Summary: Ohio’s criminal history database is a central repository for criminal history information for the state of Ohio. It was developed and housed at the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) office in 1921. It first became computerized (computerized criminal history database, or CCH) in 1972. There are multiple sources that provide data to CCH. Currently, over 1200 law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio enter arrest data and fingerprint cards into the database. Ohio courts are required to submit final dispositions to BCI, where they are logically linked to their corresponding arrests in CCH. Ohio correctional facilities enter information into CCH as well, including the offender’s fingerprints, the charge(s) for which he is being incarcerated, and demographic data. Through a partnership between the BCI&I and the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, OCJS was able to obtain secure access to a portion of the CCH database. Records which were made available to OCJS included information on demographics, arrests, charges, and judicial processing. Identifying information, such as names and social security numbers, were excluded. Historical records were linked through a single unique identifier, the subject ID number. This report presents the findings of this analysis. Details: Colombus, OH: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, 2007?. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2010 at: http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_CCH_DrugOffendersFinal.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_CCH_DrugOffendersFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 120194 Keywords: Criminal Records Drug Offenders (Ohio) Recidivism

Author: Sadlier, Greg Title: Evaluation of the Impact of the HM Prison Service Enhanced Thinking Skills Programme on Reoffending Outcomes of the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) Sample Summary: This research examined the impact of the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme on the one-year reconviction outcomes of 257 prison-based participants between 2006 and 2008. Radius propensity score matching was used to match a comparison group that had no statistically significant difference (at the means) to the treatment group on any matching characteristic. ETS was found to significantly reduce both the reconviction rate (six percentage points) and frequency (60 reoffences per 100 released prisoners) of general reoffending of participants. No statistically significant impact was found on the severe offences reconviction rate. Almost identical impacts were found for completers. A stronger reduction in reconviction was found for participants meeting the suitability criteria. Though the programme has been shown to be effective in practice, the findings suggest that a stricter application of the targeting criteria might have further enhanced the effectiveness of the programme. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2010. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 19/10: Accessed November 5, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/eval-enhanced-thinking-skills-prog.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/eval-enhanced-thinking-skills-prog.pdf Shelf Number: 120196 Keywords: Correctional Programs Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending

Author: Austin, James Title: Reliability and Validity Study of the LSI-R Risk Assessment Instrument Summary: The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) selected the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) instrument as its risk classification tool because it introduces dynamic and more current factors into the risk assessment process, beyond the conventional use of static criminal history and demographic factors. The LSI was developed in the late 1970s in Canada through a collaboration of probation officers, correctional managers, practitioners and researchers. The LSI-R is comprised of 54 static and dynamic items across ten sub-scales. While the LSI-R has been researched extensively in other jurisdictions, its reliability and validity specifically for Pennsylvania’s offender population had not yet been tested. Of particular interest is Pennsylvania’s decision to use the LSI-R as a component of its parole decision making guidelines; heretofore, the LSI-R has been used to identify the appropriate level of supervision for probationers and parolees already residing in the community. In this study, the LSI-R’s relevance and usefulness as a decision making tool as applied to an incarcerated population is a key line of inquiry. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) contracted The Institute on Crime, Justice and Corrections (ICJC) at The George Washington University to conduct a reliability and validation study using the LSI-R scores and recidivism data. The following report summarizes the ICJC’s findings. This project consists of two segments: an assessment of the inter-rater reliability in scoring the LSI-R, and the validation of the LSI-R’s statistical association with recidivism. The reliability assessment was conducted by selecting a sample of 120 prisoners who were scored on the LSI-R on two separate occasions by two independent PBPP institutional staff. The results of the initial reliability test showed that most of the LSI-R scoring items did not meet a sufficient level of reliability. Consequently, a second reliability test was made in September 2002 on another sample of 156 prisoners to determine if the reliability rates could be improved. The validation assessment entailed examining recidivists (for the purposes of this study, arrests, detentions, absconders, and returns to prison are considered recidivists) of approximately 1,000 prisoners who were released from nine LSI-R test facilities in 2001. For each of these prisoners an LSI-R form was completed. The follow-up period was for 12 months, which allowed the researchers to determine which items were associated with recidivism within that period. Details: Washington, DC: Institute on crime, Justice and Corrections at The George Washington University, 2003. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2010 at: www.portal.state.pa.us Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 120273 Keywords: Parole Prediction Probation Recidivism Risk Assessment Risk Management

Author: Welsh, Wayne N. Title: A Multi-Site Evaluation of Prison-Based Drug Treatment: A Research partnership Between the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and Temple University Summary: Therapeutic community (TC) drug treatment programs have become the preferred treatment approach in correctional settings. Previous evaluations of prison-based TC have produced promising results, including significant reductions in recidivism over follow-up periods ranging from three to five years. However, studies have also been criticized for small sample sizes, less-than-optimal research designs (e.g., uncontrolled selection and attrition biases), and insufficient attention to interactions between inmate characteristics, treatment process, and treatment outcomes (e.g., rearrest, reincarceration, drug relapse). No studies have examined prison-based TC across multiple sites while controlling for individual and programmatic variations in analyses of outcome. Numerous questions remain about the true impact of prison-based TC, and the potential impacts of unmeasured variations in inmate characteristics, treatment programs, and multiple outcome measures. The purpose of this project was to examine multiple, post-release outcomes over a post-release period of five years for inmates who participated in Therapeutic Community (TC) drug treatment programs or comparison groups at five Pennsylvania State Correctional Institutions (SCI's). The research was greatly facilitated by a strong, collaborative research partnership between Temple University and the Department of Corrections which began in 1998 and continues to the present. Details: Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 2009. 117p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 29, 2010 at: www.portal.state.pa.us/ Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 120312 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Offenders Drug Treatment (Pennsylvania) Recidivism

Author: Harris, Phil Title: A CJCA White Paper: Defining and Measuring Recidivism Summary: In October of 2008, OJJDP funded a CJCA all-directors conference in Chicago to begin the process of developing common definitions and measures of recidivism. Speakers at the conference included Steve Aos, Mark Lipsey, Edward Mulvey, and Carol Shapiro. By the end of the conference, a rough set of definitions of recidivism emerged, contingencies such as identifying youths at different levels of risk received support, and the directors recognized that access to needed data would be an obstacle to outcome measurement in some states. This white paper is a product of the proceedings of the all-directors conference and a work group, comprised of directors and researchers, created out of that conference. Over the past year, members of the group submitted ideas, responded to interviews, and edited drafts to advance the group's goal of reaching consensus on how to measure recidivism. The work group is focused on developing a set of standards regarding the definition and measurement of recidivism that will be adopted by all juvenile justice agencies with the ultimate goal of facilitating the development of more effective responses to the problem of delinquency. In October 2009, OJJDP funded a second all directors conference in Chicago to review the proposed White Paper and consider the findings. The directors adopted the White Paper by consensus. Having achieved White Paper consensus an Implementation Subcommittee of the Work Group was formed to develop a comprehensive implementation plan for national recidivism data gathering and measurement. Details: Braintree, MA: Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, 2009. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: CJCA White Paper: Accessed December 2, 2010 at: http://cjca.net/cjcaresources/15/CJCA-Recidivism-White-Paper.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://cjca.net/cjcaresources/15/CJCA-Recidivism-White-Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 120353 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Redcross, Cindy Title: Transitional Jobs for Ex-Prisoners: Implementation, Two-Year Impacts, and Costs of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Prisoner Reentry Program Summary: Almost 700,000 people are released from state prisons each year. Ex-prisoners face daunting obstacles to successful reentry into society, and rates of recidivism are high. Most experts believe that stable employment is critical to a successful transition, but ex-prisoners have great difficulty finding steady work. This report presents interim results from a rigorous evaluation of the New York City-based Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a highly regarded employment program for ex-prisoners. CEO participants are placed in paid transitional jobs shortly after enrollment; they are supervised by CEO staff and receive a range of supports. Once they show good performance in the transitional job, participants get help finding a permanent job and additional support after placement. CEO is one of four sites in the Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ Demonstration and Evaluation Project, which is sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. The project is being conducted under contract to HHS by MDRC, a nonprofit research organization, along with the Urban Institute and other partners. The impacts of CEO's program are being assessed using a rigorous research design. In 2004-2005, a total of 977 ex-prisoners who reported to CEO were assigned, at random, to a program group that was eligible for all of CEO's services or to a control group that received basic job search assistance. So far, the two groups have been followed for two years after study entry. Almost 700,000 people are released from state prisons each year. Ex-prisoners face daunting obstacles to successful reentry into society, and rates of recidivism are high. Most experts believe that stable employment is critical to a successful transition, but ex-prisoners have great difficulty finding steady work. This report presents interim results from a rigorous evaluation of the New York City-based Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a highly regarded employment program for ex-prisoners. CEO participants are placed in paid transitional jobs shortly after enrollment; they are supervised by CEO staff and receive a range of supports. Once they show good performance in the transitional job, participants get help finding a permanent job and additional support after placement. CEO is one of four sites in the Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ Demonstration and Evaluation Project, which is sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families and the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. The project is being conducted under contract to HHS by MDRC, a nonprofit research organization, along with the Urban Institute and other partners. The impacts of CEO's program are being assessed using a rigorous research design. In 2004-2005, a total of 977 ex-prisoners who reported to CEO were assigned, at random, to a program group that was eligible for all of CEO's services or to a control group that received basic job search assistance. So far, the two groups have been followed for two years after study entry. Key Findings Include the following: CEO's program operated smoothly during the study period, and most program group members received the core services. More than 70 percent of the program group worked in a transitional job; the average length of that employment was about eight weeks; CEO generated a large but short-lived increase in employment; the increase was driven by CEO's transitional jobs. By the end of the first year of the study period, the program and control groups were equally likely to be employed, and their earnings were similar; CEO reduced recidivism during both the first and the second year of the study period. The program group was significantly less likely than the control group to be convicted of a crime, to be admitted to prison for a new conviction, or to be incarcerated for any reason in prison or jail during the first two years of the study period. In Year 1, CEO reduced recidivism only for those who came to the program within three months after their release from prison; in Year 2, however, the program reduced recidivism both for recently released study participants and for those who were not recently released at study entry. The study will follow the two groups for a third year, but the results so far show that CEO's program reduced recidivism, even after the employment gains faded. Decreases in recidivism have rarely been found in rigorous evaluations. Further research is needed to identify approaches that can produce more sustained increases in employment and earnings for ex-prisoners. Details: New York: MDRC, 2009. 159p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 6, 2010 at: http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/1001362_transitional_jobs.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/1001362_transitional_jobs.pdf Shelf Number: 120375 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offenders Recidivism Reentry Rehabilitation

Author: South Australia. Attorney-General's Department. Office of Crime Statistics and Research Title: Youth CARDS Final Evaluation Report Summary: This report presents findings of the evaluation of the Youth Court Assessment and Referral Drug Scheme (CARDS). The evaluation of CARDS was undertaken from July 2005 to December 2006. As far as is possible within the timeframe, the evaluation focused on both process and outcomes. The process evaluation sought to monitor and record key aspects of the implementaion, coordination and operation of Youth CARDS. The outcome evaluation sought to establish the extent to which the aims and intended outcomes of Youth CARDS had been achieved in its pilot period. The evaluation was based on a mixed methods approach incorporating qualitative and quantitative techniques using a range of data collection methods. Details: Adelaide: Office of Crime Statistics and Research, 2008. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 6, 2010 at: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/YouthCARDSFinalEvaluationReport.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/YouthCARDSFinalEvaluationReport.pdf Shelf Number: 120394 Keywords: Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Offenders (Australia) Recidivism

Author: Johnson, Laura E. Title: From Options to Action: A Roadmap for City Leaders to Connect Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to Work Summary: On February 28, 2008, P/PV, along with The United States Conference of Mayors, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at NYU and the City of New York, convened the Mayors Summit on Reentry and Employment, where 150 city leaders, policymakers, practitioners and academics came together from more than 20 cities to share strategies for connecting formerly incarcerated people to the labor market. From Options to Action was inspired and informed by discussions that took place at the Summit, as well as P/PV's experience in the field and a review of pertinent literature. It is meant to provide a framework for reentry efforts, with guidance for cities in early planning phases as well as those implementing more advanced strategies. The report presents practical steps for achieving a more coordinated, comprehensive approach to reentry at the city level, including identifying and convening relevant stakeholders, addressing city-level barriers to employment, engaging the business community and working with county, state and federal leaders to implement collaborative approaches and produce needed policy change. Because mayors and other municipal leaders are confronted with the day-to-day reality of prison and jail reentry and see its detrimental effects in their cities, many have already begun to seek out, test and refine lasting solutions. We hope this publication will support their efforts, as they work to interrupt the revolving door of recidivism—and offer hope to returning prisoners, their families and communities. Details: Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures, 2008. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/235_publication.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppv.org/ppv/publications/assets/235_publication.pdf Shelf Number: 117634 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offenders Recidivism Reentry

Author: Marques, Paul R. Title: Evaluation of the New Mexico Ignition Interlock Program Summary: This Evaluation of the New Mexico Ignition Interlock Program begins by summarizing the development of alcohol ignition interlock devices, laws, and programs during the past 22 years. It then reviews the laws that were written in New Mexico from 1999 to 2005. It goes on to characterize current penetration of interlocks relative to alcohol-related risk indicators, followed by detailed methodological reports on eight studies undertaken to understand the effects of several aspects of the New Mexico laws. The eight studies include (1) an evaluation of recidivism among court-mandated offenders who were required to install interlocks but were not allowed to drive those cars; (2) an evaluation of recidivism differences of first-time offenders who installed interlocks relative to matched offenders who did not; (3) an evaluation of the effect of an interlock licensing law that allows revoked DWI offenders to install an interlock on an insured vehicle and drive that way during the remainder of their revocation period; (4) an evaluation of a strong mandate in Santa Fe County during a 2-year period in which electronically monitored house arrest was required for offenders who did not want to have an interlock or claimed no plan to drive; (5) an evaluation of the patterns of elevated BAC tests by hour of the day and day of the week from among the more than 10 million New Mexico breath tests collected by interlock devices; (6) a comparative evaluation of predictors of recidivism including prior DWI, measures of drinking from the interlock event record, age, and other predictors; (7) a report on an interview process that included key informants, such as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and probation officers, who manage or administer the interlock program; and (8) a report on focus group findings with interlock-using DWI offenders. Each of the eight studies is reported with Methods, Results, and Comments sections. The conclusion summarizes key findings and places the New Mexico results in the larger context of the national effort to reduce impaired-driving-related injuries and deaths. This report begins with an executive summary that touches on all these topics, including key findings, lessons learned, and potential areas for improvement of the New Mexico program. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2010. 312p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 11, 2010 at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811410.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811410.pdf Shelf Number: 120445 Keywords: Alcohol Interlock Devices Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated (New Mexico) Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Program Recidivism

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders Summary: The safety and security of the law-abiding citizen is a key priority of the Coalition Government. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home and in their community. When that safety is threatened, those responsible should face a swift and effective response. We rely on the criminal justice system to deliver that response: punishing offenders, protecting the public and reducing reoffending. This Green Paper addresses all three of these priorities, setting out how an intelligent sentencing framework, coupled with more effective rehabilitation, will enable us to break the cycle of crime and prison which creates new victims every day. Despite a 50% increase in the budget for prisons and managing offenders in the last ten years almost half of all adult offenders released from custody reoffend within a year. It is also not acceptable that 75% of offenders sentenced to youth custody reoffend within a year. If we do not prevent and tackle offending by young people then the young offenders of today will become the prolific career criminals of tomorrow. Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2010. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 13, 2010 at: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm79/7972/7972.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm79/7972/7972.pdf Shelf Number: 120447 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Systems (U.K.) Punishment Recidivism Rehabilitation Sentencing

Author: Bontrager, Stephanie Title: Redirection Services in Florida: One-Year Outcomes Summary: In 2004, the Florida Legislature funded a pilot program to address the growing number of juvenile offenders committed to residential programs for non-law violations of probation. A non-law violation of probation results when a youth fails to adhere to court-ordered probation requirements, such as breaking curfew, skipping school, or engaging in other non-criminal acts prohibited by the terms of probation. The pilot initiative was designed to divert, or redirect, these non-law violators from residential placement to community-based treatments. Under this Redirection Initiative, the following two commitment alternatives are available for youth meeting specified eligibility criteria: Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT). Prior research suggests that both of these programs are successful in preventing youth violence and delinquency. The purpose of the current evaluation is to assess the effectiveness of Redirection services in reducing recidivism. Recidivism is defined here as a subsequent juvenile adjudication or adult conviction within one year of program release. Additionally adult and juvenile outcomes include felony adjudication or conviction, arrest and felony arrest within one year of service completion. All youth released from and completing MST or FFT services or low, moderate or high-restrictiveness commitment programming between February 2005 and August 31, 2006 are examined in this evaluation. The effectiveness of Redirection was determined by comparing those completing Redirection programs to those in residential facilities. Finally, a cost analysis was prepared to demonstrate the potential financial savings of Redirection as an alternative to residential placement. The results demonstrate that: Youth who complete Redirection programming have better recidivism outcomes when compared to youth released from residential programming; Redirection youth are less likely to have a subsequent conviction or adjudication, and; The odds of felony adjudication or conviction are substantially lower for Redirection completers than residential placements. • Redirection services save the state approximately $27,059 per completion when compared to those completing low, moderate and high-risk residential placements; Diverting just 75 youth from residential to Redirection services has the potential to save the state over two million dollars. Redirection services are consistently linked to lower recidivism and significantly lower felony adjudication or conviction when contrasted with commitment placements. Furthermore, Redirection programming achieves these positive outcomes at considerably lower cost than more restrictive residential services. These outcomes collectively demonstrate that Redirection is a valuable and cost-effective alternative to committing youth to residential facilities. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Evidence-Based Assoicates, 2007. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 13, 2010 at: http://www.evidencebasedassociates.com/what_we_do/redirection/2007_jrc_outcome_evaluation.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.evidencebasedassociates.com/what_we_do/redirection/2007_jrc_outcome_evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 120487 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Offenders (Florida) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Kjellgren, Cecilia Title: Adolescent Sexual Offending: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcome Summary: The purpose of this thesis is to explore the prevalence of sexually offending behaviour among female and male adolescents in Sweden. One aim is to identify potential risk factors associated with sexually offending behaviour and a further aim to examine the outcome in early adulthood for a sample of sexually offending adolescent males. Three different samples were used for this thesis. A sample of Norwegian and Swedish female and male high school students (more than 9,000) participated in a population based study and responded to a number of items concerning sexual interests and behaviours, conduct problems, health, peer and parental variables. Five percent of male and one percent of female students reported sexually coercive behaviour defined as penetrative sexual behaviours and masturbation. Risk factors in particular associated with sexual coercion were identified by contrasting the sexually coercive youth with those who reported non-sexual conduct problems as well as with controls. A number of general risk factors as well as sexuality specific risk factors were identified among sexually coercive females as males. The male sample was used to further explore the link between being sexually abused and being sexually abusive. The association was confirmed also when controlling for other potential influencing factors. The second sample was used to examine the one-year incidence of all reports to Social Services in Sweden on sexually offending adolescents. The total incidence rate was .06% among the 12-17 year old male population. Comparing the findings of self-reports and cases reported to authorities it could be concluded that the underestimation of adolescent female and male sexual offending is substantial. A third sample of clinically assessed sexually offending male adolescents (M=15 years) was used for a follow up study. They were on average 21 years old by follow up, six years after assessment. One fifth reported sexually reoffending since the assessment. Risk assessments carried out in connection with the index offence were good in identifying those at high risk of sexually reoffending. One third of the males of the sample reported learning disabilities or neuropsychiatric disorders, and this was particularly prevalent among those who sexually reoffended. In addition more than half of the males had been convicted of a non-sexual crime by the time of follow up. Details: Lund, Sweden: Lunds University, 2009. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed December 15, 2010 at: http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=1468451&fileOId=1468479 Year: 2009 Country: Sweden URL: http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=1468451&fileOId=1468479 Shelf Number: 120512 Keywords: Adolescents Sex Offenders Recidivism Reoffending Sex Offenders (Sweden)

Author: Zhang, Sheldon Title: COMPAS Validation Study: Final Report Summary: COMPAS (Correctional Offender Management and Profiling Alternative Sanctions) is a computerized database and analysis system designed to help criminal justice practitioners determine the placement, supervision, and case-management of offenders in community and secure settings. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation contracted with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and San Diego State University (SDSU) to validate the instrument in terms of its ability to identify treatment needs among inmates as well as predict various recidivism outcomes. A total of 91,334 parolees who had been assessed with COMPAS prior to release were included in the study sample. Of these, roughly 60,000 had been on parole for at least 12 months and the remainder had been on parole for at least 24 months. Characteristics of the study subjects closely paralleled those of the general parolee population in California. The COMPAS needs scales were evaluated in terms of their reliability over time (test-retest coefficients) and the extent to which their constituent scales correlated with relevant counterparts on the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) scale (concurrent validity). To accomplish this, the COMPAS was administered twice to 75 inmates at the California Institute for Men (CIM) located in Chino, California, over a span of approximately two weeks. To establish concurrent validity, the LSI-R was also administered at the same time points. The COMPAS scales showed extremely high test-retest reliability, ranging from .70 to 1.00. The perfect and near-perfect correlations obtained for many of the scales appear to be driven by the fact that these scales were coded directly from the inmates’ Central Files. Overall, the average test-retest correlation coefficient for the COMPAS scales was .88. Of the 18 scales making up the core of the COMPAS assessment, nine appeared to measure identical or similar constructs with scales found in the LSI-R. For six of these scales (Criminal Involvement, Criminal Associates/Peers, Substance Abuse, Financial, Vocational/Educational, and Housing), significant and positive correlations were found between the COMPAS and LSI-R. The correlations were marginally significant for two of the scales, Family Criminality (COMPAS) with Family/Marital (LSI-R) and Criminal Attitudes (COMPAS) with Attitudes/Orientation (LSI-R), and not significant for one, Leisure (COMPAS) with Leisure/Recreation (LSI-R). Using official records data provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), two major outcome measures were examined: (1) any subsequent arrest, and (2) a subsequent arrest for a violent offense. For the first measure, the overall re-arrest rate for the COMPAS sample was 56% for the first 12 months on parole and 70% for those who had been released for two years. For violent offenses, the re-arrest rates were approximately 13% and 21% in the 12- and 24-month periods following release, respectively. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were computed to assess the overall accuracy of the COMPAS risk scales for recidivism and violence. The ROC curve (measured in terms of the area under the curve or AUC) has become a primary measure of predictive accuracy in research instrumentation. A value of .70 is generally considered minimally acceptable. The recidivism and violence COMPAS risk scales were examined with regard to how well they predicted whether a parolee had been re-arrested (for any reason and for a violence offense) within two years of being released from prison. Both risk scales achieved levels of accuracy greater than chance, with the recidivism scale receiving an AUC value of .70, and the violence scale receiving an AUC value of .65. The risk prediction resulting from the COMPAS scales was comparable to our own risk prediction models using existing electronic records maintained by CDCR. We conclude that the COMPAS scales have high test-test retest reliability and moderate concordance with select LSI-R scales (with significant or marginally significant associations with eight of the nine scales that overlap with the LSI-R). With regard to the predictive validity of the recidivism and violence COMPAS risk scales, the general recidivism risk scale achieved an AUC value of .70, which is the conventional threshold for acceptability; the violence scale, however, fell short of this threshold. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research, Adult Research Branch, 2010. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2010 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/COMPAS_Final_Report_08-11-10.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/COMPAS_Final_Report_08-11-10.pdf Shelf Number: 120517 Keywords: LSI-R Parolees Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Janetta, Jesse Title: CPAP Assessment of CDCR Recidivism-Reduction Programs Summary: There has been an increasing emphasis in recent years on correctional programming being “evidence-based.” In its report issued in December of 2007,a the Governor’s Rehabilitation Strike Team stated that “prisoners must be assessed, routed to appropriate evidence-based programs, and once released, continuity of treatment must be assured.” Evidence-based practice in the field of corrections is the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use by correctional administrators of current best research evidence in selecting programs designed to manage offenders, reduce recidivism, and increase public safety. Evidence-based programs adhere to “principles of effective intervention” established by prior research. With California facing serious prison overcrowding challenges in addition to the long-standing public safety need to reduce recidivism to the lowest possible levels, the salience of having evidence-based recidivism-reduction programming in California is greater than ever. This report assesses the degree to which 26 recidivism-reduction programs offered to prison inmates and parolees by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) are evidence-based, as determined by a rating of the programs using the California Program Assessment Process (CPAP). The CPAP is an instrument designed to measure the conformity of offender change programs to research-derived principles of effective correctional programming and the extent of research evidence supporting the program’s model. Details: Irvine, CA: Center for Evidence-Based Corrections, University of California, Irvine, 2008. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 1, 2011 at: http://ucicorrections.seweb.uci.edu/files/CPAP%20Assessment%20of%20CDCR.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://ucicorrections.seweb.uci.edu/files/CPAP%20Assessment%20of%20CDCR.pdf Shelf Number: 120646 Keywords: Correctional Programs Inmates Parolees Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Sample, Lisa L. Title: Final Report for the Evaluation of Nebraska's Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Program Summary: The purpose of the evaluation of the NDCS Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Program was to assess the success of the program in three areas. First, an evaluation of the process was conducted to determine if a reentry program had indeed been created by the NDCS. Second, a cost benefit analysis was conducted to determine the economic savings that a reentry program could promote for the state of Nebraska. Finally, an outcome evaluation was conducted to determine if the reentry program was successful in its goal of reducing recidivism among serious and violent offenders in the state. Below are the key findings of each of these three evaluation components. Process Findings: • Although the selection of program participants has evolved since the inception of the program, NDCS has targeted serious and violent offenders with a high risk of reoffending for pilot program participation. • There was community and agency support for the reentry program from its inception through its implementation. • NDCS had implemented the program components intended for Phase I of the reentry program, including the creation of personalized reentry plans for inmates and the creation of programs to address the mental health, substance abuse, and general living skills needed among the inmates. • The programs offered in Phase I of the reentry program are being delivered to inmates in Phase II thereby providing a seamless delivery of services as originally intended in the program's inception. • Overall, there is much consistency between what inmates perceive they need to live a crime-free life upon leaving prison and the services that are being delivered by NDCS. • Participants generally believed that the services they are receiving from NDCS are beneficial in helping them successfully return to society. • Overall, participants reported a positive attitude toward the services provided in Phase I and II of the reentry program and found the support provided to them by their transition mangers as most effective in bringing about their success in the program. • NDCS has not appeared to establish a graduated sanction or reward system to induce compliance with program requirements, manage problem behaviors, or minimize termination from the program. Cost Benefit Analysis Findings: • Those assigned to the re-entry program account for -96 fewer misdemeanor and -28 fewer felony arrests (per 200 participants) during a 12-month follow-up period. 6 • Based on average process costs incurred by misdemeanor arrests ($6,014) and felony arrests ($21,156), the fewer misdemeanor arrests result in annual outcome cost savings of $577,344 (-96 X $6,014), while fewer felony arrests save $592,375 (-28 X $21,156), or a total annual recidivism-outcome cost savings of $1,169,719 (per 200 participants). • The average annual recidivism-outcome cost savings per reentry program participant is $5,849. • Victimization costs include tangible costs (lost wages, medical and mental health care costs) and intangible costs (pain suffering and lost quality of life). The average estimated cost per violent victimization in the U.S. is $42,098, while the average cost of property victimizations is $1,313. • The annual victimization cost savings due to the lower rates of recidivism of 200 re-entry participants are $884,058 for violent crimes (-21 X $42,098) and $73,528 (-56 X $1,313) for property crimes, or a total societal-victimization cost savings of $957,586. • This equates to an average annual societal-victimization cost savings per reentry program participant of $4,788. • When recidivism-outcome and societal-victimization costs are combined, the total annual savings due to the NDCS Re-Entry Program are $10,637 per reentry participant. Outcome Evaluation • In order to assess outcomes, the 19 reentry participants were compared to a control group of 53 offenders who received “traditional” correctional treatment. • Each offender in both groups was interviewed in the month prior to their release to determine the degree of similarity between the two groups. • Based on this interview data, the two groups were remarkably similar on measures of race, age, prior criminal history, prior drug use and family relationships. • Recidivism was assessed using two measures: whether the offender was arrested during the 6 months following release, and the mean number of arrests during the six-month follow-up period. • 26% of the control group, but only 21% of the reentry participants were rearrested during the 6 month follow-up period. • The mean number of new arrests for reentry participants was .26 compared to .58 for control participants. Details: Omaha, NE: School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2008. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 1, 2011 at: http://www.unomaha.edu/reentry/final_report_2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.unomaha.edu/reentry/final_report_2008.pdf Shelf Number: 120647 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Violent Offenders

Author: Drago, Francesco Title: Indirect Effects of a Policy Altering Criminal Behaviour: Evidence from the Italian Prison Experiment Summary: We exploit the Collective Clemency Bill passed by the Italian Parliament in July 2006 to evaluate the indirect effects of a policy that randomly commutes actual sentences to expected sentences for 40 percent of the Italian prison population. We estimate the direct and indirect impact of the residual sentence – corresponding to a month less time served in prison associated with a month of expected sentence – at the date of release on individual recidivism. Using prison, nationality and region of residence to construct reference groups of former inmates, we find large indirect effects of this policy. In particular, we find that the reduction in the individuals’ recidivism due to an increase in their peers’ residual sentence is at least as large as their response to an increase in their own residual sentence. From this result we estimate a social multiplier in crime of 2. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 5414: Accessed February 1, 2011 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5414.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Italy URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp5414.pdf Shelf Number: 120649 Keywords: Criminal Justice Policy Inmates Recidivism Sentencing (Italy)

Author: Great Britain. Criminal Justice Joint Inspection Title: Restriction and Rehabilitation: Getting the Right Mix. An Inspection of the Management of Sexual Offenders in the Community Summary: The proportion of sexual offenders who are reconvicted of further offending is known to be low. Nevertheless, their subsequent crimes understandably cause considerable public concern. In taking this inspection forward, we wanted to see how far the police and probation services were able to fulfil their different roles in controlling and restricting the offender, whilst at the same time offering them help to change their behaviour. In other words, whether they were able to maintain the right mix, so necessary for public protection, between Restriction and Rehabilitation in work with registered sexual offenders. We were aware, from our Offender Management Inspections of all probation trusts, that work with offenders assessed as an increased Risk of Harm to others was generally of a higher standard than that with other offenders. We were therefore not surprised to find many examples of good practice by both police and probation. These related particularly to the restrictive elements of work with sexual offenders and included: consolidating practice relating to the notification requirements for registered sex offenders; use of the sexual offences prevention order; monitoring licence conditions; and the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) with more serious cases. The inspection, nevertheless, revealed a number of areas where practice by both police and probation could be improved. In our opinion the three main issues, all key to public protection, threatened to undermine the efficacy of work with registered sexual offenders by both the police and probation services. These were: 􀀛 engagement: some probation offender managers did not engage well with those sexual offenders who were not required to attend a Sexual Offender Treatment Programme 􀀛 communication: formal channels of communication, both within and between police and probation services, needed to be improved 􀀛 MAPPA: specifically the identification and management of level 1 cases, i.e. those subject to ‘ordinary agency management’. Details: London: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, 2010. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/Sex_Offenders_Report-rps.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/Sex_Offenders_Report-rps.pdf Shelf Number: 120682 Keywords: Community Supervision Policing Probation Recidivism Rehabilitation Sex Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Bonta, James Title: The National Flagging System: Identifying and Responding to High-Risk, Violence Offenders Summary: The National Flagging System (NFS) was established to track high-risk, violent offenders. In general, offenders who are judged to be suitable candidates for a Dangerous Offender (DO) and/or Long Term Offender (LTO) application should they reoffend are placed on the national CPIC system. Thus, if they do reoffend, authorities are quickly alerted to their status and steps taken to consider a DO/LTO application. The present research was aimed at empirically investigating the effectiveness of this policy initiative in identifying and responding to potentially dangerous offenders. Specifically, the profile of 256 flagged male offenders was compared with the profile of 97 known high-risk, violent offenders (i.e., Dangerous Offenders and Detention Failures). In addition, the reconviction rates of the flagged offenders were examined with an emphasis on the effect of the NFS in prompting DO and LTO applications. Results demonstrated that, with a few exceptions, although the flagged offenders showed less serious and persistent criminality characteristics than the known high-risk offenders, both groups were comprised of relatively high-risk cases, compared to general offender populations. Furthermore, the violent/sexual recidivism rates of the flagged offenders were much higher than those reported among typical Canadian male federal offender populations. Even among the violent (including sexual) recidivist offenders, however, the rates of DO and/or LTO applications and successful designations were low. Taken as a whole, despite the fact that the NFS appeared successful in appropriately identifying offenders who pose a risk to the community, this policy initiative's role in facilitating the use of DO and/or LTO provisions was less than expected. Recommendations for the development of guidelines to assist criminal justice professionals in screening, monitoring and processing dangerous offenders are made. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, 2005. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 205-04: Accessed February 7, 2011 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2005-04-flg-sysm-eng.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Canada URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2005-04-flg-sysm-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 120704 Keywords: Offender Monitoring Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders Violent Offenders (Canada)

Author: Kempinen, Cynthia A. Title: Pennsylvania's Motivational Boot Camp Program: The Impact of Program Completion on Offender Recidivism. 2009 Report to the Legislature Summary: Act 215 of 1990, which created Pennsylvania's Motivational Boot Camp Program, also mandated the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to evaluate the program and to provide a report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. The 2009 Legislative Report addresses the following questions: 1) What type of offender goes to Boot Camp?; 2) What self-reported attitudinal and behavioral changes occur among Boot Camp graduates?; 3) What are the predictors of program completion?; and 4) What is the impact of program completion on recidivism? The major findings are as follows: Since the opening of the Boot Camp in 1992 through 2007, there have been 6,114 offenders admitted to the Boot Camp Program. The typical offender entering Boot Camp was young, non-white, male, convicted of a drug offense, and from an urban area. Upon admission to Boot Camp, the majority of offenders reported having a high school diploma, being employed, being single, and having at least one child. Most offenders reported having family members and friends who had previously been incarcerated. The vast majority of offenders also had committed prior offenses, consisting primarily of drug dealing, drug use, and DUI. A sizeable number of offenders were arrested as juveniles, though the average age at first arrest was 18 years. Most offenders had used drugs the day of their offense. The average age of onset for drug use was 15 years of age, and marijuana and cocaine were the predominant drugs of choice. The vast majority of offenders were proud that they were accepted into Boot Camp, and felt that it was a positive experience. Upon graduating from Boot Camp, offenders indicated some positive changes including being less impulsive, acquiring better decision-making skills, and experiencing fewer problems with drugs. Additionally, all of these changes endured after offenders were on parole for six months. After Boot Camp, offenders reported that they were more likely to be employed full-time, less likely to use drugs or alcohol, and less likely to associate with their old friends. The Boot Camp has a high graduation rate, with about 93% of the offenders in our study graduating from the program. Offenders were less likely to complete Boot Camp if they were female, young, had a greater number of prior arrests, had lower expectations for personal change, had difficulty controlling their temper, or found complicated tasks to be more challenging. Overall, about 52% of Boot Camp graduates in our study recidivated within two years, with 20% being recommitted for a technical violation and 32% arrested for a new crime. While offenders who completed Boot Camp were less likely to recidivate, this finding was not significant at the multivariate level. Offenders were significantly more likely to recidivate if they were: male, young, non-white, unemployed, less educated, property offenders, incarcerated as juveniles, or repeat offenders. Additionally, those who indicated they have difficulty controlling their temper, were in need of substance abuse treatment, or came from a less close-knit family were more likely to recidivate. Details: State College, PA: Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, 2009. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2009.pdf#navpanes=0 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2009.pdf#navpanes=0 Shelf Number: 120713 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Boot Camp (Pennsylvania) Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Latessa, Edward Title: Evaluation of Selected Institutional Offender Treatment Programs for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Summary: In general, correctional treatment programs have been associated with a reduction in recidivism. However, there is a great deal of variation among programs with respect to the degree of effectiveness. Correctional programs that adhere to certain principles are more successful at reducing offender recidivism, thereby increasing community safety principles of effective intervention, commonly referred to as the “what works' literature, are key in guiding correctional practices. Cullen and Gendreau (2000) reported that there is a 40 percent difference in recidivism rates between programs that adhere to "what works" principles and programs that do not. Specifically, programs that implement the "what works" literature have effect sizes up to 40 percent. In an effort to assess how well the principles of effective intervention are being implemented across state correctional institutions, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) contracted with the University of Cincinnati, Center for Criminal Justice Research to conduct a system-wide process evaluation of five treatment programs offered throughout the PADOC. Specifically, this evaluation was intended to identify system-wide strengths and areas for improvement within the Thinking for a Change, Batterer's Intervention, Violence Prevention, and Sex Offender outpatient and therapeutic community programs. This assessment was intended to identify the effectiveness of each program at providing evidence-based services. Therefore, this report begins with a brief review of the principles of effective intervention in order to provide some context and background. The findings of the assessments conducted on all of the aforementioned programs are then detailed, with a focus on identifying common strengths and areas that need improvement across all programs as well as systemic issues. Finally, recommendations to improve the effectiveness of services for offenders involved in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections as a whole are provided. Details: Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice, Center for Criminal Justice Research, 2009. 322p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2011 at: http://www.uc.edu/ccjr/Reports/ProjectReports/PA_Institutions_Final_Report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.uc.edu/ccjr/Reports/ProjectReports/PA_Institutions_Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 120739 Keywords: Correctional Programs (Pennsylvania) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Stalans, Loretta J. Title: Assessing the Risk of Sexual and Violent Recidivism and Identifying Differences in Risk Factors: Comparing Probation Supervised and Released Imprisoned Sex Offenders Summary: The management of sex offenders’ risk of committing sex crimes is of paramount importance to the criminal justice system. Criminal justice and treatment professionals assess risk of sexual recidivism using validated risk assessment tools such as the Rapid Risk Assessment for Sex Offender Recidivism (RRASOR), the Structured Anchored Clinical Judgment- Minimum Version (SACJ-min), the STATIC-99, and the STATIC-2002. However, these scales were created using data primarily from sex offenders released from prison or institutions for dangerous sexual predators. Moreover, although these scales are more accurate than clinical or professional judgment, their accuracy still is only modest and needs improvement. The aim of this research was to identify risk factors and how to combine risk factors to improve standardized risk assessment tools. The driving assumption of the current work was that sex offenders sentenced to probation and sex offenders released from prison are very different on important criminal history, offense, mental health, and social characteristics related to risk of sexual recidivism. Therefore if these two populations are different the current assessment scales used may not be appropriate for probation populations or may not predict well certain subgroups of sex offenders such as sex offenders who also commit domestic violence against adult intimate partners. Moreover, prior research has never considered how supervision may modify the behavior of sex offenders and change the risk factors that predict sexual recidivism. Are the risk factors for sexual recidivism the same if sex offenders are under probation or parole supervision or are free in the community without any supervision? Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2011. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2011 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Probation_Supervised_Released_Imprisoned_Sex_Offenders_Report_1210.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Probation_Supervised_Released_Imprisoned_Sex_Offenders_Report_1210.pdf Shelf Number: 120750 Keywords: Parole Probation Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders Sexual Violence

Author: Clement, Marshall Title: The National Summit on Justice Reinvestment and Public Safety: addressing Recidivism, Crime, and Corrections Spending Summary: On January 27, 2010, the first National Summit on Justice Reinvestment and Public Safety was held at the U.S. Capitol. It examined how some states and local governments are successfully changing their crime and corrections policies to be more effective and fiscally responsible through evidence-based policies and practices. Leading researchers and experts in law enforcement, courts, corrections, reentry, and other community-based services were brought together to present the latest science, statistics, and innovations on reducing recidivism and corrections costs. The summit was convened by the Pew Center on the States, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Public Welfare Foundation, and the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This summit report summarizes the rich information presented during the conference — highlighting the promising practices and the latest thinking on criminal justice policy. This information is meant to help spur the expansion of data-driven practices. It is our hope that this summit report will serve as a “best practices” manual for policymakers and corrections professionals around the country as we work to improve our corrections system. Details: New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2011. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/CSG_JusticeReinvestmentSummitReport.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/pdf/CSG_JusticeReinvestmentSummitReport.pdf Shelf Number: 120761 Keywords: Costs of Crime Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Expenditures in Criminal Justice Recidivism

Author: Kempinen, Cynthia A. Title: Pennsylvania's Motivation Boot Camp Program: What Have We Leanred Over the Last Seventeen Years? 2011 Report to the Legislation Summary: Act 215 of 1990 established Pennsylvania‟s State Motivational Boot Camp Program, which opened in June 1992. The Boot Camp, which serves as a six-month alternative program to traditional prison, was intended to provide a more intense rehabilitative setting conducive to achieving the goal of crime reduction. Act 215 of 1990 also mandated the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the Department of Corrections to evaluate the program and to provide annual reports to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. Act 112 of 2004, changed the reporting requirement from every year to every other year, with the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the Department of Corrections alternating years. On October 27, 2010, Governor Rendell signed Act 95 of 2010, which removed the mandatory reporting requirement. The legislation, however, still provides that the Department of Corrections and Commission on Sentencing monitor and evaluate the program to ensure that program goals are being accomplished. Since 1993, the Commission has submitted 14 reports that have provided: 1) information on the utilization of the Boot Camp; 2) an in-depth profile of the Boot Camp Offender; 3) findings from a Offender Survey designed to measure programmatic success; and 4) results from its various studies examining whether the Boot Camp has achieved its goals of reforming offenders and reducing crime. In light of Act 195 of 2010, the current Legislative Report provides a reflective summation of what we have learned from our Boot Camp evaluations over the years, as well as findings from our latest study comparing the recidivism of Boot Camp graduates with offenders released from prison. Details: Harrisburg, PA: The Commission, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2011Rev3.pdf#navpanes=0 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-motivational-boot-camp-program/ResRptBC2011Rev3.pdf#navpanes=0 Shelf Number: 120764 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration (Pennsylvania) Boot Camp Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Sentencing

Author: DeGusti, Berenice Title: Best Practices for Chronic/Persistent Youth Offenders Summary: In 2006, the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family (CRILF) began work on the three-year project, A Study of Youth Offending, Serious Habitual Offenders, and System Response in Calgary. One objective of this study was to develop a knowledge base of best practices in Canada and internationally for chronic and persistent youth offenders. With funding from the Alberta Law Foundation and the National Crime Prevention Centre, and in partnership with the Centre for Initiatives on Children, Youth and the Community, City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services, and the Calgary Police Service, CRILF researchers performed an environmental scan to assess what programs and strategies police agencies across Canada have in place to address this youth offending population. This report summarizes information collected on the nature and type of community-based, multi-agency and police strategies and programs that exist across Canada for chronic and persistent youth offenders. In order to examine the programs and strategies used by police organizations in Canada, CRILF interviews with key informants were conducted with a number of police agencies across the country. The key informants for this review included police and agency representatives from across Canada who had experience working with and delivering services to youth offenders. In total, 255 police agencies and other organizations were contacted across Canada from October 2008 to February 2009, with a total of 140 completed interviews conducted using a standardized interview protocol. Police and other agencies (community organizations) involved in providing services for youth offenders that did not participate in the environmental scan either declined to participate or did not respond before the end of the data collection period. While the focus of intervention in most provinces was police organizations, in Quebec, services for youth offenders are provided mainly through 16 Youth Centres (YCs) or “Centres jeunesse” located in communities across the province. These are para-governmental agencies almost entirely funded by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS). They provide a range of services to children, youth, and their families, including young people up to 18 years of age who are subject to the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) and/or the Youth Protection Act in Quebec. In order to get a comprehensive picture of the response of Quebec authorities to chronic and persistent youth offenders, requests were sent to all 16 YCs in the province. Interviews were completed with representatives from 12 Youth Centres serving more than 85% of the province’s population and the Director of Youth Protection in Inuulitsivik Baie, who have direct responsibility for providing services to youth offenders in Quebec. A total of 16 police services, including the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), were also contacted. Interviews were completed with representatives from 9 of the police agencies contacted serving approximately 80% of the province’s population. Details: Calgary, Alberta: Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family and Centre for Initiatives on Children, Youth and Community, 2009. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2011 at: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Draft_Best_Practices_Report_May_2009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Draft_Best_Practices_Report_May_2009.pdf Shelf Number: 120771 Keywords: Chronic Offenders, Juveniles Juvenile Offenders (Canada) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: MacRae, Leslie D. Title: A Study of Youth Reoffending in Calgary Summary: In 2006, the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family began work on a three-year study of youth offending in Calgary. One objective of the study was to develop a model for better understanding why some youth become more seriously involved in crime, while others do not. The first year of the study established a baseline for this model by developing profiles of youth offending in Calgary.1 With funding from the Alberta Law Foundation, and in partnership with City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services and the Calgary Police Service, the purpose of current report is to use Calgary Police Service data to determine which of the 123 youth profiled in the original study sample went on to reoffend, and further, which factors differentiate repeat from non-repeat offenders. This report will contribute to the body of research on risk and protective factors for youth offending, and further assist the Calgary Police Service, City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services, and other youth-serving agencies, as well as those who work in the youth justice field in general (i.e., judges, lawyers) in developing evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for youth offenders. The objectives of this report are to: Re-examine the files of the 123 youth in the study sample and determine how the study groups differed on individual, family, peer, school, and community factors; Identify factors that are related to youth reoffending; and Determine the factors that are most important in predicting which youth continued to reoffend from those who did not. Details: Calgary, Alberta: Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, 2009. 107p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2011 at: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Youth_Reoffending_Report_April_2009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Youth_Reoffending_Report_April_2009.pdf Shelf Number: 120776 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders

Author: Smith, Nadine Title: Why is the NSW Juvenile Reconviction Rate Higher Than Expected? Summary: This report examines reasons for the apparent increase in the rate of juvenile reconviction between 2004-05 and 2006-07 in New South Wales, Australia. Observed and predicted reconviction rates were investigated for the 2004-05 (n=4,225) and 2006-07 (n=4,368) cohorts of juvenile offenders given non-custodial sanctions. Various factors (for example, number of prior police cautions) were included in the Group Risk Assessment Model to determine whether they eliminated the discrepancy between the observed and predicted reconviction rates. The profile of re-offences across cohorts was also compared. It was found that two factors may explain the discrepancy between the observed and predicted reconviction rates in 2006-07: (1) a higher than expected rate of reconviction among juveniles dealt with via a Youth Justice Conference; and (2) the absence in the Group Risk Assessment Model of any control for the number of prior police cautions received by a juvenile offender. The higher than expected rate of reconviction among juveniles dealt with via a Youth Justice Conference in 2006-07 appears partly attributable to changes in policing practices. It is recommended that the use of the Group Risk Assessment Model be restricted to young offenders dealt with by way of the Children’s Court. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 146: Accessed February 16, 2011 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb146.pdf/$file/cjb146.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb146.pdf/$file/cjb146.pdf Shelf Number: 120778 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reconviction

Author: Rubin, Mark Title: Sexual Assault Trends and Sex Offender Recidivism in Maine Summary: Concern about sex offenders and their behavior is understandably a topic of great public interest. Numerous public policy proposals target the management of sex offenders in prisons and in communities post‐release. Recent examples of such proposals include, but are not limited to, enhanced sanctions for convicted and repeat sex offenders, civil commitment for predatory sex offenders, the development of sex offender registries, and the use of advanced technology to monitor sex offenders and residency restrictions. Unfortunately, the quality and extent of the body of knowledge concerning sex offender behavior has not kept pace with either the sophistication or potential cost of some of these proposed policies. The purpose of this report is to shed light on trends in sex offending and the recidivism of sex offenders in Maine, by replicating the methods of Bureau of Justice Statistics special report, Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994. That study followed prisoners released from prison in 15 states during 1994 over a three year period, examining their patterns of incarceration. This report seeks to replicate, to the degree possible, the analysis and resulting data tables for sex offenders released from Maine’s state prisons over a five year period, from 2004‐2008. This report also examines sex offenders admitted to probation from 2004‐2007. The rationale for this inclusion is that offenders under community correctional supervision are a population of special interest, and that determining the progress of a group which had been subjected to supervision in the community might also have important policy implications. Each group was followed for a period of three years to identify re‐incarcerations. Details: Portland, ME: Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, 2010. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2011 at: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Sexual_Assault_Trends_and_Sex_Offender_Recidivism_in_Maine_2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Sexual_Assault_Trends_and_Sex_Offender_Recidivism_in_Maine_2010.pdf Shelf Number: 120832 Keywords: Rapists Recidivism Sex Offenders (Maine) Sexual Assault

Author: Lobley, David Title: Working with Persistent Juvenile Offenders: An Evaluation of the Apex CueTen Project Summary: The CueTen project for persistent juvenile offenders was established in Glenrothes in October 1995, with funding for 3 years from The Scottish Office. Managed by Apex Scotland, it aimed to reduce offending by changing young people's attitudes to training and employment. The principal objectives of the CueTen programme were to develop employment-related skills and to introduce persistent juvenile offenders to the world of work and further training. These were to be pursued over a 26-week programme, the first half based in the project, the second half providing increasing opportunities for the independent exercise of the skills acquired. Main Findings include: The CueTen project worked with 86 young people in total (73 young men and 13 young women) and largely succeeded in working with its intended target group of the most persistent juvenile offenders in Fife; Seventy of the young people were aged 15 when they started at CueTen, and the rest were almost 15; Sixty-nine (80%) of the young people had been charged with crimes of dishonesty, 47 (55%) with miscellaneous offences, mostly minor assaults and public order offences, and 46 (53%) with offences of fire-raising and vandalism; These 3 offence categories accounted for about 87% of all charges against the young people in the year before they started at CueTen; The 26-week programme at CueTen proved too demanding for many of the young people; Fifty-five per cent completed the first block of 13 weeks, and only 40% completed the entire programme; Twenty were excluded from the project for violence, drug use, or seriously disruptive behaviour; Another 26 stopped attending for other reasons, usually associated with difficulties in their home lives; Those who completed the programme tended to be those who had been charged less frequently during the previous 12 months; Only one of the 12 young people with more than 15 charges in the previous year completed the programme and 13 of the 24 who completed the programme had 5 or fewer charges in this period; The offending records of the group who completed the programme showed more improvement in the 12 months after starting at CueTen than the records of the group who failed to complete and of a comparison group (N=39); The difference was not statistically significant; There were indications that the subsequent offences committed by the group who completed the programme were less serious than those committed by the other 2 groups; CueTen did not deliver an overall cost-saving to the criminal justice or child care systems during the 3 years covered by the evaluation, but this does not mean that it was less cost-effective than other interventions; and It is likely that the project produced modest long-term savings, through diverting young people from adult criminal careers. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Office Central Research Unit, 1999. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2011 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/156722/0042127.pdf Year: 1999 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/156722/0042127.pdf Shelf Number: 120834 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders

Author: Wilson, Nick J. Title: New Zealand High-Risk Offenders: Who Are They and What Are the Issues in Their Management and Treatment? Summary: This exploratory study into who high risk offenders actually are, was an attempt to gain more information about offenders who are predicted to be at high risk of serious reoffending. While efforts to address criminogenic factors typically follow the risk/needs/responsivity principles established by Canadian researchers, little information outside of criminal history information and broad demographic details exists on what appears to be a diverse group of offenders. The very offender’s that are the primary management and treatment targets for the Corrections department, in reducing reoffending. The original study proposal also wanted to assess the impact on these offenders of Integrated Offender Management (IOM). As such it was hoped that the sample would have included the assessment procedures used in IOM to assess each individual offenders sentence plan (i.e., Criminal Needs Inventory). Unfortunately, the IOM processes were not carried out on sufficient numbers of the offenders involved in the study when interviews were carried out. It is hoped that funding for follow up of the study sample will occur at a later stage, enabling current IOM data to be included, as well as a more comprehensive understanding of the high risk offender group rather than simply a ‘snap-shot’. The Corrections Department primary risk assessment tool, the RoC*RoI measure was used to identify all inmates at New Zealand’s largest prison with risk scores over .70 (or 70% risk of serious recidivism). Approximately 28% of prison inmates in NZ have risk scores over this cut-off score used by parole authorities to classify high-risk offenders. A total of 150 prison inmates (79% of possible participants) consented to take part in the study that involved a two-hour session in which a number of psychometric instruments and a structured interview were administered. The interviews took place at Waikeria Prison in 2002. The study measures and the interview schedule included variables relating to personality, mental health, criminogenic needs, developmental history, cultural knowledge, treatment history and offence related information. It was hoped to provide descriptive information on the variables from these measures to assist in the development of intervention and management policies for high-risk offenders. In addition it was hoped to analyse the interaction between study variables to assist in the identification of possible causal links. This report presents the findings of this study. Details: Wellington, NZ: Department of Corrections, Psychological Service, 2004. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2011 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/177027/high-risk-offenders.pdf Year: 2004 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/177027/high-risk-offenders.pdf Shelf Number: 120847 Keywords: Recidivism Repeat Offenders (New Zealand) Risk Management

Author: Southern, Rebekah Title: Evaluation of the ESP Funded Warbarth Project in Cornwall Delivered by Working Links Summary: The UK’s National Action Plan to Reduce Re-offending (RAAP, 2004) reported that 75% of prisoners leave prison with no paid employment to go into, whilst 55% of individuals serving community sentences are unemployed at the start of their orders. Moreover, 52% of male and 71% of female adult prisoners start their sentences with no qualifications, which is compounded further by a limited capacity for learning at many UK prisons. There is poor uptake of education post-release because of a lack of support and advice, and incompatibility between education provision in prison and the community, and between course start dates and offenders’ release dates. Many offenders (as well as those working with them) experience difficulties choosing between the range of available provision, miss out on accessing existing job-seeking support, and find that employers and education colleges are often reluctant to accept people with a criminal record (Ministry of Justice, 2004). To facilitate offenders’ ability to access education, training and employment, the Warbarth project formed in May 2006 as a joint venture between Working Links and DCPA. It is overseen by the Warbarth Project Management Group, and financed through the European Social Fund’s (ESF) Objective One funding, with match funding from DCPA and Working links, until June 2008. In terms of service delivery, Warbarth drew on the experience of two existing projects: ‘Connect’, which primarily focuses upon removing barriers to employment for adults who have received short-term custodial sentences in West Mercia, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands; and the Working Links ‘Progress2Work’ programme, which again aims to remove barriers to employment for people aged between 16 and 65 years old who have experienced drug dependency. In the spring of 2007, the Social Research & Regeneration Unit (SRRU) at the University of Plymouth was commissioned by Devon & Cornwall Probation Area (DCPA) and Working Links to conduct an evaluation of the Warbarth project. This report presents the key evaluation findings. The report begins with an introductory section which provides a description of the Warbarth project, the evaluation objectives, and the research methods that were employed during the evaluation. Section Two elaborates on the findings of the evaluation in terms of clients’ expectations of Warbarth, the referral process, various aspects of service delivery and its impact upon clients. Section Three concludes the report by making suggestions for future development based on the findings. Details: Plymouth, UK: Social Research & Regeneration Unit, University of Plymouth Centre of Expertise, 2007. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2011 at: http://www.serio.ac.uk/resources/files/Evaluation%20of%20the%20ESF%20Funded%20Warbarth%20Project%20in%20Cornwall%20Delivered%20by%20Working%20Links.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.serio.ac.uk/resources/files/Evaluation%20of%20the%20ESF%20Funded%20Warbarth%20Project%20in%20Cornwall%20Delivered%20by%20Working%20Links.pdf Shelf Number: 120958 Keywords: Employment Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Easton, Helen Title: An Evaluation of the Prolific and Priority Offender Scheme in Four London Boroughs Summary: This report presents the findings of a qualitative study of 37 Prolific and Other Priority Offenders (PPOs) and 18 practitioners working with PPOs in four London boroughs. The research has been commissioned by London Probation with funding from Government Office for London to examine good practice in each of the four schemes and to provide information to CDRPs within London about the ways in which the PPO scheme has an impact on the PPOs behaviour and attitude to offending. This study is intended to compliment the recent national evaluation of the PPO scheme which indicated that PPOs on the scheme had significantly reduced their offending when compared to a non-PPO cohort. The first section of this report describes the background to the PPO scheme in England and Wales, the national PPO cohort and some of the findings of a recent evaluation of the national PPO scheme. It then goes on to review some of the literature associated with re-offending and desistance and a review of some of the good practice in relation to initiatives and practices with prolific offenders. Details: London: London South Bank University, Crime Reduction & Community Safety Research Group, 2007. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessehttp://www.gos.gov.uk/497417/docs/247610/PPO_Report_FINALDRAFT_101007.docd March 14, 2011 at: Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.gos.gov.uk/497417/docs/247610/PPO_Report_FINALDRAFT_101007.docd March 14, 2011 at: Shelf Number: 120997 Keywords: Prolific Offenders (London) Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Roberts, Colin H. Title: Continuing to Display Effectiveness: An Evaluation Report on Three Years of the IRIS Project Summary: This research report is a follow-up to earlier reports on the progress of and outcomes from the IRIS project. The first was a much longer reported completed in September 2005 (Roberts, 2005) on the first year of the IRIS project, which related to the first twenty offenders on IRIS and a small comparative sample of matched offenders. A second and briefer report which included some additional qualitative and quantitative analysis and which briefly summarised the first report was published in January 2006, entitled Displaying Effectiveness (Roberts, 2006). This report is based on the first, second and third years of the IRIS project and follows the progress of the first thirty five offenders who were given IRIS status. Each offender was followed up for twenty four months each after they commenced on IRIS, to identify their re-offending, compliance with court orders and their time at liberty in the 24 month period. It also includes an analysis of the estimated costs of IRIS in these first three years of operation and estimates its probable cost-benefits in respect of these thirty five prolific offenders. Details: Oxford, UK: Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford, 2007. 39p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 120931 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Prolific Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Jonson, Cheryl Lero Title: The Impact of Imprisonment on Reoffending: A Meta-Analysis Summary: In the early 1970s, state and federal prison populations were under 200,000, with incarceration rates having remained relatively stable for a half century. For a variety of reasons (e.g., increased crime rates, changed political context, the "get tough" movement), the United States entered a period mass incarceration. The number of inmates in state and federal prisons increased 600 percent to over 1.5 million. Counting jail populations, the daily count of Americans behind bars currently stands at over 2.4 million;or about 1 in every 100 adults. However, despite the large number of people placed behind bars, little research has been conducted to determine the impact of imprisonment on the reoffending behavior of individuals placed behind bars. Within this context, this dissertation focus on a three central empirical questions that stand at the heart of the mass imprisonment movement: 1) When an offender is imprisoned as opposed to being given an alternative sanction (e.g., probation), is the person less likely to reoffend?, 2) Does incarcerating offenders for longer periods of time result in a greater reduction in recidivism?, and 3) Does placement in facilities with harsher conditions (e.g., fewer visitations, more restrictions) have a larger deterrent effect when compared to placement in facilities with less harsh conditions? To address the three research questions, this dissertation used meta-analytic techniques to complete a quantitative synthesis of 85 research studies. The overall mean effect size and weighted mean effect size of the three independent variables in question (i.e., non-custodial versus custodial sanctions; sentence length; harshness of conditions) were calculated to determine its impact on recidivism. Additionally, the impact of various moderators was also assessed. The results indicate that the specific deterrence argument for the use of prison is not empirically supported. When examining the impact of non-custodial and custodial sanctions on post-release reoffending, a 14 percent increase in recidivism was found for those sentenced to custodial sanctions as opposed to non-custodial sanctions. Thus, imprisonment was associated with an increase, rather than a decrease, in recidivism contradicting the predictions of specific deterrence theory. Similarly, placement in harsher prison conditions was associated with a 15 percent increase in post-release criminal behavior, failing to provide support for the specific deterrent argument. Only the analyses examining the impact of sentence length showed a deterrent effect, with longer sentences associated with a five percent decrease in recidivism. In light of these findings, the continued reliance on mass incarceration as a main response to crime is questioned. If the goal of imprisonment is to reduce the recidivism of those who are placed behind bars, this study has shown that this is not an empirically sound argument. In fact, placing individuals in prison and increasing the harshness of those prisons are contributing to the very problem it is attempting to solve. Consequently, the results suggest that an alternative crime control strategy to mass imprisonment needs to be employed if the ultimate goal is to reduce the post-release criminal behavior of those who enter the criminal justice system. Details: Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, Division of Criminal Justice, 2010. 237p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 14, 2011 at: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1285687754 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1285687754 Shelf Number: 121001 Keywords: Imprisonment Meta-Analysis Recidivism

Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszka Title: It's like stepping on a landmine…” – Reintegration of Prisoners in Ireland Summary: This report from IPRT assesses the current provision of reintegration services and support for prisoners before and after their release from prison, identifies key systemic failures, and makes 14 clear recommendations for necessary improvements. Statistical analysis indicates that, at present, 60% of those with prison experience will return to prison at some point. With a prison population that has risen by 65% in the last 12 years - and is set to reach 5,000 by the end of 2010 - the successful reintegration of prisoners is even more crucial than ever. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2010. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/%E2%80%9CIts_like_stepping_on_a_landmine%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93_Reintegration_of_Prisoners_in_Ireland.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.iprt.ie/files/%E2%80%9CIts_like_stepping_on_a_landmine%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D%E2%80%93_Reintegration_of_Prisoners_in_Ireland.pdf Shelf Number: 121016 Keywords: Prisoner Reintegration (Ireland) Recidivism Reentry

Author: Feasey, Simon Title: An Evaluation of the Sheffield PPO Premium Service Summary: The aims of this evaluation were to: Undertake a needs and service assessment for Prolific and Priority Offenders in the Sheffield District; Identify gaps and obstacles to the provision of an integrated framework of delivery that supports the development of the Premium Service; Examine opportunities for the greater alignment of early interventions (Catch and Convict) with Rehabilitate and Resettle (R&R) and provide recommendations to enhance the governance, management and delivery of the PPO programme. Within the overall research aims a number of key research questions were identified: How effective are the selection and de-selection processes and to what extent do they reflect policing and community safety priorities? How do early interventions relate to R&R processes and what developments are required to improve an integrated approach? In terms of responding to the criminogenic needs of the PPOs, what are the gaps in service availability and delivery and how can this be addressed? What lessons can be learnt from the research of other PPO programmes previously undertaken and how might these be applied to the Sheffield context? How do PPO's experience their engagement with the programme and does this indicate specific areas of service delivery development? What strengths and areas of development are identified by partner agencies? What strengths and areas of development are identified by practice staff working directly with PPOs? Details: Sheffield, UK: Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, 2009. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/996/1/fulltext.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/996/1/fulltext.pdf Shelf Number: 121052 Keywords: Priority Offenders Prolific Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Feasey, Simon Title: The Wakefield District Prolific and Priority Offender Needs Analysis and Business Case ; Final Report Summary: The Hallam Centre for Community Justice (HCCJ) at Sheffield Hallam University was commissioned by the Wakefield District Community Safety Partnership (WDCSP) to undertake a needs analysis of the Wakefield Prolific and Priority Offender Scheme (Rehabilitate & Resettle) and to develop a business case incorporating proposals and recommendations with regard to the future management and delivery of the scheme. The specified aims of this project were to: • undertake a needs and service assessment for Prolific and Priority Offenders (PPOs) in the Wakefield District • facilitate and develop a partnership business case for a pilot to enhance the existing approach for PPOs, in particular around the rehabilitate and resettle agenda • provide recommendations for the development of rehabilitate and resettlement services more generally The Home Office Development and Practice Report 46 ("Early Findings from the Prolific and Other Priority Offenders Evaluation") indicated that nationally early results from the PPO programmes were promising; significant reductions in reconvictions, the development of more intensive packages of intervention, benefits associated with partnership working and data sharing were all identified as positive indicators of effectiveness. However it is also apparent that programme implementation and development has varied considerably both at a regional and local level and final conclusions about best practice models have not been reached. The final report of the Home Office evaluation was published in February 2007 and includes useful recommendations drawn from empirical data but it is also apparent that local implementation needs to be defined by the specific and particular needs of local PPOs, the nature of existing collaborative partnerships and the capacity and capability of agencies to respond to the seven key pathways identified within the Reducing Re-offending Action Plan 2005. This research project investigates the local circumstances that pertain to the management of PPOs within the Wakefield District Community Safety Partnership and subsequently makes recommendations and proposals to support the development of a pilot which will enable best practice to become embedded within the rehabilitate and resettle agenda. It is anticipated that the research and subsequent preferred model of delivery will additionally provide good practice guidelines which can contribute to the improvement of generic rehabilitation and resettlement across the district. Details: Sheffield, UK: Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, 2007. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/991/1/fulltext.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/991/1/fulltext.pdf Shelf Number: 121053 Keywords: Priority Offenders Prolific Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Vennard, Julie Title: The Bristol Prolific Offender Scheme: An Evaluation Summary: This report presents the results of an evaluation of the Bristol component of the Avon and Somerset Prolific Offender Scheme (ASPOS). Avon and Somerset Constabulary commissioned the evaluation. The Bristol Prolific Offender Unit (POU) was set up in April 2002 under the auspices of the Bristol Crime and Disorder Partnership. It is a joint police, prison and probation initiative which targets the most prolific offenders in the Bristol area. The scheme as implemented and delivered in Bristol was extended throughout Avon and Somerset during 2003-2004. Details: Bristol, UK: University of Bristol, 2004. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/law/research/centres-themes/offender/offend-rep.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/law/research/centres-themes/offender/offend-rep.pdf Shelf Number: 121054 Keywords: Priority Offenders Prolific Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Repeat Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Loudenburg, Roland Title: South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program Evaluation Findings Report Summary: The South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program was developed in direct response to the overwhelming need to address repeat impaired driving offenses in South Dakota. The 24/7 Sobriety Program addresses the problem in a nontraditional manner. An external evaluation firm was engaged to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. This report is the first to evaluate the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program's effect on DUI recidivism. This report evaluates the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program’s overall effectiveness in reducing DUI recidivism among PBTx2 participants through data review and statistical analysis. The report is prepared in conjunction with the South Dakota Attorney General's Office and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. This report utilizes participant data maintained on the Attorney General’s Office 24/7 Sobriety Program web based database (24/7 Database) and offender data maintained by the Unified Judicial System (UJS). Initial sections of the report provide a general description of the 24/7 Sobriety Program, participants, and a summary of test results for twice a day PBT testing (PBTx2). Later sections of the report focus on recidivism analysis of DUI offenders participating in PBTx2. In those later sections, DUI recidivism rates for program participants are compared to nonparticipants using three approaches. Details: Salem, SD: Mountain Plains Evaluation, LLC, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resoruce: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: http://atg.sd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yDN959bSoXE%3D&tabid=442 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://atg.sd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=yDN959bSoXE%3D&tabid=442 Shelf Number: 121055 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence (South Dakota) Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Albertus, Chesne Title: Offender Reintegration in South Africa: A Complementary Crime Prevention Measure Summary: In 1995, the Constitutional Court of South Africa declared the death penalty unconstitutional, because the death penalty inter alia, rejected the possibility that those convicted could be rehabilitated. The Court held that such a rejection is inconsistent with ubuntu, a well-known South African concept characterised by respect for human dignity and the dominant theme that the life of another human being is as important as one’s own. From this it may be inferred that one of South Africa’s founding values requires respect for the life and dignity of everyone including those who have committed crime. This paper contends that although the Constitution does not expressly require the state to assist prisoners to reintegrate into society, its language and overall framework supports the notion of a constitutional obligation to support their rehabilitation. It is also argued that by not fulfilling this duty adequately, the state is contributing to repeat offending. It is proposed that if the duty to assist prisoners in reintegrating into mainstream society is accepted and complied with, a significant reduction in levels of crime could be achieved. Details: Pinelands, South Africa: Criminal Justice Initiative of Open Society Foundation for South Africa, 2010. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: CJI Occasional Paper No. 7: Accessed March 18, 2011 at: http://www.osf.org.za/File_Uploads/docs/CJI_Occasional_Paper_7.pdf Year: 2010 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.osf.org.za/File_Uploads/docs/CJI_Occasional_Paper_7.pdf Shelf Number: 121074 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation (South Africa) Recidivism Reentry

Author: Olson, David E. Title: A Process and Impact Evaluation of the Sheridan Correctional Center Therapeutic Community Program During Fiscal Years 2004 through 2010 Summary: In response to increases in Illinois’ prison population, low rates of access to substance abuse treatment services while in prison, and high rates of recidivism, on January 2, 2004, the Illinois Department of Corrections opened the Sheridan Correctional Center as a fully-dedicated, modified therapeutic community for incarcerated adult male inmates. Since the program began, a process and impact evaluation has been conducted by researchers from Loyola University Chicago, the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), the Safer Foundation, and WestCare. After 6 ½ years of operation, covering the period from January 2, 2004 through the end of State Fiscal Year 2010 (June 30, 2010), the evaluation has found the following:  The pre-operational target population identified for the program is being served, with those admitted to Sheridan having extensive criminal and substance abuse histories, and a substantial unmet need for treatment, vocational and educational programming;  As a result of strong support from IDOC executive staff, the Sheridan program has been allowed to evolve and be implemented in a manner that has ensured the clinical integrity of the program and the availability of sufficient resources for needed services;  As a result of Sheridan, IDOC has developed and implemented a process by which all adult inmates admitted to prison undergo a screening to identify substance abuse treatment need, the integration of this information into their automated Offender Tracking System, and the development of a treatment waiting list for inmates;  During the past 6 ½ years, the following significant accomplishments and improvements to the operation of the Sheridan Correctional Center have been achieved: o A consistently low rate of inmates being referred to Sheridan who are subsequently determined to not meet the eligibility criteria, and quicker identification and removal of these inmates from Sheridan. Overall, less than 5 percent of all inmates admitted to Sheridan were determined to not meet the eligibility criteria during the 6 ½ years of operation. o A consistently low rate of inmates being removed from Sheridan due to disciplinary reasons, despite the serious criminal histories of the population. The ratio of inmates who successfully complete the prison-phase of the program to those removed for disciplinary reasons was 4 to 1; o An increasing proportion of inmates being admitted to Sheridan via the treatment wait list from other institutions. During the first year of operation, less than 4% of admissions came from other prisons, but by 2007, nearly 25% of all Sheridan admissions came from other facilities via the treatment wait list; o During the course of program participation, inmates at the Sheridan Correctional Center improved their levels of psychological and social functioning, and reduced their criminal thinking patterns; o During the time period examined in this report, 32 percent of Sheridan graduates completed at least one vocational certificate program, and this reached a peak of 50 percent of inmates released during SFY 2008; and, o The implementation of enhanced pre-release planning for Sheridan releasees, including the involvement of a multidisciplinary case staffing team representing the institutional staff, parole and aftercare staff and the inmate.  In addition to these enhancements at the Sheridan Correctional Center, significant accomplishments, enhancements and improvements to the post-release phase of the program have also been evident during the 6 ½ years of program operation, including: o A pattern of aftercare referrals consistent with the pre-operational expectations, with all Sheridan releasees receiving referrals to either outpatient or residential treatment services; o An increased rate of successful treatment admission among Sheridan releasees, fewer releasees failing to show up for aftercare referrals, and a decreased length of time between an inmate’s release and aftercare placement; and, o An increased rate of successful aftercare treatment completion among the Sheridan releasees. Among the SFY 2005 releasees from Sheridan only about one-half successfully completed post-release aftercare, but among the SFY 2009 and 2010 releasees, aftercare completion rates exceeded 70 percent.  As a result of the successful implementation of the prison-phase of the Sheridan Correctional Center, coupled with the post-release aftercare component, the Sheridan program has produced the following outcomes: o The earned good conduct credits many of the inmates received at Sheridan for their participation in treatment during the first six full state fiscal years of operation (SFY 2005-2010) translates into a savings of 714 years of incarceration, which equates to $16.7 million, or $2.78 million per year, in reduced incarceration costs; o Sheridan participants who earned a vocational certificate were almost twice as likely to have job starts than those released from Sheridan who did not earn a vocational certificate; o As a result of the treatment services and aftercare received, those inmates released from Sheridan had a 16 percent lower likelihood of being returned to prison after three years in the community than a statistically similar comparison group of inmates released from Illinois’ other prisons during the same time period, and a 25 percent lower recidivism rate than those removed from Sheridan due to disciplinary reasons; and, o The largest reductions in recidivism —both in terms of rearrest and return to prison -- were evident among those Sheridan releasees who successfully completed aftercare treatment. Those Sheridan graduates who also completed aftercare had a 44 percent lower likelihood of being returned to prison after three years in the community than a statistically similar comparison group. Given that rates of aftercare treatment completion have improved substantially over the past year, it is likely that in the future the overall reductions in recidivism associated with Sheridan will be even larger. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2011. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2011 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Sheridan_6_year_eval_report_01_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Sheridan_6_year_eval_report_01_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 121085 Keywords: Aftercare Correctional Programs Offender Treatment (Illinois) Recidivism Rehabilitation Substance Abuse Treatment Vocational Training

Author: Mulvey, Edward P. Title: Highlights From Pathways to Desistance: A Longitudinal Study of Serious Adolescent Offenders Summary: This fact sheet presents an overview of some major findings from the Pathways to Desistance Study, a project that followed 1,354 serious adolescent offenders for 7 years following their convictions. The primary findings of the study to date deal with the decrease in self-reported offending over time by most serious adolescent offenders, the relative inefficacy of longer juvenile incarcerations in decreasing recidivism, the effectiveness of community-based supervision as a component of aftercare for incarcerated youth, and the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment in reducing both substance use and offending by serious adolescent offenders. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2011. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: http://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/230971.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/230971.pdf Shelf Number: 121101 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Longitudinal Studies Recidivism

Author: Kunic, Dan Title: The Aboriginal Offender Substance Abuse Program (AOSAP): Examining the Effects of Successful Completion on Post-Release Outcomes Summary: Over 90% of the Aboriginal men in federal custody require substance abuse intervention. In response to this need, CSC introduced the Aboriginal Offender Substance Program (AOSAP) in 2004. The first version (V-1) of the program consisted of 31 sessions and was field-tested from November 2004 to June 2005. As a result of feedback from field staff and program participants, a restructured and improved second version (V-2), comprising 53 sessions, was delivered to participants from June 2005 to October 2006. The final version of the program (V-3), 65 sessions in length, was launched in November 2006. All versions of the program were designed to reduce the Aboriginal offender’s risk of relapse to substance abuse and recidivism through a holistic process that examines the impact of substance abuse through the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the Aboriginal offender. Contemporary best-practices approaches in substance abuse treatment are also interwoven throughout the program. A cohort of AOSAP participants, who were released to the community on day parole, full parole, or statutory release, were studied for a period not exceeding the warrant expiry date to evaluate the effects of the program on post-release outcomes. If AOSAP reduced the likelihood of revocation and/or testing positive for drugs following conditional release to the community, then the program’s effectiveness with respect to mitigating the risk of revocation and/or relapse to substance abuse was confirmed. The methodology that was employed to investigate the effectiveness of AOSAP is particularly notable because it compared Aboriginal offenders who participated in AOSAP to other Aboriginal offenders who participated in the moderate (M) and high (H) intensity National Substance Abuse Programs (NSAP). Including comparisons of this nature was important because it provided a more conservative estimate of AOSAP’s effect on post-release outcomes. A total of 94 (3.5%) of the Aboriginal men in the release cohort fully or partially participated in AOSAP, and 79 (2.9%) and 344 (12.8%) fully or partially participated in the NSAP high and moderate intensity interventions, respectively. The remaining 2,178 (81%) of the Aboriginal men did not participate in institutionally-based AOSAP or NSAP interventions. Main Findings: 1. Generally, Aboriginal offenders who participated in AOSAP were returned to custody at a lower rate during the follow-up period than the groups of Aboriginal offenders who participated in NSAP-H, NSAP-M, failed to complete a substance abuse program, or did not participate in a substance abuse program prior to release from custody. Aboriginal offenders who participated in versions 2 or 3 of AOSAP were returned to custody at the same rate as Aboriginal offenders who participated in version 1 of AOSAP. There was no statistical difference between versions of AOSAP. Advanced statistical analysis, which allow for the control of offender characteristics associated with criminal behaviour, confirm these results. 2. Only 5% of the successful participants of AOSAP- V 2&3, and 6% of the participants of AOSAP version 1 were returned to custody because of a new offence or charge compared to 16% and 20% of the successful participants of NSAP-H and NSAP-M, respectively. 3. Exposure to substance abuse treatment prior to release from custody was a relatively weak predictor of relapse to substance abuse. Nevertheless, there was some evidence suggesting that successful participants of AOSAP and NSAP-M were less likely to incur a positive urinalysis result while on release than successful participants of NSAP-H. The result emerged after adjusting for the effects of other offender characteristics that are known to be associated with criminal behaviour. 4. There was some evidence that Aboriginal offenders who participated in AOSAP were less likely than Aboriginal offenders from the other program exposure categories to test positive for drugs that are considered dangerous because of the physical harms they cause the individual (e.g., cocaine, opioids) and the effects they have on significant others and the broader community. Details: Ottawa: Research Branch, Correctional Service of Canada, 2009. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 Nº R-217; Accessed March 26, 2011 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r217/r217-eng.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r217/r217-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 121120 Keywords: Corrections Programs Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Indigenous Peoples Inmates Recidivism Rehabilitation Substance Abuse (Canada)

Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation Title: Core Case Inspections of Youth Offending Work: Aggregate Findings Across Four English Regions and Wales, Including Findings by Diversity Summary: This report provides aggregate findings across four English regions and Wales from HMI Probation’s Core Case Inspections (CCI) of key aspects of Youth Offending work by Youth Offending Teams, which are covering all 157 YOTs over a three year period from April 2009. The findings in this report cover the 79 YOT areas inspected so far. • Overall, these findings indicate that much sound work is being undertaken with young people who have offended, but that there is scope for further improvement, among other things in Public Protection work, in a number of YOTs. • On the main elements of work inspected in the CCI – Safeguarding and Public Protection: - the overall average percentage of Safeguarding work, that HMI Probation judged to have met a sufficiently high level of quality, was 67% - the overall average percentage of work to keep to a minimum each young person’s Risk of Harm to others, that HMI Probation judged to have met a sufficiently high level of quality, was 62% - the overall average percentage of work to make it less likely that the individual young person would reoffend, that HMI Probation judged to have met a sufficiently high level of quality, was 70% • In 88% of the cases the YOT worker actively motivated and supported the young person throughout the sentence. • In 73% of cases delivered interventions in the community were of good quality. In only 55% of all cases were they reviewed appropriately. • In 64% of cases where the young person did not comply with the supervision the authority took enforcement action sufficiently well. • When analysed by diversity characteristics, for the main elements of work overall, and for the majority of key specific aspects of work, there were no statistically significant differences. However, where there were differences, work was done sufficiently well: - with girls and young women somewhat more often than with boys and young men - on some aspects of work, including some on Risk of Harm, a little more often with white young people compared to black and minority ethnic (BME) young people - with individuals under 16 years of age somewhat more often than with the older age group - with individuals with no identified disability somewhat more often than those with an identified disability • Overall, there were no major differences in the quality of work between children and young people of different diversity characteristics, but the figures indicate that certain specific matters may require attention. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Probation, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed March 28, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/CCI_aggregate_report_March_2011-rps.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/CCI_aggregate_report_March_2011-rps.pdf Shelf Number: 121146 Keywords: Disability Diversity Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Juvenile Probation Offender Supervision Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Minnesota Department of Corrections Title: An Evaluation of the Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Plan (MCORP): Phase 1 Report Summary: In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC), in collaboration with Hennepin, Ramsey, and Dodge/Fillmore/Olmsted (DFO) counties, implemented the Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Plan (MCORP) pilot project, an offender reentry initiative serving offenders released to the five counties. In an effort to lower recidivism, MCORP was designed to increase offender access to critical reentry services in the community such as employment, housing, educational and vocational programming, chemical dependency (CD) treatment, income support, and community support programming (i.e., mentoring, restorative justice circles, and faith-based support). Using the core components of evidence-based practices, MCORP attempted to enhance service delivery by emphasizing increased collaboration between institutional caseworkers and supervision agents to provide planning, support, and direction for offenders to address their strengths and needs in both the institution and the community. In pursuit of increasing offender access to community services and programming, MCORP supervision agents had smaller caseload sizes and began initiating contact with the offenders on their caseloads while the offenders were still incarcerated. To evaluate whether the MCORP pilot project (hereafter referred to as MCORP) was effective in reducing recidivism, the DOC and the five pilot counties implemented a randomized experimental design, which is widely considered to be the most rigorous research design used in program evaluations. During 2008, eligible offenders were randomly assigned to either the experimental (MCORP) or control (regular) groups. Data were collected on the offenders from both groups that measured their experiences prior to imprisonment, during their incarceration, and after their release from prison. Using the data that were collected, this evaluation attempted to address three main questions. First, did MCORP reduce recidivism? Second, did MCORP increase offender access to community services and programming? And, third, to what extent did these services have an impact on recidivism? Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2010. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/02-10MCORPPhase1EvaluationReport.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/02-10MCORPPhase1EvaluationReport.pdf Shelf Number: 121188 Keywords: Recidivism Reentry (Minnesota)

Author: Minnesota Department of Corrections Title: An Evaluation of the Institution/Community Work Crew Affordable Homes Program Summary: The Affordable Homes Program (AHP) is a prison work crew program managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC). In coordination with local non-profit agencies, AHP trains offenders in the construction trade while they are serving time in prison. The hands-on training provided in AHP is designed to help offenders find post-release employment in the construction industry by cultivating positive work habits and marketable job skills. AHP participants are placed in 5 to 11-man work crews and are tasked with the job of building or remodeling affordable homes throughout Minnesota. Supplied with a van and tool trailer, each work crew typically works four 10-hour days per week and is supervised by a DOC employee who is a master tradesman. While working on a project, the offenders are housed close to their work sites in minimum-security units at local correctional facilities; e.g., county jails. AHP began in 1998 with approximately 10 offenders and, in 2010, has grown to approximately 45 offenders participating in the program at any given time. This report presents the results of a rigorous outcome evaluation of AHP since its beginning in 1998. In doing so, this study addressed four main questions: 1. Does AHP increase the number of affordable homes in Minnesota? 2. Does AHP impact post-release employment? 3. Does AHP reduce costs? 4. Does AHP reduce offender recidivism? Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2010. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/12-10ICWCAHPreport.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/12-10ICWCAHPreport.pdf Shelf Number: 121189 Keywords: Correctional Industries Housing Offender Work Programs (Minnesota) Recidivism Rehabilitation Vocational Training

Author: Minnesota Department of Corrections Title: The Impact of Prison-Based Treatment on Sex Offender Recidivism: Evidence from Minnesota Summary: In evaluating the effectiveness of sex offender treatment in Minnesota prisons, this study does not use a randomized experimental design. Furthermore, due to a lack of available data, it does not control for the possible impact that post-release participation in community-based treatment may have on reoffending. Despite these limitations, however, the present study contains a number of strengths that have been lacking from most prior treatment studies. First, as discussed later in more detail, a propensity score matching (PSM) technique was used to individually match treated and untreated sex offenders. In doing so, this study minimizes the threat of selection bias by creating a comparison group whose probability of entering treatment was similar to that of the treatment group. Second, in addition to being one of the first studies in the sex offender treatment literature to use PSM, this study further controls for rival causal factors by analyzing the data with Cox regression, which is widely regarded as the most appropriate multivariate statistical technique for recidivism analyses. Third, by comparing 1,020 treated sex offenders with a matched group of 1,020 untreated sex offenders, the sample size used for this study (N = 2,040) is one of the larger sex offender treatment studies to date. Fourth, to gain a more precise assessment of the effectiveness of treatment, multiple measures of treatment participation and criminal recidivism were used. Finally, because recidivism data were collected on the 2,040 sex offenders through the end of 2006, the average follow-up period for these offenders was 9.3 years. This study thus provides a robust assessment of treatment effectiveness by tracking offenders over a relatively lengthy period of time. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2010. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10SOTXStudy_Revised.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10SOTXStudy_Revised.pdf Shelf Number: 121190 Keywords: Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders (Minnesota)

Author: New Zealand. Department of Corrections. Strategic Analysis and Research Title: Evaluation of the Faith Based Unit and Target Communities Programme Summary: An evaluation was undertaken recently by Strategy, Policy and Planning on the Faith-based Unit (FBU) at Rimutaka Prison and the associated “Target Communities” (TC) programme that assists prisoners with community reintegration. Questions that the evaluation sought to address were: • To what extent does the FBU (and TC) succeed in engaging and positively motivating prisoners? • How successfully does the programme operate within a custodial environment? • To what extent does the FBU (and TC) succeed in achieving its aims of prosocial change, and reduced re-offending? With respect to the first question, the evidence gathered indicates that prisoners generally engaged well with the FBU experience and the post-release support, and expressed high levels of motivation to make changes in their lives. Prisoners and released offenders who were interviewed for the evaluation disclosed a wide range of benefits they felt they had achieved from FBU participation. There was general endorsement for the community change approach which the unit sought to maintain. Within this environment, participants felt that they had the opportunity to learn and grow, and to prepare themselves for life on the outside. They spoke of being treated with decency and respect, and that as a result they had been given hope. Those involved with the Target Communities service in particular were without exception extremely grateful for the commitment displayed to them by the volunteers. At the same time, they were aware that they were still on a journey that had only really just begun. The level of community engagement achieved by Prison Fellowship New Zealand (PFNZ), in terms of the sheer numbers of community members enlisted to work alongside the offenders, is quite remarkable, and unique within the prison system. With respect to the second question, evaluation findings point to a range of differences in the perspectives of PFNZ and Prison Services which have meant a difficult relationship between the two parties. A “clash of cultures” is observed, between PFNZ staff’s unwavering belief in the value of the programme, and their earnest desire to ensure that participating offenders gain maximal value from their time in the unit, while a number of key personnel within Prison Services tend to view the programme more sceptically, and sometimes act in ways that have been interpreted (by PFNZ) as devaluing the unit’s worth. Quantitative analysis using psychometric instruments supported prisoners’ claims of making positive changes while in the unit, showing significant changes in offending-related beliefs. With respect to reconviction data, an RQ analysis revealed no significant impacts amongst the (admittedly small) FBU sample. Some reduction in the seriousness of new offending was identified, but this fell below the level of statistical significance, and thus cannot be interpreted as conclusive proof of a positive effect. The absence of measurable impacts on reconvictions is consistent with the findings from a number of previous studies internationally on similar faith based programmes. However, the relatively small sample size available for inclusion in the reconviction analysis means that the results ought not be considered conclusive. A theoretical model (programme logic) that is hypothesised to effect transformation of FBU participants was extracted from the interviews with stakeholders. The model emphasises that the primary mechanism of change for the FBU is the therapeutic community. This evaluation did not attempt to test the effectiveness of the principles of the therapeutic community model since PFNZ have only recently gained clarity about that approach. However, that could occur through a followup evaluation at a later date. A number of key learnings and recommendations are made about the future of the FBU, subject to decisions on renewal of the contract with PFNZ. These relate to the relationship between PFNZ and the Department, programme length, and the sentence planning processes that support the unit’s operation. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Department of Corrections, 2010. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/486357/Final_version_of_FBU_evaluation_report_-_web_version.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/486357/Final_version_of_FBU_evaluation_report_-_web_version.pdf Shelf Number: 121195 Keywords: Correctional Programs Faith-Based Initiatives Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Jones, Craig Title: Does Forum Sentencing Reduce Re-Offending? Summary: Forum Sentencing is an adult-focussed restorative justice program that operates in two NSW sites: Liverpool and Tweed. Under the scheme, young adults who meet certain eligibility and suitability criteria can have their matter dealt with by way of a community conference rather than being dealt with in a conventional court setting. The aim of the current study was to determine whether offenders who are dealt with by way of a Forum Sentence are less likely to re-offend than those sentenced in the usual way. Forum Sentencing participants were compared with a matched sample of offenders who met the eligibility criteria for Forum Sentencing but who were sentenced in a conventional court. The two groups were compared on four measures: (a) the proportion within each group who were reconvicted of a further offence within one year of being sentenced, (b) the proportion within each group who were convicted for two or more offences within one year of being sentenced, (c) the time to first reconviction and (d) whether, on average, the Forum Sentencing group committed less serious offences than the comparison group. No evidence emerged that Forum Sentencing participants performed better on any of these outcomes. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 129; Accessed April 1, 2011 at: http://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB129.pdf/$file/CJB129.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ipc.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB129.pdf/$file/CJB129.pdf Shelf Number: 121209 Keywords: Conferencing Recidivism Restorative Justice (Australia) Sentencing

Author: Nicholson, Chris Title: Rehabilitation Works: Ensuring Payment by Results Cuts Reoffending Summary: The U.K. prison population has increased to over 85,000 and spending on rehabilitation has reached record levels; yet reoffending rates remain stubbornly high in the UK. There is widespread agreement within the coalition government that the country is in need of a 'rehabilitation revolution'. However, rather than government deciding such initiatives centrally, the Ministry of Justice is proposing a much greater role for the private and voluntary sectors. Furthermore, it anticipates that for some groups of offenders providers of rehabilitation services should be paid only to the extent that they are successful in reducing reoffending – Payment by Results (PbR). Rehabilitation Works: ensuring Payment by Results cuts reoffending assesses the practicalities of implementing a PbR regime for reducing reoffending. How should the system be designed so as to avoid the risk of ‘parking and creaming’ of clients or offenders? And in what way can it be ensured that a diverse provider base is created, where SMEs and third sector organisations are not priced out of the bidding process? In order for a PbR model to be effective, there must be a diverse provider market and a commercial framework ensuring providers can generate a return whilst also offering the government value for money as a result of the policy. This paper recommends a phased introduction of outcome based payment mechanisms and stresses that the scheme will not be effective if offenders are treated as a single generic group. Details: London: Centre Forum, 2011. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.centreforum.org/assets/pubs/payment-by-results.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.centreforum.org/assets/pubs/payment-by-results.pdf Shelf Number: 120916 Keywords: Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending

Author: McLean, Marcus Title: Recidivism Survival Analysis of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative 2003-2007 Summary: This evaluation report focuses on the Wyoming Adult Offender Reentry Program that was funded through a federal reentry program designed to reduce the extremely high rates of recidivism among the most serious and violent offenders in corrections systems. The Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) prescribed a three phase approach to prisoner reintegration based on successful models of community reentry programming found in the peer-reviewed literature of the field . The SVORI strategy included an initial risk assessment to determine key risk and need factors commonly found in correctional populations. After development of a case management plan, offenders were provided access to the appropriate mental health and substance abuse treatment, skills and job training, education and other interventions needed to prepare them for community reentry. Once released into the community, offenders had continued access to services and interventions. At the national level, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that “at least 95% of all State prisoners will be released from prison at some point; nearly 80% will be released to parole supervision” (Reentry Trends in the United States,” BJS website). Of the state parole discharges in 2000, only 41% successfully completed their term of supervision. This report is based on data collected by the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) over the past five years (both data collected by WYSAC data compiled by WDOC). The Wyoming SVORI program began in April of 2003 and ran through December of 2007. Outcome data on the legal status of participants was gathered as late as February 2008. This evaluation report tracks SVORI participants and a similar non-participant, serious and violent comparator group that were incarcerated at the Wyoming State Penitentiary (WSP) or the Wyoming Women’s Center (WWC). After release most offenders were paroled to either Cheyenne or Casper, two small urban centers in Wyoming (pop. ~ 50,000). Through statistical procedures (survival analysis) this report measures the relative success of offenders at reentering Wyoming communities and maintaining their freedom. Details: Laramie, WY: Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center, University of Wyoming, 2008. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: WYSAC Technical Report No. CJR-801: Accessed April 11, 2011 at: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/documents/wy_svori_recidivism2003-2007.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/documents/wy_svori_recidivism2003-2007.pdf Shelf Number: 121291 Keywords: Recidivism Reentry (Wyoming) Rehabilitation Violent Offenders

Author: Pew Center on the States Title: State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons Summary: The dramatic growth of America’s prison population during the past three decades is by now a familiar story. In 2008, the Pew Center on the States reported that incarceration levels had risen to a point where one in 100 American adults was behind bars. A second Pew study the following year added another disturbing dimension to the picture, revealing that one in 31 adults in the United States was either incarcerated or on probation or parole. The costs associated with this growth also have been well documented. Total state spending on corrections is now about $52 billion, the bulk of which is spent on prisons. State spending on corrections quadrupled during the past two decades, making it the second fastest growing area of state budgets, trailing only Medicaid. While America’s imprisonment boom and its fiscal impacts have been widely debated, the public safety payoff from our expenditures on incarceration has undergone far less scrutiny. Now, however, as the nation’s slumping economy continues to force states to do more with less, policy makers are asking tougher questions about corrections outcomes. One key element of that analysis is measuring recidivism, or the rate at which offenders return to prison. Prisons, of course, are not solely responsible for recidivism results. Parole and probation agencies, along with social service providers and community organizations, play a critical role. Although preventing offenders from committing more crimes once released is only one goal of the overall correctional system, it is a crucial one, both in terms of preventing future victimization and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent effectively. This report seeks to elevate the public discussion about recidivism, prompting policy makers and the public to dig more deeply into the factors that impact rates of return to prison, and into effective strategies for reducing them. For years the most widely accepted sources of national recidivism statistics have been two studies produced by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The most recent of those reports, which tracked offenders released from state prison in 1994, concluded that a little more than half of released offenders (51.8 percent) were back in prison within three years, either for committing a new crime or for violating rules of their supervision. Published in 2002, the BJS study followed a sample of offenders from 15 states, and did not provide any statelevel recidivism data. Recognizing the importance of recidivism to policy makers seeking better results from their correctional systems, Pew, in collaboration with the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), undertook a comprehensive survey aimed at producing the first state-by-state look at recidivism rates. The Pew/ASCA survey asked states to report three-year return-to-prison rates for all inmates released from their prison systems in 1999 and 2004. This survey differs from the prior BJS study in many important ways, the most significant of which is that it includes recidivism data from more than twice as many states. According to the survey results, 45.4 percent of people released from prison in 1999 and 43.3 percent of those sent home in 2004 were reincarcerated within three years, either for committing a new crime or for violating conditions governing their release. While differences in survey methods complicate direct comparisons of national recidivism rates over time, a comparison of the states included in both the Pew/ASCA and BJS studies reveals that recidivism rates have been largely stable. When excluding California, whose size skews the national picture, recidivism rates between 1994 and 2007 have consistently remained around 40 percent. The new figures suggest that despite the massive increase in corrections spending, in many states there has been little improvement in the performance of corrections systems. If more than four out of 10 adult American offenders still return to prison within three years of their release, the system designed to deter them from continued criminal behavior clearly is falling short. That is an unhappy reality, not just for offenders, but for the safety of American communities. Details: Washington, DC: The Pew Charitable Trusts, 2011. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 13, 2011 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/sentencing_and_corrections/State_Recidivism_Revolving_Door_America_Prisons%20.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/sentencing_and_corrections/State_Recidivism_Revolving_Door_America_Prisons%20.pdf Shelf Number: 121333 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending

Author: Great Britain. Comptroller and Auditor General Title: The Youth Justice System in England and Wales: Reducing Offending by Young People. Ministry of Justice Summary: In England and Wales, young people between the ages of 10 and 17 can be 1 held criminally responsible for their actions. Provisional data shows that young people committed 201,800 offences in 2009‑10. Although they make up only 11 per cent of the population above the age of criminal responsibility, in 2009 people in this age group were responsible for 17 per cent of all proven offending. The youth justice system manages young offenders and contributes to preventing young people committing crimes in the first place. The system is overseen by the Youth Justice Board (the Board), an executive non-departmental public body of the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry). On 14 October 2010 the Ministry announced its intention to take over the functions of the Board. This is subject to Parliamentary approval. Some 60 per cent of proven young offending is dealt with in court, with the 2 remainder handled by the police through reprimands and final warnings. In 2009‑10, the cost of managing young offenders, not including police and court costs, was £800 million, of which £500 million was spent through the Board. Most is spent on young offenders with court sentences. Although only three per cent of offences by young people brought to justice result in a custodial sentence, in 2009‑10 38 per cent of youth justice system expenditure was incurred on custodial places in secure establishments. We estimate that, in 2009, offending by all young people cost the economy 3 £8.5‑£11 billion. Young offenders, as with adults, are most commonly convicted of theft and violence. Although they have had a shorter time to offend than adults, a third of those dealt with each year have previously been reprimanded, warned or convicted in relation to an offence. They also have a high reoffending rate: 56 per cent of those receiving court sentences are proven to reoffend within a year. For all young offenders – that is, those who are convicted in court or receive reprimands and final warnings, collectively known as disposals – the reoffending rate is 37 per cent. Family breakdown, educational underachievement, substance abuse, mental illness 4 and other problems commonly affect young offenders. They are also more likely to have difficulty controlling their behaviour and understanding its impact on others. The youth justice system works on the basis that addressing such risk factors during the course of a sentence is the best way to reduce a young person’s risk of reoffending. The overall goal of the youth justice system is to prevent offending by young people. Local and national government both play important roles in the system. There are 157 Youth Offending Teams in England and Wales, which are multi-agency partnerships with statutory representation from local authorities, the police, probation, health and social services. Youth Offending Teams are responsible for the delivery of youth justice services such as the assessment of offenders and supervision of community-based sentences, with the assistance of their statutory partners and other organisations. Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2010. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2011 at: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1011/reoffending_by_young_people.aspx Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1011/reoffending_by_young_people.aspx Shelf Number: 121359 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Juvenile Justice Systems (U.K.) Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: MacRae, Leslie Title: A Profile of Youth Offenders in Calgary: An Interim Report Summary: The Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family (CRILF) is conducting a three-year study of youth offending in Calgary with funding from the City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services (Year 1) and the Alberta Law Foundation. The objectives of this study are to: 1. identify how the implementation of the Youth Criminal Justice Act has affected the flow of cases through the youth justice system in Alberta and the workload for various components of the provincial youth justice system; 2. develop a model for predicting why some Calgary youth become serious habitual offenders (SHOs), while others do not; and 3. build a knowledge base for the City of Calgary Community and Neighbourhood Services, Calgary Police Service and other relevant provincial-based agencies for increasing their effectiveness and efficiency by conducting an environmental scan of current best practices in Canada related to: • predictors (risk and protective factors) of offending by youth; • use of decision making instruments and protocols across Canada; and • programs targeted at chronic/persistent youth offenders across Canada. The investigation of these objectives was planned over a three-year period and will result in a number of research reports. The activities for Year 1 of the study, which focussed primarily on Objective #2, are the focus of this report. Details: Calgary, Alberta: Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family, 2008. 175p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2011 at: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Report_A_Profile_of_Youth_Crime_in_Calgary_March2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~crilf/publications/Final_Report_A_Profile_of_Youth_Crime_in_Calgary_March2008.pdf Shelf Number: 121367 Keywords: Chronic Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders (Canada) Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: California. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research Title: 2010 Adult Institutions Outcome Evaluation Report Summary: To comport with national best practices, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) now measures recidivism by tracking arrests, convictions and returns to prison. Although all three measures are displayed in charts and tables in Appendix A, CDCR uses the latter measure, returns to prison, as the primary measure of recidivism for the purpose of this report. We chose this measure because it is the most reliable measure available and is well understood and commonly used by most correctional stakeholders. CDCR has reported recidivism rates for felons released from custody since 1977. Prior to this report, CDCR provided recidivism rates only for felons paroled for the first time on their current term during a specified calendar year. Parolees were only tracked until they discharged from parole. CDCR is now expanding the cohort to include direct discharge, first-release and re-released felons who are released during a State Fiscal Year (FY), beginning with FY 2005-06. All felons are tracked for the full follow-up period, regardless of their status as active or discharged. In addition, recidivism rates are presented based on numerous characteristics (e.g., commitment offense, length-of-stay). This report is intended to provide more detailed information about recidivism to CDCR executives and managers, lawmakers and other correctional stakeholders who have an interest in the dynamics of reoffending behavior and recidivism reduction. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2010. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2011 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY0506_Outcome_Evaluation_Report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY0506_Outcome_Evaluation_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 121369 Keywords: Corrections (California) Inmates Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Watson, Lanette Title: Process and Outcome Evaluation of the STAR (Sisters Together Achieving Recovery) Program Summary: This report presents a process and outcome evaluation of the STAR (Sisters Together Achieving Recovery) program housed at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW) in Mitchellville, Iowa. The STAR Program is a licensed inpatient substance abuse treatment program that utilizes a Therapeutic Community model (TC). All offenders exiting the STAR program between October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2008 were included in the study (n=173). A comparison sample was drawn of offenders exiting the ICIW during the same release time frame with identified but untreated substance abuse needs (n= 173). March 31, 2010 was designated as the cut-off date for the study. This yielded an average post-program follow-up time of 3.1 years. The STAR group was further divided into two groups by time of program exit. Participants exiting the program between October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2006 were designated as STAR 1 (n=78) and those exiting the program between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008 were designated as STAR 2 (n=95). In order to have comparable tracking time between STAR groups, tracking time for STAR 1 concluded July 31, 2008. This yielded an average post release follow-up time of 2.4 years for both groups. Demographic, Program, Intervention, and Outcome data were examined. Comparisons were made between groups as well as categories of participation. Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Statistical Analysis Center, 2010. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2011 at: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/STAR_Evaluation_Report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/STAR_Evaluation_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 121449 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Female Inmates (Iowa) Female Offenders Recidivism

Author: Zweig, Janine Title: Recidivism Effects of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Program Vary by Former Prisoners’ Risk of Reoffending Summary: The New York City-based Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is a transitional jobs program designed to help former prisoners increase longer-term employment and, consequently, reduce recidivism. Interim results from MDRC’s rigorous impact evaluation of CEO show reduced recidivism in both the first and the second year of follow-up. This research brief expands on those results by using regression-based analysis to identify whether CEO had its greatest impact among low-, medium-, or high-risk offenders — with risk levels being defined by participants’ characteristics before random assignment that are associated with recidivism after random assignment. CEO had its strongest reductions in recidivism for former prisoners who were at highest risk of recidivism, for whom CEO reduced the probability of rearrest, the number of rearrests, and the probability of reconviction two years after random assignment. If confirmed by other studies, these findings suggest that the limited resources available to transitional jobs programs for former prisoners should be targeted toward the people at highest risk of recidivating, because they are helped most by this intervention. Details: New York: MDRC, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2011 at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/welfare_employ/enhanced_hardto/reports/ceo_program/ceo_program.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/welfare_employ/enhanced_hardto/reports/ceo_program/ceo_program.pdf Shelf Number: 121460 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offenders Recidivism Reentry Reoffending

Author: Victorian (Australia) Auditor General Title: Problem-Solving Approaches to Justice Summary: This audit examined whether the Neighbourhood Justice Centre (NJC) at Collingwood and the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) at the Magistrates' Court's Melbourne, Sunshine and Latrobe Valley sites are reducing reoffending of participants and achieving client and community outcomes. The audit also assessed whether the two programs were based on sound evidence and whether the Department of Justice (the department) and the Magistrates' Court (the court) have effectively managed the programs. While CISP demonstrably reduced reoffending for offenders selected for an evaluation, definitive conclusions cannot yet be made for NJC. This is primarily because the NJC's evauation could only rely on the small number of offenders who had completed the program. The department's public reporting of both programs has not fairly represented the findings from the evaluations. Data collection and analysis also need to be addressed to improve the ability of future program evaluation in this area. While the department developed both programs based on solid evidence and research, its funding submissions could have been clearer about the programs' objectives and performance indicators. The department successfully managed NJC’s implementation overall. In the early implementation of CISP, the performance of the department and the court was mixed. Problems, such as the lack of consultation with the court and inadequate governance arrangements, delayed the CISP's launch. Since the initial difficulties, the court has managed CISP effectively. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2011 at: http://download.audit.vic.gov.au/files/20110406-Justice.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://download.audit.vic.gov.au/files/20110406-Justice.pdf Shelf Number: 121468 Keywords: Courts Neighborhood Justice Centers Recidivism Reoffending (Australia)

Author: Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry for Māori Development Title: Māori Designed, Developed and Delivered Initiatives to Reduce Māori Offending and Re-offending Summary: This report covers the proceedings of the wānanga (conference) hosted by Te Puni Kōkiri 24 June 2010 Brentwood Hotel Wellington. The purpose of the wānanga was primarily an opportunity to share the learning from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives with policy analysts and others working to address the drivers of crime and with an interest in reducing the over-representation of Māori in the criminal justice system. The impetus for this work began three or four years ago when the former government was concerned about high rates of Māori imprisonment. It became clear that Māori wanted an opportunity to design, develop and deliver initiatives themselves to address the problems leading to high levels of imprisonment. The way policy development works is premised on research evidence but there is little evidence-based information on what works for Māori. Most of the evidence that informs what is designed for Government is from overseas and not based on actual Māori experience. It is important to look at how Māori see the world and the solutions that Māori design for their communities. Māori tend to develop initiatives based on hypotheses, but do not have the resources to research them or fully evaluate them. They then find that government funders say that there is no evidence to support the initiatives. However, in practice there is much to be learnt from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives and early evaluations have shown promising results. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Government, 2010. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2011 at: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/maori-designed-developed-and-delivered-initiatives-to-reduce-maori-offending-and-re-offending/download/tpk-reduceoffend-2010-en.pdf Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/maori-designed-developed-and-delivered-initiatives-to-reduce-maori-offending-and-re-offending/download/tpk-reduceoffend-2010-en.pdf Shelf Number: 121499 Keywords: Crime Prevention Indigenous Peoples (New Zealand) Minority Groups Prisoners Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Division of Community Programs, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration Title: Intensive Parole Model for : Chapter 338, Laws of 1997, Section 34 RCW 13.40.2129(2) Summary: The 1997 Washington State Legislature recognized that traditional parole services for high-risk juvenile offenders were insufficient to provide adequate rehabilitation and public safety. As a result, they mandated (Chapter 338, Laws of 1997, Section 34) the implementation of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model with the top 25 percent highest risk to re-offend youth in the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA). The legislation requires JRA to report annually to the Legislature on process and outcome findings. The key elements of the JRA Intensive Parole supervision model are: Information management and program evaluation; Assessment and selection criteria; Individual case planning; A mixture of intensive surveillance and services; A balance of incentives and graduated consequences; Service brokerage with community resources and linkage with social networks; and Transition services. The key changes in the program as the model has developed over time are: Phase 1 (10/98 – 10/99): Community Supervision/Traditional Community Linkages; Phase 2 (10/99 – 10/00): Residential/Transitional/Community Supervision/Traditional Community Linkages; Phase 3 (10/00 – 1/03): Evidence-Based Services; Phase 4 (1/03 – Present): Functional Family Parole (FFP) services; Phase 5 (Future): Regionalization of JRA Community Residential Programs. In December 2002, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) published a report that found the first two Intensive Parole (IP) cohorts did not have significantly different recidivism from the comparison group. They did find that the Basic Training Camp (BTC) second and third year cohorts had significantly lower recidivism. Based on the initial finding of IP in whole, funds for IP were significantly reduced increasing caseloads from 12 to 20:1 leading to a 40% increase in caseload size and reduced ability to perform community safety related activities, e.g., field surveillance, high levels of parole counselor contact, community justice work crews, day reporting programs, and electronic home monitoring. At this time, JRA continues to implement intensive parole as part of the overarching FFP model. Past budgetary reductions in intensive parole funding, with resulting increased caseloads and reduced staffing, can pose significant challenges to the implementation of this complex, promising model of FFP with the highest risk/highest need offenders. Details: Olympia, WA: Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, 2009. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2011 at: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/main/legrep/Leg1209/Intensive%20Parole%20Model%20for%20High%20Risk%20Juvenile%20Offenders.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/main/legrep/Leg1209/Intensive%20Parole%20Model%20for%20High%20Risk%20Juvenile%20Offenders.pdf Shelf Number: 121585 Keywords: Intensive Parole Juvenile Aftercare Juvenile Offenders (Washington State) Juvenile Parole Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Snowball, Lucy Title: Police Bail and Risk of Re-Offending Summary: This study sought to determine whether the police are remanding offenders with a low risk of re-offending. First a model of juvenile re-offending was developed based on offender characteristics available to the police at the time of the bail decision. This model was then used to predict the probability of re-offending for a sample of 23,667 juveniles, 29.1 per cent of whom had been remand by the police. The others had either been released on bail or unconditionally released. The probabilities were grouped into deciles and compared for the police remand and the non police remand groups. After determining the risk of reoffending for the sample of juvenile defendants, it was clear that on average those held on police remand had a high risk of re-offending. However the police are granting bail to a number of high risk offenders. The study found that there is no evidence that the police are remanding juveniles who are at a low risk of re-offending. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 3p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 57: Accessed May 5, 2011 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb57.pdf/$file/bb57.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb57.pdf/$file/bb57.pdf Shelf Number: 121619 Keywords: Bail Juvenile Offenders (Australia) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Holmes, Jessie Title: Re-offending in NSW Summary: Aim: To provide an overview of adult and juvenile re-offending over the longer term in NSW. Method: Descriptive analysis of data from the NSW Re-offending Database (ROD). Results and conclusion: Most offenders convicted in the NSW criminal courts were reconvicted of a further offence within 15 years of their index offence, and this was especially so for juveniles. Those reconvicted tended to be reconvicted for a variety of offences. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 56: Accessed May 5, 2011 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb56.pdf/$file/bb56.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb56.pdf/$file/bb56.pdf Shelf Number: 121620 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Australia) Offenders Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Lind, Bronwyn Title: Screening Cautioned Young People for Further Assessment and Intervention Summary: This study aimed to assess whether it is possible to screen juvenile offenders for recidivism risk from information readily available at the time of cautioning a young offender. Data on all 8,537 juveniles cautioned by police or courts in 2006 were analysed using logistic regression. The dependent variable in the logistic regression model was a binary variable measuring reoffending. The potential predictors included number of previous cautions, conferences or court appearances, jurisdiction issuing the caution (court vs. police), Indigenous status, gender, age at index caution, offence type, offence seriousness, prior violence, remoteness (ARIA) and social and economic disadvantage. The final model included prior contacts, jurisdiction issuing the index caution, Indigenous status and gender as predictors. The c-statistic (area under the ROC curve) when comparing predicted with observed values was 0.767, 95% confidence interval (0.757, 0.777). The model fit was confirmed by comparing predicted values from half the dataset with observed values from the other half. The study concluded that it is possible to screen juveniles for future risk of reoffending from data readily available at the time they are cautioned. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice No. 149: Accessed May 5, 2011 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb149.pdf/$file/cjb149.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb149.pdf/$file/cjb149.pdf Shelf Number: 121645 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Australia) Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment

Author: Marie, Olivier Title: The Effect of Early Release of Prisoners on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) on Recidivism Summary: This report presents evidence that suggests offenders who receive Home Detention Curfew (HDC) under the current provision, are no more likely to engage in criminal behaviour when released from prison, when compared to offenders with similar characteristics, who are not eligible for HDC. The evidence also points towards the importance of certain factors taken into account when selecting prisoners for HDC. This study used centrally held data on 499,279 discharges from prison between January 2000 and March 2006, with 63,384 discharged receiving HDC. Offender criminal histories and reoffending information were extracted from the Police National Computer to evaluate the effectiveness of HDC in terms of reducing reoffending. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Summary 1/11: Accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/effect-early-release-hdc-recidivism.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/effect-early-release-hdc-recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 121661 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Early Release Home Detention Prisoners (U.K.) Recidivism

Author: Jacobs, Erin Title: Report on the Evaluation of the ComALERT Prisoner Reentry Program Summary: This report evaluates the ComALERT (“Community and Law Enforcement Resources Together”) program, which provides substance abuse counseling and other treatment, employment and housing services to parolees in Kings County, New York. The evaluation consists of three main parts: (1) an analysis of recidivism among ComALERT clients, studying patterns of re-arrest, re-conviction, parole violation, and re-incarceration, (2) an analysis of a survey of employment, family life, and drug use among ComALERT clients and a comparison group of Brooklyn parolees, and (3) an analysis of unemployment insurance data, containing earnings and employment information on the respondents to the survey. Among a new generation of prisoner re-entry programs around the country, ComALERT is unusual in providing a comprehensive array of services to its clients shortly after release from prison. In addition to substance abuse counseling, ComALERT offers transitional housing and employment for up to a year as well as job referral services in an effort to integrate parolees into mainstream social roles. While evaluations of prisoner re-entry programs typically focus on recidivism, our research design also aims to shed light on the employment, sobriety, and family life of the ComALERT clients. We take this broader focus in part because ComALERT is motivated to reduce recidivism particularly through treatment and employment, and partly because criminological research shows the importance of employment, family life, and sobriety to criminal desistance. To preview the main results, we find that ComALERT clients are 15% less likely to be re-arrested after two years from release from prison than a comparison group with a similar criminal history. Clients that graduate from the program are more than 30% less likely to be arrested than the comparison group. The survey data show very high employment rates among ComALERT clients and graduates, more than twice as high as a comparison group matched on criminal history and demographic characteristics. Graduates of ComALERT’s Ready Willing and Able program have especially high rates of employment. ComALERT clients also report modestly lower rates of drug and alcohol use than the control group. While these results are extremely promising, a stronger evaluation is needed. Such an evalution would involve some kind of random assignment to the program, to eliminate systematic selection as a source of the difference between the program and comparison groups. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, 2007. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2011 at: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/soc/faculty/western/pdfs/report_1009071.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/soc/faculty/western/pdfs/report_1009071.pdf Shelf Number: 121663 Keywords: Employment, Ex-Offenders Housing Parolees Recidivism Reentry Rehabilitation Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Howard, Philip Title: Hazards of Different Types of Reoffending Summary: The study examined patterns of reoffending using combined Offender Assessment System (OASys) and Police National Computer (PNC) data. Reoffending patterns were studied in terms of their hazards: the chance of reoffending in a given time period if reoffending had not occurred in an earlier time period. The results demonstrated that the hazards for all types of reoffending were highest in the first few months following sentence/discharge, but some types of reoffending had a much more persistent hazard than others. The value of the OASys reoffending predictors in segmenting different types of reoffending according to risk was also demonstrated. The findings could be combined with existing literature on offender treatment to inform the delivery of interventions and supervision designed to reduce reoffending. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 3/11: Accessed May 10, 2011 at: http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/policy/Hazardsofreoffending.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/policy/Hazardsofreoffending.pdf Shelf Number: 121691 Keywords: Offender Treatment Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending (U.K.)

Author: Gorgol, Laura E. Title: Unlocking Potential: Results of a National Survey of Postsecondary Education in State Prisons Summary: As policymakers consider ways to increase educational attainment, generate future economic growth, and reduce public expenditures, educational opportunity for the incarcerated population should be a meaningful component of policy strategies. Designed to increase knowledge about how states are providing postsecondary education to incarcerated individuals, this brief rests on results of a national survey of state correctional education administrators (CEAs), presenting unique policy relevant information on the availability, administration, and funding of PSCE in state prison systems. A central purpose of the brief is to elevate the policy attention paid to postsecondary opportunity for incarcerated persons. Details: Washington, DC: Institute for Higher Education Policy, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed May 17, 2011 at: http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/s-z/Unlocking_Potential-PSCE_FINAL_REPORT_May_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/s-z/Unlocking_Potential-PSCE_FINAL_REPORT_May_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 121737 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Recidivism

Author: Anderson, Sarah Title: The Social Care Needs of Short-Sentence Prisoners Summary: In late 2010 Revolving Doors was commissioned by the North East Public Health Observatory, on behalf of the Directorate of Social Care in the North East, to undertake a literature review into the social care needs of prisoners sentenced to less than twelve months in prison. Short-sentence prisoners are the archetypal ‘revolving doors’ group. Our previous research and recent development work in HMP Lewes, HMP Styal and HMP Everthorpe have highlighted their multiple needs. The exceptionally high rate of reoffending among this group is a particular concern of the current coalition Government. The current climate of dramatic reductions in public spending is likely to have a widespread impact on the ability of services to meet these needs. Nevertheless, we have significant reasons to be optimistic, not least the renewed Government focus on rehabilitation. This group is particularly in the spotlight, with ‘payment by results’ approaches forming a key component of the proposals to reduce reoffending among this group. The early findings from our Financial Analysis Model highlight the huge expense to the public purse that this group generates and the potential for real savings to be made through offering better targeted support. Details: London: Revolving Doors Agency, 2011. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/the-social-care-needs-of-short-sentence-prisoners/ Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/the-social-care-needs-of-short-sentence-prisoners/ Shelf Number: 121749 Keywords: Recidivism Reentry (U.K.) Social Services

Author: Heseltine, Karen Title: Prison-based Correctional Offender Rehabilitation Programs: The 2009 National Picture in Australia Summary: In recent years, correctional administrators both in Australia and overseas have invested significant resources in the development and delivery of offender rehabilitation programs. These initiatives have occurred in the context of an impressive evidence base, attesting to the notion that such efforts are likely to have a greater impact on recidivism than incarceration alone and perhaps now, more than any time in the last 30 years, there is widespread optimism that such initiatives will help to reduce reoffending and improve community safety. This report provides an updated account of the nature and scope of custodial-based offender rehabilitation programs in Australia. It does this in three ways — first, it describes those programs that are offered to adult offenders in public prisons throughout Australia and highlights changes that have occurred in practice since the first audit of programs was completed in 2004. Second, it identifies areas of programmatic strength in relation to internationally accepted good practice criteria. Third, it describes some of the future developments that are likely to occur in the next few years and discusses some of the possible impediments to developing programs further that may exist. The final report comprises two sections. It begins with a description of the legislative guidance and/or mandate that underpins the delivery of rehabilitation programs in each jurisdiction. This is followed by a description of the custodial-based offender rehabilitation programs that are currently offered in Australia and how these have changed over time. It concludes with a general discussion of the challenges that face service providers in the next few years. The second section provides a more detailed description of programs, reported by jurisdiction. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/5/6/4/%7B564B2ECA-4433-4E9B-B4BA-29BD59071E81%7Drpp112.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/5/6/4/%7B564B2ECA-4433-4E9B-B4BA-29BD59071E81%7Drpp112.pdf Shelf Number: 121773 Keywords: Correctional Programs (Australia) Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Felini, Martha Title: Prostitute Diversion Initiative: Annual Report: 2009-2010 Summary: The Dallas Police Department's Prostitute Diversion Initiative (PDI) is a novel law enforcement led prostitute diversion program that brings a comprehensive set of resources and services from a large cross section of organizations into the streets where the prostitutes work. Launched in 2007, the PDI has contacted a total of 538 prostitutes of which 174 entered the initial phase of the treatment program. Of those completing the initial treatment phase, 48% have not subsequently been re-arrested. This report documents the data collected from the 167 adult prostitutes contacted through the PDI from October 2009 through September 2010. The average PDI participant was black, female, 36 years of age, with at least a high school education. Most had children and were using drugs to cope with co-­occurring mental health disorders. Sixty percent of those eligible were immediately diverted to treatment services appropriate for addressing alcohol and drug abuse, mental health disorders, or physical health care. In addition to dealing with addictions, treatment services incorporate within their programs the capacity to deal with the lifetime of trauma these women suffered that served as the impetus to their life of prostitution. Criminal offenses on beats where truck stops are located decreased 60% in 2009-­2010 compared to the year prior to the implementation of the PDI. Details: Dallas, TX: New Life Prostitute Diversion Initiative, 2010. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2011 at: http://cedata.org/pdi_wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PDI-Annual-Report-2011_Final-RS.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://cedata.org/pdi_wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PDI-Annual-Report-2011_Final-RS.pdf Shelf Number: 121782 Keywords: Prostitutes Prostitution (Texas) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Heseltine, Karen Title: Prison-Based Correctional Rehabilitation: An Overview of Intensive Interventions for Moderate to High-Risk Offenders Summary: Correctional rehabilitation programs are routinely offered to moderate to high-risk offenders in all Australian jurisdictions. The similarities in service provision between states and territories is great; most, if not all, offer programs that are dedicated towards reducing risk in sexual and violent offenders, as well as addressing more general causes of offending. This paper describes some of the changes that have occurred to service provision since the last national review of offenders programs was conducted in 2004. It highlights the trend towards the delivery of high intensity (greater than 100 hour face-to-face contact) programs in Australia and notes some of the differences that exist between the various jurisdictional approaches to offender rehabilitation. These newer programs (rolled out since 2004) are of a generally high standard, are well-embedded within correctional case management systems and are consistent with evidence-based principles of offender rehabilitation. It seems likely that these programs will have a positive impact on recidivism, although rigorous evaluation of program outcomes still needs to occur. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 412: Accessed May 23, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/en/publications/current%20series/tandi/401-420/tandi412.aspx Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/en/publications/current%20series/tandi/401-420/tandi412.aspx Shelf Number: 121783 Keywords: Correctional Programs (Australia) Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Prior, David Title: Maturity, Young Adults and Criminal Justice: A Literature Review Summary: The focus of this review was on young adults aged 18-24 years in relation to three major bodies of literature considered relevant to maturity and young adults: neurological, psychological and criminological. The key findings are: 1. The research supports the T2A position that the level of maturity exhibited by a young adult offender should be considered within the legal and sentencing process. 2. The research points emphatically to the inappropriateness of an arbitrary age limit as the key factor for determining the judicial response that an offender should receive. 3. Neurological research identifies that brain development continues into early adulthood; the human brain is not 'mature' until the early to mid-twenties. 4. The research identifies the significant maturity factor as 'temperance', which continues to influence antisocial decision-making during young adulthood. 5. Young adulthood is a critical period when many individuals will naturally 'grow out of crime' Details: Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham, Institute of Applied Social Studies, School of Social Policy, 2011. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2011 at: http://www.iass.bham.ac.uk/documents/maturity-final-literature-review-report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.iass.bham.ac.uk/documents/maturity-final-literature-review-report.pdf Shelf Number: 121869 Keywords: Crime and Age Maturity Recidivism Young Adult Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Cohen, Marcia I. Title: Final Report on the Evaluation of the Boys Town Short-Term Residential Treatment Program for Girls Summary: Few studies have carefully examined the effectiveness of short-term care facilities for juvenile offenders. Even fewer have concentrated on female offenders. This study examines the effect of the Boys Town Short-Term Residential Treatment Program on female juvenile offenders. The impact on six classes of outcomes was assessed using a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent comparison group. The principal outcome was recidivism; others were substance use, academic commitment, high-risk sexual behavior, employment attitude, and cognitive functioning. The process evaluation used both quantitative and qualitative methods to examine the context of the program treatment and structure. The comparison group was composed of girls on standard probation. The sample consisted of 365 (treatment=235;comparison=130) participants across three sites. Program impact was assessed through a series of sequential analyses: 1) exploring the differences in means between the two groups on pretreatment characteristics; 2) performing a series of difference-of-means analyses to test for the main effects of the intervention; 3) using regression models for factors other than the intervention that may affect the outcomes, and 4) using survival analysis to predict time until a new arrest. The process evaluation found the Boys Town Model was well documented and theoretically based. There were clearly delineated job responsibilities, a strong emphasis on staff training, and the number of daily interactions met or exceeded program guidelines. Despite frequent fidelity review, the sites’ fidelity clustered slightly below average. Program utilization was reduced by a national shift in juvenile justice philosophy away from out-of-home placement toward community-based interventions. The outcome results support the conclusion that the Boys Town girls may be expected to have superior delinquent and sexual behavior outcomes 1 year after enrollment compared with girls who received traditional probation. As the level of program exposure was increased — whether through increased staff interactions, length of stay, or both — the propensity of girls to engage in subsequent delinquency was reduced. No significant impact for substance abuse, academic commitment, and employment attitude was found. As one of the more rigorous evaluations on short-term care for female offenders, this study provides evidence that such programs can be effective in improving certain behaviors. The authors recommend altering expectations of short-term residential programs so that such placements are used to, first, stabilize the youth and their family, and, second, to conduct assessments for recommendations on future interventions and treatment. They also suggest using the Boys Town Model to develop a community-based day treatment program. Details: Bethesda, MD: Development Services Group, Inc., 2010. 379p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2011 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/234514.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/234514.pdf Shelf Number: 121877 Keywords: Delinquency Prevention Female Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Aftercare Juvenile Probation (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: New Zealand Ministry of Justice Title: Reoffending Analysis for Restorative Justice Cases: 2008 and 2009 Summary: The aim of this study was to determine whether restorative justice conferences led to reduced reoffending. It is based on data for offenders completing conferences in 2008 and 2009 compared with a similar group of offenders who did not receive restorative justice. The principal finding of the report is that restorative justice had a statistically significant impact on reducing the proportion of people reoffending, and for those who did reoffend, there is an indication of a reduction in the frequency of reoffending and a lower rate of imprisonment. Rigorous data verification, statistical modelling and matching processes were used. Conferenced offenders were compared with: offenders referred for restorative justice but who did not receive a restorative justice conference as the victim declined or the case was otherwise considered unsuitable (non-conferenced); other offenders meeting the restorative justice eligibility criteria who were not referred (other eligible); and a matched comparison group of offenders (a sub-set of the other eligible offenders, selected to match the demographic and offending characteristics of those who completed a restorative justice conference). Restorative justice shows promise in reducing reoffending that leads to imprisonment, however, the results from this study are not statistically significant. This is partly explained by the small numbers of offenders in this analysis that were imprisoned within 12 and 24 months. For the 2009 cohort, after 12 months, offenders who had been through a restorative justice conference were 33 percent less likely to be imprisoned for subsequent offending than comparable offenders (5.2 percent compared to 7.8 percent). For the 2008 cohort, after 12 months, the subsequent imprisonment rate for conferenced offenders was 18 percent lower than that of the matched comparison group (8.7 percent compared to 10.6 percent). After 24 months, the subsequent imprisonment rate for conferenced offenders was 29 percent lower than that of the matched comparison group (11.1 percent compared to 15.6 percent). The results taken from this study and the 2005 study (which found a reduction in subsequent imprisonment of between 15 and 20 percent, though, not statistically significant), taken together, suggest a real reduction in imprisonment rates. Details: Wellington: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/r/reoffending-analysis-for-restorative-justice-cases-2008-and-2009/publication Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/r/reoffending-analysis-for-restorative-justice-cases-2008-and-2009/publication Shelf Number: 121954 Keywords: Recidivism Reoffending Restorative Justice (New Zealand)

Author: Richards, Kelly Title: Technical and Background Paper: Measuring Juvenile Recidivism in Australia Summary: This study is a step towards having national data on juvenile recidivism that are both meaningful and comparable across Australia's jurisdictions. Performance measurement (the use of empirical indicators to measure outcomes that government services are supposed to achieve) has emerged in recent years as a strategy to assist governments assess the impact of their operations, improve service provision and effectively target resources. In the criminal justice sector, recidivism is often used as a measure of the performance of government agencies, such as correctional services and juvenile justice agencies. Recidivism has, however, been identified as a limited and problematic measure of performance, for a range of reasons. It has been argued, for example, that many factors influence whether an offender recidivates, some of which are not within the control of government agencies. Recidivism is a particularly problematic measure of the performance of juvenile justice agencies, as offending peaks during adolescence. As such, juveniles might be expected to recidivate at a higher rate than adults, irrespective of interventions provided by juvenile justice agencies. Recidivism nonetheless remains one important measure of the performance of juvenile justice agencies, albeit one that should be cautiously interpreted. This report presents the findings of a literature review and consultations with key stakeholders in each of Australia’s jurisdictions on measuring juvenile recidivism. It outlines the limitations of using recidivism as a measure of performance for juvenile justice agencies and presents a range of options for better conceptualising and measuring juvenile recidivism. The report also provides four international examples of recent efforts to adopt more robust and meaningful measures of juvenile recidivism. Finally, 13 principles are proposed that could be used to inform and enhance the measurement of juvenile recidivism in Australia. Clearly, measuring juvenile recidivism is a challenging task. This study is an important step towards having national data on juvenile recidivism that are both meaningful and comparable across Australia’s jurisdictions, and that would contribute towards the development of more effective juvenile justice interventions across Australia. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical and Background Paper 44: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/1/B/1/%7B1B1FAF61-B45D-42A4-B93B-E655C4CA078E%7Dtbp044.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/1/B/1/%7B1B1FAF61-B45D-42A4-B93B-E655C4CA078E%7Dtbp044.pdf Shelf Number: 121925 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Australia) Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending

Author: Jalbert, Sarah Kuck Title: A Multi-Site Evaluation of Reduced Probation Caseload Size in an Evidence-Based Practice Setting Summary: Criminal justice researchers have studied caseload size to determine whether smaller caseloads improve probation outcomes. With exceptions, the findings have been disappointing: Reduced probation officer caseloads have not reduced criminal recidivism for high risk probationers and have increased revocation rates. One explanation is that officers with reduced caseloads do not materially change their supervision practices when caseloads are reduced—they either fail to achieve increased supervision intensity (control) or fail to improve treatment intervention (correction), or both. This raises the question: Would reduced caseloads improve supervision outcomes for medium to high risk offenders in a probation agency that trains its officers to apply a balance of controlling and correctional/rehabilitative measures? The logic is that the reduced caseload would allow probation officers to better deliver correctional interventions, thereby reducing recidivism without unduly increasing revocations. Our research answered this question in three purposefully selected probation agencies: Oklahoma City, where we implemented a randomized controlled trial (RCT) experiment; Polk County, Iowa, where we implemented a regression discontinuity design study (RDD), and four judicial districts in Colorado, where we implemented a RDD. In Oklahoma City the RCT degenerated and the study team turned to a difference in differences (DD) estimator. The results showed that reducing probation officer caseloads can reduce criminal recidivism when delivered in a setting where probation officers apply EBP. The two agencies (Oklahoma and Polk County, Iowa) that fully implemented EBP showed improved outcomes for probationers supervised by officers with smaller caseloads. The districts in Colorado had not fully implemented EBP and showed no reduced criminal recidivism attributable to smaller caseloads. Our results suggest that reduced caseloads, in combination with EBP, can lead to improved recidivism outcomes. The DD estimator in Oklahoma showed a statistically significant decrease in criminal recidivism and a modest increase in technical revocation rates for probationers supervised by officers who had reduced caseloads. Apparently officers with reduced caseloads were better able to identify treatment needs among their clientele, and thus better able to direct resources to those most in need. Consequently, reduced caseloads result in more efficient distribution of resources, and improved average probation outcomes. In Polk County, we found that intensive supervision with a small caseload reduces the likelihood of criminal recidivism by 26% percent (p=.037) for all offenses, 39% (p=.037) for drugs, property and violent offenses, and 45% (p=.023) for property and violent offenses (drug offenses excluded). For longer periods of time, recidivism is reduced significantly for property and violent crimes, 37% at eighteen months and 30 months respectively. We found little evidence that caseload size and resource allocation practices in Colorado’s four largest districts (excluding Denver) reduced the risk of recidivism for the highest risk probationers on general supervision. We speculate that the lack of treatment effect is related to the low frequency of correctional intervention for medium to high risk probationers, and that some core elements of EBP were not implemented until the end of the ten year study period (2007), contributing to the relative lack of treatment provision. The Department of Probation Services has since made considerable efforts to train or retrain officers and add elements of responsivity to Districts’ operations. It may be that similar analysis in two years will yield different findings. This study did not demonstrate the efficacy of the full complement of evidence based practices. Probation officers received equivalent training, so there was no counterfactual to use to evaluate EBP. Nevertheless, the implication is that EBP mattered: the literature demonstrates that without EBP (or similar supervision strategies) reduced caseloads do not reduce recidivism. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates, 2011. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2011 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/234596.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/234596.pdf Shelf Number: 121962 Keywords: Caseloads Offender Supervision Probation (U.S.) Probation Officers Recidivism

Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: Oregon Drug Court Cost Study: Statewide Costs and Promising Practices: Final Report Summary: The statewide cost study of Oregon’s adult drug courts was accomplished in a collaboration between NPC Research, the Criminal Justice Commission and the Department of Corrections. The purposes of this statewide evaluation were to answer two critical drug court policy questions: a. Are adult drug courts cost-beneficial? b. What are best practices for Oregon’s drug courts? To determine whether Oregon’s drug court programs were cost beneficial, it was necessary to gather information on program costs and recidivism-related costs. To calculate recidivism-related costs a recidivism study was performed with a comparison group, to determine the relative benefits of drug court compared to traditional court processes. Finally, to determine what practices were best practices for Oregon’s drug courts, a process analysis was performed on the drug courts included in this study. Recidivism in this study was defined as any new arrest (not conviction) that occurs after the date of drug court entry. The recidivism study used a quasi-experimental design with a cohort of all drug court participants who entered the programs during a specified time period and a matched comparison sample of individuals who were arrested for similar, drug court-eligible charges who did not participate in a drug court program. A comparison group was identified from all offenders with drug court-eligible charges from the same time period who did not participate in drug court programs. The drug court participants and comparison individuals were matched by county on age, gender, ethnicity, prior drug charges, prior property charges and prior person or violence charges. The full comparison group selection process is described in the methods section. Both groups were examined through existing administrative databases for a period at least 3 years from the date of drug court entry. For comparison group members, an equivalent "entry date" was calculated by creating an average of the number of days from arrest to drug court entry for participants and adding that mean number of days to the arrest date for comparison group members. The evaluation team utilized the state data sources to determine whether there was a difference in re-arrests, number of days in jail, on probation, on parole and in prison between the drug court and comparison group. The cost approach utilized by NPC Research in the DC-CSET is called Transactional and Institu-tional Cost Analysis (TICA). The TICA approach views an individual’s interaction with publicly funded agencies as a set of transactions (also called events in this document) in which the individual utilizes resources contributed from multiple agencies. Transactions are those points within a system where resources are consumed and/or change hands. In the case of drug courts, when a drug court participant appears in court or has a drug test, resources such as judge time, defense attorney time, court facilities, and urine cups are used. Court appearances and drug tests are transactions. In addition, the TICA approach recognizes that these transactions take place within multiple organizations and institutions that work together to create the program of interest. These organizations and institutions contribute to the cost of each transaction that occurs for program participants. TICA is an intuitively appropriate approach to conducting costs assessment in an environment such as a drug court, which involves complex interactions among multiple taxpayer-funded organizations. For the process analysis, a Web-based survey of each of the adult drug courts that participated in the study assessed a variety of characteristics of drug courts that have been assessed in prior evaluations by NPC. The advantage of a Web-based survey is that it allowed NPC to efficiently collect data on a number of important drug court program elements in all of the drug court sites, rather than using a sampling strategy. Thus, all Oregon adult drug courts that were in existence at the time of the survey are represented in the data, and the statistical power for analysis is maximized. The online tool was developed based on in-depth qualitative data collected in prior research in more than 75 adult drug courts. The information on practices used by each drug court program was examined in relation to program outcomes including graduation rate, recidivism and costs, to determine which practices were significantly related to more positive outcomes. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2011. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/ORDC_BJA_Cost_and_Best_Practices_Final_Report_Rerelease_March_2011.pdf?ga=t Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/ORDC_BJA_Cost_and_Best_Practices_Final_Report_Rerelease_March_2011.pdf?ga=t Shelf Number: 121984 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Oregon) Recidivism

Author: Helmus, Leslie Title: Assessing the Risk of Older Sex Offenders: Developing the Static-99R and Static-2002R Summary: Actuarial risk assessment scales and their associated recidivism estimates are generally developed on samples of offenders whose average age is well under 50 years old. Criminal behaviour of all types declines with age; consequently, actuarial scales tend to overestimate recidivism for older offenders. The current study aimed to develop a revised scoring system for two risk assessment tools (Static-99 and Static-2002) that would more accurately describe older offenders’ risk of recidivism. Using data from 8,390 sex offenders derived from 24 separate samples, age was found to add incremental predictive validity to both Static-99 and Static-2002. After creating new age weights, the resulting instruments (Static-99R and Static-2002R) had only slightly higher relative predictive accuracy. The absolute recidivism estimates, however, provided a substantially better fit for older offenders than the recidivism estimates from the original scales. We encourage evaluators to adopt the revised scales with the new age weights. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2011. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2011-01-aroso-eng.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2011-01-aroso-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 121985 Keywords: Elderly Sex Offenders Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders (Canada)

Author: Babchishin, Kelly M. Title: The RRASOR, Static-99R and Static-2002R All Add Incrementally to the Prediction of Recidivism Among Sex Offenders Summary: Empirically derived actuarial tools are increasingly being used in applied psychology, particularly for the assessment of risk for crime and violence. Although evaluators commonly use more than one scale, it is unclear how evaluators should interpret divergent findings. The current study examined the predictive accuracy and incremental validity of three risk assessment scales (RRASOR, Static-99R, and Static2002R) in twenty distinct samples of sex offenders (N = 7,491). Static-99R and Static-2002R outperformed the RRASOR in the prediction of sexual, violent, and any recidivism. No differences in predictive accuracy were found between Static-99R and Static-2002R. Nevertheless, almost all the scales provided incremental validity to the prediction of all types of recidivism. The direction of the incremental effects, however, was not consistently positive. When controlling for the other measures, high scores on the RRASOR were associated with lower risk for violent and general recidivism. Consequently, decisions concerning the interpretation of multiple risk scales must be informed by the construct validity of the measures. When scales measure the same domain of risk factors, an averaging approach can be justified. If the selected scales are not sampling the same types of risk factors, then evaluators need a defensible model concerning (1) the latent constructs measured by the scales and (2) empirical evidence concerning how the constructs should be weighted and combined. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2011. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2011 at: Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: Shelf Number: 121986 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders (Canada)

Author: Khan, Furzana Title: Evaluation of Includem’s Intensive Support Services Summary: In 2005 Includem commissioned a two-year evaluation of its intensive support services provided to young people as part of the Intensive Support and Monitoring Service in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire. Over two years Includem’s provided intensive support, normally around 15 hours per week plus access to Includem’s 24-hour crisis helpline, to over 200 young people, including 69 young people with a Movement Restriction Condition ('electronic tag'). Details: Glasgow: Includem, 2007. 150p; summary. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/socialwork/glasgowcentreforthechildandsociety/publications/ and http://www.includem.org/file/2 Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/socialwork/glasgowcentreforthechildandsociety/publications/ and http://www.includem.org/file/2 Shelf Number: 121987 Keywords: Electronic Monitoring (Scotland) Intensive Supervision Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Macklin, Anna Title: Working With Indigenous Offenders To End Violence Summary: Violence continues to be a significant challenge for Indigenous people in Australia and New Zealand. Treatment programs for violent adult offenders have the potential to contribute significantly to reducing violent reoffending. This research brief examines literature from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and reports on the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing violent reoffending. It specifically reports on the evidence concerning the development of culturally specific violent offender programs. The brief is intended to contribute to Objective 2.4 of the Australian National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework, reducing Indigenous recidivism rates. Details: Sydney: Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resoruce: Brief 11: Accessed July 7, 2011 at: http://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/briefs/brief011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/briefs/brief011.pdf Shelf Number: 122001 Keywords: Indigenous Peoples (Australia) Offender Treatment Recidivism Violent Crime

Author: Korber, Dorothy Title: ‘ A Courtroom Unlike Any Other’ Santa Clara County’s Parolee Reentry Court is a Case Study in Reducing Prison Recidivism Summary: The judge ran through his afternoon calendar at a sprinter’s pace. More than 50 cases cycled through the court in three hours – all of them parolees with a violation. Dirty drug tests. Missed appointments. New crimes. Such lapses normally would have sent them straight back to state prison. But today, instead of a prison cell, they are in Judge Stephen Manley’s crowded, bustling San Jose courtroom. This is Santa Clara County’s Parolee Reentry Court, where high-risk offenders get a second chance at redemption. If it works, everybody wins: the parolee rebuilds his life, his community is safer, and taxpayers save the thousands of dollars it would cost to return him to prison. If it fails, he is one more statistic in California’s dismal recidivism rate. California has the worst record in the nation for re-incarcerating parolees, with nearly 70 percent returning to prison within three years of release. To address this problem, in 2009 the Legislature passed Senate Bill x3 18, which created a pilot program testing whether a drug-court model can reduce recidivism. Santa Clara is one of six counties participating in the pilot. The aim of these Parolee Reentry Courts is to stop the swinging prison door. Details: Sacramento: California Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes, 2011. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2011 at: http://www.momentumformentalhealth.org/document.doc?id=39 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.momentumformentalhealth.org/document.doc?id=39 Shelf Number: 122054 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Courts Parole Parole Supervision Parolees (California) Recidivism Reentry

Author: Stapleton, John Title: Making Toronto Safer A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Transitional Housing Supports for Men Leaving Incarceration Summary: In early 2010, the John Howard Society of Toronto commissioned a cost benefit study and analysis of Transitional Housing and supports (THS) for two types of ex-prisoners moving to the community from incarceration. The first group is comprised of homeless ex-prisoners (individuals often charged with petty theft, drug possession, public disturbances and who have no fixed address upon their release from custody. They have partially served their sentence in jail and will serve the remainder of it in the community, under supervision). The latter group is comprised of s810 sexual offenders (Section 810 peace bonds are court orders that enable the police to protect the public by requiring an individual who poses a threat to society to abide by specific conditions for up to one year and can be renewed). This proposition was to calculate the cost savings (if any) associated with the intervention of transitional housing and supports as opposed to their absence. The cost benefit study framed the intervention of THS as a public good and a service to the community as well as the ex-prisoner and assessed the benefit with all public stakeholders in mind. The latest available data was used to conduct the study. John Stapleton (Principal of Open Policy Ontario) in partnerships with Brendon Pooran and Rene Doucet (Chronicle Analytics) completed the study in November 2010. The next step is to file a funding application to the City of Toronto and to explore funding opportunities generally (with a focus on the provincial government) to expand THS. If John Howard Toronto expands the support services and access to housing for those who have been released from correctional facilities, it believes that the recidivism rate (re-offending rate) will decline. Lower recidivism is accepted as an important indicator of community safety. Details: Toronto: John Howard Society of Toronto, 2011. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2011 at: http://www.johnhowardtor.on.ca/pdfs/FINAL%20MAY%2031%20JohnHowardcomplete.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.johnhowardtor.on.ca/pdfs/FINAL%20MAY%2031%20JohnHowardcomplete.pdf Shelf Number: 122088 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Homelessness Housing Recidivism Reentry (Canada)

Author: Carter, Madeline M. Title: Twenty Strategies for Advancing Sex Offender Management in Your Jurisdiction Summary: The goal of sex offender management is to promote public safety by reducing the risk of recidivism among sex offenders. Significant advancements have been made in the field of sex offender management in recent years. These include a clearer understanding of the adults and juveniles who commit these offenses, of the interventions and strategies that have been demonstrated through research to be effective and that appear to have great potential in reducing risk, and of methods and processes for engaging partners and equipping and supporting staff to manage these cases. This document was developed for policymakers interested in advancing adult and juvenile sex offender management in their jurisdictions. Based upon both research and practice, we offer 20 strategies that hold promise for reducing risk and promoting safe communities. Each strategy is illustrated by a case study representing one jurisdiction’s efforts to thoughtfully advance practice. These policy and practice initiatives, the underlying rationale and available evidence supporting them, and the accompanying jurisdictional case studies together represent the tremendous progress that has been achieved in our nation’s continued efforts to prevent further sexual victimization. Details: Silver Spring, MD: Center for Sex Offender Management, 2008. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2011 at: http://www.csom.org/pubs/twenty_strategies.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.csom.org/pubs/twenty_strategies.pdf Shelf Number: 122094 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Risk Assessment Sex Offenders (U.S.)

Author: Hiller, Matthew L. Title: Kentucky Reentry Courts: Evaluation of the Pilot Programs Summary: As record numbers of offenders return from prison to the community each year, many policy makers and stakeholders are beginning to realize that “they all come back.” Not only do they come back, but many of them also return to the community having had little or no help for their drug and psychological problems while they were behind bars, and they are unlikely to get treatment services after they return to the community. Without treatment many of these individuals likely will return to prison. Reentry Courts represents an important step toward developing innovative programming for drug-involved offenders. In Kentucky, the Reentry Court model program that was developed combined 6-months of in-prison treatment with at least 1 year of treatment in an established Drug Court upon return to the community. A growing body of literature strongly suggests that these programs are effective independently, and that combining them might increase the effectiveness of each. Initial findings concerning the during-program performance of 6 clients admitted to the Kentucky Reentry Court pilot program were encouraging. As of November 21, 2001, 5 of the 6 clients were still active in treatment (1 had absconded). These individuals showed high levels of behavioral compliance with treatment expectations. Several were promoted to either phase 2 or phase 3 of the Drug Court, none had tested positive for and illicit drug on urine tests, none had received a new criminal charge, and most were employed; whereas, the majority were unemployed prior to entering Drug Court. Nevertheless, the Kentucky Reentry Court program was discontinued due to funding concerns, namely federal funding was not readily available to continue these efforts. For program like this to impact a large number of lives, federal funds need to be made available to expand the capacity of both corrections-based programming and Drug Courts. By doing so, it might be possible to begin to slow the revolving door that many drug-involved offenders to repeatedly recycle through the courts and corrections. In addition, to examining the preliminary outcomes of those who were admitted to the Kentucky Reentry Court program model, a substudy also was conducted for developing a Treatment Screening Questionnaire. This questionnaire was designed to facilitate criminal justice decision making regarding referrals to programs like Reentry Courts. The screener emphasized a number of offender attributes (like drug use severity, mental health history, motivation for treatment, criminal history, and treatment history), highlighted by Peters and Peyton (1998) as important characteristics for Drug Courts to consider when making decisions for placing individuals in rehabilitative programming. A standardized set of instruments were included in the Treatment Screening Questionnaire, including the Simple Screening Instrument, Texas Christian University Drug Screen II, Salient Factor Score, and the Desire for Help Scale from the Texas Christian University Treatment Motivation Assessment. Initial finding from pilot data collected from 39 residents of a corrections-based therapeutic community (a program that was used by some of the Reentry Court clients in this evaluation) were encouraging. Overall, residents were willing to provide detailed information on their drug use and drug use problems, mental health problems, criminal history, and treatment motivation. Their responses on the questionnaire were internally consistent, indicating high levels of reliability. Self-reported information also demonstrated a high level of agreement with information abstracted from official records, suggesting good validity. Therefore, it appears that the Treatment Screening Questionnaire may be a useful tool for helping correctional and Drug Court managers to determine who might warrant further assessment and entry into a treatment program. In conclusion, the Kentucky Reentry Court Pilot program was grounded in the literature that shows residential treatment and Drug Courts are effective for reducing recidivism and relapse among drug-involved offenders. Initial findings from analysis of during-program performance indicators showed that most of the clients admitted to the Reentry Court program were doing well in it. Therefore, additional federal monies should be made available to more thoroughly test innovative programs for helping offenders reenter and reintegrate into the community, like the one described in the current report. Details: Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, 2002. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2011 at: http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D5F5A4FD-DA42-4E38-B204-B15593E2EA99/)/KentuckyReentryCourtEvaluationofthePilotProgramsJuly2002.pdf Year: 2002 Country: United States URL: http://courts.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D5F5A4FD-DA42-4E38-B204-B15593E2EA99/)/KentuckyReentryCourtEvaluationofthePilotProgramsJuly2002.pdf Shelf Number: 122097 Keywords: Drug Courts (Kentucky) Drug Offender Treatment Drug Offenders Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Reiter, Keramet Title: Parole, Snitch, or Die: California’s Supermax Prisons & Prisoners, 1987-2007 Summary: Supermax prisons across the United States detain thousands in long-term solitary confinement, under conditions of extreme sensory deprivation. They are prisons within prisons, imprisoning those who allegedly cannot be controlled in a general population prison setting. Most supermaxes were built in a brief period, between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. In 1988 and 1989, California opened two of the first and largest of the modern supermaxes: Pelican Bay and Corcoran State Prisons. Today, California houses more than 3,300 prisoners in supermax conditions. Each month, between 50 and 100 people are released directly from these supermaxes onto parole. Using statistics obtained from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, this paper explores who these parolees are: what race are these prisoners, how long did they spend in solitary confinement, how frequently are they released, and how frequently are they returned to prison? These supermax-specific statistics are then compared with publicly available state statistics describing the overall race and return-to-prison rates of parolees in California, revealing that supermax prisoners are disproportionately Latinos who have served long prison sentences, under severe conditions. The potential effects of supermax confinement on levels of violence within supermax institutions and throughout the state prison system are also explored, through the lens of prisoner death and assault statistics; no conclusive data establish a direct relationship between supermaxes and reductions in violence. Analysis of interviews with correctional department administrators about the original goals and purposes of the supermaxes further contextualizes these data, revealing that supermaxes today function rather differently than their designers envisioned twenty years ago. In sum, this research provides one of the first evaluations of how supermaxes function, in terms of whom they detain and for how long, and how these patterns relate to their originally articulated purposes. Details: Berkeley, CA: Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of California Berkeley, 2010. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: ISSC Fellows Working Papers: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/04w6556f` Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/04w6556f` Shelf Number: 122154 Keywords: Gangs Inmates Parolees Prison Violence Prisoners Recidivism Solitary Confinement Supermax Prisons (California)

Author: Washington Coalition for the Just Treatment of Youth Title: A Reexamination of Youth Involvement in the Adult Criminal Justice System in Washington: Implications of New Findings about Juvenile Recidivism and Adolescent Brain Development Summary: In passing the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977, Washington’s legislature intended to “[p]rovide for punishment commensurate with the age, crime, and criminal history of the juvenile* offender.” Public policy shifted dramatically in the early 1990s, in response to erroneous predictions of an impending juvenile crime wave. As a result, numerous laws were enacted that allowed adolescents to be tried, sentenced, and incarcerated in the same manner as adults, in many cases without any consideration of their age or development. Although juvenile crime rates have actually decreased since the mid 1990s and many proponents of these changes have now admitted that their predictions regarding juvenile crime were incorrect, these policies remain in effect today. A reexamination of those policies is appropriate for several reasons. First, recent breakthroughs in brain development research have shown that due to anatomical differences in the adolescent brain, youth are less able than adults to assess risks, control impulsive behavior, and engage in moral reasoning. These differences are all relevant to assessing a juvenile’s culpability. This same research also suggests that adolescents are more amenable to rehabilitation than adults because one’s character continues to form as the brain matures. As such, adolescents typically “age out” of delinquent behavior as they move toward adulthood. For this reason, in Roper v. Simmons, the United States Supreme Court explained: “From a moral standpoint it would be misguided to equate the failings of a minor with those of an adult, for a greater possibility exists that a minor’s character deficiencies will be reformed.”4 Second, evidence now exists that these policies threaten, rather than protect, public safety. Recent studies show that subjecting adolescents to the adult criminal justice system may actually increase future criminal behavior. This is likely due to adolescents incarcerated in adult facilities having reduced access to treatment and rehabilitative services while at the same time being exposed to an adult criminal culture rife with violence and antisocial behavior. This experience—known colloquially as “felon finishing school”—results in many youth emerging from incarceration at higher risk of offending than when they entered. In passing the Juvenile Justice Act of 1977, Washington’s legislature intended to “[p]rovide for punishment commensurate with the age, crime, and criminal history of the juvenile* offender.” Public policy shifted dramatically in the early 1990s, in response to erroneous predictions of an impending juvenile crime wave. As a result, numerous laws were enacted that allowed adolescents to be tried, sentenced, and incarcerated in the same manner as adults, in many cases without any consideration of their age or development. Although juvenile crime rates have actually decreased since the mid 1990s2 and many proponents of these changes have now admitted that their predictions regarding juvenile crime were incorrect,3 these policies remain in effect today. A reexamination of those policies is appropriate for several reasons. First, recent breakthroughs in brain development research have shown that due to anatomical differences in the adolescent brain, youth are less able than adults to assess risks, control impulsive behavior, and engage in moral reasoning. These differences are all relevant to assessing a juvenile’s culpability. This same research also suggests that adolescents are more amenable to rehabilitation than adults because one’s character continues to form as the brain matures. As such, adolescents typically “age out” of delinquent behavior as they move toward adulthood. For this reason, in Roper v. Simmons, the United States Supreme Court explained: “From a moral standpoint it would be misguided to equate the failings of a minor with those of an adult, for a greater possibility exists that a minor’s character deficiencies will be reformed.” Second, evidence now exists that these policies threaten, rather than protect, public safety. Recent studies show that subjecting adolescents to the adult criminal justice system may actually increase future criminal behavior.5 This is likely due to adolescents incarcerated in adult facilities having reduced access to treatment and rehabilitative services while at the same time being exposed to an adult criminal culture rife with violence and antisocial behavior. This experience—known colloquially as “felon finishing school”—results in many youth emerging from incarceration at higher risk of offending than when they entered.Third, these policies have an unequal impact on youth of color and girls. Youth of color are disproportionately represented amongst adolescents who are tried as adults. A recent study summarized herein shows that this over representation cannot be explained by higher arrest rates for youth of color. The mandatory nature of many of these laws and the lack of gender-responsive services also have troubling consequences for girls who often have unique needs and characteristics that support individualized consideration. This report summarizes the breakthroughs in adolescent brain development, studies related to recidivism rates of youth who are treated as adults, and data regarding the use and implications of current Washington laws that allow—and in some cases require—that youth be treated as adults. In particular, this report analyzes the cases of the twenty-eight Washington youth in which the law mandated that the youth be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the most severe sentence for youth available in Washington. Trial and appellate court records, as well as records from the Department of Corrections and information provided by the individuals sentenced in this manner were analyzed for this report. Details: Seattle (?): Washington Coalition for the Just Treatment of Youth, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2011 at: http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/documents/ReexaminationofYouthWA.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/documents/ReexaminationofYouthWA.pdf Shelf Number: 122173 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Inmates Juvenile Offenders (Washington State) Recidivism

Author: Iutcovich, Joyce Miller Title: A Final Report for: Assessment of Aftercare Services Provided to Delinquent Youth Summary: Juvenile crime in America has soared over the past decade. From 1984 to 1994 the homicide arrest rate for juveniles increased 160 percent. Many believe that juvenile delinquency will continue to increase as the size of our youth population grows. Recently, our news has been filled with reports about youths committing horrendous crimes. The school shootings during the 1997/98 academic year shocked our nation and raised the public cries to do something about youth violence. One area of juvenile corrections that has received an increasing emphasis and attention is the aftercare phase. Community-based aftercare is the parole phase of corrections, it "is the point at which the supposedly beneficial cumulative effects of the institutional 'treatment' experience are transferred to community settings, and are reinforced, monitored, and assessed". Intensive community-based aftercare services have evolved over the past decade as a means to improve the likelihood that juveniles released from secure confinement remain crime free rather than return to delinquency. But questions about the efficacy of these programs remain. Given this epidemic of juvenile delinquency and the new strategies and efforts to address this problem, it is of vital importance to gather information about what works and what doesn't work. To that end, this report represents the effort to collect and analyze evaluative data on the process and outcomes of two intensive aftercare programs for juvenile delinquents that have been implemented in Pennsylvania. Details: Erie, PA: Keystone University Research Corporation, 1998. 122p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2011 at: www.portal.state.pa.us Year: 1998 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 122178 Keywords: Juvenile Aftercare Juvenile Offenders (Pennsylvania) Juvenile Parole Juvenile Reentry Recidivism

Author: Allen, Robert Title: An Economic Analysis of Prison Education Programs and Recidivism Summary: Previous research on criminal recidivism has attempted to quantify general socioeconomic factors that influence the decision to return to crime. This paper studies the specific effects of prison educational and vocational programs on recidivism using individual level data from a nationally representative sample of roughly 300,000 prisoners. In order to account for endogeneity problems that bias current studies, we use a two stage regression with the number of participants per state as an instrumental variable. Ultimately, we find insufficient statistical evidence to conclude that prison education courses have an effect on recidivism. This result suggests that such programs are either ineffective or their benefits are offset by a reduction in the deterrent value of prison. Details: Atlanta, GA: Emory University, Department of Economics, 2006. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2011 at: http://www.economics.emory.edu/Working_Papers/wp/Allen.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.economics.emory.edu/Working_Papers/wp/Allen.pdf Shelf Number: 122188 Keywords: Correctional Education (U.S.) Correctional Programs Prisoners Recidivism

Author: City Policy Associates: United States Conference of Mayors Title: Status of Ex-Offender Reentry Efforts In Cities: a 79-City Survey Summary: The pressure to provide effective programs in America’s cities to ease the reentry of ex-offenders has grown along with the nation’s prisoner population, but the current economic recession is forcing local governments and public and private organizations and agencies to reduce spending on programs and services, and is limiting the employment and other opportunities essential to ex-offenders’ successful reentry to their communities. In an effort to provide all members of The U.S. Conference of Mayors with current information on the status of cities’ prisoner reentry efforts, including their “best practices,” the Conference’s Ex-Offender Task Force surveyed mayors for basic information on approaches being taken in their cities to ease the reentry of ex-offenders and for descriptions of both their greatest reentry challenges and their most successful reentry initiatives. Information was provided by 79 cities of all sizes in all regions of the country – from cities as large as Los Angeles and Chicago, to one as small as Desert Hot Springs, California. Details: Washington, DC: United States Conference of Mayors, 2009. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2011 at: http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/REENTRYREPORT09.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.usmayors.org/pressreleases/uploads/REENTRYREPORT09.pdf Shelf Number: 122189 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Lichtenberger, Eric J. Title: The Impact of Vocational Programs on Post-Release Outcomes for Full Completers from the Fiscal Year 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2000 Release Cohorts Summary: This report presents a statistical analysis of post-release outcomes for those prisoners who had completed a vocational program while in prison in Virginia for the fiscal years 1999-2002. Details: Richmond, VA: Center for Assessment, Evaluation, and Educational Programming, Virginia Tech, 2007. 33p. Source: Sprcial Report Series: Report Number 1: Available at the Don M. Gottfredson Library of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 12227 Keywords: Correctional Programs Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry (Virginia) Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Nugent-Borakove, M. Elaine Title: Seattle Municipal Community Court: Outcome Evaluation Final Report Summary: Community courts began to emerge in the early 2000s to help alleviate the crush of minor offenses and quality of life crimes plaguing communities and criminal courts across the country. The theory behind community courts is that the defendants entering the justice system charged with relatively minor offenses have a variety of unmet needs that may contribute to their criminal offending. These offenders, referred to by some as “frequent fliers,” have lengthy criminal histories, often fail to appear in court on citations or summonses, and drain not only criminal justice system resources but also those of emergency rooms, homeless shelters, drug treatment programs, and other social programs. Traditional responses to these offenders — jail, conventional probation, and fines — seem to have no deterrent effect, nor do they help reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Many of these offenders have a multitude of problems that are often related to their criminal activity — mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment, illiteracy or learning disability, and lack of social or family support. By addressing these needs through a non‐traditional court process, community courts are intended to reduce the likelihood that these offenders will commit new offenses after the courts’ intervention. The Seattle Community Court team has collected several years of data related to the community court to facilitate a more comprehensive evaluation as recommended by JMI in 2007. Although experimental designs, in which defendants who meet the eligibility criteria are randomly assigned to either Community Court or traditional court, are considered to be the gold standard in evaluation research, such evaluations are quite costly and often require contemporaneous data collection as well as random assignment of defendants to community court. Given the level of funding available and the time period in which the evaluation needed to be completed, an experimental design for this evaluation was not feasible. However, based on the available data, JMI was able to use a quasi‐experimental design using a pre‐/post‐test design and a control group. The City Attorney’s Office provided JMI with two datasets — one for community court participants and one for a control group of defendants who did not participate in the community court program. The community court sample consisted of defendants who entered community court between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. Data collected on these defendants include criminal history 18 months prior to and 18 months after the community court intervention, criminal charge, offense dates, types of social services received, type of disposition, and other demographic information about the defendants. The intervention date was considered to be the date of the community court plea. The control group was selected from defendants receiving a community court offer during the same period, but who failed to “opt‐in. The control group dataset included criminal history 18 months prior to the date that community court was offered and 18 months after that date, criminal charge, offense dates, and type of disposition. The intervention date for these defendants was considered to be the date of their rejection of the community court offer, usually their first appearance date in court for arraignment. JMI examined criminal offending patterns prior to community court and level of criminal offending after community court, using the defendant as the unit of analysis. The total sample size was 439 defendants—209 who participated in the community court and 230 who did not (the control group). The primary question addressed in this evaluation is whether or not the community court is effective in reducing or eliminating recidivism. Given that the community court focuses on repeat offenders, the number of contacts with the justice system prior to entering the program compared to the number of contacts after completion of the program is a particularly relevant measure of effectiveness. There are several additional questions that were addressed as part of the evaluation: 􀂙 Is community court effective for all types of defendants or select defendants, and what are the characteristics of those who are most successful following program completion? 􀂙 Does community court impact the likelihood of involvement in more serious offenses after program completion? 􀂙 Are there differences in recidivism between community court participants and similar defendants who are handled in the traditional Municipal Court? Details: Denver, CO: The Justice Management Institute, 2009. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2011 at: http://www.jmijustice.org/publications/outcome-evaluation-of-the-seattle-municipal-court Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.jmijustice.org/publications/outcome-evaluation-of-the-seattle-municipal-court Shelf Number: 122255 Keywords: Community Courts (Seattle) Recidivism

Author: McCurley, Carl Title: Process Evaluation of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services’ Aftercare Program Summary: The purpose of this report is to provide an evaluation of the design and implementation of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services’ (BJJS) new model of aftercare. Understanding how aftercare services are delivered and how the program actually operates is essential for decisionmaking about program planning and for improvement. In January 2005, BJJS decided to shift from a treatment model of aftercare service delivery to a case management model of service delivery. BJJS provides aftercare services to about 2 out of every 3 youth released from placements with the State’s Youth Development Center/Youth Forestry Center (YDC/YFC) system. At current levels of use, the aftercare program enrolls over 500 youth per year. Based on screener results, the great majority of youth enrolled in the program are classified as high risk—they are also older, with greater needs, and more serious offending histories than the average adjudicated youth in Pennsylvania. The BJJS program is one of six major aftercare initiatives active in Pennsylvania, all of which are funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The other five programs, all associated with the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative, are specific to the single county where they operate: Allegheny, Cambria, Lycoming, Philadelphia, and York counties. In contrast, the BJJS program operates in a group of counties that contain more than 70% of Pennsylvania’s population. Like the Philadelphia program, and like many other serious and violent offender re-entry programs in operation across the nation, the BJJS aftercare program employs a case management model that features extensive assessment, individualized planning, a focus on the transition from life in the placement facility to life in the community, and efforts to assist the youth in building durable, supportive relationships in the community (reintegration). The goals of the BJJS Aftercare Services Project are based on the Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model developed by David Altschuler and Troy Armstrong (1994). Instead of starting aftercare services after the youth is released, the planning, assessments, and client contact begins when the youth is placed in the facility. The new BJJS approach begins at disposition, continues while the youth is in placement and on probation in the community, and endures afterwards through connections with services in the community. BJJS contracted with a private provider, Cornell, to implement the community component of the aftercare services model. In the old model, the youth went through the program in phases (could not move to Phase 2 until successfully completing Phase 1). In the new model, the youth completes steps in their own individualized service plan rather than completing a “one size fits all” program. Each youth’s plan is developed based on his/her strengths and needs, family assessments, and resources that will be available in their home community when they are released.Changes in the program model required new resources be put into place both in the facilities and the communities. BJJS made many changes in the program infrastructure, including adding new staff, training staff on the new way of doing business, and using new assessment instruments. The goals of the BJJS aftercare program are to reduce delinquency and improve the life chances for high-risk youth released from state placements. To reach its goals, the program relies on effective collaboration across agencies that traditionally have been independent. The BJJS program requires collaboration among BJJS staff within the YDC/YFC system, contracted case managers active at the facility and in the communities, juvenile court and juvenile probation, families, and community-based service providers. In large measure, success of the aftercare program depends on BJJS success at achieving and sustaining collaboration in a set of state, local, public, private, and non-profit agencies and organizations. Details: Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2006. 137p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2011 at: www.portal.state.pa.us Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 122258 Keywords: Juvenile Aftercare (Pennsylvania) Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism Reentry Rehabilitation

Author: Bryan, Jennifer L. Title: CEO’s Rapid Rewards Program: Using Incentives to Promote Employment Retention for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals Summary: Every year, over 650,000 Americans return home to their communities from prison. Close to 10 million return from jail. They need to find jobs. But the formerly incarcerated face significant barriers to employment, including a lack of education and occupational skills, limited or no work history, and minimal support systems (Petersilia 2003). They also face the burden of a felony conviction as they attempt to re-enter community life. Not surprisingly, most do not succeed. Failure occurs quickly, often within the first months after release. Fully two-thirds of all those released from prison on parole will be rearrested within three years. Over 50 percent will return to prison or jail (Langin and Levin 2002). There is little doubt that unemployment contributes to the cycle of incarceration. In New York State, 89 percent of those who violate the terms of their probation or parole are unemployed at the time of violation (Mukamal 2000). This strongly suggests that employment can play a crucial role in breaking the cycle of incarceration. CEO began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice to test this very idea: what would happen if people coming home from prison or jail were offered paid transitional work? The project evolved into CEO’s signature work experience program, the Neighborhood Work Project (NWP), which provides paid, time-limited employment and serves as an "employment lab," preparing participants with essential skills to rejoin the workforce and restart their lives. At the same time, CEO works to place participants in full-time, unsubsidized employment and follows up through the first year of such employment, providing retention and advancement counseling and referrals. Within the field of reentry and workforce development, CEO is widely recognized as a leader for its proven ability to place the most “difficult to employ” individuals in full-time jobs. Since becoming an independent nonprofit in 1996, CEO has made over 10,000 full-time job placements for formerly incarcerated persons. CEO provides: (1) pre-employment job readiness training through one week of intensive classroom instruction; (2) meetings with a job coach; (3) paid transitional work at one of CEO’s supervised work sites throughout New York City; (4) vocational assessment and job development with a job developer; (5) unsubsidized job placement; and (6) job retention support. In the last few years, CEO has begun to focus more carefully on not only helping participants get placed in jobs, but ensuring that they remain employed for longer periods. Achieving lasting results requires following up with participants to track their employment retention, learn more about the issues they face, and encourage them to remain employed. CEO has a “follow up” unit that tracks and independently verifies participants’ employment. Once a participant is placed in a job by CEO, a staff member from the follow up unit contacts the employer or parole officer to verify the job start date, wages, title, hours, and other employment information. CEO also has a post-placement unit that provides support to help people stay in the workforce. An important part of post-placement services is CEO’s Rapid Rewards Program. Details: New York: CEO Learning Institute, 2007. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2011 at: http://www.alaskachd.org/justice/offender/documents/CEO%20Rapid%20Rewards%20Program.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.alaskachd.org/justice/offender/documents/CEO%20Rapid%20Rewards%20Program.pdf Shelf Number: 122315 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry (New York) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Taxman, Faye S. Title: Targeting for Reentry: Matching Needs and Services to Maximize Public Safety Summary: One of the most vexing problems facing governors, legislators and corrections administrators across the United States is how to stop the inevitable movement of offenders from institution, to community, to institution, to community, ad infinitum (referred to as churners, see Lynch & Sabol, 2001; Hughes, Wilson, & Beck, 2001). For example, in 1997, there were 587,177 new prisoners admitted to state and federal institutions in this country. At the Same time, 528,848 prisoners were released from state and federal facilities across the country. Among new prison admissions, there were 189,765 offenders returned to prison as parole or other conditional release violators (approximately 40% of all new admissions in 1997). And among new prison releasees, it is estimated that about 40% (200,000) will be back in prison within three years for either new crimes or technical violations (Petersilia, 2000). Clearly, there is a subgroup of the federal and state prison population who appear to have integrated periods of incarceration into their lifestyle and life choices. What can and should the correction systems do to “target” these offenders for specialized services and controls to improve reintegration into the community? In the following report, we examine the offender targeting issue in detail, utilizing data gathered from our review of eight model Reentry Partnership Initiative Programs. We begin by discussing the range of target population criteria used in the eight model programs and then discuss the unique challenges presented by different types of offender typologies, such as repeat offenders, violent offenders, sex offenders, and drug offenders. Then we identify the relevant classification, treatment, and control issues that decision makers will have to address as they design and implement their own reentry processes that address the unique needs presented by different offender typologies. We conclude by highlighting the lessons learned from the current wave of WI models. Details: College Park, MD: University of Maryland, College Park, Bureau of Governmental Research, 2002. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196491.pdf Year: 2002 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196491.pdf Shelf Number: 122323 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Martin, Ginger Title: From Incarceration to Community: A Roadmap to Improving Prisoner Reentry and System Accountability in Massachusetts Summary: With the tremendous growth in incarceration in Massachusetts, inmates are returning to communities in record numbers. More than 20,000 prison and jail inmates are released to Massachusetts’ towns and cities each year. Policymakers have become increasingly concerned with how the corrections system should manage the reentry process to best protect the public and how communities can absorb and reintegrate returning prisoners. The entire reentry process must be strengthened. This report provides a roadmap for prisoner reentry in Massachusetts, drawing from the national research literature of evidence-based practices and interviews with experts, officials, practitioners, and community-based service providers. It addresses areas of policy that have a significant effect on reentry, from sentencing through post-release follow-up, with particular focus on the roles of the state prison system, houses of corrections, and parole. Details: Boston: Criminal and Justice Institute, 2004. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2011 at: http://cjinstitute.org/files/reentryrpt_1.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://cjinstitute.org/files/reentryrpt_1.pdf Shelf Number: 122326 Keywords: Community-based Corrections Parole Prisoner Reentry (Massachusetts) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Taxman, Faye S. Title: Proactive Community Supervision in Maryland: Changing Offender Outcomes Summary: With over 70,000 adult offenders under community supervision in the late 1990s, and more than 100 offenders assigned to each probation/parole agent, Maryland faced challenges similar to other states regarding the most effective strategy for supervising offenders in the community. In response to the 2000 Joint Chairmen’s Report, the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation (MDPP) developed a strategy to reengineer supervision by integrating research-based findings pertinent to protecting community safety and returning offenders to a more prosocial lifestyle. The strategy, called Proactive Community Supervision (PCS), has three goals: protect public safety; hold offenders accountable to victims and the community; and help offenders become responsible and productive (Sachwald, 2000). These goals are accomplished through the five major components of PCS: 1) identify criminogenic traits using a valid risk and need tool; 2) develop a supervision plan that addresses criminogenic traits employing effective external controls and treatment interventions; 3) hold the offender accountable for progress on the supervision plan; 4) use a place-based strategy wherein individual probation/parole office environments are engaged in implementing the strategy; and 5) develop partnerships with community organizations who will provide ancillary services to supervisees. Collectively, these five tenets are based on findings from research studies identifying crime reduction strategies over the last 30 years. Funds to implement the PCS strategy were appropriated for State Fiscal Year 2002. To allow MDPP to change the context of supervision, caseload sizes for intensive supervision by probation/parole agents were to be reduced from 100 to 55 in four areas: Mondawmin in Baltimore City, Hyattsville in Prince George’s County, Silver Spring in Montgomery County, and all of Caroline County. With PCS, probation/parole agents are armed with a research-based strategy regarding how to address the criminogenic traits that propel individuals to continue their involvement in criminal behavior. PCS offers a holistic approach for probation/parole agents to facilitate offender change while emphasizing accountability and public safety. This report presents an overview of the impact of the PCS strategy on key offender outcomes--rearrest rates, warrants for violation of probation, and adherence to offender supervision plans. To determine whether the PCS process achieves the intended goals, a team of researchers from the University of Maryland and Virginia Commonwealth University evaluated the impact of the PCS process on offender outcomes. The evaluation study used an individual match design that compares the outcomes of 548 offenders — 274 randomly selected offenders supervised in PCS areas with 274 matched offenders in areas that use the traditional supervision model. The researchers found that participation in PCS had a positive effect on offender outcomes. In particular, regardless of the criminal history of the offender or risk level, the rates of rearrest and warrants filed for technical violations were significantly lower for offenders that were supervised under the PCS strategy. The PCS model has shown to have statistically significant outcomes for offenders compared to traditional methods of supervision. Details: College Park, MD: University of Maryland; Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2011 at: http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicinfo/publications/pdfs/PCS_Evaluation_Feb06.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicinfo/publications/pdfs/PCS_Evaluation_Feb06.pdf Shelf Number: 122327 Keywords: Collaboration Community-based Corrections Offender Supervision (Maryland) Parole Probation Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Illinois Community Safety and Reentry Commission Title: Inside Out: A Plan to Reduce Recidivism and Improve Public Safety Summary: Communities in Illinois and nationwide are reeling from a revolving criminal justice door. The cycle of crime, punishment, and reoffending is a major public safety issue, and without intervention is bound to accelerate if recidivism rates remain at near record highs and record numbers continue to be released from state prison. Illinois’s prison population more than doubled from 1988 through 2001, largely due to incarceration rates among drug-involved offenders. Without positive intervention, more than one-half of the record nearly 40,000 inmates estimated to be released from state prisons this fiscal year will be back in prison within three years — after committing new crimes, finding new victims, or violating their parole. No one knows this better than the families in the hardest hit communities in Illinois. In 2005, the vast majority (82%) of the formerly incarcerated returned to just ten regions in the state. These communities also suffer some of the highest poverty and crime rates. Therefore, in addition to increased risk of becoming a crime victim, residents of these communities are losing family members to the vicious cycle of drugs, crime, and incarceration. The family, community, and statewide toll of crime is only compounded when a formerly incarcerated individual, lacking supports and jobs, commits another crime and returns to prison. When Governor Rod Blagojevich was first elected, he announced that his administration would spearhead a comprehensive public safety initiative to roll back the state’s recidivism rate, which had been climbing for more than a decade, standing in 2004 at over 54 percent, a historic high. In other words, for every two inmates released, one committed another crime and returned to prison, likely within a year of release. The costs of this revolving door of incarceration to the community and to the state — which spent $3 billion over 16 years, primarily in the 1990s, to build, operate, repair, and maintain new state prisons and expand their capacity — are simply too high to sustain. Funds are far better spent breaking this vicious cycle than supporting it. Under Governor Blagojevich’s leadership, the state has taken strong steps to stem this flood, including instituting several innovative programs, such as the Sheridan National Model Drug Prison and Reentry Program (which aims to be the largest state prison and comprehensive reentry program in the nation dedicated to inmates with substance abuse issues; the program focuses its efforts both in prison and during a highly supervised and supported return to the community) and Operation Spotlight Parole Reform Initiative (a long-term plan to dramatically increase the number of parole agents, improve case management, tighten parole supervision to emphasize risk reduction and expand community-based resources that help reduce crime). These efforts are seeing early, promising results. Among graduates of the Sheridan Program within its first two years, recidivism rates were nearly 40 percent lower than comparison groups. In addition, the Operation Spotlight Initiative has already helped to reduce new crimes among all of the state’s parolees to the lowest levels in state history. In part, thanks to these and other initiatives, the state’s overall three-year recidivism rate has declined to 51 percent. However, much more remains to be done to maintain the momentum. Details: Springfield, IL: Community Safety and Reentry Commission, 2007. 204p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 9, 2011 at: http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/reports/other/Governor's%20%20Reentry%20Commission%20Report%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/reports/other/Governor's%20%20Reentry%20Commission%20Report%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 122338 Keywords: Correctional Programs Prisoner Reentry (Illinois) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Fabelo, Tony Title: A Ten-Step Guide to Transforming Probation Departments to Reduce Recidivism Summary: A Ten-Step Guide to Transforming Probation Departments to Reduce Recidivism provides probation leaders with a roadmap to overhaul the operations of their agencies so they can increase public safety in their communities and improve rates of compliance among people they are supervising. The first section describes how officials can engage key stakeholders, evaluate agency policies, and develop a strategic plan for implementing reform; the second section provides recommendations for redesigning departmental policies and practices; and the final section includes steps for making the department transformation permanent. The report provides numerous examples of how these steps were used in one probation department in particular (Travis County, Texas). Since transforming its operations between 2005 and 2008, the Travis County probation department has seen felony probation revocations decline by 20 percent and the one-year re-arrest rate for probationers fall by 17 percent (compared with similar probationers before the departmental overhaul). Details: Washington, DC: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 10, 2011 at: http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/documents/0000/1150/A_Ten-Step_Guide_to_Transforming_Probation_Departments_to_Reduce_Recidivism.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/documents/0000/1150/A_Ten-Step_Guide_to_Transforming_Probation_Departments_to_Reduce_Recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 122344 Keywords: Probation (U.S.) Probation Officers Probationers Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Evaluation of the Prisoner Reentry Initiative: Final Report Summary: In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MNDOC) implemented the Prisoner Reentry Initiative (PRI), a pilot project serving offenders incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Faribault who were released to regular supervision in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. PRI was developed on the premise that recidivism can be reduced by enhancing the delivery of critical services and programming to offenders as they make the transition from prison to the community. To improve service delivery, PRI used reentry coordinators who worked closely with institutional and community corrections staff to help connect offender participants to services and programming in both prison and the community that addressed their individual risks, strengths, and needs. In addition, to help participants find post-release employment — one of the main objectives of PRI — the MNDOC contracted with Goodwill/Easter Seals, which provided vocational services that included a work skills and career interest assessment, job search and placement assistance, transitional employment, and skills training. To evaluate whether the PRI pilot project was effective in reducing recidivism, the MNDOC used a quasi-experimental design with a historical comparison group. Offenders who participated in PRI were compared with a similar group of offenders who met the eligibility criteria and were released from MCF-Faribault during the 14 months preceding implementation of PRI to supervision in one of the two participating counties. Recidivism data were collected through the end of June 2010. As a result, the follow-up period ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 12 months. Although this evaluation was unable to comprehensively track the provision of services and programming to offenders in both the PRI and comparison groups, data were collected on the extent to which offenders were able to obtain and maintain employment during the first year following release from prison. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/PRIEvaluationReportFinal.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/PRIEvaluationReportFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 122369 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry (Minnesota) Recidivism Rehabilitation Vocational Education and Training

Author: Holl, Douglas B. Title: Evaluation of the Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative: Final Report Summary: As part of a presidential initiative to reduce recidivism and the societal costs of reincarceration by helping inmates find work when they return to their communities, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) joined the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other Federal partners in 2005 to create a demonstration program: the Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (PRI). The initiative seeks to strengthen urban communities affected by large volumes of returning prisoners through employment-centered projects that incorporate job training, housing referrals, mentoring, and other comprehensive transitional services. Although it is designed to offer ex-offenders an array of services to meet their diverse needs, this initiative is based on the core premise that helping ex-offenders find and maintain stable and legal employment will reduce recidivism. The PRI draws upon the strengths and skills of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) to provide re-entry assistance to returning ex-offenders. FBCOs are respected in their communities, have experience in providing social services to some of the hardest-to-serve populations, have access to sizable networks of volunteers, and provide enthusiastic support to many of their undertakings (Soukamneuth 2006). In June 2005, DOL selected Coffey Consulting, LLC (Coffey) and its subcontractor Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR) and consultants, Johns Hopkins University and Douglas W. Young, to evaluate the demonstration program. In November 2005, DOL announced grant awards averaging approximately $660,000 in year one funding to 30 FBCOs to initiate PRI services. The 30 projects are located in urban areas in 20 states around the country. The organizations chosen as grantees were expected to develop relationships with corrections agencies, the publicly-funded workforce investment system, other community organizations, and employers in order to help their projects meet the program goals. In September 2006, DOJ announced grant awards to Departments of Corrections (DOCs) located in the 20 states with PRI projects to provide pre-release services for inmates who, upon release, would be referred to DOL PRI sites for post-release assistance. Although not a direct subject of this evaluation, the activities conducted under these grants support the objectives of the re-entry initiative and might benefit some of the individuals who enroll in PRI. The objective of this evaluation is to assess the extent to which the community agencies receiving DOL PRI grant awards successfully developed employment-centered approaches for ex-offenders that focused on stable jobs and housing in their neighborhoods and communities. This report is the culmination of a three-year effort to evaluate the first two years of PRI project operations. Ultimately, DOL wanted to know whether employment-centered programs could be developed to help ex-offenders find work, keep their jobs, and avoid recidivism. Details: Bethesda, MD: Coffey Consulting, 2009. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.doleta.gov/RExO/PDF/PRI_Final_Report_011309.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.doleta.gov/RExO/PDF/PRI_Final_Report_011309.pdf Shelf Number: 122372 Keywords: Employment, Ex-Offenders Ex-Offenders, Job Training Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: Prison-Based Chemical Dependency Treatment in Minnesota: An Outcome Evaluation Summary: Using a retrospective quasi-experimental design, this study evaluates the effectiveness of CD treatment provided within the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) by comparing recidivism outcomes between treated and untreated offenders released from prison in 2005. As discussed later in more detail, propensity score matching (PSM) was used to individually match the untreated offenders with those who received CD treatment. Similar to the instrumental variable and Heckman approaches used by Pelissier and colleagues (2001), PSM is a method designed to control for selection bias. More specifically, PSM minimizes the threat of selection bias by creating a comparison group whose probability of entering treatment was similar to that of the treatment group. Although PSM has been used in at least one recent study on community-based CD treatment (Krebs, Strom, Koetse, and Lattimore, 2008), this study is one of the first to use it in a prison-based treatment evaluation. In addition to PSM, this study attempts to further control for rival causal factors by analyzing the data with Cox regression, which is widely regarded as the most appropriate multivariate statistical technique for recidivism analyses. Moreover, by comparing 926 treated offenders with a matched group of 926 untreated offenders, the sample size used for this study (N = 1,852) is one of the larger prison-based CD treatment studies to date. Finally, to achieve a more complete understanding of the effects of prison-based treatment, multiple treatment and recidivism measures were used. Despite these strengths, there are several limitations worth noting. First, in measuring the effectiveness of CD treatment, the two most common outcome measures are substance abstention and criminal recidivism. Although abstention is an important and arguably more sensitive measure of CD treatment effectiveness, data on post-release substance use were not IV criteria for substance abuse. Among the criteria for abuse are problems at work or school, not taking care of personal responsibilities, financial problems, engaging in dangerous behavior while intoxicated, legal problems, problems at home or in relationships, and continued use despite experiencing problems. The criteria for dependence, meanwhile, include increased tolerance; withdrawal symptoms; greater use than intended over a relatively long period of time, inability to cut down or quit; a lot of time spent acquiring, using, or recovering from use; missing important family, work, or social activities; and knowledge that continued use would exacerbate a serious medical or psychological condition. Although the vast majority of newly-admitted offenders are considered to be CD abusive or dependent, not all treatment-directed offenders have the opportunity to participate in prison-based treatment since the number of treatment-directed offenders (nearly 3,000 annually) exceeds the number of treatment beds available (about 1,800 annually). The DOC currently uses information relating to offender needs and recidivism risk in prioritizing inmates for treatment. This information, however, was not routinely considered from 2002-2005, the period of time covered in this study. Rather, among offenders directed to treatment, prioritization decisions were based primarily on the amount of time remaining to serve. Offenders with shorter lengths of time until their release from prison were often selected over those with more time to serve. During the 2002-2005 period, the DOC provided CD programming to both male and female offenders in six of the ten state facilities that house adult inmates. Although there are variations among the different programs provided at each facility, all of the CD treatment offered by the DOC is modeled on TC concepts. Housed separately from the rest of the prison population, offenders admitted to treatment were involved in 15-25 hours of programming per week. The CD programs, which maintained a staff-to-inmate ratio of 1:15, emphasized each offender’s personal responsibility for identifying and acknowledging criminal and addictive thinking and behavior. Moreover, the CD programming generally included educational material that addressed the signs and symptoms of CD, the effects of drug use on the body, the effects of chemical use on family and relationships, and the dangers of drug abuse. In addition to completing an autobiography that focused on prior chemical use, program participants completed work relating to relapse prevention. The DOC offered short-term (90 days), medium-term (180 days), and long-term (365 days) CD programming during the 2002-2005 period. The short-term programs, which were primarily psycho-educational with minimal individual counseling, emphasized the relationship between substance abuse issues and criminal behavior. Participants in these programs were expected to increase their level of active participation as they progressed through the program. The medium- and long-term programs, on the other hand, included education, individual counseling, and group counseling components. Therefore, aside from program duration, the main distinction between the short-term programs and the medium- and longterm programs was that the former contained little emphasis on individual or group counseling, primarily due to the relatively short period of time over which to deliver the programming. In 2006, the DOC refocused its CD programs to long-term treatment of at least six months or more. The decision to discontinue the short-term programming was due, in part, to evidence which seemed to suggest that short-term programs are not as effective as ones that are longer in duration (Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor, 2006). More specifically, in its report on substance abuse treatment across the state, the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor found that recidivism rates for short-term program participants were higher than those for offenders who participated in medium- and long-term programs. However, the simple bivariate analyses performed by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor did not control for factors known to affect recidivism (e.g., criminal history, age at release, institutional disciplinary history, type of offense, etc.). Therefore, rather than demonstrating that short-term treatment is less effective, the higher recidivism rates for short-term participants may simply reflect that they had, in comparison to the medium- and long-term participants, a greater risk of reoffense prior to entering treatment. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10CDTXEvaluationReport_Revised.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10CDTXEvaluationReport_Revised.pdf Shelf Number: 122374 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Offenders (Minnesota) Drug Treatment Recidivism

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Outcome Evaluation of MINNCOR's EMPLOY Program Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of EMPLOY, a prisoner reentry employment program, by examining recidivism and post-release employment outcomes among 464 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2006 and 2008. Because outcome data were collected on the 464 offenders through the end of June 2010, the average follow-up period was 28 months. Observable selection bias was minimized by using propensity score matching to create a comparison group of 232 non-participants who were not significantly different from the 232 EMPLOY offenders. Results from the Cox regression analyses revealed that participating in EMPLOY reduced the hazard ratio for recidivism by 32-63 percent. The findings further showed that EMPLOY increased the odds of gaining post-release employment by 72 percent. Although EMPLOY did not have a significant impact on hourly wage, the overall post-release wages for program participants were significantly higher because they worked a greater number of hours. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-11EMPLOYEvaluation.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-11EMPLOYEvaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 122375 Keywords: Correctional Programs Employment Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry (Minnesota) Recidivism

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: Chemical Dependency Program Evaluation Summary: Substance use figures prominently not only in criminal offending but has also been implicated in the rise of the prison population since the 1980s. From 2002-2007, drug and felony driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders accounted for 53 percent of the prison population growth within Minnesota. As the volume of drug and DWI offenders entering prison has increased, so, too, has the number of inmates diagnosed as chemically dependent and/or abusive who are in need of chemical dependency (CD) treatment. Using a retrospective quasi-experimental design, this report evaluates the efficacy of CD treatment in Minnesota Department of Corrections (MNDOC) facilities by comparing recidivism rates between offenders who participated in treatment (treatment group) with those who did not (comparison group). Both the treatment and comparison groups contained offenders who were admitted to prison after 2001, directed to CD treatment, and released during 2005. The comparison group consists of 1,096 offenders who were closely matched to the 1,164 offenders in the treatment group on the characteristics used in the statistical analyses. Of the 1,164 offenders in the treatment group, most (N = 671) participated in short-term (i.e., 90 days) treatment programs. Because short-term programs were discontinued by the MNDOC in 2006, this study also assesses the efficacy of medium- and long-term CD programming by comparing reoffense rates between the 493 medium- and long-term treatment participants with a carefully matched comparison group of 493 non-participants. Recidivism — the outcome measure in this study — was quantified as both a felony reconviction and as a reincarceration for a new offense. Results • Of the 1,164 offenders who participated in CD treatment (i.e., the treatment group), 72 percent completed treatment or successfully participated until release. o Results showed that the odds of completing treatment were significantly lower for offenders with discipline convictions, but were significantly higher for female offenders, offenders with longer lengths of stay, and offenders who participated in short-term treatment programs. • At the end of the follow-up period, offenders who participated in CD treatment had significantly lower rates of felony reconviction (15%) and reincarceration (8%) than the comparison group, whose rates were 19 percent for reconvictions and 12 percent for reincarcerations for a new offense. o Regarding treatment outcome, the lowest recidivism rates were found for offenders who successfully participated until release, followed by those who completed treatment. Offenders who quit treatment had the highest recidivism rates. o Regarding program duration, offenders who participated in medium-term programs had the lowest recidivism rates, whereas the highest rates were found for those who entered short-term programs. • Results from the multivariate statistical analyses showed that participation in CD treatment significantly decreased the risk of time to reoffense, reducing it by 23 percent for reconvictions and 31 percent for reincarcerations. • A successful treatment outcome significantly reduced the risk of time to reoffense, decreasing it by 26 percent for reconvictions and 36 percent for reincarcerations. • Similar results were found for the analyses that examined the impact of medium- and long-term CD treatment on recidivism. o Participation in a medium- or long-term CD treatment program reduced the risk of time to reoffense by 30 percent for reconvictions and 42 percent for reincarcerations. o A successful outcome in a medium- or long-term treatment program decreased the risk of time to reoffense by 46 percent for reconvictions and 49 percent for reincarcerations. The results presented in this study suggest that the risk of recidivism is reduced significantly for offenders who participate in prison-based CD treatment, particularly among those with a successful treatment outcome. There are a few limitations with this study, however, that bear consideration. First, in focusing exclusively on recidivism, this evaluation did not include substance abstention as an outcome measure and, thus, may not have fully captured the full effects of CD programming. Second, given the importance of providing a continuum of care from the institution to the community, aftercare programming is considered to be an essential component of effective CD treatment. But due to the absence of post-release treatment data, it is unclear as to whether variations in the extent to which offenders participated in aftercare may have affected the findings presented here. By collecting data on substance use and aftercare programming in the community, research currently being conducted by the MNDOC may eventually shed light on these issues. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2008. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-08CDRecidivismEvaluation.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-08CDRecidivismEvaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 114920 Keywords: -Driving While Intoxicated Correctional Programs Driving Under the Influence Drug Offenders (Minnesota) Drug Treatment, Prisoners Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: The Effects of Failure to Register on Sex Offender Recidivism Summary: In the early 1990s, the Minnesota legislature enacted the predatory offender registration (POR) law, which requires offenders who meet the statutory criteria to register their residences, places of employment, schools, and any vehicles owned or operated by registrants with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Since its creation nearly 20 years ago, the law has been amended several times to broaden its scope and increase the penalties for registration noncompliance. These changes to the POR law have led to a greater number of sex offenders convicted for failure to register (FTR), which has in turn resulted in more offenders coming to prison for FTR offenses. In fact, FTR is now the most common reincarceration offense for sex offenders released from prison. Due to the growing impact of FTR on Minnesota’s criminal justice system, this study attempted to increase understanding of registration noncompliance by examining whether an FTR conviction affected the risk of recidivism among sex offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2000 and 2004. Recidivism was distinguished by the type of reoffense (FTR, sex offense, or any offense), and the offenders in this study were tracked through the end of 2007, resulting in an average at-risk period of five years. Of the 1,561 predatory offenders released between 2000 and 2004, 170 had an FTR conviction. Of the 170 FTR offenders, 126 were incarcerated for an FTR offense whereas the other 44 had a FTR conviction before coming to prison. To isolate the impact of FTR convictions on recidivism, a matching technique (propensity score matching) was used to create comparison groups of offenders who did not have a prior FTR conviction. Main Findings Sexual Recidivism • Of the 126 offenders incarcerated for an FTR offense (Instant FTR), 17 (13.5%) were rearrested for a sex offense by the end of 2007. o 13 (10.3%) of the 126 non-FTR offenders in the comparison group had a sex offense rearrest following their release from prison. • Of the 170 offenders with any FTR conviction (Any FTR), 21 (12.4%) were rearrested for a sex offense by the end of 2007. o 16 (9.4%) of the 170 non-FTR offenders in the comparison group had a sex offense rearrest during the follow-up period. • The results from the multivariate statistical analyses showed that a prior FTR conviction did not significantly increase the risk of sexual recidivism. General Recidivism • Of the 126 Instant FTR offenders, 99 (78.6%) were rearrested for any offense during the follow-up period. o 90 (71.4%) of the 126 non-FTR offenders in the comparison group were rearrested for a new offense. • Of the 170 Any FTR offenders, 130 (76.5%) were rearrested for any offense following their release from prison. o 113 (66.5%) of the 170 non-FTR offenders in the comparison group were rearrested for a new offense. • The results from the multivariate statistical analyses showed that a prior FTR conviction did not significantly increase the risk of general recidivism. FTR Recidivism • Of the 126 Instant FTR offenders, 57 (45.2%) were rearrested for a new FTR offense. o 39 (31.0%) of the 126 non-FTR offenders in the comparison group were rearrested for an FTR offense. • Of the 170 Any FTR offenders, 69 (40.6%) were rearrested for a new FTR offense. o 41 (24.1%) of the 170 non-FTR offenders in the comparison were rearrested for an FTR offense. • The results from the multivariate statistical analyses showed that a prior FTR conviction significantly increased the risk of FTR recidivism. o An instant FTR offense increased the risk of getting rearrested for an FTR offense by 54 percent, whereas any prior FTR conviction increased the risk by 58 percent. • The results from the multivariate statistical analysis also showed that having a high school degree or GED at the time of release significantly decreased the risk of FTR recidivism from 39-43 percent. • The findings further revealed that offenders released from prison to the seven metro area (i.e., Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs) counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington had a significantly greater risk of FTR recidivism. Conclusion The results showed that FTR offenders were significantly different from other sex offenders in a number of ways. Consistent with prior research, this study found that registration noncompliant offenders were more likely to be a minority and to have longer criminal histories (i.e., more prior supervision failures and more prior felonies). Due to shorter prison sentences, FTR offenders had shorter periods of post-release supervision and were less likely to have participated in prison-based treatment than other sex offenders. Moreover, compared to other sex offenders, FTR offenders were less educated and were less likely to have used force or offended against victims from multiple age groups in the offense(s) for which they were required to register. The findings suggest that registration noncompliance does not significantly increase the risk of either sexual or general recidivism. Yet, given that past behavior is often the best predictor of future behavior, a prior FTR conviction was one of the strongest predictors of future registration noncompliance. The results also indicated the risk of registration noncompliance was significantly lower for offenders who had a GED or high school degree at the time of release from prison. This finding suggests that specifically targeting undereducated predatory offenders with educational programming may be an effective strategy to help reduce registration noncompliance and, more narrowly, reincarceration costs resulting from FTR recidivism. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2010. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10FailuretoRegisterstudy.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/03-10FailuretoRegisterstudy.pdf Shelf Number: 122376 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders (Minnesota) Treatment Programs

Author: Taylor, Emily Title: Michigan DUI Courts Outcome Evaluation: Final Report Summary: In the past 18 years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the implementation of drug courts across the country. The first drug court was established in Florida in 1989. There are now well over 1,500 drug courts operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. The purpose of drug courts is to guide offenders identified as drug-addicted into treatment that reduces drug dependence and improves the quality of life for offenders and their families. In the typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional adversarial roles. Addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. The Michigan Community Corrections Act was enacted in 1988 to investigate and develop alternatives to incarceration. Four years later, in June 1992, the first female drug treatment court in the nation was established in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Since then, Michigan has implemented 75 drug courts, including expanding into further specialized courts (also called “problem solving courts”) for adults, juveniles, family dependency, and DUI offenders. In FY2004, 12 courts in Michigan identified as DUI courts. Of these, 10 were operational and 2 courts were in the early planning phase. SCAO assisted in funding 9 of these courts. At the time this study was proposed, comprehensive outcome evaluation with comparison groups and longitudinal analyses had not been conducted for Michigan DUI courts. Consequently, little was known about the relative effectiveness of these courts in reducing drunk driving or the characteristics that affect client outcomes. SCAO proposed to conduct an outcome evaluation of DUI courts. The evaluation was designed as a longitudinal study that included tracking and collecting data on DUI court participants for a minimum of one year following either program completion or termination from DUI Court and a comparison group of offenders who were eligible for DUI court in the year prior to DUI court implementation. Data were abstracted from several sources including site visits, the Criminal History Records (CHR) database maintained by the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Judicial Warehouse (JDW). All of these data were entered into a database created in Microsoft Access. In 2007, SCAO contracted with NPC Research to perform the data analysis and report writing for three of the DUI courts that participated in this study, Ottawa and Bay County and Clarkston DUI courts. The evaluation was guided by five research questions which were answered by a careful analysis of the data by NPC Research. These questions were: 1. What is the impact of participation in a DUI court on recidivism (re-arrests) compared to traditional court processing? 2. Does participation in DUI court reduce levels of alcohol and other substance abuse? 3. How successful is the program in bringing program participants to completion and graduation within the expected time frame? 4. What participant characteristics predict successful outcomes (program completion, decreased recidivism)? 5. How does the use of resources differ between DUI treatment court versus traditional probation? Details: Lansing, MI: Michigan Supreme Court; Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2008. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2011 at: http://council.legislature.mi.gov/files/sdtcac/mi_dui_outcome_eval_final_report_0308.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://council.legislature.mi.gov/files/sdtcac/mi_dui_outcome_eval_final_report_0308.pdf Shelf Number: 122371 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drug Courts Drunk Driving Courts Problem-Solving Courts (Michigan) Recidivism

Author: Officer, Kelly Title: Offender Reentry Programs Preliminary Evaluation Summary: Offender Reentry Programs in Oregon are funded through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to increase community-based services and resources to offenders transitioning from Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) substance abuse and co-occurring residential treatment programs. The program was originally funded in four counties in Oregon over a two year period from April 1, 2009 to March 30, 2011. This preliminary evaluation of the Offender Reentry Programs includes program participants who were released from prison between May 2009 and September 2010. A comparable control group was composed of offenders who successfully completed substance abuse treatment while incarcerated at a DOC institution and were released to a program county before the Offender Reentry Program was implemented. Both arrest and charge outcomes were analyzed for this preliminary evaluation. The time from release for each offender is between four and 22 months, with an average of about 14 months. The analysis shows that offenders who participated in the Offender Reentry Program had a 33% drop in recidivism as measured by re-arrest compared to offenders who did not participate in the program. Participants in the program also show a 27% drop in recidivism as measured by overall charges and a 33% drop in recidivism as measured by felony charges. This preliminary evaluation shows that the Offender Reentry Program is effective at reducing recidivism and a follow-up evaluation with a longer time to recidivate and a larger sample size is planned. Details: Salem, OR: Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, 2011. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/Reentry_Eval_Final.pdf?ga=t Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/Reentry_Eval_Final.pdf?ga=t Shelf Number: 122407 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (Oregon) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Bellotti, Jeanne Title: Examining a New Model for Prisoner Re-Entry Services: The Evaluation Of Beneficiary Choice Summary: In July 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration created the Beneficiary Choice Program, a demonstration to help ex-offenders successfully enter and remain in the workforce and stay free of crime. DOL awarded five grantees a total of $10 million through two rounds of grants to serve approximately 450 participants each. To be eligible to receive services, ex-offenders had to be between the ages of 18 and 29, within 60 days after release of incarceration, and convicted of a federal or state crime. DOL contracted with Mathematica Policy Research to evaluate how the program unfolded over time. This report presents the findings of this evaluation. The evaluation was designed to describe the implementation of the program, the short-term outcomes of participants, and the costs of providing services. It addresses six research questions: (1) How do grantees plan for, implement, and operate the program? (2) How do grantees ensure that participants have a true and independent choice of providers? (3) How does performance-based contracting influence implementation? (4) What are the characteristics of participants and what services do they receive? (5) What are the employment outcomes and recidivism rates of participants? (6) What are the costs of the program? Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., 2011. 138p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://www.dol.gov/asp/evaluation/reports/20110316.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.dol.gov/asp/evaluation/reports/20110316.pdf Shelf Number: 122409 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Rutgers University. Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs Title: PRI-RE$PECT: 2006 Prisoner Re-Entry Project of NJ Department of Corrections: Final Evaluation Report Summary: In 2006, The New Jersey Department of Corrections released approximately 14,000 prisoners. Release statistics show that the state’s poorer urban areas are burdened by a disproportionate amount of this population. Consequences of failure in reentry are of serious concern to policy-makers and all stakeholders determined to increase public safety and quality of life issues for residents. In the United States, two-thirds of the individuals released from prison are rearrested for the commission of a new crime within three years. Since 2002, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs has been working with the Camden Safer Cities Initiative to address issues of service delivery and offender accountability through increased communication and collaboration among city residents, law enforcement agencies, social service providers, and offender supervisory agencies. In 2007, WRI began work on evaluations of two prisoner reentry programs for the New Jersey Department of Corrections, Office of Transitional Services. The evaluations of these programs will measure impact in re-offense rates amongst a set of selected participants in the program. Details: Camden, NJ: Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, (no date). 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://wrand.rutgers.edu/pdf/publications/PRI-RE$PECT_FINAL_EVALUATION_REPORT.pdf Year: 0 Country: United States URL: http://wrand.rutgers.edu/pdf/publications/PRI-RE$PECT_FINAL_EVALUATION_REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 122410 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (New Jersey) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Morissey, Michael E. Title: A Description of the Employment Patterns of Persons Released from Virginia's Correctional Institutions Between July 1, 1998, and June 30, 2002 Summary: The 35,882 former offenders released by Virginia’s Department of Corrections during the period of July 1, 1998, through June 30, 2002, are profiled using data provided by Virginia’s Department of Corrections and Department of Correctional Education as well as the Virginia Employment Commission. Demographic characteristics of recidivating and non-recidivating former offenders released during this period, with subgroupings to include gender, race, age, employment status, earnings, employment stability, and educational completion, as defined in the operational definitions of the study, are detailed, and the researcher’s observations are noted. Details: Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2004. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 17, 2011 at: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09082004-155317/unrestricted/Morrissey_Dissertation.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09082004-155317/unrestricted/Morrissey_Dissertation.pdf Shelf Number: 122421 Keywords: Correctional Education Ex-Offenders, Employment (Virginia) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Yvette, Emily Title: Offenders on the "Earned Release Date Housing Voucher" Program Summary: The objective of the Earned Release Date (ERD) Housing Voucher Program is to assist offenders release at or near their ERD. The aim of this report is to describe the participants of the voucher program beginning July 2009 through October 2010. This report describes the demographics of the housing voucher population, their release to the community relative to ERD, and the offenders’ recent history of homeless or transient status in the community. Additionally, this report provides an analysis of offender violations, sanctions, new offenses, and reincarceration during and after voucher funding. A comparison group comprised of offenders who did not receive housing vouchers was established in order to determine how voucher recipients differ from other offenders. The comparison group consists of offenders released during the same time period as voucher recipients. Non-voucher releases are separated into those that received supervision following release and those that did not; comparisons are between voucher recipients and supervised non-voucher releases. The distribution of demographics varies between voucher recipients and supervised non-voucher releases; voucher recipients are older and are more likely to have been convicted of a sex offense (33% vs. 12%). During 2010, voucher recipients had fewer average days past ERD than non-voucher releases (71 vs. 84 days) and contributed fewer days past ERD than non-voucher releases (42,671 vs. 54,264 days). The average length of follow up time is 274 days. Voucher recipients are more likely to report being homeless prior to incarceration and following release. Voucher recipients are more likely than supervised non-voucher releases to have a violation after release. A very small proportion of each group was convicted of new crimes during the follow up period. Overall, voucher recipients are more likely than non-voucher releases to be convicted of a new offense and to face reincarceration after release. Among offenders with at least one year of follow up, voucher funding status did not predict a new conviction or reincarceration for a new offense. This report could be improved by using a more appropriate comparison group and by incorporating other indicators of successful reentry. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington state Department of Corrections, 2011. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2011 at: http://doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/voucherreportrevised3.28.11.docx Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/voucherreportrevised3.28.11.docx Shelf Number: 122432 Keywords: Housing Parolees Prisoner Reentry (Washington State) Recidivism

Author: Sims, Barbara Title: An Evaluation of the PCCD-Funded Police-Probation Partnerships Projects Summary: In April, 2002, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) began funding three Police-Probation Partnership (PPP) projects in Lackawanna, Lehigh, and Mercer Counties. These programs are modeled after the Operation Night Light (ONL) program that began in Boston, Massachusetts in 1992. The goals of the PPP projects are to reduce recidivism among selected juvenile and/or adult probationers, to reduce police calls for service and criminal activity in the target areas, to increase public perceptions of safety in the neighborhoods where PPP projects are operating, and to strengthen linkages between the police departments and county probation departments. The PCCD sought to award a subgrant to support a process and outcome evaluation of the PPP programs in the three funded counties. The purpose of such a study would be to determine: (1) whether the three funded sites have implemented the program according to the specified goals and objectives of the program; (2) whether the sites are meeting the expectations of the PCCD related to the goals and objectives of PPP programming in general; and (3) the nature and extent of the impact of PPP programming in the targeted areas. Details: Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State University, 2006. 119p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2011 at: www.portal.state.pa.us Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 122447 Keywords: Collaboration Juvenile Probationers Partnerships Police/Probation Partnerships Probationers (Pennsylvania Recidivism

Author: Center for Effective Public Policy Title: A Framework for Evidence-Based Decision Making in Local Criminal Justice Systems. A Work in Progress, Third Edition. Summary: The Framework identifies the key structural elements of a system informed by evidence. It defines a vision of safer communities. It puts forward the belief that risk and harm reduction are fundamental goals of the justice system, and that these can be achieved without sacrificing offender accountability or other important justice system outcomes. It both explicates the premises and values that underlie our justice system and puts forward a proposed set of principles to guide evidence-based decision making at the local level—principles that are, themselves, evidence-based. The Framework also highlights some of the most groundbreaking of the research — evidence that clearly demonstrates that we can reduce pretrial misconduct and offender recidivism. It identifies the key stakeholders who must be actively engaged in a collaborative partnership if an evidence-based system of justice is to be achieved. It also sets out to begin to outline some of the most difficult challenges we will face as we seek to deliberately and systematically implement such an approach in local communities. Details: Silver Spring, MD: Center for Effective Public Policy, 2010. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2011 at: http://www.cepp.com/documents/EBDM%20Framework.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.cepp.com/documents/EBDM%20Framework.pdf Shelf Number: 122448 Keywords: Correctional Administration (U.S.) Evidence-Based Practices Pretrial Release Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Mills, Linda Title: Inventorying and Reforming State-Created Employment Restrictions Based On Criminal Records: A Policy Brief and Guide Summary: Gainful employment is essential to any strategy to reduce recidivism, and thus to reduce crime and make communities safer. However, among the many hurdles facing people coming home from prisons and jails in successfully reintegrating into society, getting a good job is often one of the most daunting. Equally daunting, for both the person with the record and for workforce staff who might attempt to help him search for jobs, is figuring out what occupations and places of employment are possibly open to people with criminal records. States increasingly have created hiring restrictions that may turn the fact of criminal record into a bar to employment. These restrictions, imposed on both the public and private sectors, vary widely and can affect the ability of the 71 million people in the U.S. (over 30% of the adult population) whose names are in criminal history databases to secure gainful employment. Sometimes the restrictions offer the employer a measure of hiring discretion after reviewing a background check. Sometimes they give the employer the right to assess the relevance of the past crime to the job. Sometimes they provide the job seeker with an opportunity to demonstrate their rehabilitation. But often the restrictions offer little flexibility to either employers or people looking for work. Each restriction has its own nuances. Some restrictions put jobs or places of employment off-limits to anyone with a record of a criminal conviction. Some put them off-limits only for those convicted of certain crimes. Sometimes the restriction creates a lifetime ban. Sometimes the restriction is time-limited. Sometimes the time limits depend on the crime. For employers, it’s a minefield. Hiring in violation of the restrictions can lead to a loss of a business license and other harsh penalties. For job seekers with a criminal record, it can be Kafkaesque, with the impact of restrictions often both unknown and unknowable until after incurring the costs of a course of study, tests and fees and the application for a job or license is finally reviewed. The lack of reliable information about what jobs can be pursued can lead to deadend efforts and frustrations that impede the self-confidence that is so important to job hunting success. It can also waste precious time during the weeks following release from prison or jail when getting a job is so critical to staying out of trouble. The confusing complexity of the restrictions is due to the fact that criminal history restrictions on employment have proliferated over many years and by many entities and in response to diverse events and shifting policy tides. Adopted by both legislatures and state agencies, typically they are spread over scores of chapters of state laws, buried in agency rules and lost in obscure agency policy memos; and sometimes they exist only on the face of a job or license application. Most states have not catalogued their restrictions. In the absence of a catalogue making restrictions accessible and transparent, employers, workforce and corrections agencies, and people with criminal records are left to their own devices to figure out what the restrictions are. If they don’t get it right, which is very difficult for any of them, myth and misinformation may prevail and the consequences can be serious and costly. Just as employers and job seekers need to know what the restrictions are, so, too, do the state and local agencies that administer the restrictions and are charged with understanding and interpreting them correctly. Some departments of corrections are developing individualized reentry plans that create post-release occupational goals and that assign training programs intended to achieve those goals. Additional training and job placement is then delegated to workforce agencies upon the prisoners’ release. If the occupations for which the training is provided are off-limits to people with criminal convictions, time and tax dollars are wasted and the people being trained can wind-up with useless credentials, leaving them unprepared to find work. If policymakers want to harmonize the restrictions that have been adopted piecemeal over so many years and develop a coherent policy thread that ties them together, they need to understand their state’s restrictions, too. Inventorying the existing restrictions is an essential first step for states interested in creating consistent and meaningful employment policies that protect public safety while also reducing recidivism by opening employment opportunity. Details: Baltimore, MD: Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2008. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://www.aecf.org/~/media/PublicationFiles/Employment%20Restrictions%20Policy%20Guide%20Sept%2008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.aecf.org/~/media/PublicationFiles/Employment%20Restrictions%20Policy%20Guide%20Sept%2008.pdf Shelf Number: 113255 Keywords: Criminal Records Ex-Offenders, Employment (U.S.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Meredith, Tammy Title: Enhancing Parole Decision-Making Through the Automation of Risk Assessment Summary: How do we know if a parolee will be arrested while under our supervision? We cannot know for certain. Yet by using the tools of science, we can improve upon our professional judgment by mathematically assessing risk. An officer with insight into a parolee’s likelihood of re-offending can make more informed case supervision decisions. This idea exemplifies the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles’ philosophy of “results driven supervision,” which encourages the use of research to improve our ability to address the needs of parolees in order to enhance their chances of successful integration into the community. The development of risk assessment instruments is based on the premise that certain factors (characteristics of an offender or his environment) can be used to predict an offender’s risk of future criminality. Correctional professionals have traditionally relied on clinical and professional judgment to predict the behavior of offenders. We can now add to that a sizable body of research, emerging over the past twenty years, that identifies factors statistically predictive of recidivism in order to create and validate actuarial risk instruments. Actuarial risk instruments have focused primarily on static, or unchanging predictors of recidivism, such as age and prior criminality. Today, empirically-derived assessment instruments are evolving to include both static and dynamic predictors of recidivism, or those factors that can change over time, such as offender attitudes and behavior while under correctional supervision. This trend is confirmed by the work of Gendreau and colleagues (1996) in identifying the 10 static and 7 dynamic risk factors that consistently surface across 131 recidivism studies published between 1970 and 1994 (most importantly age, prior record, antisocial personality, companions, and criminogenic needs -- which establish standards of conduct and rational for engaging in antisocial behavior). Despite the identification of 17 prime risk factors, Gendreau and his colleages note that composite risk scales, which summarize a variety of risk factors, remain the most powerful predictors of recidivism. Today, many correctional agencies are adopting existing and well-tested composite risk scales. Some are developing their own scales, based upon data analyses performed on their own population of offenders. To assess the empirical support for various risk assessment options, we identified 42 risk assessment studies published in the past twenty years (see Table 1). This body of literature guided the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles in developing an actuarial risk assessment method for the assignment of supervision level for 20,000 active parolees. Details: Atlanta, GA: Applied Research Services, Inc, 2001. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2011 at: http://www.ars-corp.com/_view/PDF_Files/EnhancingParoleDecisionMakingThroughtheAutomationofRiskAssessment2003.pdf Year: 2001 Country: United States URL: http://www.ars-corp.com/_view/PDF_Files/EnhancingParoleDecisionMakingThroughtheAutomationofRiskAssessment2003.pdf Shelf Number: 122586 Keywords: Parole (Georgia) Parolees Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Larney, Sarah Title: Opioid Substitution Treatment in Prison and Post-Release: Effects on Criminal Recidivism and Mortality Summary: Heroin dependence is a chronic condition associated with significant health and social harms. The most effective treatment for heroin dependence is opioid substitution treatment (OST), in which long-acting opioid medications such as methadone or buprenorphine are prescribed with the goal of reducing heroin use and associated harms. Internationally, OST is rarely available in prisons, despite the high proportion of heroin users among prisoners. Furthermore, limited research attention has been given to examining how prison-based OST can reduce the harms of heroin dependence. This thesis reports on two systematic literature reviews and three data linkage studies on the effects of prison-based and post-release OST. The first systematic review found that there is good evidence that prison OST reduces heroin use and needle and syringe sharing among prison inmates. The second review found that the evidence relating to the effects of prison OST on post-release outcomes is inconsistent and has limitations. As such, four data linkage studies were undertaken to assess incarceration, offending and mortality outcomes for a cohort of 375 male heroin users recruited in prisons in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in 1996-7. Data were linked for the nearly ten-year period 1 June 1997 – 31 December 2006. The first data linkage study assessed whether the baseline data for the cohort could be linked to other databases with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to obtain reliable and valid results regarding episodes of OST. Results showed that maximum sensitivity and specificity were achieved when participants’ aliases were included as identifiers during the linkage process, and that enrolment in OST during the observation period had been reliably ascertained by linkage. The second data linkage study demonstrated that exposure to OST while in prison did not in itself reduce risk of re-incarceration; rather, it was continuation of treatment as the individual returned to the community that reduced the risk of returning to prison. Among participants who remained in OST post-release, risk of re-incarceration was, on average, 80% that of participants not in OST. The third study, assessing re-offending, did not find a relationship between OST exposure and criminal convictions; however, there were indications of bias in the analysis as a result of informative censoring. The fourth data linkage study analysed mortality outcomes for the cohort. Participant mortality was six times that seen in the age-, sex- and calendar-adjusted NSW population, but was moderated while in OST and while in prison. Although mortality was elevated in the 28 days immediately after release from prison in comparison to all other time at liberty, this difference was not statistically significant; a larger sample size may have resulted in a significant finding in this regard. Although OST has been studied extensively, few studies have employed data linkage to examine long-term treatment outcomes, particularly in relation to treatment participation while in prison. The evidence presented in this thesis provides support for the provision of OST in prisons, and for programs that facilitate prisoners’ access to post-release OST. Integration of prisoner healthcare into public health systems may assist in improving continuity of OST as well as general standards of care. Future research should explore how the duration of pre-release treatment affects post-release outcomes and how OST can be combined with therapeutic approaches that address other risk factors for offending. Further follow-ups of the cohort would provide insights into the course and consequences of heroin use in Australia. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, 2010. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/OST-in-prison-and-post-release-effects-on-criminal-recidivism-and-mortality.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.idpc.net/sites/default/files/library/OST-in-prison-and-post-release-effects-on-criminal-recidivism-and-mortality.pdf Shelf Number: 122636 Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Programs Heroin Opioids Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Substance Abuse (Australia)

Author: Leicht, Christine Title: Chattanooga Endeavors Building Bridges Program Evaluation: Outcomes Report Summary: The primary purpose of the Building Bridges program was to increase the likelihood that offenders released into the Chattanooga/Hamilton County area of Tennessee would avoid re-arrest and re-incarceration by obtaining meaningful employment. The program was based on the idea that it takes time for ex-offenders to become reintegrated into their community and that they need support throughout the process. The program attempted to support clients by improving the community's capacity to accept ex-offenders while increasing client ability to contribute to society. This outcome evaluation focused on the following three research questions using a quasi-experimental design with a comparison group: Does the program have an effect on recidivism?; Does the program have an effect on employment?; and Does the program have an effect on successful supervision? Details: Unpublished report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2007. 255p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/235576.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/235576.pdf Shelf Number: 122637 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment Parolee Supervision Prisoner Reentry (Kentucky) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: California State Auditor. Bureau of State Audits Title: Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: The Benefits of Its Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions Program Are Uncertain Summary: The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Corrections) intends to use the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) software to help identify factors that cause inmates to commit crimes, so they can participate in such rehabilitative programs as substance abuse treatment or vocational education to reduce their likelihood of reoffending, thereby reducing overcrowding in the State’s prisons. California’s high recidivism rates and difficulties with prison overcrowding are well documented. In its October 2010 outcome evaluation report, Corrections reported that 67.5 percent of all felons released during fiscal year 2005–06 returned to prison within three years. Further, in May 2011 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling upholding the authority of a lower court to require that California reduce its inmate population to 137.5 percent of the design capacity of its correctional institutions. As of June 30, 2011, Corrections had more than 144,000 inmates in its various institutions, which were designed to accommodate only 80,000. However, the prospects that COMPAS will play a meaningful role in helping Corrections ultimately reduce prison overcrowding and lower its recidivism rates are, at best, uncertain. Corrections uses gender-specific versions of two different COMPAS assessments. The COMPAS core assessment identifies the needs of inmates entering the prison system, while the COMPAS reentry assessment evaluates inmates who are about to reenter society on parole. Our review found Corrections’ use of COMPAS during its parole planning process is not consistently enforced, while its use in reception centers — where inmates are initially evaluated and assigned to a prison — does not appear to affect decisions on prison assignments and, by extension, the rehabilitative programs inmates might access at those facilities. Corrections’ process at its 12 reception centers for assigning inmates to prisons is complex and considers factors such as an inmate’s history of violence, medical needs, gang affiliations, and the available bed space at suitable facilities that can accommodate the inmate’s security requirements. Our observations at one reception center and discussions with Corrections’ staff at seven others revealed that prison assignments are often not based on COMPAS. Instead, the inmate’s security level and the weekly placement restrictions imposed by Corrections’ Population Management Unit — the unit responsible for coordinating inmate movement within the prison system — are the primary determinants of prison assignment. Details: Sacramento: California State Auditor, 2011. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2011 at: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2010-124.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2010-124.pdf Shelf Number: 122680 Keywords: -Prison Administration Correctional Institutions Correctional Programs Parole Prison Over-crowding Prisoner Rehabilitation Prisons (California) Recidivism

Author: Rubin, Mark Title: An Analysis of Probation Violations and Revocations in Maine: Probation Entrants in 2005-2006 Summary: In 2009, Maine was selected (with four other states) to conduct a study of probation revocations in Maine, and to provide data to the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) for a multi-state study of parole/probation revocations. This study analyzes a sample of 4,725 offenders who entered probation between January, 2005 and December, 2006 from either prison or jail, and analyzes probation violations and revocations occurring in the sample population over a 24 month period. Maine’s correctional system is unlike many others in the U.S. in that parole was abolished by the state legislature in 1976. However, probation often acts as de-facto parole in Maine, as more than two thirds of offenders enter probation from jail or prison (split sentence). Probation is a state-wide function administered by the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC). MDOC supervises all Maine probationers across four probation regions. Since this study’s main objective is to examine variations in probation violations and revocation practices, we must first understand how Maine’s unique correctional laws and administration constrain and influence probation decision-making. The next section of this report briefly describes those aspects of Maine’s sentencing system and probation supervision regulations that may influence probation recidivism rates. Details: Portland, ME: Maine Statistical Analysis Center, University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service, 2010. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical Report: Accessed September 15, 2011 at: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Maine_Probation_Violations_%20Revocations_Entrants2005_06.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Maine_Probation_Violations_%20Revocations_Entrants2005_06.pdf Shelf Number: 122742 Keywords: Probation (Maine) Probation Revocations Probation Violations Probationers Recidivism Revocations Sentencing

Author: State of Oregon Government Title: Oregon Parole/Post-Prison Revocation Study Summary: Oregonians sentenced for felony convictions and released from jail or prison in 2005 and 2006 were evaluated for revocation risk. Those released from jail, from prison, and those served through interstate compact were considered in the analysis. The revocation rate is lowest for the interstate compact population and highest for the jail population; overall, 24% were revoked in the two years after release. Revocation risk is influenced by numerous static and demographic variables. Independent variables common with the three populations include recidivism risk, number of arrests while on parole or post-prison supervision (PPS), number of prior felony convictions, age, and being a veteran. Comparing the jail and prison populations, both age and number of prior felony convictions have similar effects for both populations. The number of arrests while on parole/PPS has more of an effect with the jail population than those released from prison. The factors that are important for the prison population yet are not important risk factors for the jail population include being male, being African American, incarcerated for a violent offense, incarcerated for a public order offense, and considered high risk at release; all of these factors increase risk for the prison population yet are not important risk considerations for those released from jail. The factors that have different effects in each population (i.e. associated with increased risk in one population and decreased risk in the second population) include veteran status, prior imprisonment, and incarceration for a property crime. There are some demographic and static factors that influence revocation risk among the three populations. Despite numerous similarities, differences do exist. The predictive accuracy of the models suggests that individuals prone to revocations can be identified with some accuracy. Details: Eugene, OR: State of Oregon, 2011. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2011 at: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/Oregon_Revocation_Final.pdf?ga=t Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.oregon.gov/CJC/docs/Oregon_Revocation_Final.pdf?ga=t Shelf Number: 122748 Keywords: Parole Supervision Parole Violations Parolees (Oregon) Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Evans, Michael Title: Tracking Washington State Offenders Pilot Study: Do Education Programs Affect Employment Outcomes? Summary: Substantial barriers to legal employment exist for former prison offenders after their release, such as finding a job with a livable wage and keeping the job are also more difficult due to their previous criminal histories and lower education levels compared to the general population. However, offenders participating in academic degree programs from Walla Walla Community College were employed at 25.5 percent level one year after release in 2009 compared to 15.7 percent of offenders with similar demographic characteristics, and recidivated at a lower rate (19.6 percent compared to 36 percent, respectively). Holding a job is an important signal that the individual is moving toward a crime-free life. Not only are these individuals working and crime-free, they are also taxpayers and consumers who help the local economies grow. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Corrections, 2011. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/EmploymentEducation.docx Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/EmploymentEducation.docx Shelf Number: 122759 Keywords: Correctional Education Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry (Washington State) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Albright, Danielle Title: An Evaluation of a New Mexico Department of Corrections Dental Treatment Program: Findings from Participant Intake Interviews Summary: In March 2008, the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMDOC) Education Bureau, in collaboration with the NMDOC Probation and Parole Division, implemented a pilot dental repair program for parolees currently under NMDOC supervision. The intent of the program is to provide services for parolees with significant dental problems in hopes of reducing visible barriers to employment, thus increasing their chances of successful reentry. The program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program. The NMDOC contracted the University of New Mexico Hospital Dentistry Department to perform dental treatments. The New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center (NMSAC) at the University of New Mexico‘s Institute for Social Research (ISR) was contracted to provide an evaluation of program implementation and outcomes. There is a substantial body of research suggesting that dental health is a major problem for prisoners. Researchers have consistently found that prisoners report significantly more dental problems than the general population (Lund et al., 2002; Mixson et al., 1990, O‘Brien and Lee, 2006, Salive, Corolla, & Brewer, 1989). While this clearly suggests a medical need for expanded dental treatment for prisoners, the prevalence of dental problems for prisoners may also have implications for reentry. Given the large prison population in United States today (Listwan et al., 2008) and that an estimated 67.5% of inmates are rearrested within three years of being released (Langan and Levin, 2002), the issue of prisoner reentry has been described as at "the forefront of domestic public policy" (Kubrin and Stewart, 2006: 166) and is currently receiving a large amount of attention from academics and practitioners. While a substantial body of research has investigated the individual factors associated with reentry success (Benedict & Huff-Cordine, 1997; Ulmer, 2001; Listwan et al., 2003), research on reentry has not yet examined the influence of dental health and dental treatment on recidivism. This may be an important oversight, as previous research suggests two mechanisms through which dental health may be linked to reentry success. First, a small body of research suggests that physical appearance is correlated with perceived criminality, affecting the way a person is treated by both the general public and the criminal justice system and therefore indirectly influencing recidivism outcomes (Bull, 1982). In this sense, improving the dental appearance of ex-offenders may reduce their perceived criminality, which in turn may result in more legitimate opportunities. Research also suggests that dental health and appearance are related to self-esteem (Patzer, 1995), which in turn is thought to be linked to desistance. More specifically, research suggests that self-appraisals of dental appearance were more strongly related to self-esteem than general appraisals of appearance (Kanealy et al., 1991) and that missing teeth were especially problematic (Oosterhaven, Westert, & Schaub, 1989). As a whole, this research indicates that negatively perceived dental appearance and poor dental health are related to decreased levels of self-esteem. Self-esteem, which is related to other social psychological constructs like self-efficacy and sense of control (Skinner, 1996), is thought to be an important component in the desistance process. This is exemplified by Maruna (2001, 2006), who argues that desistance is only possible when offenders adopt a prosocial identity and empirically demonstrates that self-perceptions are related to post release success (2004). Second, dental treatment may be related to employment success. Research has shown that dental and facial appearance is strongly correlated with evaluations of attractiveness and professionalism (Eli, Bar-Tal, & Kostovetzki, 2001) and that employer evaluations of attractiveness and professionalism are related to employability (Avrey & Campion, 1982; Rankin & Borah, 2003). Perhaps more importantly, research suggests that dental treatment is related to favorable occupational outcomes. While a host of other factors are likely to be more directly related to employment outcomes, early research on this topic revealed that five years after treatment, there was still a modest, yet significant, positive relationship between occupational rank and having received dental treatment (Rutzen, 1973). More recently, a study of dental intervention for welfare recipients found that individuals who participated in a dental treatment program and received all prescribed treatment were twice as likely to report a favorable or neutral employment outcome as individuals who did not complete the program (Hyde, Satariano, & Weintraub, 2006). The relationship between dental appearance and employability is important for evaluating the reentry process, as sociological and criminological research suggests that there may be a relationship between incarceration and unemployment (Freeman, 1992; Laub & Sampson, 1993), incarceration and earnings potential (Western, 2002; Western, Kling, & Weiman, 2001) and employment and recidivism (Uggen, 2000; Uggen & Staff, 2001). The issue of employability is of extra importance for ex-prisoners, as this population suffers from both a general lack of work-related skills (Graffam, Shinkfield, & Hardcastle, 2008) and from the stigma associated with being an ex-convict (Uggen, Manza, & Behrens, 2003). Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, 2009. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2011 at: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Shelf Number: 122933 Keywords: Dental Care Ex-Offenders, Employment Health Care Parolees Prisoner Reentry (New Mexico) Recidivism

Author: Albright, Danielle Title: Reducing Barriers to Re-Entry: Assessing the Implementation and Impact of a Pilot Dental Repair Program for Parolees Summary: In March 2008, the New Mexico Department of Corrections (NMDOC) Education Bureau, in collaboration with the NMDOC Probation and Parole Division, implemented a pilot dental repair program for parolees currently under NMDOC supervision. The intent of the program was to provide services for parolees with significant dental problems in hopes of reducing visible barriers to employment, thus increasing their chances of successful reentry. The program was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice under the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Program. The NMDOC contracted with the University of New Mexico Hospital Dentistry Department to perform dental treatments. The New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) at the University of New Mexico’s Institute for Social Research (ISR) was contracted to provide an evaluation of program implementation and outcomes. The NMSAC issued a report in December, 2009, detailing program implementation. The current report focuses on program outcomes. The primary objectives for this report (continuing from the initial report) include:  Objective 4: To examine the effect of population characteristics (demographic, education, employment, criminal history, and corrections history) on three outcomes--completion of the dental treatment, completion of the program, and probation/parole performance.  Objective 5: To describe how participants articulate the impact of dental treatment on education, employment, and personal relationships. We will also compare participant reported effects to those anticipated prior to receiving the dental treatment.  Objective 6: To assess how participants experienced the dental treatment program from intake to completion. Here we focus on participant perceptions of the organization and delivery of the dental treatment program.  Objective 7: To assess the fidelity of program delivery with program goals and objectives. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, 2011. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2011 at: Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 122934 Keywords: Dental Care Ex-Offenders, Employment Health Care Parolees Prisoner Reentry (New Mexico) Recidivism

Author: Chambers, Eric Title: Domestic Violence Offenders in Missouri: A Study on Recidivism Summary: The characteristics of domestic violence and domestic violence offenders in Missouri are understudied. To date there have been no published studies on this topic in Missouri despite the fact that 11 percent of all homicides in 2008 were domestic violence related (Missouri 2009). The goal of this study is to determine if domestic violence offenders in Missouri recidivate at a higher rate than non-domestic violence offenders while at the same time quantifying as much information as possible about domestic violence and domestic violence offenders in Missouri. It is hoped this study will definitively answer questions regarding domestic violence and how it is similar or different from other crimes. Details: Jefferson City, MO: Missouri State Highway Patrol, 2011. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2011 at: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/SAC/pdf/DomesticViolenceFinalReport.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/SAC/pdf/DomesticViolenceFinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 122983 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence (Missouri) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism

Author: Jolliffe, Darrick Title: A Systematic Review of the National and International Evidence on the Effectiveness of Interventions with Violent Offenders Summary: A systematic review is a scientifically rigorous form of literature review which uses robust and replicable methods for locating, appraising and synthesising evidence from prior studies. This systematic review identified and obtained available evidence from previous evaluations which assessed the effectiveness of interventions with violent offenders. The review was commissioned to provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence to inform policy on the commissioning of prison and probation services and was not designed specifically to evaluate National Offender Management Service (NOMS) or Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS) programmes. It therefore captured evaluations of a broad range of interventions and programmes run in a number of different countries. When combining results from the obtained studies the review indicated that, overall, interventions with violent offenders were successful at reducing general and violent re-offending. The review identified elements of programmes and interventions (such as the content of the intervention and the delivery of the intervention) which were associated with a reduction in re-offending. As NOMS and HMPS currently provide interventions for violent offenders which incorporate elements identified as effective, this research indicates that the programmes and policies used by NOMS and HMPS are in line with the current evidence base. A relatively small number of high quality studies were identified. This limits the generalisability of the findings and suggests that more high quality evaluations (such as randomised control trials) of interventions for violent offenders need to be conducted to establish what works best and for whom. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, Research, Development and Statistics, 2007. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 16/07: Accessed October 21, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/review-evidence-violent.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/review-evidence-violent.pdf Shelf Number: 123077 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Violent Offenders

Author: Butts, Jeffrey A. Title: Organizing for Outcomes: Measuring the Effects of Reclaiming Futures in Four Communities Summary: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Reclaiming Futures initiative was designed to increase positive outcomes for youth involved with drugs, alcohol and crime by shifting the efforts of the juvenile justice system and the substance abuse treatment system to incorporate strategies that are more community oriented, family focused, and closely coordinated. The Foundation launched Reclaiming Futures by awarding project grants to ten communities in 2002. In four of these communities, researchers tracked the efforts of local Reclaiming Futures projects as they worked to improve the effectiveness of interventions for young offenders. The four communities included Santa Cruz County in California, Cook County (Chicago) in Illinois, a multiple-jurisdiction project in the state of New Hampshire, and King County (Seattle), Washington. The four local evaluation projects assessed the influence of Reclaiming Futures on the actual experiences of youth involved in the juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment systems. The studies examined whether youth received substance abuse screening and assessment more often and more quickly after the implementation of Reclaiming Futures. They asked whether youth participated more frequently in treatment programs and received more support services as a result of Reclaiming Futures. Finally, they examined case processing and case referral patterns to determine whether Reclaiming Futures was associated with changes in youth behavior, as measured by recidivism, or the prevalence of new contacts with law enforcement and the courts. Details: Portland, OR: Reclaiming Futures, Graduate School of Social Work, Portland State University, 2009. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2011 at: http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/14831reclaimingfuturesorganizingforoutcomes2009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/14831reclaimingfuturesorganizingforoutcomes2009.pdf Shelf Number: 123086 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Juveniles Offenders (U.S.) Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Abram, David S. Title: Building Criminal Capital vs Specific Deterrence: The Effect of Incarceration Length on Recidivism Summary: In evaluating the efficacy of most modern criminal justice systems, a vital relationship to understand is that between incarceration length (and likelihood) and recidivism. Because most previous attempts to estimate this relationship suffer from omitted variables bias, even the sign is unknown. In this paper, I build on previous work identifying substantial heterogeneity in attorney ability in a public defender office with random case assignment. I make use of this variation to address the omitted variables problem by instrumenting for sentence length and incarceration rate using the randomly assigned public defender. A negative relationship between recidivism and sentence length goes away when instrumenting for sentence. Similarly, a positive and statistically significant relationship between recidivism and incarceration becomes insignificant in the IV regressions. However the regression results do not reveal the full story, as the relationships are rather nonlinear. A graphical examination reveals a negative relationship between recidivism and sentence length and also recidivism and incarceration rate, particularly for shorter sentences and lower incarceration rates. In addition, longer sentences tend to lead to more severe crimes upon offender release. Put together, these findings provide some evidence for a mild specific deterrent effect, but one that rapidly diminishes. Details: Berkeley, CA: Law and Economics Workshop, 2010. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 29, 2011 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fj8691d Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2fj8691d Shelf Number: 123179 Keywords: Deterrence Punishment Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Proven Re-offending Statistics Quarterly Bulletin January to December 2009, England and Wales Summary: This report provides key statistics on proven re-offending in England and Wales. It gives proven re-offending figures for offenders who were released from custody, received a non-custodial conviction at court, received a caution, reprimand, warning or tested positive for opiates or cocaine between January and December 2009. Proven re-offending is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow up. Following this one year period, a further 6 months is allowed for cases to progress through the courts. Between January and December 2009, there were just under 700,000 offenders who were cautioned, convicted (excluding immediate custodial sentences) or released from custody. Just over 180,000 of these offenders committed a proven re-offence within a year. This gives a one-year proven re-offending rate of 26.3 per cent. These re-offenders committed an average of 2.79 offences each - around 510,000 offences in total – 79 per cent were committed by adults and 21 per cent were committed by juveniles. •just over half of these offences were committed by offenders with more than 25 previous offences •0.7 per cent (around 3,400) were serious violent/sexual proven re-offences. This report presents the proportion of offenders who re-offend (proven re-offending rate) and the number of proven re-offences those offenders commit by age group, gender, ethnicity, criminal history, offence type, serious proven re-offending, prolific and priority offenders and drug misusing offenders. Also included are proven re-offending rates for different types of sentence and by individual prison, probation trust and youth offending team. Latest figures for 2009 are provided with comparisons to 2008, results are also compared to 2000 to highlight long-term trends; 2000 is the earliest re-offending data that exists on a comparable basis. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 31, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/reoffending/proven-reoffending-jan-dec09.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/reoffending/proven-reoffending-jan-dec09.pdf Shelf Number: 123187 Keywords: Crime Statistics Criminal Statistics (U.K.) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Prendergast, Michael Title: Final Report on the UCLA-ISAP Evaluation of the 1,000 Bed Expansion of Therapeutic Community Treatment Programs for Prisoners Summary: This report summarizes the quantitative results of UCLA Integration Substance Abuse Programs 5-year process evaluation of the California Department of Corrections (CDC) 1,000-bed expansion of therapeutic community (TC) Programs for prisoners. The process evaluation was conducted over the full 5-year term of the evaluation study and involved the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. This report only presents quantitative process findings related to client characteristics, treatment participation (in-prison and aftercare) and return-to-custody rates. Details: Los Angeles: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP), 2003. 33p. Source: Report Available at the Don M. Gottfredson Library of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123239 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Programs Correctional Programs Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment (California)

Author: Council for Court Excellence Title: Unlocking Employment Opportunity for Previously Incarcerated Persons in the District of Columbia Summary: In the District of Columbia today a criminal record is an enormous impediment to employment. Nearly half of previously incarcerated persons in the city may be jobless with little prospect of finding consistent work. Without a job, the path toward rehabilitation and economic security is far more challenging, increasing the likelihood of repeat offenses that keep individuals trapped in a revolving cycle of incarceration. This problem has implications for our city as a whole. At a time when the unemployment rate in the District’s lowest-income wards has soared as high as 25%, joblessness among the previously incarcerated is exacerbating overall employment problems and threatening the long-term economic health and security of our neighborhoods. A steady flow of individuals into our communities who are short on skills and face barriers to getting a job is likely to create unemployment challenges for years to come. The possibility of criminal behavior related to lack of opportunity could present ongoing challenges in preserving public safety. An estimated 60,000 people in the District have criminal records and about 8,000 of them return to the city each year after serving sentences in prison or jail. After just three years, some 4,000 will be back behind bars. While the lack of a job is only one factor leading to recidivism, research shows that when the previously incarcerated have stable employment they are less likely to return to crime and public safety improves. The Council for Court Excellence (CCE) surveyed 550 previously incarcerated persons in the District of Columbia to assess the employment challenges facing them upon leaving prison or jail. Among the key findings: • Forty-six percent of those surveyed said they were unemployed. • Seventy-seven percent said they received no assistance from “anyone at the facility” in helping them look for a job. • Eighty percent of respondents said they were asked “all the time” about their criminal records when looking for a job. • Just 50 percent of those who received an education or training certificate while they were incarcerated said it helped them find work after their release. • There was little or no difference in employment rates for those who earned a GED or job certificate before or after prison and those who did not earn a GED or job certificate. CCE also conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with a diverse group of nearly 20 District employers ranging in size from 15 to nearly 700 employees, and also with representatives of DC business associations. Their responses indicate that a variety of obstacles stand in the way of hiring previously incarcerated persons. Most (80%) said they do not have a policy in place for hiring previously incarcerated persons and instead rely on application forms that ask about criminal history. Although one-third of respondent employers said they had hired a previously incarcerated person in the past or would do so if the opportunity arose, more than 50% said factors such as legal liability protection, certificates of good standing or rehabilitation and industry-specific skill training would “significantly increase or influence hiring.” Details: Washington, DC: Council for Court Excellence, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 19, 2011 at: http://www.courtexcellence.org/PublicationsNew/CCE_Reentry.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtexcellence.org/PublicationsNew/CCE_Reentry.pdf Shelf Number: 123371 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment (Washington, DC) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Mackin, Juliette R. Title: Montgomery County Adult Drug Court Program Outcome and Cost Evaluation Summary: The Montgomery County Adult Drug Court (MCADC) is located in Rockville, the county seat. The county has a population of 950,680, based on the 2008 Census estimate. The MCADC began serving participants in 2004. As of June 2009, 121 participants have been served. The MCADC serves nonviolent adult offenders with substance abuse problems in need of intensive treatment and monitoring services. The MCADC is a post-plea, postconviction program. Upon entry into the program, participants are placed on 2 to 3 years of probation, although once a participant successfully completes the program (on average after 18 months), her/his probation is terminated successfully. The program provides services aimed at rehabilitation, including substance abuse treatment provided by Maryland’s Department of Health and Human Services community-based substance abuse treatment programs. The MCADC program has three phases and takes a minimum of 16 months to complete. For the 76 drug court participants included in this study who had since exited the program, either successfully or unsuccessfully, the average number of days in the program was 512 (almost 17 months). Graduates spent an average of 525 days in the program (just over 17 months), whereas non-graduates spent an average of 487 days in the program (approximately 16 months). Throughout the program, participants attend drug court hearings evaluating their progress, supervision meetings with a case manager, and group and individual counseling sessions. The pro-gram requires that the individuals submit to drug testing, and uses incentives and sanctions to encourage positive behaviors. In order to graduate from the MCADC program, participants must satisfy program requirements for all three phases and complete an aftercare plan. In addition, they must meet all probation requirements, complete community service and other program assignments, have 9 months clean and sober, be recommended for graduation from the drug court team, and approved by the Judge. Three key policy questions of interest to program practitioners, researchers, and policymakers about drug courts were addressed in this study. 1. Do ADC Participants Reduce their Substance Abuse During Program Participation? 2. Do ADC Participants Have Reduced Re-Arrest Rates After Program Entry? 3. Does the ADC Result in Savings of Taxpayer Dollars? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2010. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 19, 2011 at: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Montgomery_Circuit_Outcome_Cost_0110.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Montgomery_Circuit_Outcome_Cost_0110.pdf Shelf Number: 123399 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Solving Courts (Maryland) Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: McGrath, Robert J. Title: A Model of Static and Dynamic Sex Offender Risk Assessment Summary: The purpose of the present study was to test models of combining static and dynamic risk measures that might predict sexual recidivism among adult male sex offenders better than any one type of measure alone. Study participants were 759 adult male sex offenders under correctional supervision in Vermont who were enrolled in community sex offender treatment between 2001 and 2007. These offenders were assessed once using static measures (Static-99R, Static-2002R and VASOR) based on participants’ history at the date of placement in the community. A 22-item dynamic risk measure (SOTNPS) was used multiple times to assess participants, shortly after their entry into community treatment and approximately every six months thereafter. Analyses of SOTNPS scores resulted in the development of a new 16-item dynamic risk measure, the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS). At fixed one- and three-year follow-up periods from participants’ initial, second, and third dynamic risk assessments, the SOTIPS and Static-99R, the static risk measure selected for further analysis in the present study, each independently showed moderate ability to rank order risk for sexual, violent, and any criminal recidivism and return to prison. A logistic regression model that combined SOTIPS and Static-99R consistently predicted recidivism and outperformed either instrument alone when both instruments had similar predictive power. Participants who demonstrated treatment progress, as reflected by reductions in SOTIPS scores, showed lower rates of recidivism than those who did not. Details: Waterbury, VT: Vermont Department of Corrections, 2011. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 22, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236217.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236217.pdf Shelf Number: 123424 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders (U.S.) Treatment Programs

Author: Haas, Stephen M. Title: The Impact of Correctional Orientation on Support for the Offender Reentry Initiative Summary: Over 600,000 prisoners are released from prisons and jails each year in the US. Of these released prisoners, approximately two-thirds will be reincarcerated within three years of their release. The sheer number of offenders admitted and released from correctional institutions each year, coupled with statistics on recidivism among released offenders, has renewed interest in offender reentry and reintegration programming across the nation and here at home. As a result, West Virginia recently implemented a comprehensive strategy designed to better prepare offenders for release from prison and assist them as they reintegrate back into their communities. Implemented in July 2004, the West Virginia Offender Reentry Initiative (WVORI) is designed to provide a continuum of reentry services to offenders as they transition from prison to the community. To better prepare prisoners for release and reintegration into the community, the West Virginia Division of Corrections (WVDOC) worked to develop and implement a comprehensive, new prescriptive case management system. The newly developed case management system incorporates the use of empirically-based offender assessment and classification tools as well as innovative prisoner programs and services. This report is the first in a series of research publications designed to convey the results of an ongoing process evaluation of the WVORI. The central purpose of the process evaluation is to systematically evaluate the WVORI in terms of both coverage and delivery. That is, to determine the extent to which the offender reentry initiative is reaching its intended target population and to assess the degree of congruence between the reentry program plan and actual service delivery. In short, this research is designed to ascertain the degree to which the WVORI has been fully implemented in accordance with the WV Offender Reentry Program Plan developed by the WVDOC. This first report focuses on one key aspect of program implementation — the level of support for the WVORI among WVDOC correctional staff. More specific, the research examines the influence of various demographic and employment characteristics as well as the impact of correctional staff attitudes and orientation on support for the WVORI. As a result, this report underscores the degree to which those who are charged with implementing the WVORI actually support it and sheds light on the factors that may shape correctional staff's level of support. Details: Charleston WV: Mountain State Criminal Justice Research Services, 2005. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: West Virginia Offender Reentry Initiative: Report 1: Accessed November 23, 2011 at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/evaluation/program-corrections/wv-impact.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/evaluation/program-corrections/wv-impact.pdf Shelf Number: 123429 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (West Virginia) Recidivism Rehabilitation Reintegration

Author: Hollist, Dusten R. Title: Montana State Prison: Analysis of the Impact of Treatment Programs on Inmate Misconduct and Recidivism Summary: The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of two therapeutic treatment programs currently available at the Montana State Prison (MSP): Intensive Treatment Unit Chemical Dependency (ITU CD) and Intensive Treatment Unit Sex Offender Programming (ITU SOP). Program effectiveness is measured using the rate of inmate misconduct while in MSP and the three-year recidivism rate of released inmates. The study was designed to allow for the comparison of misconduct rates before and after treatment and the comparison of after-treatment misconduct rates of those receiving treatment and those not receiving treatment. The study design also allows for the comparison of the recidivism rates of those who did or did not receive treatment. Major findings: Intensive Treatment Unit – Chemical Dependency (ITU CD) • The vast majority of the inmates (97.3%) had a prior arrest. Most (79.6%) had served time in jail or prison as a result of a prior arrest • Although in most cases the difference is not statistically significant, misconduct rates decline after completion of ITU CD treatment. • Of those completing ITU CD treatment, about twice as many showed a reduction in their misconduct rate rather than an increase after treatment. • In general, inmates who do not complete ITU CD treatment have misconduct rates that are higher than the after-treatment rates of inmates who complete ITU CD treatment. • Those who did not complete ITU CD treatment have higher recidivism rates than those who completed treatment and were compliant with the treatment at the time of release. • For those in the ITU CD sample, the longer the sentence served, the higher the likelihood of recidivism. • In terms of reducing recidivism, ITU CD treatment has the greatest impact on White inmates and those who are under age 40 at the time of release. • Treatment compliant ITU CD inmates have lower recidivism rates. But, if a treatment compliant inmate is going to return to prison, he is more likely than a non-treatment inmate to return in the first year after release. Intensive Treatment Unit – Sex Offender Programming (ITU SOP) • The vast majority of inmates (97.3%) had a prior arrest. Most (80.5%) had served time in jail or prison as a result of a prior arrest. • With some exceptions, misconduct rates decline after completion of ITU SOP treatment. • Of those treatment-compliant inmates completing ITU SOP treatment, almost three times as many showed a reduction in their misconduct rate rather than an increase after treatment. Details: Helena, MT: Montana Department of Corrections, 2004. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 26, 2011 at: http://www.cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/MSP_AITPIMR.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://www.cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/MSP_AITPIMR.pdf Shelf Number: 123456 Keywords: Correctional Treatment Prison Administration Prisoner Misconduct (Montana) Inmate Misconduct Prisoner Rehabilitation Programs Recidivism Sex Offenders Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Author: Conley, Timothy B. Title: Predicting and Reducing Recidivism: Factors Contributing to Recidivism in the State of Montana Pre-release Center Population & the Issue of Measurement: A report with recommendations for policy change. Summary: Between July of 2005 and August of 2006 The University of Montana’s professors, Tim Conley and David Schantz, assisted by teams of social work graduate students, paid site visits to all five of the State of Montana’s Department of Corrections, Community Corrections Prerelease Centers. The primary purposes of these visits was twofold: 1) to collect data by which predictive models of Pre-release Center recidivism could be developed and 2) to assess the state of records with an eye to establishing a data system that provides valid, reliable resident data to be used in program and resident outcomes studies. Helena and Butte were visited once each; Great Falls and Missoula were visited twice. At these four centers a representative systematic research sample of paper records were reviewed and data gathered on a variety of variables. At the fifth center, Billings, information was gathered from electronic records. This report will describe the sample and its characteristics along with selected statistical analyses generated from the data gathered at the Pre-release Centers (PRCs). Additional data secured from the State of Montana’s Advanced Computing and Information Systems (ACIS) was used to validate the sample and was sometimes incorporated into the analyses presented here. The second component of this report provides observations of current data collection and recording practices in the PRC system and specific recommendations for improvements. The third component of this report provides observations and preliminary recommendations regarding the intake assessment of residents in the PRC system. Finally, a summary of intervention/behavior change tools being utilized in the PRC system is provided with basic observations as to refinement of their use for improved effectiveness as outcome measures. Details: Missoula: University of Montana, School of Social Work, 2006. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 29, 2011 at: http://www.cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/PrereleaseRecidivismStudy.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/PrereleaseRecidivismStudy.pdf Shelf Number: 123461 Keywords: Prisoner Rehabilitation (Montana) Recidivism

Author: Johnson, David T. Title: Hawaii's Imprisonment Policy and the Performance of Parolees Who Were Incarcerate In-State and on the Mainland Summary: This study report was completed in partnership with the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and examines the records of 660 criminal offenders in the State of Hawaii who were released to parole from either public/in-state prisons or private/mainland prisons during Fiscal Year 2006. The parolees were statistically tracked for three years. The study’s principal finding is that the difference in recidivism rates for the public/in-state cohort (56 percent) and the private/mainland cohort (53 percent) is statistically insignificant. The report also presents a statistical portrait of both cohorts (e.g., criminal history, risk assessments, demographics), and provides an overview of the history, policies, national context, and costs relating to the State of Hawaii’s use of private, out-of-state correctional facilities. Details: Hawaii: University of Hawaii and Department of the Attorney General, 2011. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on December 6, 2011 at: http://hawaii.gov/ag/cpja/main/rs/sp_reports_0306/AH-UH%20Mainland%20Prison%20Study%20(Jan%202011).pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://hawaii.gov/ag/cpja/main/rs/sp_reports_0306/AH-UH%20Mainland%20Prison%20Study%20(Jan%202011).pdf Shelf Number: 123499 Keywords: Parolees (Hawaii) Recidivism

Author: Adkins, Geneva Title: Iowa Adult and Juvenile Drug Court Extended Recidivism Outcomes Summary: Over the past decade, the Iowa Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CJJP), located in the Department of Human Rights, has been engaged in several outcome and process evaluations of Iowa’s adult and juvenile drug courts. Since 2001 CJJP has engaged in two studies of adult drug courts and two studies of juvenile drug courts. These earlier studies found that adult drug courts had positive impacts on recidivism, particularly for felony offenders and female offenders. The juvenile studies did not demonstrate significant impact on recidivism. The purpose of this research is to complete a longitudinal study of drug court participants and comparison groups from the above cohorts to address the following questions: Do adult drug court participants continue to have lower rates of recidivism over time? What is the adult recidivism rate for juvenile drug court participants? In addition, the following questions will be explored: Are there differences in the highest level of new conviction? Are there differences in the type of new convictions? Are there differences in the number of new convictions? Are there differences in cumulative recidivism over time? Are there differences in recidivism by offender background or model? It should be clearly understood that this longitudinal study looks at outcomes for adult and juvenile drug courts as they functioned in the past. The outcomes identified in this study apply to those participants and matched comparison groups. Any generalization to current operations would only be valid to the extent that the courts are being operated in substantially the same manner. Any modifications in design, staffing, or participant selection could alter the long-term outcomes for offenders. The findings for the adult drug court confirm the earlier studies. o Females drug court participants tend to have lower recidivism rates than male participants. o Non-white drug court participants do not have better long-term outcomes than the comparison groups. o Judge model drug courts tend to be more effective than community panel courts. o Drug court participants who graduate tend to have lower recidivism over time than do non-graduates. o Of those offenders who did recidivate, the highest percentages of offenses were non-person and drug-related offenses. There was not much difference between participants and the comparison groups except for the pilot cohort. That cohort had a larger percentage of violent offenses than the other three cohorts. o Drug court participants who did not graduate had a higher percentage of violent offense convictions, and had a higher cumulative recidivism rate than did the graduates. The findings for the juvenile drug court also confirm the earlier studies, suggesting that participation in drug courts does not improve outcomes into adulthood. o Participants tended to have poorer long-term outcomes than the comparison groups. o The cohort with the lowest recidivism was the consent decree cohort. o The difference between white and minority participants is not as marked as that of adult drug court participants, although white participants did have lower recidivism rates. o Long-term recidivism rates do not vary significantly by drug court model. o Non-graduates have higher felony recidivism rates than do graduates and the three comparison cohorts. Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Statistical Analysis Center, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/Extended%20Drug%20Court%20Study-Final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/Extended%20Drug%20Court%20Study-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 123535 Keywords: Drug Courts (Iowa) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Oriented Courts Recidivism

Author: Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning,Statistical Analysis Center Title: Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Iowa First Judicial District Department of Correctional Services Dual Diagnosis Offender Program (DDOP) Summary: This study consists of a process and outcome evaluation of the First Judicial District’s Dual Diagnosis Offender Program (DDOP). The study was supported by Byrne funds through the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy, which provided partial support for DDOP operation. The purposes of the study were to: explain the context of the program, its history and funding sources; depict the program staff; describe the program and activities; portray the beneficiaries of the program and describe who completes it; describe changes to the program; and assess participants and a comparison group on measures such as recidivism, substance abuse relapse, and justice system costs. Program The Dual Diagnosis Offender Program (DDOP) is delivered by the First District Department of Correctional Services. The residential portion is housed at the Waterloo Residential Correctional Facility and consists of a 16–bed unit for male offenders. The program began in 1998 and was created to fill a void in services for criminally-involved dual-diagnosed individuals. The goal of DDOP is to divert clients from incarceration and crime and enhance coordination of criminal justice and mental health services for the target population. The program provides integrated substance abuse and mental health group and individual treatment, which empirical research has identified as being an effective treatment model. The program also incorporates other elements that have been identified in the literature as being effective for dually-diagnosed offenders. Staff DDOP staff had varying educational and professional backgrounds and years of experience, a reflection of a program with a multidisciplinary team. Most staff had at least a Bachelor’s degree and professional background in human services or counseling with roughly half being with DDOP for up to five years. Program Clients Between January 1, 2001 and September 30, 2007, 236 males were admitted to the DDOP. Offenders were court ordered into the program for a minimum of six months and a maximum of one year. Participants spent an average of about five months in the residential program, with about 60% completing the residential program. The average participant at entry was 32 years old, white (71.6%), unmarried (86.0%) and had a GED or high school diploma (61.4%). Most had a prior prison admission (56.8%) and were under supervision for a felony (73.3%). Over one-third reported poly-drug usage (35.2%). Among the 73.3% of participants for whom data on chronic mental illnesses were available, 78% had a serious mental illness. The average score on the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) was 37.3, in the moderate/high risk category, with relatively high average sub-scores on alcohol/drugs (6.0 out of 9) and emotional/personal (4.5 out of 5) indicators. DDOP Study Group The DDOP study group included all offenders who started the program after January 1, 2001 and were discharged by September 30, 2005 (n= 144). The matched “comparison group” was comprised of individuals who entered community supervision between January 1, 2001 and December 30, 2005 (n=106). While there were some differences in characteristics between the study and comparison groups, they were sufficiently similar to permit valid comparisons. Outcomes The DDOP study group and comparison group were tracked for the three years following their entry to DDOP or community supervision. Outcome measures included recidivism and substance abuse relapse. Justice system costs were also tracked for a three year time period for the groups. Generally, on recidivism measures, the DDOP study group completers had outcomes similar to the comparison group, while non-completers fared worse. 70.9% of the completers and 73.6% of the comparison group had a new conviction compared to 86.2% of the non-completers. 19.8% of the completers and 17.9% of the comparison group had a new felony compared to 37.9% of the non-completers. 48.8% of the completers and 42.5% of the comparison group returned to prison compared to 98.3% of the non-completers. On relapse measures, the DDOP study group completers and non-completers showed similar outcomes, while the comparison group fared worse. Half of the completers and 41.1% of the non-completers had a positive drug test, compared to 64.7% of the comparison group. 18.6% of the completers and 17.2% of the non-completers had a new drug conviction, compared to 25.5% of the comparison group. 62.8% of the completers and 55.2% of the non-completers had a positive drug test or a new drug or alcohol conviction, compared to 71.7% of the comparison group. In terms of justice systems costs, DDOP non-completers had the highest three-year supervision costs, followed by DDOP completers. Longer-term study is necessary to determine the true financial impact of the program. Race Outcomes suggested that white and non-white DDOP participants benefitted equally from the program. This is noteworthy because non-whites tend to have higher rates of failure than whites in most correctional programming. There were considerable differences in outcome measures between non-white DDOP clients and their comparison group counterparts. Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Human Rights, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/DualDiagnosisOffenderProgram.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/DualDiagnosisOffenderProgram.pdf Shelf Number: 123536 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Correctional Programs Drug Offenders (Iowa) Mentally Ill Offenders Offender Treatment Recidivism

Author: Deschenes, Elizabeth Piper Title: Recidivism Among Female Prisoners: Secondary Analysis of the 1994 BJS Recidivism Data Set Summary: This study explores the recidivism of female inmates released from state prison through secondary analysis of data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (Langan & Levin 2002). This BJS study examined the recidivism of prisoners from 15 states released in 1994 by collecting 3-year follow-up data as described in the bulletin, Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994. The present study examines the 23,562 females in this data set, examining their recidivism patterns and exploring the impact of prior criminal history on post-release recidivism. Secondary analysis of this data set found: • The majority (63%) of the women had no prior prison terms. • Female offenders served less time in prison than the total sample with two-thirds having served less than 12 months (compared to half of the total sample having served more than 12 months) and a median sentence length of 13 months (compared to the total sample median sentence length of 20 months). • Female prisoners were more likely than the total sample to have lower rates of recidivism across all four measures (rearrest, reconviction, resentence to prison and return to prison). • About 60% of the females in the sample were rearrested, while almost 70% of the total sample were rearrested. Forty percent of the females had a new conviction compared to 48% of the total sample. • Correspondingly, about 30% of the females returned to prison (with only 18% the result of a new sentence), compared to 37% of the total sample (with 25% the result of a new sentence). • Judgments about the similarity or difference in rates of female and male offenders do not depend upon the definition or measure of recidivism. • The majority of female offenders convicted and sentenced to prison for violent offenses prior to their release in 1994 do not reoffend with a violent crime. • However, for both the total sample and the female subsample, those serving time for a property offense or a drug offense were much more likely to have a new arrest than those released in all other offense categories. • Female offenders, similar to those in the total sample, are most likely to be rearrested for a property crime. • Female offenders typically do not specialize or concentrate their offending in their offense types over their criminal careers. • However, there is some degree of repetition in related offenses such as property, drugs, and to a lesser extent, public order crimes. • The strongest and most consistent predictors of recidivism of female offenders, whether measured as the proportion with a new arrest, the number of new arrests, or the time to a new arrest, are the number of prior arrests and age at release from prison. • Failure, as measured in time to a new arrest, is higher for female offenders who are incarcerated for drug possession and property offenses and lowest for those incarcerated for a violent offense. Details: Long Beach, CA: California State University Long Beach, Department of Criminal Justice; Fresno, CA: California State University Fresno, Department of Criminology, 2006. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/216950.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/216950.pdf Shelf Number: 123554 Keywords: Correctional Rehabilitation Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners Recidivism

Author: Fell, James C. Title: An Evaluation of the Three Georgia DUI Courts Summary: In the spring of 2002, Georgia embarked on an exploratory demonstration program, establishing three driving-underthe- influence (DUI) courts funded as part of a cooperative agreement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with additional funding from the Department of Justice. Following the model of drug courts, three Georgia DUI courts (established in Chatham, Clarke, and Hall counties) were designed to address the underlying alcohol problems of repeat DUI offenders through continuous and frequent judicially supervised treatment, periodic alcohol and other drug testing, the use of graduated sanctions, and other appropriate rehabilitative services. A team comprised of a judge, court personnel, probation officials, and treatment providers met regularly to assess offender progress, and offenders met biweekly with the judge to report their progress. As of May 2006, 1,053 offenders were referred to the three Georgia DUI courts. Of these, 301 (29%) graduated from the program, 532 (51%) were active participants in the DUI courts, and 220 (21%) were either not in compliance or had been removed from the program. The overall retention rate was 79 percent over an approximate 4-year period. There is some evidence that the Georgia DUI court program has successfully encouraged lifestyle changes for the participating offenders and may be a viable alternative to traditional sanctioning. An impact evaluation showed that after 4 years of exposure, the DUI court graduates and terminated offenders combined (intent-to-treat group) showed a recidivism rate of 15 percent compared to 24 percent for a group of matched offenders from three similar counties in Georgia (contemporary group) and a 35 percent rate for matched offenders from the same counties as the DUI court who would have been eligible for the DUI court had it been in existence (retrospective group). Offenders who graduated from the DUI courts experienced a 9 percent recidivism rate while offenders who were terminated from the DUI courts for various reasons had a recidivism rate of 26 percent. The intent-to-treat group (DUI court graduates combined with the DUI court terminated offenders) had significantly lower recidivism rates: 38 percent lower than the contemporary group and 65 percent lower than the retrospective group. It is estimated that the DUI courts prevented between 47 and 112 repeat arrests during a 4-year period due to the reduced recidivism associated with them. Details: Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2011, 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 15, 2012 at http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811450.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811450.pdf Shelf Number: 123614 Keywords: Alcohol Courts (Georgia) Alcohol Treatment Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Guerin, Paul Title: Evaluation of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan DWI/Drug Court Final Report Summary: As of July 31, 2001, 560 offenders have been served in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan DWI/Drug Court. The first client in the program began in July 1997. This report is divided into four major sections. In the first section, we briefly summarize four years of client demographic, criminal history, treatment, and other programmatic characteristics of individuals served in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan DWI/Drug Court Program. In the second section, we present an analysis of the data using logistic regression modeling. This technique allows us to present the profiles of successful and unsuccessful drug court participants. The third section reflects an indepth look into client recidivism for any new offense for drug court graduates compared to similar groups of successful and unsuccessful probation clients. Finally, an analysis of the difference between the costs of incarceration for drug court clients compared to a similar group of probation clients. The client level drug court information in this report is based solely upon automated data collected and entered by Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. No attempt was made to verify or validate data quality since the scope of our contract does not include these responsibilities. Similarly, the comparison group data included in the latter sections of this report are drawn from automated records maintained by the Court. We did not attempt to reconstruct any missing, incomplete or incorrect data. Details: NM: The University of New Mexico, Institute for Social Research, Center for Applied Research and Analysis, 2002. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 15, 2012 at http://www.yourhonor.com/dwi/dwicourts/bernalillocoeval.pdf Year: 2002 Country: United States URL: http://www.yourhonor.com/dwi/dwicourts/bernalillocoeval.pdf Shelf Number: 123615 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Drug Courts (New Mexico) DWI Courts (New Mexico) Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Shaffer, Deborah Koetzle Title: Reconsidering Drug Court Effectiveness: A Meta-analytic Review Summary: The first drug court was implemented in 1989, largely in response to the increasing number of substance-using offenders moving through the criminal justice system. Today, there are over 1,100 drug courts operating throughout the United States and an estimated 230,000 offenders had received drug court services by the year 2000. Despite the rapid proliferation of drug courts, relatively little is known about their effectiveness. Previous research on drug courts has been mixed in terms of its support. Some studies have found that drug courts fail to have an effect or actually increase recidivism, prior meta-analyses have found drug courts to be generally effective. It is likely that differences in drug court effectiveness may be attributable to differences between the drug courts themselves. The current study used a modified approach to meta-analysis to identify characteristics associated with the most effective drug courts. A total of 60 drug court evaluations were identified representing 76 distinct drug courts and 6 aggregated drug court programs. Data regarding policies and procedures were collected from 63 of the distinct drug courts via telephone surveys. These data were then combined with data collected from outcome evaluations. This approach allowed for an overall effect size to be calculated across the 82 distinct effect sizes and the exploration of moderating variables across 63 drug courts. Potentially moderating variables were grouped into 11 domains including: assessment, funding, intensity, leverage, philosophy, predictability, service delivery, staff characteristics, target population, treatment characteristics, and quality assurance. Consistent with prior meta-analyses, the current study found that drug courts, on average, reduce recidivism 9 percent. Adult drug courts appear to fare better than juvenile drug courts, and pre- or post-adjudication drug courts are more effective than mixed model drug courts. In terms of moderators, the target population, leverage, staff, and intensity domains were able to explain the most variance in effectiveness. These domains were followed by the treatment, philosophy, funding, and service delivery domains. The domains with the least ability to explain variance were predictability, assessment, and quality assurance. Details: Cincinnati, OH: University of Ohio, 2006. 315p. Source: Dissertation. Internet Resource: Accessed on January 15, 2012 at Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123616 Keywords: Drug Courts Drug Offenders Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Thompson, Kevin M. Title: An Adult Recidivism Outcome Evaluation of North Dakota's Juvenile Drug Court Summary: This report summarizes findings from an adult recidivism study of North Dakota’s Juvenile Drug Court. Two drug courts were implemented in North Dakota in May of 2000. The sites chosen included the East Central Judicial District (Fargo) and the Northeast Central Judicial District (Grand Forks). A one-year juvenile recidivism study completed in 2001 showed that drug court participants recorded significantly fewer juvenile referrals than a group of substance abusing juveniles not participating in drug court. This evaluation examines whether similar patterns surface four years later when the majority of these juveniles had reached the age of majority. Separate analyses were undertaken for the two courts because there were, and continue to be marked differences in the manner in which the two drug courts were implemented and there are modest differences between the two courts regarding the characteristics of participants. By July 31, 2004, 133 of the original juvenile drug court participants and comparison group subjects had reached the age of at least 17. The comparison group included juveniles who met criteria for admission to drug court and resembled the drug court participants in terms of court history and relevant background characteristics. The average age of these individuals by July 31, 2004 was 19.5 years. Among drug court participants (N = 90), 44 (49%) completed the objectives of drug court and graduated, 46 (51%) were dismissed from drug court for either non-compliance with program objectives or reached their 18th birthday prior to completing drug court. Subjects were tracked using three sources: (1) the North Dakota State Court Data Warehouse; (2) the Fargo Police Department computer tracking system, and (3) the state’s AS400 computer software. Multiple methods were employed in order to avoid missing cases and to allow for cross-records checking. Recidivism measures included: (1) any arrest as an adult for a Class A misdemeanor or higher; (2) any arrest as an adult for a substance use related offense; (3) any conviction as an adult for a Class A misdemeanor or higher, and (4) any conviction as an adult for a felony. The highest recidivism rate among the six groups (two courts x three groups) in the study was recorded by drug court graduates in the East Central Judicial District (EC). The lowest recidivism rate was recorded by graduates from the Northeast Central Judicial District (NEC). Overall, terminated participants had higher recidivism rates than subjects from the comparison group. The data suggest that there are two interpretations why drug court graduates in the EC court had higher recidivism in adulthood: (1) that the length of stay in the EC drug court was too brief at 7.8 months, compared to the NEC graduates where the length of stay was 11.1 months and (2) that juveniles are being admitted too late to the EC drug court. Other differences between the courts were not associated with adult recidivism. Details: Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, 2004. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www1.spa.american.edu/justice/documents/150.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://www1.spa.american.edu/justice/documents/150.pdf Shelf Number: 123617 Keywords: Drug Court (North Dakota) Juvenile Drug Courts Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Wiest, Katharina L. Title: Indiana Drug Courts: St. Joseph County Drug Court Program: Process, Outcome and Cost Evaluation Final Report Summary: Drug treatment courts are one of the fastest growing programs designed to reduce drug abuse and criminality in nonviolent offenders in the United States. The first drug court was implemented in Miami, Florida, in 1989. As of 2007, there were more than 1700 adult and juvenile drug courts operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam (BJA, 2006). Drug courts use the coercive authority of the criminal justice system to offer treatment to nonviolent addicts in lieu of incarceration. This model of linking the resources of the criminal justice system and substance treatment programs has proven to be effective for increasing treatment participation and decreasing criminal recidivism. Indiana’s drug court movement began in 1996 with two drug courts that hoped to mirror the successes of the Court Alcohol and Drug Programs. As the number of drug courts grew in Indiana, a subcommittee was formed to consider the possibility of developing a certification program for drug courts. In 2002, the Indiana General Assembly enacted drug court legislation. By 2003, drug court rules were adopted which provided a framework for certification of drug courts operating under state statute. The St. Joseph County Drug Court Program (SJCDC) began operations in February 1997 for nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders and was fully certified in October 2004 by the Indiana Judicial Center (IJC). Since inception, 465 individuals have enrolled in the drug court program; 56% of these participants graduated, 39% are terminated or have withdrawn, and 5% are active. The program serves an annual average of 52 participants. For all drug court participants, the primary drug of choice is marijuana (56%), followed by crack/cocaine (24%) and alcohol (13%). In 2006, NPC Research (NPC), under contract with the IJC began process, outcome and cost studies of five adult drug courts in Indiana, including the SJCDC. This report contains the process, outcome and cost evaluation for the SJCDC. Information was acquired from several sources, including observations of court sessions and team meetings during site visits, key informant interviews, focus groups, Court Substance Abuse Program (CSAP) records which includes drug court data, plus arrest records. The methods used to gather this information are described in detail in the main report. This evaluation was designed to answer key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, policymakers and researchers: 1. Has the SJCDC program been implemented as intended and are they delivering planned services to the target population? 2. Does the SJCDC reduce recidivism? 3. Does the SJCDC reduce substance use? 4. Is there a cost-savings to the taxpayer due to drug court participation? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 90p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/St._Joseph_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/St._Joseph_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 123618 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Indiana) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism

Author: Wiest, Katharina L. Title: Indiana Drug Courts: Vigo County Drug Court: Process, Outcome and Cost Evaluation Final Report Summary: Drug treatment courts are one of the fastest growing programs designed to reduce drug abuse and criminality in nonviolent offenders in the United States. The first drug court was implemented in Miami, Florida, in 1989. As of 2007, there were more than 1700 adult and juvenile drug courts operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam (BJA, 2006). Drug courts use the coercive authority of the criminal justice system to offer treatment to nonviolent addicts in lieu of incarceration. This model of linking the resources of the criminal justice system and substance treatment programs has proven to be effective for increasing treatment participation and decreasing criminal recidivism. Indiana’s drug court movement began in 1996 with two drug courts that hoped to mirror the successes of the Court Alcohol and Drug Programs. As the number of drug courts grew in Indiana, a subcommittee was formed to consider the possibility of developing a certification program for drug courts. In 2002, the Indiana General Assembly enacted drug court legislation. By 2003, drug court rules were adopted which provided a framework for certification of drug courts operating under state statute. The Vigo County Drug Court (VCDC) was one of the first drug courts in Indiana. It began operations in 1996 and was officially certified in May 2004 by the Indiana Judicial Center (IJC). The VCDC targets nonviolent, non-dealing, substance-abusing OVWI and felony offenders. As of March 2006, 697 people have been enrolled in the program and 39% have graduated. The program serves approximately 100 participants annually. The mean age of participants is 33 years with a range of 18 to 56 years. For all drug court participants, the primary drugs of choice are methamphetamine (38%), alcohol (31%) and marijuana (18%). In 2006, NPC Research (“NPC”), under contract with the IJC began process, outcome and cost studies of five adult drug courts in Indiana, including the VCDC. This report contains the process, outcome and cost evaluation results for the VCDC program. Information was acquired from several sources, including observations of court sessions and team meetings during site visits, key informant interviews, focus groups, drug court database, plus state and county records. The methods used to gather this information are described in detail in the main report. This evaluation was designed to answer key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, policymakers and researchers: 1. Has the VCDC program been implemented as intended and are they delivering planned services to the target population? 2. Does the VCDC reduce recidivism? 3. Does the VCDC reduce substance use? 4. Is there a cost-savings to the taxpayer due to drug court participation? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 81p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Vigo_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Vigo_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 123619 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Indiana) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism

Author: Wiest, Katharina L. Title: Indiana Drug Courts: Monroe County Drug Treatment Court: Process, Outcome and Cost Evaluation Final Report Summary: Drug treatment courts are one of the fastest growing programs designed to reduce drug abuse and criminality in non-violent offenders in the United States. The first drug court was implemented in Miami, Florida, in 1989. As of 2007, there were more than 1700 adult and juvenile drug courts operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam (BJA, 2006). Drug courts use the coercive authority of the criminal justice system to offer treatment to nonviolent addicts in lieu of incarceration. This model of linking the resources of the criminal justice system and substance treatment programs has proven to be effective for increasing treatment participation and decreasing criminal recidivism. Indiana’s drug court movement began in 1996 with two drug courts that hoped to mirror the successes of the Court Alcohol and Drug Programs. As the number of drug courts grew in Indiana, a subcommittee was formed to consider the possibility of developing a certification program for drug courts. In 2002, the Indiana General Assembly enacted drug court legislation. By 2003, drug court rules were adopted which provided a framework for certification of drug courts operating under state statute. The Monroe County Drug Treatment Court (MCDTC) began operations in November 1999 and was officially certified in May 2005 by the Indiana Judicial Center (IJC). The MCDTC targets non-violent, non-dealing felony offenders. It is estimated that 200 individuals, with a mean age of 33 years, have enrolled in the drug court since inception: 38% (76) graduated and 26% (52) were terminated. The primary drugs of choice are alcohol (60%), followed by benzodiazepine (8%) and marijuana (8%). In 2006, NPC Research (“NPC”), under contract with the IJC began process, outcome and cost studies of five adult drug courts in Indiana, including the MCDTC. This report contains the process, outcome and cost evaluation results for the MCDTC program. Information was acquired from several sources, including observations of court sessions and team meetings during site visits, key informant interviews, focus groups, drug court database, plus state and county records. The methods used to gather this information are described in detail in the main report. This evaluation was designed to answer key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, policymakers and researchers: 1. Has the MCDTC program been implemented as intended and are they delivering planned services to the target population? 2. Does the MCDTC reduce recidivism? 3. Does the MCDTC reduce substance use? 4. Is there a cost-savings to the taxpayer due to drug court participation? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 99p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Monroe_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Monroe_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 123620 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Indiana) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism

Author: Wiest, Katharina L. Title: Indiana Drug Courts: Vanderburgh County Day Reporting Drug Court: Process, Outcome and Cost Evaluation Final Report Summary: Drug treatment courts are one of the fastest growing programs designed to reduce drug abuse and criminality in nonviolent offenders in the United States. The first drug court was implemented in Miami, Florida, in 1989. As of 2007, there were more than 1700 adult and juvenile drug courts operating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Northern Marina Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam (BJA, 2006). Drug courts use the coercive authority of the criminal justice system to offer treatment to nonviolent addicts in lieu of incarceration. This model of linking the resources of the criminal justice system and substance treatment programs has proven to be effective for increasing treatment participation and decreasing criminal recidivism. Indiana’s drug court movement began in 1996 with two drug courts that hoped to mirror the successes of the Court Alcohol and Drug Programs. As the number of drug courts grew in Indiana, a subcommittee was formed to consider the possibility of developing a certification program for drug courts. In 2002, the Indiana General Assembly enacted drug court legislation. By 2003, drug court rules were adopted which provided a framework for certification of drug courts operating under state statute. The Vanderburgh County Day Reporting Drug Court (VCDRDC) began operations in April 2001 and was given provisional certification in February 2003 and was later officially certified in March 2005 by the IJC. The VCDRDC targets nonviolent, substance-abusing offenders. As of March 2006, 153 people have been enrolled in the program and 45% have graduated. The program serves approximately 48 to 60 participants annually. For all drug court participants, the primary drug of choice is marijuana (32%), followed by methamphetamines (26%) and cocaine (21%). In 2006, NPC Research (“NPC”), under contract with the Indiana Judicial began process, outcome and cost studies of five adult drug courts in Indiana, including the VCDRDC. This report contains the process, outcome and cost evaluation results for the VCDRDC program. Information was acquired from several sources, including observations of court sessions and team meetings during site visits, key informant interviews, focus groups, drug court database, plus state and county records. The methods used to gather this information are described in detail in the main report. This evaluation was designed to answer key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, policymakers and researchers: 1. Has the VCDRDC program been implemented as intended and are they delivering planned services to the target population? 2. Does the VCDRDC reduce recidivism? 3. Does the VCDRDC reduce substance use? 4. Is there a cost-savings to the taxpayer due to drug court participation? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Vanderburgh_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Vanderburgh_Adult_Eval_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 123621 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Indiana) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism

Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: California Drug Courts: Costs and Benefits. Phase III: DC-CSET Statewide Launch Superior Court of Sacramento County Sacramento Drug Court Site-Specific Report Summary: This report contains the site-specific cost-benefit results for the Sacramento Drug Court. These results are part of a multi-part of Phase III, the statewide launch phase, of this research effort to develop a statewide methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of drug courts in the State of California. The aim of this effort is to produce a validated methodology to conduct inexpensive cost-benefit studies on an ongoing basis of drug courts throughout the state. This methodology, when fully implemented, will enable NPC Research and the California State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to answer important public policy questions from a cost-benefit perspective. These questions include the following: 1. Are adult drug courts cost beneficial? 2. What adult drug court practices appear most promising and cost-beneficial? As a part of this effort, a web-based tool was created the Drug Court Cost Self-Evaluation Tool (DCCSET) that drug courts statewide can use to help determine their own costs and benefits. This tool has been piloted in four drug court program sites. The results of the pilot, and in particular feedback from the pilot sites, were used to adjust the web-tool in preparation for the statewide launch. This report is the result of the statewide launch. This report contains the site-specific results for the Sacramento Drug Court in Sacramento County, California. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2008. 25p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/California_Drug_Courts_%20Sacramento_full_site_cost_report_1208.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/California_Drug_Courts_%20Sacramento_full_site_cost_report_1208.pdf Shelf Number: 123622 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (California) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism Sacramento Drug Courts

Author: Dandan, Doria Nour Title: Sex, drug courts, and recidivism Summary: Research studies have identified gender differences in the drug abusing patterns and treatment needs of men and women. Even so, studies on the drug court model have not assessed drug court effectiveness across sex. Using secondary data collected from the Ada County Drug Court, the recidivism rates of drug court participants (n=259) and probationers (n=235) were analyzed. Drug court participants were found to be less likely to recidivate compared to probationers, which supports previous research on drug court effectiveness. Regression analyses failed to find an interaction between group membership and sex, thereby indicating that the effect of the drug court did not differ across sex. These findings suggest that, despite differences in drug abuse patterns, the treatment needs of both men and women were being addressed in the drug court. Details: Las Vegas, NV: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2010. 46p. Source: Thesis. Internet accessed on January 15, 2012 at Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123623 Keywords: Drug Courts (Idaho) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Female Offenders Male Offenders Recidivism

Author: Lucas, Lisa M. Title: Prince George's County Circuit Court Adult Drug Court: Outcome and Cost Evaluation Summary: Drug courts are designed to guide offenders identified as drug-addicted into treatment that will reduce drug dependence and improve the quality of life for them and their families. Benefits to society often take the form of reductions in crime committed by drug court participants, resulting in reduced costs to taxpayers and increased public safety. In the typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of state and local agency representatives who operate outside of their traditional roles. The team typically includes a drug court coordinator, addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers who work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. Prosecuting attorneys and defense attorneys hold their usual adversarial positions in abeyance to support the treatment and supervision needs of program participants. Drug court programs can be viewed as blending resources, expertise, and interests of a variety of jurisdictions and agencies. NPC Research, under contract with the Maryland Judiciary, Administrative Office of the Courts, conducted a cost and outcome study of the Prince George’s County Circuit Court Adult Drug Court (PGCADC) program. The report includes the cost of the program and the outcomes of participants as compared to a sample of similar individuals who received traditional court processing. There are three key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, researchers and policymakers that this evaluation was designed to answer. 1. Do drug treatment court programs reduce recidivism? 2. Do drug treatment court programs reduce substance abuse? 3. Do drug treatment court programs produce cost savings? Information was acquired for this evaluation from several sources, including administrative databases, agency budgets, and other financial documents. Data were also gathered from PGCADC and other agency files and databases. NPC Research identified a sample of participants who entered PGCADC between August 2002 and August 2005. A comparison group was identified from individuals who were arrested on a drug court-eligible charge during the study period. These individuals did not attend drug court and instead received traditional court processing. Both the participant and comparison groups were examined through existing administrative databases for a period up to 36 months from the date of drug court entry (or equivalent for the comparison group). The two groups were matched on age, sex, race, marital status, education, prior drug use history, criminal history (including arrests and drug arrests for the 2 years prior to the study period), and drug of choice. The methods used to gather this information from each source are described in detail in the main report. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2008. 62p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/PG_Circuit_Adult_Outcome_Cost_1008.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/PG_Circuit_Adult_Outcome_Cost_1008.pdf Shelf Number: 123626 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Maryland) Drug Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Mackin, Juliette R. Title: Howard County District Court Drug Treatment Court Program Outcome and Cost Evaluation Summary: Individual drug courts are intensive interventions that involve coordination of multiple agencies and professional practitioners applying a variety of areas of expertise, intensive case management and supervision, and frequent judicial reviews. The purpose of drug courts is to guide offenders, identified as abusing substances, into treatment that will reduce drug use and criminality, and consequently improving the quality of life for participants and their families. In the typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional, sometimes adversarial roles. Benefits to society take the form of reductions in crime committed by drug court participants, resulting in reduced costs to taxpayers and increased public safety. NPC Research, under contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts of the State of Maryland, conducted an outcome and cost study of the Howard County District Court Drug Treatment Court (DTC) program. This program is a combined drug court and DUI court program, but this report will focus only on the participants who are served by the drug court side of the program. Another report will cover the DUI court participant outcomes and associated costs. Howard County District Court Drug Treatment Court (DTC) was formed in 2004, with the expansion into a dual program with DUI offenders beginning in 2005. The program has a capacity of 25 and since inception has served over 66 participants. The DTC program has four phases that can be completed by participants in a period as short as 12 months. For the 44 drug court participants included in this study who had since exited the program, either successfully or unsuccessfully, the average number of days in the program was 380 (12.5 months). Graduates spent an average of 489 days in the program (approximately 16 months), whereas non-graduates spent an average of 318 days in the program (approximately 10.5 months). Throughout the program, participants attend drug court sessions evaluating their progress, meetings with a case manager, and group and individual counseling sessions. The program requires that the individuals submit to drug testing. The DTC uses incentives and sanctions to encourage positive behaviors. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2010. 49p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Howard_District_DTC_Outcome_Cost_0110.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Howard_District_DTC_Outcome_Cost_0110.pdf Shelf Number: 123628 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Maryland) Drug Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Mackin, Juliette R. Title: Wicomico County Circuit Court Adult Drug Treatment Court Program Outcome and Cost Evaluation Summary: Drug treatment courts are intensive interventions that involve coordination of multiple agencies and professional practitioners applying a variety of areas of expertise, intensive case management and supervision, and frequent judicial reviews. The purpose of drug treatment courts is to guide offenders, identified as abusing substances, into treatment that will reduce drug use and criminality, and consequently improving the quality of life for participants and their families. In the typical drug treatment court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional, sometimes adversarial roles. Benefits to society take the form of reductions in crime committed by drug treatment court participants, resulting in reduced costs to taxpayers and increased public safety. NPC Research, under contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts of the State of Maryland, conducted an outcome and cost study of the Wicomico County Circuit Court Adult Drug Treatment Court (DTC) program. The Wicomico County Circuit Court Adult Drug Treatment Court Program (DTC) was created to provide intensive intervention to nonviolent felony offenders whose criminality is likely a result of their dependence on substances. Generally, prospective drug treatment court participants have not responded to regular probation and outpatient treatment. The Wicomico County DTC admitted its first participant in September 2005. At capacity, the DTC program is designed to serve 50 active participants. As of October 2009, 85 individuals had entered the drug treatment court since the program‘s inception. The DTC program has four phases, which cumulatively take 18 to 24 months to complete. During all phases, participants must comply with their individualized substance abuse treatment plan, health care instructions, medication requirements, curfew rules, and referrals made by the resource manager. They must attend drug treatment court review hearings and submit to regular drug tests. For the 37 drug court participants included in this study who had since exited the program, either successfully or unsuccessfully, the average number of days in the program was 470 (just over 15 months). Graduates spent an average of 634 days in the program (almost 21 months), whereas non-graduates spent an average of 345 days in the program (approximately 11 months). A minimum of 210 consecutive clean days are required in order to graduate. The graduation rate for this program is approximately 43%. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2009. 53p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 15, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Wicomico_Circuit_Outcome_Cost_1209.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Wicomico_Circuit_Outcome_Cost_1209.pdf Shelf Number: 123625 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Maryland) Drug Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Wilson, Edith Title: Assessing the Predictive Validity of the Asset Youth Risk Assessment Tool Using the Juvenile Cohort Study (JCS) Summary: Asset is a structured risk assessment tool for young people, used by all youth offending teams in England and Wales. This research was commissioned to inform the Youth Justice Board’s (YJB) review of assessment and intervention planning. Using data from the Juvenile Cohort Study, it aimed to evaluate how well Asset predicts future proven re-offending over a one-year period. The predictive validity of Asset was also compared against the Offender Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS 3) and a combination of static and dynamic components of Asset. Asset was found to be a good predictor of one-year proven re-offending: those with higher Asset scores were more likely to re-offend, to commit more re-offences, to commit more serious re-offences, and were more likely to receive a custodial disposal (compared to those with lower Asset scores). Asset plus OGRS 3 was the best predictor of proven re-offending of those tested. As a predictor of re-offending, OGRS 3 was as good as Asset, but it did not perform well as a standalone measure for Final Warnings. The results generally support the application of OGRS 3 in the youth justice system for predicting proven one-year re-offending, which was proposed as part of the YJB review of assessment and intervention planning (although more detailed assessments may still be required for intervention planning). Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 10/11; Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/assessing-predictive-validity.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/assessing-predictive-validity.pdf Shelf Number: 123630 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment (U.K.)

Author: Jolliffe, Darrick Title: Re-offending Analysis of Women Offenders Referred to Together Women (TW) and the Scope to Divert from Custody Summary: Together Women was a community-based holistic intervention aimed at socially excluded women who were ‘offenders’ (with a recent or past criminal conviction) or ‘at risk’ of offending, although neither category was prescriptively defined. Issues about data monitoring, the definitions of needs and outcomes which were highlighted in previous reports continued to hamper a robust evaluation of TW meaning only a limited quantitative assessment of the impact of TW could be undertaken. The results suggested that there was no difference in the prevalence or frequency of proven re-offending among women referred to TW and comparable women who were supported by the Probation Service. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the limited number of TW service users identified (as a proportion of those referred), the limited number of TW service users recorded as having received support from TW, and the reliance on criminal records data to equate the TW and comparison group. Interviews with sentencers, particularly magistrates, suggested that while most considered TW to be a useful supplement to the range of non-custodial options, its availability rarely influenced the decision to divert from custody. There was some evidence that this could change if TW was used as a specified activity on a community order. However, some sentencers thought this would undermine the essential TW ethos of empowering women to take control of their lives. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 11/11: Accessed January 18, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/women-offenders-referred-together-women.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/women-offenders-referred-together-women.pdf Shelf Number: 123655 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Based Corrections Diversion Female Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Community Re-entry After Prison Drug Treatment: Learning from Sheridan Therapeutic Community Program Participants Summary: The Sheridan Correctional Center National Model Drug Prison and Reentry Program is a drug treatment program providing in-prison substance abuse treatment as well as substance abuse treatment upon release. Prior research has shown reductions in recidivism among Sheridan participants compared to other prisoners. This study examined a group of 50 re-incarcerated men who successfully completed the in-prison phase of the Sheridan program and what led to their re-incarceration. Among this sample, positive findings about the Sheridan program and its participants include: • Sixty-two percent stated they were Very engaged in the Sheridan program. • Slightly more than half (60 percent) felt Sheridan prepared them for success after release. • Over three-fourths (76 percent) indicated they had a job at some point after graduating Sheridan and before their re-incarceration. • A majority (84 percent) reported having little difficulty in finding housing. • Most (86 percent) said Sheridan helped them more than a traditional prison. Other notable findings include: • On average, Sheridan graduates in this study spent 738 days (about two years) in the community before returning to IDOC. The range was 40 to 2,096 days (over five-and-a-half years). • A majority of the men in our sample (90 percent) relapsed into drug or alcohol use after their release from Sheridan. • Slightly more than half (56 percent) of the sample reported they had illegal sources of income. • Sixty-eight 68 percent stated drug dealing was common in the neighborhood they lived in after release. This study found many factors associated with length of time to relapse to drug or alcohol use and recidivism (self-reported criminal activity or re-incarceration) including: • Younger participants engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner than older participants. Younger participants also reported being less engaged in the Sheridan program than older participants. • After prison, those who returned to their original neighborhood relapsed sooner than those who did not return to their original neighborhood. • Unemployed participants engaged in criminal activity sooner than employed participants. • Those living in neighborhoods that were perceived as unsafe and/or where drug dealing was common relapsed sooner than those living in safer, lower-risk neighborhoods. • Those who reported spending time with persons who engage in risky activities—substance use and/or criminal activity—relapsed sooner than those who did not spend time with persons engaging in risky activities. • Those with gang involvement engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner. • Those who did not complete aftercare engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner than those who did complete aftercare. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2012. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 19, 2012 at: http://www.icjia.org/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Reentry_Sheridan_Report_012012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.org/public/pdf/ResearchReports/Reentry_Sheridan_Report_012012.pdf Shelf Number: 123667 Keywords: Aftercare Correctional Programs Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Prisoner Reentry (Illinois) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Nadesu, Arul Title: Reconviction Rates of Sex Offenders Five year follow-up study: Sex offenders against children vs offenders against adults Summary: Prisoners serving sentences for sex offences make up around 20 percent of the New Zealand prison population on any given date. As a sub-group within the general offender population, sex offenders share a number of important characteristics. Awareness of those characteristics has relevance for understanding reconviction data of the type presented here. Firstly, victim surveys indicate that, of all crime types, sex offences are perhaps the least likely to result in the apprehension and conviction of an offender – it appears that the vast majority of offences are either not reported by victims, or not resolved by Police. This means that conviction histories of sex offenders are often unrepresentative of actual offending behaviour. Second, it is widely recognised that sex offending can be a compulsive behaviour that persists over decades of an offender’s life. As a result there can be long time gaps between recorded criminal convictions; alternatively, offenders may still be active despite criminal records that suggest desistance. Thirdly, while “criminal versatility” is the norm in the general offender population, many sex offenders have few, or only minor, convictions for other types of crime. Finally, in terms of impact, sex offences tend to be particularly harmful and damaging to victims. Although a handful of recidivism studies about sex offenders have been conducted here and overseas, most have had small sample sizes. As a result, the reconviction patterns of this population are not particularly well-understood. Notwithstanding the points made above, many sex offenders are indeed reconvicted of new crimes, including crimes of both a sexual and non-sexual type. The current study is intended to assist the Department of Corrections in meeting its strategic objectives regarding the management and rehabilitation of offenders. It provides straightforward data on the characteristics of sex offenders and their recidivism rates. The data presented here are based on the “recidivism index” (RI) methodology used in the Department of Corrections’ annual reporting of reconviction. This method quantifies the rate of reconviction and re-imprisonment for specified sub-groups of offenders, over follow-up periods of defined length, after release from a custodial sentence, or following commencement of a community sentence or order. Conviction and sentencing data is obtained from the Ministry of Justice’s Case Management System (CMS) database. This report summarises patterns of reconviction and re-imprisonment of exactly 1100 male sex offenders who were released from prison during the 36-month period reconviction for offences that occurred within 60 months of an individual offender’s release date (up to 31 December 2008). Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Department of Corrections, Strategy, Policy and Planning, 2011. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 20, 2012 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/557154/Reconviction_Rates_of_Sex_Offenders_-_five_year_follow_up.pdf Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/557154/Reconviction_Rates_of_Sex_Offenders_-_five_year_follow_up.pdf Shelf Number: 123687 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offenders (New Zealand)

Author: Rossman, Shelli B. Title: The Multi-Site Adult Drug Court Evaluation: The Impact of Drug Courts - Final Report, Volume 4 Summary: Volume 4 from the National Institute of Justice's Multi–site Adult Drug Court Evaluation (MADCE) provides findings from the outcome evaluation answering the questions, "do drug courts work", "for whom do drug courts work," and "what are the mechanisms by which drug courts work", as well as provides findings from the cost–benefit study. The outcome evaluation found that drug courts prevent crime and substance use and work equally well for most participant subgroups. Effects are greatest among participants whose judges who spend time with them, support them, and treat them with respect. Implications for practice, policy, and future research are also discussed. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, 2011. 366p. Source: Internet Resource. Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/412357-MADCE-The-Impact-of-Drug-Courts.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/412357-MADCE-The-Impact-of-Drug-Courts.pdf Shelf Number: 123694 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: Vermont Drug Courts: Rutland County Adult Drug Court Process, Outcome, and Cost Evaluation - Final Report Summary: In the past 20 years, one of the strongest movements in the United States focused on reducing substance abuse among the criminal justice population has been the spread of Drug Courts across the country. In 2002, under Act 128 the Vermont legislature established a pilot project to create drug court initiatives and begin implementing drug courts in 3 Vermont counties: Rutland, Chittendon, and Bennington. By 2007, at the sunset of Act 128, drug courts in Vermont were up and running on their own. Currently, in Vermont, there are three operational Adult Drug Courts, one Family Treatment Court and one Mental Health Court. The Rutland County Adult Drug Court (RCADC) began its operations in January 2004 with the support of a federal grant. In early 2008, NPC Research ("NPC"), under contract with the Supreme Court of Vermont, Office of the Court Administrator, began a process, outcome and cost study of the Rutland County Adult Drug Court Program (RCADC). The goals of this project were to evaluate the effectiveness of the RCADC in reducing recidivism, to determine the cost-benefits of drug court participation and to evaluate the RDADC processes. The results of this evaluation are designed to be helpful in assisting the drug court in improving the services to drug court participants, and in gaining support from the community. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2009. 125p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/VT_Drug_Court_Eval_Rutland_0109.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/VT_Drug_Court_Eval_Rutland_0109.pdf Shelf Number: 123696 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Vermont) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Labriola, Melissa M. Title: The Drug Court Model and Chronic Misdemeanants: Impact Evaluation of the Queens Misdemeanor Treatment Court Summary: In January 2002, the Queens Misdemeanor Treatment Court (QMTC) opened in Queens County, New York to provide an alternative to incarceration for drug-addicted, chronic misdemeanor offenders. QMTC was established through the cooperative efforts of the New York State Unified Court System, the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the Queens defense bar, the New York City Department of Probation, and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC), a nationwide case management agency. An earlier report provided a process evaluation of the QMTC model, documenting the Court’s policies, key implementation challenges, participant characteristics, and compliance outcomes (Labriola 2006). The current report evaluates the impact of the QMTC on recidivism, case processing efficiency and sentencing outcomes. Outcomes were compared between 335 QMTC participants and a matched sample of 335 similar defendants arrested in Queens County, New York in the two years before the Court opened. The comparison group was rigorously matched to participants to ensure comparability in their current charges, prior criminal history, and key demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race/ethnicity). Details: New York, NY: Center for Court Innovation, 2009. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/Queens_Impact_Evaluation.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/Queens_Impact_Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 123697 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Courts (New York) Drug Offenders Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Latimer, Jeff Title: A Meta-Analytic Examination of Drug Treatment Courts: Do They Reduce Recidivism? Summary: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine if drug treatment courts reduce recidivism compared to traditional justice system responses. After a comprehensive search of both the published and unpublished literature, 54 studies were located and deemed acceptable according to the study inclusion criteria. Since studies oftentimes contained information on more than one program, data from 66 individual drug treatment court programs were aggregated and analyzed. The results indicated that drug treatment courts significantly reduced the recidivism rates of participants by 14% compared to offenders within the control/comparison groups. Several variables identified in the analysis, however, had an impact on the results, including the age of the participants, the length of the program, the follow-up period used to measure recidivism, and other methodological variables (i.e., the use of random assignment and the choice of the comparison group). While there are other issues that were not the subject of this research, such as the cost-effectiveness of DTCs, the results of this meta-analysis provides clear support for the use of drug treatment courts as a method of reducing crime among offenders with substance abuse problems. Details: Ottawa: Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice Canada, 2006. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2006/rr06_7/rr06_7.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Canada URL: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2006/rr06_7/rr06_7.pdf Shelf Number: 123698 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Canada) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: Guam Adult Drug Court Outcome Evaluation Final Report Summary: In the past 15 years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the spread of drug courts across the country. In a typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional adversarial roles including addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers who work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. “The emergence of these new courts reflects the growing recognition on the part of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel that the traditional criminal justice method of incarceration, probation, or supervised parole have not stemmed the tide of drug use among criminals and drug-related crimes in America” (Hora, Schma, & Rosenthal, 1999). Guam’s drug court movement began in the mid-1990s with the emergence of the “ice” (crystal methamphetamine) epidemic. Nationwide, there was an unprecedented increase in drug-related offenses, particularly with crack cocaine, that significantly impacted the criminal justice system. Following national statistics, Guam’s increase of drug offenders, particularly “ice” offenders, rose to staggering numbers, thus impacting an already over-burdened justice system that was unprepared for this occurrence. An examination of statistics from the Guam Uniform Crime Report shows relatively high numbers of substance abuse arrests for adults, despite extremely limited law enforcement activities targeting drug crimes. In 1998, there were 418 drug-related arrests and 70% involved methamphetamine. Because of these statistics, Guam was awarded a Program-Planning Grant in 1998 and a Drug Court Implementation Grant in 2002. In August 2003, Guam held its first Adult Drug Court session. The implementation grant also provided funds for evaluation and NPC Research was hired to perform a process and outcome study of the Guam Adult Drug Court (GADC). This report contains the GADC outcome evaluation performed by NPC Research. GADC participant outcomes were compared to outcomes for a matched group of offenders who were eligible for drug court during a 2-year time period just prior to the GADC implementation. The first section of the main report is a brief summary and update of the GADC process with some new recommendation from NPC. The rest of the report contains a detailed description of the methodology used for the outcome evaluation and its results. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Guam_Adult_Drug_Court_Outcome_Evaluation_Final%20_Report_0307.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Guam_Adult_Drug_Court_Outcome_Evaluation_Final%20_Report_0307.pdf Shelf Number: 123700 Keywords: Drug Courts (Guam) Drug Offenders Methamphetamine Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Repeat Offenders Substance Abuse

Author: Finigan, Michael W. Title: Impact of a Mature Drug Court Over 10 Years of Operation: Recidivism and Costs (Final Report) Summary: This study examined the impact of a single drug court on the total population of drug court-eligible offenders over a 10-year period in Portland, Oregon. This drug court, the Multnomah County Drug Court in Portland, Oregon, is the second oldest in the United States. The Program was originally designed to be a pre-plea offer to individuals arrested on drug charges. The program began accepting probationers and parolees (as well as pre-plea clients) in 1995 and became a completely post-plea program in 2000. This study covers the period from program start in 1991 through 2001. The entire population of offenders, identified as eligible for drug court by the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office over a 10-year period, from 1991 to 2001, was identified and tracked through a variety of administrative data systems. Approximately 11,000 cases were identified; 6,500 participated in the Drug Court program during that period and 4,600 had their case processed outside the drug court model. Because the program changed from pre-plea to post-plea over time, the population of drug court participants used in these analyses contains a mix of both pre- and post-conviction offenders. Data on intermediate and long-term outcomes were gathered on each offender, with a particular emphasis on criminal recidivism (re-arrest) as a primary outcomes measure. The outcome data were drawn in late 2005 and early 2006, allowing a minimum of 5 years of follow-up on all cohorts and more than 10 years on many cohorts. Data on costs were gathered using a modified Transactional Cost Analysis Approach to allow us to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Costs were calculated in terms of investment costs (transactions associated with the drug court-eligible case), outcome costs (transactions that occurred after participants entered the program, not associated with the drug court-eligible case) and total costs per participant. The analysis of the data focused on both the overall impact of the drug court on the target population over time, variations over time on that impact, and external and internal conditions that influenced these outcomes. A cost analysis was conducted to assess the overall investment of taxpayer money in the court compared to its benefits. Results included significantly reduced recidivism for drug court participants up to 14 years after drug court entry compared to eligible offenders that did not participate. Drug court judges that worked longer with the drug court had better participant outcomes. Judges that rotated through the drug court twice had better participant outcomes the second time than the first. Investment costs in the drug court program were $1,392 less than the investment costs of business-as-usual. Savings (benefits) due to reduced recidivism for drug court participants totaled more than $79 million over the 10-year period. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 104p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/10yr_STOP_Court_Analysis_Final_Report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/10yr_STOP_Court_Analysis_Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 123701 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Oregon) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Marchand, Gwen Title: Barry County Adult Drug Court Outcome and Cost Evaluation (Final Report) Summary: In the past fifteen years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the spread of drug courts across the country. In a typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional adversarial roles including addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers who work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. “The emergence of these new courts reflects the growing recognition on the part of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel that the traditional criminal justice methods of incarceration, probation, or supervised parole have not stemmed the tide of drug use among criminals and drug-related crimes in America” (Hora, Schma, & Rosenthal, 1999, p.9). In the drug treatment court movement, Michigan has been a pioneering force. The Michigan Community Corrections Act was enacted in 1988 to investigate and develop alternatives to incarceration. Four years later, in June 1992, the first women’s drug treatment court in the nation was established in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Drug Court in Barry County began in 2001 as a response to the high number of drunk drivers coming before the court. Over time, the Barry County Adult Drug Court has emerged as a powerful force in the community in combating increasing jail and prison populations as well as social and public health problems stemming from a variety of substance abuse issues. In 2005, the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office contracted with NPC Research to perform outcome and cost evaluations of two Michigan adult drug courts; the Kalamazoo Adult Drug Treatment Court and the Barry County Adult Drug Court. This document describes the evaluation and results for the Barry County Adult Drug Court (BCADC). Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2006. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Barry%20Final%20Report_1006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Barry%20Final%20Report_1006.pdf Shelf Number: 123702 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Michigan) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Marchand, Gwen Title: Kalamazoo County Adult Drug Treatment Court Outcome and Cost Evaluation (Final Report) Summary: In the past fifteen years, one of the most dramatic developments in the movement to reduce substance abuse among the U.S. criminal justice population has been the spread of drug courts across the country. In a typical drug court program, participants are closely supervised by a judge who is supported by a team of agency representatives that operate outside of their traditional adversarial roles including addiction treatment providers, prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, law enforcement officers, and parole and probation officers who work together to provide needed services to drug court participants. “The emergence of these new courts reflects the growing recognition on the part of judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel that the traditional criminal justice methods of incarceration, probation, or supervised parole have not stemmed the tide of drug use among criminals and drug-related crimes in America.” (Hora, Schma, & Rosenthal, 1999, p. 9). In the drug treatment court movement, Michigan has been a pioneering force. The Michigan Community Corrections Act was enacted in 1988 to investigate and develop alternatives to incarceration. Four years later, in June 1992, the first women’s drug treatment court in the nation was established in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1997, a program for male offenders was added to the Drug Treatment Court Program through an expansion grant from the U.S. Department of Justice1. In 2005, NPC Research was hired to perform outcome and cost evaluations of two Michigan adult drug courts; the Kalamazoo Adult Drug Treatment Court and the Barry County Adult Drug Court. This document describes the evaluation and results for the Kalamazoo County Adult Drug Treatment Court (KADTC). There are three key policy questions that are of interest to program practitioners, researchers and policymakers that this evaluation was designed to answer. 1. Do drug treatment court programs reduce substance abuse? 2. Do drug treatment court programs reduce recidivism? 3. Do drug treatment court programs produce cost savings (in terms of avoided costs)? Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2006. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Kalamazoo%20Final%20Report_1006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Kalamazoo%20Final%20Report_1006.pdf Shelf Number: 123703 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Michigan) Drug Offenders Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Van Vleet, Russell K. Title: Evaluation of the Salt Lake County Adult Felony Drug Court Final Report Summary: The general effectiveness of drug courts on reducing recidivism has been consistently established (Belenko, 2001). The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) review of adult drug court evaluations (2005) found that most studies have shown both during program and post-program (up to one year) reductions in recidivism. The evaluation of the Salt Lake County Drug Court is consistent with that overall finding. In the 12 months following drug court exit, 19.7% of graduates had a new arrest, compared to 29.8% of the probationer comparison group and 46.5% of terminated clients. Drug court graduates had more pre-intervention arrests on average than the probationer comparison group and pre-intervention arrests were the most consistent predictor of post-intervention recidivism; however, a smaller proportion of drug court graduates than probationers recidivated during the follow-up period, suggesting that drug court may have lessened the detrimental effects of prior criminal history for this group of graduates. Terminated clients are three times more likely than graduates to recidivate in the first year after exiting drug court. However, even terminated clients had a significant decrease in offending from one year prior to drug court to one year following drug court (3.63 offenses on average in year prior to drug court; 0.81 on average in the year following drug court exit). Program compliance was significantly related to post-program recidivism, with those who recidivated in the 12-months after exiting drug court having about 31.8% of their urinalysis tests (UAs) positive or missed on average, compared to 19.5% for those who did not. Those who re-offended after exiting drug court had significantly fewer treatment sessions on average (26.6) than those who did not (59.5). Time in drug court also varied significantly for those who recidivated (200 days in drug court on average) and those who did not (356). The cost-benefit return for the drug court based on the Utah cost-benefit model (Fowles, et al., 2005) is approximately $4.29 return on every dollar invested in the program. This benefit takes into account both the explicit reduced costs to the taxpayer due to lowered recidivism and also the implicit reduced costs to potential victims due to lowered recidivism. Client satisfaction with the drug court staff and professionals was overwhelmingly positive. Most clients felt that the judges, case managers, treatment staff, and other professionals both respected them and helped them to remain drug free. Even terminated clients had mostly positive reviews of the drug court components and the program overall. Key informant interviews with those professionals conducting drug court included judges, prosecutors, therapists and case managers. While overwhelmingly supportive of drug court, concerns were expressed regarding the need to retain program fidelity if the court is to continue to experience the success indicated in this and other evaluations. Specifically, respondents recognized the role of the judge in drug court success and the concern that the judicial role would be compromised if the court becomes too large. Secondly respondents brought up the compatibility of the legal team, therapists, and case managers, as their roles have potential for conflict. Methodological limitations of the recidivism analyses, such as sample size, follow-up length, and probation end-date calculations, may impact the results of these tests. Additional analysis of the three recidivism studies included in this report should be conducted after the follow-up period for both participants and the probation group have been extended to 24 months (the length of time required to capture 75-80% of adult recidivism events; Barnoski, 1997), to see if the differences among the groups are durable across a longer period of time. Larger samples of graduates and terminated clients should be included in the recidivism analyses, as the follow-up period allows. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Criminal and Juvenile Justice Consortium, College of Social Work, University of Utah, 2005. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://ucjc.law.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/1.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.law.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/1.pdf Shelf Number: 123704 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Utah) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Shaffer, Deborah K. Title: Evaluation of Ohio's Drug Courts: A Cost Benefit Analysis Summary: In 1995, researchers in the Center for Criminal Justice Research at the University of Cincinnati began an evaluation of Ohio’s first drug court (Hamilton County). Since that time, numerous other drug courts have been implemented throughout the State of Ohio. The University of Cincinnati has completed outcome evaluations on juvenile, felony, and misdemeanor drug courts throughout the State. While these studies have suggested that Ohio’s drug courts are reducing recidivism, none of them have included a cost-benefit analysis. In 2003, the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services contracted with the University of Cincinnati to extend the previous research. Specifically, this project seeks to assess whether drug courts save taxpayer dollars as either a less expensive sentencing option or through reductions in recidivism. Details: Cincinatti, OH: Center for Criminal Justice Research, University of Cincinnati, 2005. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_CostBenefitAnalysisofOhiosDrugCourts2005.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_CostBenefitAnalysisofOhiosDrugCourts2005.pdf Shelf Number: 123705 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Ohio) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Rhodes, William Title: Suffolk County Drug Court Evaluation Summary: This report documents an evaluation of four adult treatment drug court programs located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The evaluation incorporates both process and impact analyses conducted by Abt Associates Inc. The process evaluation examines program caseflow and participant characteristics to describe program intake, retention, and graduation. Using a comparison group of matched probationers who did not enter drug court, the impact analysis studies the receipt of alcohol and other drug treatment services following entry into drug court; and it studies probation revocations, criminal recidivism (new arrests and new convictions), and incarceration (Houses of Correction or jails) during a follow-up period beginning one year after the probationer entered drug court. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates Inc., 2006. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.abtassociates.com/reports/MASSDRUGCT_Report_FINAL061406.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.abtassociates.com/reports/MASSDRUGCT_Report_FINAL061406.pdf Shelf Number: 123706 Keywords: Drug Courts (Massachusetts) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Rhyne, Charlene Title: Clean Court Outcome Study Summary: In July 2001, Multnomah County Department of Community Justice was awarded a Targeted Capacity Expansion grant. SAMHSA and the Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners provided support for this post-adjudication drug court named Clean Court. The main thrust of this model was to improve offender referral to and completion of alcohol and drug treatment. The outcome study produced at grant end explores the impact of this endeavor on offender criminal, drug taking, stability and treatment outcomes. The outcome study utilized a quasi-experimental design with 130 research participants enrolled in Clean Court and 130 comparison group offenders who would have been eligible for Clean Court had it been in place in 2001. The research sample data included baseline and 12 month follow-up interviews that asked about social, stability, drug taking, criminal and health issues. Both groups had treatment and arrest data included in the analyses. Details: Portland, OR: Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, 2004. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://web.multco.us/sites/default/files/dcj/documents/clean_court_outcome_summary.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://web.multco.us/sites/default/files/dcj/documents/clean_court_outcome_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 123707 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Drug Courts (Oregon) Drug Treatment Drug Treatment Programs Recidivism

Author: Gilbertson, Troy Title: 2008 DWI Court Evaluation Report - Ninth Judicial District Minnesota Summary: An evaluation of the DWI Courts in the Minnesota 9th Judicial District was conducted. The individual courts include; Aitkin County DWI Court, Beltrami County DWI Court, Cass County/ Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Wellness Court, Crow Wing County DWI Couty, Koochiching County DWI Court, Lake of the Woods County DWI Court, and Roseau County DWI Court. The evaluation is based on data collected from participants active in the above referenced DWI courts between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. The analysis was focused on four main criteria: recidivism, sobriety, community functioning, and jail cost avoidance. Details: Bemidji, MN: Criminal Justice Department, Bemidji State University, undated. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 20, 2012 at http://www.american.edu/spa/jpo/customcf/get.cfm?jpo_collection=1&doc=2008-DWI-Court-Evaluation-Report--Ninth-Judicial-District-MN-Executive-Summary & at: http://www.american.edu/spa/jpo/customcf/get.cfm?jpo_collection=1&doc=2008-DWI-Court-Evaluation-Report-Ninth-Judicial-District-MN1 Year: 0 Country: United States URL: http://www.american.edu/spa/jpo/customcf/get.cfm?jpo_collection=1&doc=2008-DWI-Court-Evaluation-Report--Ninth-Judicial-District-MN-Executive-Summary & at: http://www.american.edu/spa/jpo/customcf/get.cfm?jpo_collection=1&do Shelf Number: 123709 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Courts (Minnesota) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Drake, E.K. Title: "What Works" In Community Supervision - Interim Report Summary: The Department of Corrections contracted with the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to examine effective community supervision practices of offenders. The specific research tasks, to be completed by July 2012, include: Task 1: Evaluate DOC’s use of sanctions, including confinement, for offenders who violate the terms of their community custody. Task 2: Review evidence-based practices for offenders on community supervision. Task 3: Examine DOC’s use of evidence-based programming and practices of offenders on community supervision. In this interim report, we provide background information on community supervision as it is delivered in Washington. We also summarize our findings to date on our systematic review of the literature regarding “what works” for community supervision. The Institute has previously published findings on two types of supervision for adult offenders: intensive supervision focused on increased surveillance, and intensive supervision coupled with treatment. We review these findings in this interim report. We also summarize our research results of an emerging literature on supervision using the “Risk Need Responsivity” approach—focusing on the risk, treatment, and supervision by the Community Corrections Officer. Our findings indicate that intensive supervision focused on surveillance achieves no reduction in recidivism; intensive supervision coupled with treatment achieves about a 10 percent reduction in recidivism; and supervision focused on the Risk Need and Responsivity approach achieves a 16 percent reduction in recidivism. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2011. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 21, 2012 at http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/11-12-1201.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/11-12-1201.pdf Shelf Number: 123710 Keywords: Adult Offenders Community Supervision (Washington) Evidence-Based Practices Recidivism

Author: Minnesota Department of Corrections Title: The Effects of Prison Visitation on Offender Recidivism Summary: Following recent studies in Florida (Bales and Mears, 2008) and Canada (Derkzen, Gobeil, and Gileno, 2009), this study examines the effects of prison visitation on recidivism among 16,420 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2003 and 2007. Using multiple measures of visitation (any visit, total number of visits, visits per month, timing of visits, and number of individual visitors) and recidivism (new offense conviction and technical violation revocation), the study found that visitation significantly decreased the risk of recidivism, a result that was robust across all of the Cox regression models that were estimated. The results also showed that visits from siblings, in-laws, fathers, and clergy were the most beneficial in reducing the risk of recidivism, whereas visits from ex-spouses significantly increased the risk. The findings suggest that revising prison visitation policies to make them more “visitor friendly” could yield public safety benefits by helping offenders establish a continuum of social support from prison to the community. It is anticipated, however, that revising existing policies would not likely increase visitation to a significant extent among unvisited inmates, who comprised nearly 40 percent of the sample. Accordingly, it is suggested that correctional systems consider allocating greater resources to increase visitation among inmates with little or no social support. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2011. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 21, 2012 at http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/11-11MNPrisonVisitationStudy.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/11-11MNPrisonVisitationStudy.pdf Shelf Number: 123717 Keywords: Inmates (Minnesota) Prison Visits Recidivism

Author: LeCroy & Milligan Associates, Inc. Title: Juvenile Drug Court Program Evaluation Final Report Summary: The Arizona Governor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families, through the Governor’s Division of Substance Abuse Prevention, hired LeCroy & Milligan Associates, Inc. in November 1999 to evaluate several juvenile and family drug court and diversion programs that were being implemented in Arizona. The Arizona Parents Commission on Drug Education and Prevention provided partial funding for the programs through grants managed by the Governor’s Division of Substance Abuse Prevention. Three prior evaluation reports addressed evaluability assessment findings and evaluation capacity building efforts. The process and outcome evaluation findings are presented in a series of three final reports—one each for juvenile drug courts, family drug courts, and diversion programs. This report, the first in the series, presents findings only for the juvenile drug court programs. The findings for the diversion programs and the family drug court programs are presented in two separate final reports. Details: Tucson, AZ: LeCroy & Milligan Associates, Inc., 2003. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 22, 2012 at http://www.lecroymilligan.com/JDC%20final%20report%202003w%20cover.PDF Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://www.lecroymilligan.com/JDC%20final%20report%202003w%20cover.PDF Shelf Number: 123720 Keywords: Diversion Drug Courts (Arizona) Drug Treatment Programs Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Ottawa County Planning Department Title: Program Evaluation - Ottawa County Sobriety/Drug Courts - (58th District Sobriety Court, 20th Circuit Adult Drug Court, 20th Circuit Juvenile Drug Court) Summary: Over the past decade, sobriety and drug courts have been established throughout the nation as a new way to address substance abuse problems among criminal offenders. These courts seek to treat the needs of alcohol or drug-dependent offenders in a relational, non-adversarial approach, while at the same time, requiring accountability and a structured lifestyle. This balance between therapeutic and sanction-based programming has increased the popularity of these courts immensely among judges and their staff. Sobriety courts are designed primarily for offenders with serious alcohol-dependencies, while drug courts are designed primarily for offenders with serious drug-dependencies (i.e. crack, heroine, cocaine, prescription drugs, other). However, both courts can accept and process offenders who have either (or both) alcohol and drug-dependencies. The Circuit and District Court judges in Ottawa County were prompted to explore the use of sobriety and drug courts in their dockets based on the numerous positive accolades this approach to substance abuse treatment had received in recent years. Judge Susan Jonas launched the first Ottawa County District Sobriety Court in May 2004, and Judge Bradley Knoll followed with a second District Sobriety Court in October 2004. Judge Mark Feyen initiated a Juvenile Drug Court in October 2004 and an Adult Circuit Drug Court in January 2005. The team members responsible for implementing the sobriety/drug courts all have a positive view of their involvement in the sobriety/drug courts. In fact, because team members find it is more therapeutic for participants than being solely punitive, many say that this is the most satisfying work they have ever performed in the criminal justice system. Based on self-reported performance from District Sobriety Court graduates, it appears to be popular with many of the graduates as well. Since the adult sobriety/drug court programs require an average of 17 months to complete, and the courts have only been operational for 20-24 months, there are only a few program graduates who can be evaluated to determine the long-term impacts (i.e. sobriety and recidivism) of the program. Furthermore, operational issues that were recently addressed in the Juvenile Drug Court also affect the completion of the evaluation at this time. Despite the inability to look at long-term, outcome-based measures, it was still possible to assess all three courts to determine their administrative and operational performance, as well as, relative cost. In the District Sobriety Court, the total cost per participant was $6,168. As a comparison, the total average cost for a similar offender sentenced to traditional probation is $1,926, and the average cost for a similar offender sentenced to Intensive Supervision Probation in the Grand Haven District Court and in the Hudsonville District Court is $2,907 and $3,105, respectively. In the Circuit Drug Court, the total cost per participant was $14,563. At the time of this evaluation, comparison group data were not available. Since Circuit Drug Court involves participants with felony charges, it is expected that sentencing practices, program intensity, and associated expenses would be greater than Sobriety Court. In the Juvenile Drug Court, the total cost per participant was $5,285. As a comparison, the total average cost for a juvenile offender enrolled in the Juvenile Community Justice (JCJ) program is $14,698. Another issue that will need to be factored into the overall cost of sobriety/drug courts is the program expense presently being funded through grant dollars. When these grants expire, financial support will likely be sought from the County to replace 80% of grant funding presently being used for salaries, programming, drug/alcohol testing, and other program expenses. The remaining 20% of the grant funding, on average, is in the form of inkind contributions, so it will not have to be replaced. The total replacement funds needed could be as high as $866,542 beginning 2011/12. It is important to note that the outcome-based success and relative expense of the sobriety/drug court programs can only be calculated by comparing program cost, completion rates, and recidivism rates to other existing treatment programs when more data become available for analysis in 2008/09. Nevertheless, this report does provide several recommendations for administrative and operational improvements, as well as a detailed overview of the relative cost of each program. Details: Ottawa County, MI: Ottawa County Planning Department, 2006. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 22, 2012 at http://www.co.ottawa.mi.us/CoGov/Depts/Planning/pdf/SobrietyDrugCourtsEval2006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.co.ottawa.mi.us/CoGov/Depts/Planning/pdf/SobrietyDrugCourtsEval2006.pdf Shelf Number: 123721 Keywords: Adult Offenders Drug Treatment Programs Drugs Courts (Michigan) Juvenile Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Mackin, Juliette R. Title: Caroline County Juvenile Drug Court Process Evaluation Summary: Drug treatment courts are one of the fastest growing programs designed to reduce drug abuse and criminality in nonviolent offenders in the United States. The first drug court was implemented in Florida in 1989. There were over 1,700 drug courts as of April 2007, with drug courts operating or planned in all 50 states (including Native American Tribal Courts), the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam (BJA 2007). Drug courts use the coercive authority of the criminal justice system to offer treatment to nonviolent addicts in lieu of incarceration. This model of linking the resources of the criminal justice system and substance treatment programs has proven to be effective for increasing treatment participation and for decreasing criminal recidivism. The Honorable Karen Murphy Jensen, Circuit Court Judge for Caroline County, was instrumental in starting the Caroline County Juvenile Drug Court (CCJDC) program, which began in 2004. Judge Jensen took the role on voluntarily and continues to be the drug court's judge today. The CCJDC enrolled 15 participants from July 2004 through May 2007. A total of 3 participants have graduated. For the first 2½ years of the program, a part-time therapist worked with program participants one day a week. In February 2007, the program hired a full-time therapist, and capacity increased from approximately 4 to 20 participants. In 2001, NPC Research (NPC), under contract with the Administrative Office of the Courts of the State of Maryland, began cost studies of adult drug courts in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. These studies were completed in 2003. Subsequently, NPC was hired to perform evaluations on 4 adult and 10 juvenile drug courts in Maryland, one of which is the CCJDC. This report contains the process evaluation for the CCJDC. Information was acquired for this process evaluation from several sources, including observations of court reviews and team meetings during site visits, key informant interviews, and focus groups. The methods used to gather this information from each source are described in detail in the main report. According to its procedures manual, CCJDC’s program goals are to: Provide quality treatment to eligible adolescents with substance abuse/use issues and adjudicated juvenile charges; Increase the educational capacity for drug court participants; Expedite the process of adjudication and entrance into the drug court program; Decrease recidivism potential of juvenile offenders in the drug court program. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2007. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 22, 2012 at http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Caroline_Juvenile_Process_0707.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.npcresearch.com/Files/Caroline_Juvenile_Process_0707.pdf Shelf Number: 123723 Keywords: Drug Courts (Maryland) Drug Treatment Programs Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Cockram, Judith Title: Equal Justice? The Experiences and Needs of Repeat Offenders with Intellectual Disability in Western Australia Summary: This study aimed at enhancing the understanding of factors that contribute to re-offending by people with intellectual disability in Western Australia. The aims of the study were to: (1) examine both the individual experiences of repeat offenders with intellectual disabilitiy in Western Australia and the systemic context in which the experiences are located; (2) investigate the characteristics and factors that might influence re-offending; (3) identify the key issues that will need to be addressed to overcome the high rate of recidivism, including the gaps and barriers to the provision of more effective support; and (4) identify strategies or approahces that could be considered for developing effective responses to identified needs and issues. Details: Wembley, Western Australia: Acriv Foundation, 2005. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2012 at: http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au/_files/about-us/statistics-publications/students-researchers/equal-justice.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Australia URL: http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au/_files/about-us/statistics-publications/students-researchers/equal-justice.pdf Shelf Number: 123740 Keywords: Intellectual Disabilities (Australia) Mental Retardation Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Pearson-Nelson, Benjamin Title: Allen County Community Corrections Reentry Court Program Impact Evaluation Summary: This report is an analysis of the Allen County Community Corrections (ACCC) reentry program from the inception of the program in 2001 through 2008. This report focuses on two general categories: program completion by offenders and recidivism. The program completion analysis highlights the proportion of offenders who successfully completed the program, as well as the various proportions of the categories for non-completion. The recidivism analysis includes rearrest rates, length of time after an offender started the ACCC reentry program before rearrest (for offenders who were rearrested on the program), and evaluations of the validity of mental health measures for predicting rearrest. The overarching finding is that offenders who complete the reentry program have a much lower rate of recidivism than would otherwise be expected. Further more, even offenders who had limited exposure to the reentry program (i.e., offenders who did not complete the program) demonstrated significantly lower rates of rearrest. Details: Unpublished, 2008. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 23, 2012 at http://www.allencountycorrections.com/pdfs/reports/ReEntry%20Court%20Impact%20Evaluation%2002%2004%2009.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.allencountycorrections.com/pdfs/reports/ReEntry%20Court%20Impact%20Evaluation%2002%2004%2009.pdf Shelf Number: 123746 Keywords: Mental Health Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Reentry (Indiana)

Author: Bahr, Stephen J. Title: The Effectiveness of Short-term Drug Treatment for Jail Inmates: An Evaluation of the OUT Program Summary: In this study we compared 70 jail inmates who took the OUT program, a cognitive-based drug treatment program, with a matched group of 70 inmates who did not take the program. We used three different measures of recidivism, (1) any re-arrest, (2) a re-arrest that resulted in more than 30 days in jail, and (3) returning to prison or jail for more than 30 days. Fifteen percent fewer of the treatment than control group were sent back to prison or jail for more than 30 days. Using survival analysis to control for exposure time and other variables, the treatment group was almost half as likely to recidivate as the control group. We conclude that the success of the OUT program may be due to its focus, cognitive-behavioral principles, and effective implementation. The Cognitive Transformation Theory is a useful framework for understanding the OUT program and identifying principles that could be used in similar treatment programs. Details: Provo, UT: Department of Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2009. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 26, 2012 at http://www.co.utah.ut.us/Dept2/Health/Substance%20Abuse/Documents/OUT_paper_4_7_2008.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.co.utah.ut.us/Dept2/Health/Substance%20Abuse/Documents/OUT_paper_4_7_2008.pdf Shelf Number: 123782 Keywords: Drug Treatment Programs Jail Inmates (Utah) Recidivism

Author: Visher, Christy A. Title: The Impact of Marital and Relationship Status on Social Outcomes for Returning Prisoners Summary: A large body of empirical literature shows that marriage reduces criminal activity. However, many of these studies were done on the general population or used data that are now decades old. Little research has examined whether relationship status affects social outcomes, including crime and employment, among a contemporary cohort of ex-prisoners. Using data collected from over 650 male former prisoners returning to three large U.S. cities between 2002 and 2005, we tested the short-term impact of marital and intimate partner status on recidivism, substance use, and employment. After statistically adjusting for self-selection into marriage or into unmarried relationships, we found that former prisoners who were married or living as married had half the odds of self-reporting a new crime and/or drug use as did those in casual, unmarried relationships. Marriage’s effect on drug use was strongest for older ex-offenders (those over age 26), suggesting that committed relationships are more beneficial for those already in the process of aging out of crime. Moreover, higher quality partnerships were associated with lower odds of drug use. Former prisoners in casual, unmarried relationships experienced outcomes similar to those with no intimate partner. Overall, the findings suggest that in-prison programs that strengthen the quality of married relationships may improve recidivism and substance use outcomes after release. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2009. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 27, 2012 at Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123792 Keywords: Crime and Marriage Family Relationships Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Roman, John K. Title: Impact and Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Anchorage Wellness Court Summary: The primary goal of this research is to estimate the costs and benefits of serving misdemeanor DUI offenders in the Anchorage Wellness Court (AWC), a specialized court employing principles of therapeutic jurisprudence. The Urban Institute conducted an impact and a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to estimate the effectiveness of the AWC. The study focused on the impact of the program on reducing the prevalence and incidence of new criminal justice system contact. Costs were collected to estimate the opportunity cost of the AWC. Recidivism variables were monetized to estimate the benefits from crime reductions. Outcomes were observed at 24, 30, 36, and 48 months. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Center, Urban Institute, 2008. 73p. Source: Research Report: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 27, 2012 at http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411746_anchorage_wellness.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/411746_anchorage_wellness.pdf Shelf Number: 123796 Keywords: Alcohol Courts (Alaska) Cost-Benefit Analysis Problem Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Carnegie, Jon A. Title: Study of Recidivism Rates among Drivers Administratively Sanctioned by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the current state of practice related to driver improvement countermeasures used in the United States and to assess the effectiveness of New Jersey’s negligent driver interventions. As part of the study, the research team conducted a national literature review and a survey of motor vehicle agency policies in other states to document the current state of practice related to driver improvement programs and the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of specific countermeasures. In addition, the research team obtained and analyzed an extensive longitudinal database of driver history records to examine the effectiveness of various countermeasures used in New Jersey to address negligent driver behavior relative to violation and crash recidivism. This study provides important evidence that New Jersey’s program of negligent driver countermeasures is effective at reducing violation and crash recidivism among most negligent driver subgroups in the two-year period after Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) intervention. Of the countermeasures used in New Jersey, the combination of license suspension with one-year probation resulted in the greatest overall reduction in both mean violation and crash rates. New Jersey’s driver re-education classes, which are accompanied by a three-point credit against accumulated demerit points and one-year probation, resulted in the lowest mean violation rate reduction. Point advisory notices, which for experienced drivers are accompanied by a concurrent assessment of negligent driver fees (MVC “insurance surcharges”), appear to be an effective early intervention, producing substantial reductions in both violation and crash recidivism among all driver subgroups except teen drivers who are not assessed negligent driver fees at the time of notice issuance. Several policy recommendations can be derived from this research. First, with regard to teen drivers, consideration should be given to whether or not a “zero-tolerance” policy for motor vehicle violations and at-fault crashes should be applied to teen drivers. It may be appropriate to impose license suspension as an earlier intervention if the reforms already enacted do not result in meaningful change in teen driver safety outcomes. Second, MVC should consider streamlining the suspension program to make it more straightforward and easier to administer. Thirdly, consideration should be given to reviewing and reforming New Jersey’s driver monitoring system and/or plea bargaining practices to ensure that repeat traffic offenders are not able to use zero-point plea bargaining to avoid corrective actions that improve safety outcomes. Details: New Brunswick, NJ: Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2009. 66p. Source: FHWA-2009-019: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 29, 2012 at Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 123870 Keywords: Evaluative Studies New Jersey Recidivism Traffic Offenses

Author: Iyigun, Murat Title: Learning Piracy on the High Seas Summary: We introduce a novel dataset of 3,362 modern-day piracy incidents that occurred around the world between 1998 and 2007. Our data include detailed information on the location, timing and success of each attack, as well as the material damage and violence inflicted upon the crew and the cargo. We combine these incident-based data with macroeconomic and aggregate measures of per-capita incomes, rates of economic growth and institutional quality of countries whose territorial waters either witnessed these piracy incidents or were in closest proximity. We find that economic factors and the law do matter: higher per-capita incomes as well as more effective legal and political institutions dampen both the physical violence and material damage of modern-day piracy. But we also document significant learning-by-doing and skill accumulation among the pirates: A history of successful attacks improves the odds of future success, making it more likely that pirates launch successful raids aimed at larger vessels closer to land. The learning-by-doing effects are detectable even after controlling for our proxies for capital use and labor input (the number of pirates). Details: Unpublished: 2011. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 29, 2012 at http://www.colorado.edu/Economics/courses/iyigun/IRPiracy10062010.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.colorado.edu/Economics/courses/iyigun/IRPiracy10062010.pdf Shelf Number: 123875 Keywords: Maritime Crime Piracy Recidivism

Author: Sherman, Lawrence W. Title: Restorative justice: the evidence Summary: This is a non-governmental assessment of the evidence on restorative justice in the UK and internationally, carried out by the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania for the Smith Institute in London, with funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The purpose of this review is to examine what constitutes good-quality restorative justice practice, and to reach conclusions on its effectiveness, with particular reference to reoffending. The review employs a broad definition of restorative justice (RJ), including victim-offender mediation, indirect communication through third parties, and restitution or reparation payments ordered by courts or referral panels. Much of the available and reasonably unbiased evidence of RJ effects on repeat offending comes from tests of face-to-face conferences of victims, offenders and others affected by a crime, most of them organised and led by a police officer; other tests cited involve court-ordered restitution and direct or indirect mediation. Details: London: The Smith Institute, 2007. 96p. Source: Jerry Lee Program of Randomized Trials in Restorative Justice: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2012 at http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/file/RestorativeJusticeTheEvidenceFullreport.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.smith-institute.org.uk/file/RestorativeJusticeTheEvidenceFullreport.pdf Shelf Number: 124094 Keywords: Evaluative Studies Recidivism Repeat Offenders Restorative Justice (U.K.)

Author: Ringland, Clare Title: Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Risk/Needs Assessment Process for Community-Based Offenders Summary: The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the effects of applying a screening tool to determine who is administered the Level of Service Inventory – Revised (LSI-R); and (2) to examine the predictive utility of including LSI-R subscale scores along with standard risk factors in a model of recidivism. Method: Aim (1) was addressed by developing a screening tool using routinely collected data. Predicted probabilities of re-offending were obtained from this tool. Alternative thresholds of predicted probabilities required for an LSI-R assessment were then applied. The effect of screening was examined in terms of whether those who went on to re-offend were predicted to do so, having met the applied screening tool and LSI-R risk category criteria. Aim (2) was addressed by constructing and comparing logistic regression models with and without LSI-R subscale scores to assess whether models which included LSI-R subscale scores in addition to routinely collected data were better at discriminating those who re-offended within 12 months from those who did not. Analyses were conducted separately for males and females. Results: Aim (1): By administering the LSI-R to those with a predicted probability of re-offending of at least .15, 80 per cent of male and 71 per cent of female recidivists would have been identified as being likely to re-offend, using LSI-R risk level criteria of at least low-medium. Aim (2): For males and females, after controlling for standard risk factors, the LSI-R subscales education/employment and attitudes/orientation were associated with re-offending. Further, criminal history, alcohol/drugs and accommodation subscales were associated with re-offending in males, and the companions subscale was associated with re-offending in females. Conclusion: More efficient identification of those at higher risk of re-offending could be achieved by using a screening tool based on routinely collected data to determine who the LSI-R is administered to. Further, the inclusion of LSI-R subscale scores in models of recidivism could improve the predictive accuracy of models developed for evaluation purposes. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2011. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 154: Accessed February 13, 2012 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB154.pdf/$file/CJB154.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/Lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/CJB154.pdf/$file/CJB154.pdf Shelf Number: 124112 Keywords: Offenders Re-Offending Recidivism Risk Assessment (Australia)

Author: Kuzyk, Ivan Title: Recidivism among sex offenders in Connecticut Summary: Once sex offenders in Connecticut are released from prison, they are unlikely to be sent back for another sex crime, according to a report released Wednesday by the state Office of Policy and Management. Of 746 sex offenders released in Connecticut in 2005, five years later, less than 4 percent had been re-arrested and charged with a new sex crime. "What's really relevant here is that the population is really small," said Ivan Kuzyk, author of the report and director of the CT Statistical Analysis Center at OPM. "It's kind of remarkable to me. I hadn't expected the rates to be so low." After arrest, 2.7 percent of those 746 men were convicted of another sex offense; 1.7 percent went back to prison to serve time for that new sex crime. The data, Kuzyk writes, flies in the face of conventional wisdom that says all sex offenders are likely to re-commit a sex crime, and then head straight back to prison. "There hasn't been a rational and reasonable discussion about sex offenders," Kuzyk said. "But now we know that not every single one of them is going to reoffend. And we can get a better understanding of who these people are." Michael Lawlor, undersecretary for criminal justice at OPM, pointed to the potential for reaching this small, high-risk group through an existing criminal justice system and social services intervention. "As it turns out, there are things that can be done with this population with very significant results," he said, while previewing the report last week. With this kind of data, Lawlor said, the state might be able to single out those at highest risk of returning to prison for a sex specific crime, prioritize them and target them with special services. "The idea is you can actually do things to them while you've got them to reduce the chance of them getting re-arrested," he said. What those compiling data for the report weren't able to do, Kuzyk said, was pore through the detailed files of each of the offenders. "You can't go through more than 700 records -- that's just cost-prohibitive," Kuzyk said. But with this data, the state can now go back and determine whether the small population of reoffenders was, for example, under supervision by the state when they committed another sex crime. Or what specific type of sex crime they committed. "If you've got less than 20 guys, you can move forward and do a qualitative analysis of their commonalities," Kuzyk said. And that should make it easier to identify high-risk offenders. In treating and supervising sex offenders, the state's criminal justice system relies on the Department of Correction, a web of parol and probation officers, victim advocates and nonprofit service providers. According to the report, which pulled data from each of these groups, a specialized treatment plan is developed for each offender. But until three weeks ago, there was no place for released sex offenders to go. "There were no secure sex offender beds for high riskers getting out of prison," Lawlor said in his comments last week. "They were often just being dropped off by bus in Hartford or New Haven, ending up in homeless shelters. And that's the worst place for a sex offender to be." Then, a 2008 provision of Public Act 08-01 required the state to build a residential facility for sex offenders released from prison. Despite objections from the town of Montville, a 24-bed facility for sex offenders opened last month on the grounds of the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center. "Housing and supports are really important to keep them from re-committing," Lawlor said. A larger report analyzes the arrests, convictions and imprisonment of 14,398 men for five years after their release from prison in Connecticut in 2005. A majority -- 78.6 percent -- were re-arrested within five years. And 49.8 percent of those re-arrested were convicted and sent back to prison. The recidivism rate among the 746 sex offenders for non-sex crimes was slightly lower at 40.2 percent. The report's appendices go deeper, looking at five separate sex offender categories based on offenders' prior arrests, convictions, sentence histories and identification by the Department of Correction as sex offenders. Looking at histories, prior convictions and arrests is crucial, Kuzyk said. As the report notes, offenders often commit sex crimes but are able to avoid sex charge convictions through a plea bargain. There are also cases where victims are unwilling or unable to come forward with testimony. "Sometimes, these guys will end up pleading guilty to a related, nonsexual crime. But who's a greater risk to public safety? Someone who was just convicted, or someone who was able to avoid conviction but remains high risk?" Among the 1,712 men identified in at least one of the five subgroups, arrest on a prior sex charge was the best predictor for being sent back to prison for a new sex crime. "This is all about trying to assess future risk based on who you were in the system," Kuzyk said. Recidivism rates don't change much year to year, Kuzyk said. So he's hoping to move the department to looking at smaller subgroups, like this one, on a yearly basis. Lawlor called the report the first of its kind in Connecticut. "And as I understand it, this may have been a virtually unique analysis in the country," he said. Details: Hartford, CT: Criminal Justice Policy & Planning Division, Office of Policy and Management, State of Connecticut, 2012. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2012 at http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/cjppd/cjresearch/recidivismstudy/sex_offender_recidivism_2012_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.ct.gov/opm/lib/opm/cjppd/cjresearch/recidivismstudy/sex_offender_recidivism_2012_final.pdf Shelf Number: 124190 Keywords: Connecticut Evaluative Studies Recidivism Sex Offenders

Author: Drago, Francesco Title: The Deterrent Effects of Prison: Evidence from a Natural Experiment Summary: In this paper we test for the theory of deterrence. We exploit the natural experiment provided by the Collective Clemency Bill passed by the Italian Parliament in July 2006. As a consequence of the provisions of the bill, expected punishment to former inmates recommitting a crime can be considered as good as randomly assigned. Based on a unique data set on post-release behaviour of former inmates, we find that an additional month in expected sentence reduces the propensity to recommit a crime by 1.24 percent: this corroborates the general deterrence hypothesis. However, this effect depends on the time previously served in prison: the behavioural response to an additional month of expected sentence decreases with the length of the prison spell. This second result can be hardly reconciled with the specific deterrence hypothesis according to which a stronger past experience of punishment should increase the sensitivity to future expected sanctions. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2007. 31p. Source: Discussion Paper Series, IZA DP No. 2912: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2012 at http://ftp.iza.org/dp2912.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Italy URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp2912.pdf Shelf Number: 124214 Keywords: Deterrence (Italy) Experimental Methods Recidivism

Author: Mitchell, Ojmarrh Title: Drug Courts’ Effects on Criminal Offending for Juveniles and Adults Summary: Drug courts are specialized courts in which court actors collaboratively use the legal and moral authority of the court to monitor drug-involved offenders’ abstinence from drug use via frequent drug testing and compliance with individualized drug treatment programs. Drug courts have proliferated across the United States in the past 20 years and been adopted in countries outside the United States. Drug courts also have expanded to non-traditional populations (juvenile and DWI offenders). The objective of this review is to systematically review quasi-experimental and experimental (RCT) evaluations of the effectiveness of drug courts in reducing recidivism, including drug courts for juvenile and DWI offenders. This systematic review critically assesses drug courts’ effects on recidivism in the short- and long-term, the methodological soundness of the existing evidence, and the relationship between drug court features and effectiveness. Details: Oslo, Norway: Campbell Collaboration, 2012. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Review 2012:4: Accessed February 28, 2012 at: http://www.ndcrc.org/sites/default/files/mitchell_drugcourts_review.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.ndcrc.org/sites/default/files/mitchell_drugcourts_review.pdf Shelf Number: 124302 Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Courts Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Australia. Office of Crime Statistics and Research Title: Common Performance Measures for the Evaluation of Specialist Court Programs - Discussion Paper Summary: This report was produced for the ABS Boards of Management of the Statistical Units for Courts, Crime and Corrective Services. Using Australian drug court programs as the primary example, the report identifies a common set of quantitative elements that could be used for the evaluation of diversionary/specialist courts nationally. The report also includes a summary of drug court and Indigenous court program elements within each jurisdiction and the measures used to assess their effectiveness. Details: Adelaide, South Australia: Office of Crime Statistics and Research; Policy, Planning and Legislation Division, 2010. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2012 at http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/research_reports/CPM-Specialist_Court_Programs_Discussion_Paper.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/research_reports/CPM-Specialist_Court_Programs_Discussion_Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 124304 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Courts (Australia) Evaluative Studies Recidivism

Author: Redcross, Cindy Title: More Than a Job: Final Results from the Evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Transitional Jobs Program Summary: This report presents the final results of the evaluation of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). CEO is one of four sites in the Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ Demonstration and Evaluation Project, sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with additional funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social and education policy research organization, is leading the evaluation, in collaboration with the Urban Institute and other partners. Based in New York City, CEO is a comprehensive employment program for former prisoners — a population confronting many obstacles to finding and maintaining work. CEO provides temporary, paid jobs and other services in an effort to improve participants’ labor market prospects and reduce the odds that they will return to prison. The study uses a rigorous random assignment design: it compares outcomes for individuals assigned to the program group, who were given access to CEO’s jobs and other services, with the outcomes for those assigned to the control group, who were offered basic job search assistance at CEO along with other services in the community. The three-year evaluation found that CEO substantially increased employment early in the follow-up period but that the effects faded over time. The initial increase in employment was due to the temporary jobs provided by the program. After the first year, employment and earnings were similar for both the program group and the control group. CEO significantly reduced recidivism, with the most promising impacts occurring among a subgroup of former prisoners who enrolled shortly after release from prison (the group that the program was designed to serve). Among the subgroup that enrolled within three months after release, program group members were less likely than their control group counterparts to be arrested, convicted of a new crime, and reincarcerated. The program’s impacts on these outcomes represent reductions in recidivism of 16 percent to 22 percent. In general, CEO’s impacts were stronger for those who were more disadvantaged or at higher risk of recidivism when they enrolled in the study. The evaluation includes a benefit-cost analysis, which shows that CEO’s financial benefits outweighed its costs under a wide range of assumptions. Financial benefits exceeded the costs for taxpayers, victims, and participants. The majority of CEO’s benefits were the result of reduced criminal justice system expenditures. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012. 166p. Source: OPRE Report 2011-18: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2012 at http://www.mdrc.org/publications/616/full.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.mdrc.org/publications/616/full.pdf Shelf Number: 124308 Keywords: Employment Evaluative Studies Ex-Offenders Recidivism

Author: Villettaz, Patrice Title: The Effects of Custodial vs. Non-Custodial Sentences on Re-Offending: A Systematic Review of the State of Knowledge Summary: As part of a broad initiative of systematic reviews of experimental or quasiexperimental evaluations of interventions in the field of crime prevention and the treatment of offenders, our work consisted in searching through all available databases for evidence concerning the effects of custodial and non-custodial sanctions on reoffending. For this purpose, we examined more than 3,000 abstracts, and finally 23 studies that met the minimal conditions of the Campbell Review, with only 5 studies based on a controlled or a natural experimental design. These studies allowed, all in all, 27 comparisons. Relatively few studies compare recidivism rates for offenders sentenced to jail or prison with those of offenders given some alternative to incarceration (typically probation). According to the findings, the rate of re-offending after a non-custodial sanction is lower than after a custodial sanction in 11 out of 13 significant comparisons. However, in 14 out of 27 comparisons, no significant difference on re-offending between both sanctions is noted. Two out of 27 comparisons are in favour of custodial sanctions. Finally, experimental evaluations and natural experiments yield results that are less favourable to non-custodial sanctions, than are quasi-experimental studies using softer designs. This is confirmed by the meta-analysis including four controlled and one natural experiment. According to the results, non-custodial sanctions are not beneficial in terms of lower rates of re-offending beyond random effects. Contradictory results reported in the literature are likely due to insufficient control of pre-intervention differences between prisoners and those serving “alternative” sanctions. Details: Oslo: The Campbell Collaboration, 2006. 73p. Source: Campbell Systematic Reviews 2006:13: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2012 at Year: 2006 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 124420 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Crime Prevention Custodial Sentences Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: James, Nathan Title: Federal Prison Industries Summary: UNICOR, the trade name for Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI), is a government-owned corporation that employs offenders incarcerated in correctional facilities under the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). UNICOR manufactures products and provides services that are sold to executive agencies in the federal government. FPI was created to serve as a means for managing, training, and rehabilitating inmates in the federal prison system through employment in one of its industries. By statute, UNICOR must be economically self-sustaining, thus it does not receive funding through congressional appropriations. In FY2009, FPI generated $885.3 million in sales. UNICOR uses the revenue it generates to purchase raw material and equipment; pay wages to inmates and staff; and invest in expansion of its facilities. Of the revenues generated by FPI’s products and services, approximately 80% go toward the purchase of raw material and equipment; 17% go toward staff salaries; and 4% go toward inmate salaries. Although there have been many studies on the recidivism rate and societal factors that may contribute to it, there are only a handful of rigorous evaluations of the effect that participation in correctional industries (i.e., FPI) has on recidivism. What research exists suggests that inmates who participate in correctional industries are less likely to recidivate than inmates who do not participate, but the results are not conclusive. The previous Administration made several efforts to mitigate the competitive advantage UNICOR has over the private sector. Going beyond the previous Administration’s efforts, Congress took legislative action to lessen the adverse impact FPI has caused on small businesses. For example, in 2002, 2003, and 2004, Congress passed legislation that modified FPI’s mandatory source clause with respect to procurements made by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 2004, Congress passed legislation limiting funds appropriated for FY2004 to be used by federal agencies for the purchase of products or services manufactured by FPI under certain circumstances. This provision was extended permanently in FY2005. In the 110th Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181) modified the way in which DOD procures products from FPI. In 2011, Congress granted FPI the authority to carry out pilot projects in partnership with private companies to produce items that are currently manufactured outside of the United States. There are several issues Congress might consider as it continues its oversight of FPI, including whether FPI should be involved in emerging technology markets as a way to provide inmates with more job-ready skills for post-release employment and how FPI implements the new authority Congress gave it to enter into partnerships with private manufacturers. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2011. 14p. Source: CRS Report for Congress RL32380: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2012 at http://www.ndia.org/Divisions/Divisions/SmallBusiness/Documents/Federal%20Prison%20Industries.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ndia.org/Divisions/Divisions/SmallBusiness/Documents/Federal%20Prison%20Industries.pdf Shelf Number: 124582 Keywords: Employment Federal Prisons (U.S.) Prisoners Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Entorf, Horst Title: Turning 18: What a Difference Application of Adult Criminal Law Makes Summary: This paper contributes to the literature on specific deterrence by addressing the issue of selecting adolescents into adult and juvenile law systems. In Germany, different from the U.S. and most other countries, turning a critical cutoff age does not cause a sharp discontinuity from juvenile to adult penal law, but rather implies a shift to a discretionary system of both adult and juvenile law, dependent on the courts' impression of moral and mental personal development of the adolescent at the time of the act. The German legal system draws the line of adulthood at some fuzzy age interval between 18 and 21, which is well above the thresholds prevailing in the U.S. (16 to 18 years, state specific) and other countries such that the German evidence entails some external evidence to the previous literature mostly relying on U.S. data. Based on a unique inmate survey and two-equation models controlling for selectivity problems, results show that application of adult criminal law instead of juvenile penal law decreases expected recidivism of adolescents. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor, 2011. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 5434: Accessed March 21, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1745709 Year: 2011 Country: Germany URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1745709 Shelf Number: 124624 Keywords: Criminal Law Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders (Germany) Recidivism

Author: California State Auditor. Bureau of State Audits Title: California Prison Industry Authority: It Can More Effectively Meet Its Goals of Maximizing Inmate Employment, Reducing Recidivism, and Remaining Self-Sufficient Summary: This review of the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) revealed the following: * It cannot determine its impact on post‑release inmate employability because it lacks reliable data. * It is unable to match parolees’ social security numbers from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (Corrections) information system to employment data from the Employment Development Department. * In attempting to use another of Corrections’ databases to track employment data, we noted it contained numerous errors— we found more than 33,000 instances of erroneous parolee employer information. »»Although CALPIA created a set of comprehensive performance indicators, several of these indicators are either vague or not measurable. * Since 2004 it has introduced only a modest number of new revenue‑generating enterprises while it has closed, deactivated, or reduced the capacity of six enterprises at 10 locations throughout the State. * Although CALPIA prepared pricing analyses to support its product-pricing decisions, it did not document the basis for how it determines profit margins and in some instances, we found no analysis of market considerations. Details: Sacramento: California State Auditor, 2011. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Report 2010-118: Accessed April 2, 2012 at: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2010-118.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2010-118.pdf Shelf Number: 124791 Keywords: Inmate Labor Prison Industries (California) Prison Labor Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Fleck, Angela Marie Title: Is Institutional Sexual Misconduct Predictive of Sexual Recidivism Amongst Male Sex Offenders? Summary: There has been a large body of research conducted on establishing a valid set of predictors of sexual offender recidivism in the past 20 years. However, despite findings that indicate that prior history of sexual offenses serves as a primary predictor of sexual offense recidivism, there has been little focus on the impact of institutional sexual misconduct on sexual offense recidivism rates. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between institutional sexual behavior and sexual offense recidivism rates amongst a sample of male offenders who received a sexual misconduct report while incarcerated and/or was convicted of a sexual offense. Additionally, this study explored whether instances of institutional sexual misconduct added to the variance accounted for by actuarial measures commonly used in Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment evaluation procedures. Results revealed that there is little association between sexual offense recidivism rates and receipt of institutional sexual conduct reports unless an offender is issued multiple sexual conduct reports during the same period of incarceration. Additionally, the actuarial measures used in the study were not found to be predictive of sexual offense recidivism. Implications for conducting Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment evaluations, identifying institutional sexual offender treatment needs, and identifying community supervision practices are discussed, and future research directions are proposed. Details: Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University, 2011. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 3, 2012 at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1128&context=dissertations_mu Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1128&context=dissertations_mu Shelf Number: 124806 Keywords: Prediction Prisoner Misconduct Recidivism Sex Offenders

Author: Stys, Yvonne Title: Conditional Release of Federal Offenders Convicted of Criminal Organization Offences Summary: Past research on criminal organization offenders has typically centred on the nature of the offences committed and profiling those offenders. This study extended the extant knowledge of criminal organization offenders by updating past profiles, focusing on community outcomes while on conditional or statutory release, and identifying risk factors related to re-offending for these offenders. Overall, 451 offenders were identified in the Correctional Service of Canada’s (CSC) Offender Management System (OMS) as being convicted of a criminal organization offence, as outlined in Sections 467.11 to 467.13 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC), between April 25, 1997 and March 31, 2009. This included 418 non-Aboriginal males, 19 Aboriginal males, and 14 women offenders, with an average sentence length of 5.2 years. Most offenders convicted of a criminal organization offence had some prior involvement with the criminal justice system, with 21.5% having served a previous adult term in a federal penitentiary. Along with their current criminal organization conviction, offenders were most commonly also convicted of drug offences (59.6%) or attempted murder (8.2%). Examination of criminogenic risk, need and reintegration potential found that the typical criminal organization offender was assessed as being “medium” risk (58.1%) and “high” need (45.9%), with “high” reintegration potential (68.8%). Domain-level analyses of need illustrated that criminal organization offenders were significantly more likely to have some or considerable need in the areas of criminal attitudes and criminal associates than a matched sample of CSC offenders. Of the 451 offenders who were convicted of a criminal organization offence, 332 (73.6%) had been released to the community. The majority were released on day parole (51.8%) or statutory release (44.9%). Most (76.4%) had been employed at some point during release, and 14.8% of those released were participating in some sort of community intervention program, with the most common programs including education, Counter-Point, and living skills programs. Of those who were released, 12.7 % (42) were re-admitted to a federal institution. Most had their release revoked without a new offence (76.2%), while 14.3% (n=6) were convicted of a new offence. Survival analyses conducted to determine the risk of failure upon release found that those convicted of criminal organization offences were significantly less likely than the matched group to be returned to custody. Risk factors found to be especially predictive of readmission or re-conviction included age at release and type of release, with younger offenders and those on statutory release more likely to fail than those released at an older age or released on day or full parole. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2010. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 No R-227: Accessed April 16, 2012 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r227/r227-eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r227/r227-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 124986 Keywords: Conditional Release (Canada) Criminal Organizations Day Parole Gangs Organized Crime Parole Punishment Recidivism

Author: Maier, Elizabeth Title: Evidence-Based Initiatives to Reduce Recidivism Summary: This report was commissioned by the Vermont Legislature pursuant to Act 41 during the 2011-2012 Legislative Session. The study involved two parts: 1) a literature review of “innovative programs and initiatives, including local programs and prison-based initiatives, best practices, and contemporary research regarding assessments of programmatic alternatives and pilot projects relating to reducing recidivism in the criminal justice system;” (Act 41, Section 10); and 2) a survey of Vermont criminal justice service providers to identify innovative programs and assess the level of evidenced-based programming in the state. Although this report is not an exhaustive analysis of evidence-based initiatives which reduce recidivism it does suggest an effective strategy for the future collection and dissemination of information regarding evidence-based programs and practices at both the national and state level. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2011. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2012 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/ebiredrecid_files/DOCRR%20LitRev%20Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/ebiredrecid_files/DOCRR%20LitRev%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 125145 Keywords: Evidence-Based Practices Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Kevin, Maria Title: Corrections Treatment Outcome Study (CTOS) on Offenders in Drug Treatment: Results from the Drug Summit Demand Reduction Residential Programs Summary: This report documents program activity and outcomes of offenders who participated in the suite of Drug Summit-funded treatment programs in NSW correctional centres over a three and a half year period to December 2010. This evaluation forms part of a broader initiative, the Corrections Treatment Outcome Study (CTOS), within Corrective Services NSW. The CTOS methodology sought to examine the short and medium term cognitive and behavioural outcomes of program participants, identify factors affecting program success and explore the view of staff and participants involved. In addition to program entry and exit assessments, objective measures were derived from official records on offences in custody, detected drug use in custody and recidivism post-release. Details: Sydney: Corrective Services, NSW, 2011. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Bulletin 31: Accessed May 8, 2012 at: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/366484/corrections-treatment-outcome-study.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/366484/corrections-treatment-outcome-study.pdf Shelf Number: 125176 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Programs Drug Offenders (Australia) Recidivism

Author: Orbis Partners, Inc. Title: Outcome Evaluation of the Women Offender Case Management Model in Connecticut Probation Summary: This outcome report on the Women Offender Case Management Model (WOCMM) implemented in Connecticut probation represents the first formal examination of outcomes. The reporting period for this outcome report includes data collected from the introduction of WOCMM in July 2007 until November 2008. The outcome evaluation focuses on determining whether participation in the project reduces future involvement in the criminal justice system as measured by recidivism over a fixed length follow-up period. The outcome evaluation employs a comparison group to determine if participants have more positive outcomes than a group of women with similar characteristics who were not exposed to the model. Details: Ottawa: Orbis Partners, Inc., 2009. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2012 at: http://static.nicic.gov/Library/025927.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://static.nicic.gov/Library/025927.pdf Shelf Number: 125234 Keywords: Case Management Female Offenders (Connecticut) Probation Recidivism

Author: Lindsay, V.L. Title: Characteristics of Alcohol Impaired Road Users Involved in Casualty Crashes Summary: This report links data from multiple sources to present a more comprehensive profile of the person, crash and licensing characteristics of a group of road users involved in a casualty crash as a result of alcohol impairment. Participants were drawn from data collected for those active road users who were admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital as a result of crash involvement over the three year period between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2010. An objective alcohol reading was known for 1204 of the 1490 cases in the study. Acute alcohol intoxication was found to be a contributing factor to crash causation in 274 of these 1204 cases, constituting 22.76% of this group. Impairment as the result of alcohol was found across all road user types but was particularly noted amongst pedestrians (55.8% of pedestrians that were tested) and drivers (24.3% of drivers that were tested). An established diagnosis of alcohol dependence at the time of crash involvement was identified for 146 of the 1490 participants in this study, constituting 9.8% of all participants. Indigenous Australians were identified as a vulnerable group found to be at an increased risk of being involved in a crash as the result of alcohol impairment. More than 40 per cent of those participants identified as being alcohol impaired in this study were found to have incurred at least one previous infringement that involved driving with an alcohol level above 0.05gm/100ml and were twice as likely to have had at least one period of licence disqualification when compared with those road users who were not found to be impaired. Details: Adelaide: Centre for Automotive Safety Research, The University of Adelaide, 2012. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2012 at: http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/casrpubfile/1200/CASR105.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/casrpubfile/1200/CASR105.pdf Shelf Number: 125237 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Driving Under the Influence(Australia) Drunk Driving License Suspension Recidivism

Author: Cale, Jesse Lee Title: The Antisocial Trajectories in Youth of Adult Sexual Aggressors of Women: A Developmental Framework for Examining Offending, Motivation, and Risk of Recidivism in Adulthood Summary: Distinct typologies of sexual aggressors of women have been established over the years to explain their heterogeneity. To date, typologies have distinguished these offenders based on differences in victim and offence characteristics, motivation, and, the level of risk of reoffending posed by the offender. These distinct typologies have often emerged parallel to policies changing the way these offenders are dealt with in the criminal justice system. The current dissertation departs from previous classification strategies by exploring the utility of a developmental framework for classifying sexual aggressors of women. To this end, it is organized into three separate but related empirical studies. The first study examined the presence of antisocial trajectories in youth using a dynamic classification procedure and uncovered, contrary to current theoretical propositions, that the antisocial development of sexual aggressors of women in youth was characterized by much heterogeneity. More specifically, two meta-trajectories were uncovered, an early- and a late-onset trajectory, the former composed of three pathways, and the latter composed of two. Furthermore, the trajectories discovered were differentially related to several dimensions of general, violent, and sexual offending in adulthood. In the second study, the two meta-trajectories were examined in terms of mating effort and sexual drive, and while a high level of mating effort characterized the late-onset trajectory, the early-onset trajectory was characterized by both high mating effort and high sexual drive. In addition, sexual drive and mating effort were also related to an early-onset and higher frequency of sexual offending in adulthood suggesting that these measures may be associated with the motivation to sexually offend. In the third study, the two meta-trajectories were assessed in terms of their association with violent/sexual reoffending in adulthood. The results indicated that an early-onset antisocial trajectory, characterized by a pattern of escalation in youth, predicted violent/sexual reoffending in adulthood. In addition, the predictive aspect of these measures was demonstrated independently, and in conjunction with current measures that are typically included in many current actuarial risk assessment instruments. Taken together, the results of these three studies challenge current classification strategies, and, developmental conceptualizations, of sexual aggressors of women. Details: Burnaby, BC: Simon Fraser University, 2012. 231p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 14, 2012 at: https://theses.lib.sfu.ca/thesis/etd6083 Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: https://theses.lib.sfu.ca/thesis/etd6083 Shelf Number: 125258 Keywords: Criminal Career Rape Rapists Recidivism Sex Offenders Sexual Aggression Sexual Assault

Author: Gies, Stephen V. Title: Monitoring High-Risk Sex Offenders with GPS Technology: An Evaluation of the California Supervision Program Summary: Despite the increasing number of high-risk sex offenders (HRSOs) who are being placed on electronic monitoring programs, little is known about how effective these programs are in increasing offender compliance and in reducing recidivism. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine the effectiveness of the global positioning system (GPS) monitoring of HRSOs who are released onto parole. This study integrates outcome, cost, and process evaluation components. The outcome component assesses the impact of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s GPS supervision program by employing a nonequivalent-group quasi-experimental design with a multilevel survival model. We also use a propensity score matching procedure to account for the differences between the treatment and comparison groups. The study population is drawn from all HRSOs who were released from prison between January 2006 and March 2009 and residing in the state of California. The final sample includes 516 subjects equally divided between the treatment and control groups. The treatment group consists of HRSOs who were placed on GPS monitoring. The control group is made up of similar offenders who were not placed on the GPS system during the study period. The resulting sample shows no significant differences between the groups on any of the propensity score matching variables. The effectiveness of the program is assessed using an intent-to-treat (known as ITT) approach. The two main outcomes of interest are compliance and recidivism. Compliance is measured through violations of parole. Recidivism is assessed in a variety of ways, including 1) rearrest, 2) reconviction, and 3) return to prison custody. Each outcome is assessed with a survival analysis of time-to-event recidivism data, using a Cox proportional hazards model. In addition, we use frailty modeling to account for the clustering of parole agents within parole districts. The findings indicate, despite the baseline similarities, a clear pattern of divergence in outcomes during the 1-year study period. The subjects in the GPS group demonstrate significantly better outcomes for both compliance and recidivism. In terms of compliance, the multivariate model shows that the hazard ratio of a sex-related violation is nearly three times as great for the subjects who received traditional parole supervision as for the subjects who received the GPS supervision. In terms of recidivism, compared with the subjects who received the GPS monitoring supervision, the hazard ratio for any arrest is more than twice as high among the subjects who received traditional parole supervision. Similarly, for both a parole revocation and any return-to-custody event, the hazard ratio suggests that these events are about 38 percent higher among the subjects who received traditional parole supervision. The cost analysis indicates that the GPS program costs roughly $35.96 per day per parolee, while the cost of traditional supervision is $27.45 per day per parolee—a difference of $8.51. However, the results favor the GPS group in terms of both noncompliance and recidivism. In other words, the GPS monitoring program is more expensive but more effective. Finally, the process evaluation reveals that the GPS program was implemented with a high degree of fidelity across the four dimensions examined: adherence, exposure, quality of program delivery, and program differentiation. Details: Bethesda, MD: Development Services Group, Inc., 2012. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 15, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238481.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238481.pdf Shelf Number: 125277 Keywords: Electronic Monitoring Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Parole Supervision Parolees Recidivism Sex Offender Supervision Ssex Offenders (California)

Author: Oregon. Department of Corrections, Research & Evaluation Title: Department of Corrections (DOC) Revocation from Post-Prison Supervision Summary: Oregonians sentenced for felony convictions and released from jail or prison in 2005 and 2006 were evaluated for revocation risk. Those released from jail, from prison, and those served through interstate compact were considered in the analysis. The revocation rate is lowest for the interstate compact population and highest for the jail population; overall, 24% were revoked in the two years after release. Revocation risk is influenced by numerous static and demographic variables. Independent variables common with the three populations include recidivism risk, number of arrests while on parole or post-prison supervision (PPS), number of prior felony convictions, age, and being a veteran. Comparing the jail and prison populations, both age and number of prior felony convictions have similar effects for both populations. The number of arrests while on parole/PPS has more of an effect with the jail population than those released from prison. The factors that are important for the prison population yet are not important risk factors for the jail population include being male, being African American, incarcerated for a violent offense, incarcerated for a public order offense, and considered high risk at release; all of these factors increase risk for the prison population yet are not important risk considerations for those released from jail. The factors that have different effects in each population (i.e. associated with increased risk in one population and decreased risk in the second population) include veteran status, prior imprisonment, and incarceration for a property crime. There are some demographic and static factors that influence revocation risk among the three populations. Despite numerous similarities, differences do exist. The predictive accuracy of the models suggests that individuals prone to revocations can be identified with some accuracy. Details: Salem, OR: Department of Corrections, Research & Evaluation, 2011. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2012 at: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/RESRCH/docs/revocation_final_draft.pdf?ga=t Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/RESRCH/docs/revocation_final_draft.pdf?ga=t Shelf Number: 125322 Keywords: Demographic Trends Evaluative Studies Parole Revocation (Oregon) Recidivism

Author: Veele, Sarah Title: Domestic Violence in Washington State: 1999-2010 Summary: This study was designed to 1) provide rates of all domestic violence case filings in Washington State district, municipal, superior and juvenile courts from 1999 through 2010, 2) provide rates of all first-time domestic violence (DV) case filings in Washington State for 2004 and 2005, 3) provide summary characteristics of first-time domestic violence offenders and DV events, 4) describe the offending careers of first-time domestic violence offenders in the five years prior to this offense, and 5) describe the criminal trajectory of offenders during the five years after their first domestic violence offense. Methods: Using statewide data, rates for domestic violence charges and convictions were calculated for 1999-2010. Descriptive analysis of the profile of domestic violence offenders, including their criminal trajectory, and predictors of recidivism are included. Results: Conviction rates for domestic violence have decreased over the past ten years and are significantly lower than rates for charges not related to domestic violence. The majority (58%) of first-time DV offenders have offenses pre – and post- their index DV event. A small, but substantial portion of offenders (24%) have no other offenses in the five years before or after their DV event. Conclusion: Domestic violence continues to be an issue of concern for the Washington State courts. Further detailed analysis needs to occur to better understand the variability in offender profiles and offense rates. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2011. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2012 at http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/domestic_violence_in_wa_1999-2010.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/domestic_violence_in_wa_1999-2010.pdf Shelf Number: 125375 Keywords: Criminal Careers (Washington) Domestic Violence (Washington) Family Violence (Washington) Recidivism

Author: Barnes, Geoffrey C. Title: Classifying Adult Probationers by Forecasting Future Offending Summary: Random forest modeling techniques represent an improvement over the methodologies of traditional risk prediction instruments. Random forests allow for the inclusion of a large number of predictors, the use of a variety of different data sources, the expansion of assessments beyond binary outcomes, and taking the costs of different types of forecasting errors into account when constructing a new model. This study explores the application of random forest statistical learning techniques to a criminal risk forecasting system, which is now used to classify adult probationers by the level of risk they pose to the community. The project principally focused upon creating a risk prediction tool within a partnership between University-based researchers and Philadelphia’s Adult Probation and Parole Department (APPD). This report details the model building process, including an explanation of the random forest procedures, and sets out the issues in data management and in policy considerations that are associated with creating a prediction tool. The importance of developing strong researcher-practitioner partnerships, especially with regard to tailoring the prediction tool to real-world concerns, is also considered. The prediction models developed as a part of this project have been used since 2009 to assess all incoming probation and parole cases. Each risk prediction is then used to assign offenders to risk-stratified supervision divisions. This report discusses the development and accuracy of the three generations of models that have been employed to make these predictions, as well as the salient features of each iteration. For the most recent version of the model, the influences of major predictor variables are discussed, with a focus on those that were most powerful in the Philadelphia sample. Additionally, the predictions of the three models are also validated using a sample of cases from 2001, a cohort not used to build any of the prediction models. The long-term offending patterns of these 2001 offenders, with regard to their assessed risk level, are also considered. Finally, suggestions and step-by-step instructions are offered for practitioners seeking to build a similar prediction instrument for use in a wide variety of criminal justice settings. As a matter of policy, criminal sanctions that are encompassed under the umbrella of community corrections have become an increasingly prevalent punishment option. Given resource constraints, as well as concerns about public safety, statistical risk assessment tools – such as the one developed here – have begun to take increasingly prominent roles in determining levels of supervision. This report, and the partnership supporting it, highlights the promises and potential of the methodology. Details: Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2012. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238082.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238082.pdf Shelf Number: 125408 Keywords: Offender Classification (Pennsylvania) Probationers Recidivism Risk Management

Author: Uchida, Craig D. Title: Measuring Jail Recidivism in Montgomery County, Maryland Summary: The jail recidivism study in Montgomery County, Maryland is a collaborative work between Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. (JSS) and the Pre-Release and Re-Entry Services Division (PRRS) of the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (MCDOCR). The purposes of the study were to examine recidivism within a jail population, determine the research needs of a county jail system, and provide recommendations about how to deal with recidivism overall. To conduct the study, JSS and PRRS developed the research design, collected and analyzed the data, and wrote the final report. We collected and analyzed data of a sample of men (n=294) and women (n=282) who were released from MCDOCR from July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004. JSS created an MS Access database specifically for this project. Doing so allowed us to combine information from nine (9) databases and to track offenders before and after their release. The data were drawn from: 1. FBI/NCIC criminal histories 2. Maryland State Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) records 3. Maryland Department of Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) 4. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) 5. Montgomery County CJIS 6. Maryland Judiciary Case Search 7. Diminution Reports 8. Commitment files 9. District Court cases The analysis included the use of survival and hazard models to estimate the failure rates of the offender population. Details: Silver Spring, MD: Justice & Security Strategies, 2009. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2012 at: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/docr/pdfs/finalrecidivismreport-dec-16-2009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/docr/pdfs/finalrecidivismreport-dec-16-2009.pdf Shelf Number: 125423 Keywords: Jail Inmates (Maryland) Prisoners Recidivism

Author: Losel, Friedrich A. Title: Strengthening Transnational Approaches to Reducing Reoffending: Final Report Summary: The STARR Cambridge Team has produced six research products, comprising three systematic reviews and three questionnaire surveys. These products have focused on interventions to reduce reoffending among three offence categories, respectively: young offenders, domestic violence perpetrators, and substance abusing offenders. The questionnaire survey also gathered additional information on interventions to reduce reoffending among alcohol abusing offenders. The three systematic reviews investigated the current state of European evidence on programmes to reduce reoffending in each of the three primary offence categories under STARR’s purview. The questionnaire surveys clarified our understanding of what is currently practiced throughout Europe in reoffending programmes. We summarise the key conclusions from each of our primary research outputs below. Readers seeking further elaboration of the methods, processes, and outcomes are referred to the corresponding Appendices. In addition to conducting primary research, the Cambridge Team has made various other contributions to the STARR project: 1. support of the project partners in the design and execution of a series of focus groups on obstacles to programme evaluation; 2. provision of research guidance and expertise in the execution of the STARR project partners’ pilot projects in Bulgaria, Hungary, and France; 3. assistance in the organisation of the STARR seminars and conferences; 4. lectures at all STARR conferences; and 5. facilitation of group workshops at three STARR conferences and seminars. Furthermore, we have bolstered STARR’s international presence by disseminating selected findings in invited plenary lectures at a number of conferences; e.g., at the International Prisons and Corrections Conference at Ghent, Belgium (2010), International Conference of Psychology and Law at Miami, USA (2011), and the Summit of the Chinese Criminological Society at Hangzhou, China (2011). Details: Cambridge, UK: Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, 2012(?). 158p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2012 at: http://www.cepprobation.org/uploaded_files/Rep%20STARR%20ENG.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.cepprobation.org/uploaded_files/Rep%20STARR%20ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 125369 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Correctional Treatment Domestic Violence Drug Offenders, Treatment Juvenile Offenders, Treatment Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Lattimore, Pamela K. Title: Prisoner Reentry Services: What Worked for SVORI Evaluation Participants? Summary: This report presents the results from a secondary analysis of data collected for a large multi-site evaluation of state and local reentry initiatives, the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI; see, e.g., Lattimore & Visher, 2009). These data include administrative recidivism data, as well as extensive, detailed information on background characteristics, including criminal and employment history and substance use; treatment and service needs; services and program receipt; and outcomes across multiple domains, including criminal justice, employment, health (including substance use and mental health), and housing. The original data were augmented with updates from administrative records for arrests and incarcerations and used to examine the questions of “what works, for whom, and for how long?” in prisoner reentry programs. In addition, a search of death records identified 55 individuals who participated in the original evaluation who had died as of spring 2011. RESEARCH SUBJECTS This report presents findings for more than 2,300 adult males, adult females, and juvenile males in multiple states who either participated in SVORI programs or were members of control or comparison groups between 2004 and 2007. The study participants had extensive criminal and substance use histories, low levels of education and employment skills, and high levels of need across a range of services (e.g., education, driver’s license, substance abuse treatment, and job training). Participants in SVORI programs received more services, on average, than comparison subjects. STUDY METHODS The original data were collected during interviews 30 days before and 3, 9, and 15 months after release. Data from state agencies and the National Crime Information Center documented post-release recidivism; the original data were augmented with additional years of post-release arrest and reincarceration data for adult subjects. Propensity score techniques were used to improve the comparability between the SVORI and non-SVORI groups. Weighted analyses examined the treatment effects of the receipt of specific services, as well as SVORI program participation. Costs analyses examined the costs savings for arrest and incarceration related expenses associated with services and reentry program participation. MAJOR FINDINGS The results suggest:  Participation in SVORI programs was associated with longer times to arrest and fewer arrests after release for all three demographic groups during a minimum follow-up period of 56 months for the adults and 22 months for the juvenile males.  For the adult males, SVORI program participation was associated with a longer time to reincarceration and also fewer reincarcerations, although the later result was not statistically significant (p = 0.18). For the adult females, the results were mixed and not significant. For the juvenile males, the results for reincarceration were in the right direction (i.e., less likelihood of reincarceration) but were not statistically significant. vi  Individual change services were more likely to be beneficial and practical services detrimental with respect to the time to first arrest for the adult and juvenile male samples. Few effects were significant for the adult females.  Once we controlled for 12 different types of services, there was a strong remaining effect of SVORI program participation on rearrest that was not identified in the previous work that had focused on a shorter follow-up period.  SVORI program participation was associated with a $3,567 reduction in arrest-related costs over the fixed follow-up period for the adult males.  Services oriented towards practical needs including reentry preparation, life skills programs, and employment services did not improve post-release non-recidivism outcomes for men, including housing, employment, and drug use outcomes. In some cases, these services appeared to be detrimental to successful reintegration.  Services oriented toward individual change including substance abuse treatment, cognitive-focused programs, and education (e.g., general equivalency diploma [GED] classes) may have modest beneficial effects on non-recidivism outcomes. Educational services were most consistently associated with positive outcomes for the adult males.  SVORI reentry program participation was associated with positive non-recidivism outcomes in some cases, over and beyond the effects of individual service items, particularly for the adult male sample. CONCLUSIONS Many of the specific services had no effect on housing, employment, substance use, or recidivism outcomes and in some cases the effect was actually deleterious rather than beneficial. There were significant effects of SVORI program participation on arrests following release, with SVORI program participation associated with a 14% reduction in arrests for the adult men, 48% reduction for the adult females, and 25% reduction for the juvenile males over the fixed follow-up periods. The results suggest the need for additional research into the sequencing and effects of specific and combinations of reentry services, with an understanding that some programs may be harmful if delivered at the wrong time or in the wrong way. The results also suggest that follow-up periods longer than 2 years may be necessary to observe positive effects on criminal behavior and criminal justice system interaction, as the strong effects observed at 56 months were not observed at 24 months after release when nonsignificant positive effects were observed. Observation for the longer follow-up periods may be particularly important for high-risk populations such as the populations studied here who had substantial criminal histories and who may have greater difficulty disengaging from past behaviors at release. Details: Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International, 2012. 560p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238214.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238214.pdf Shelf Number: 125451 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Recidivism SVORI (Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initia Treatment Programs Violent Offenders

Author: Bradford Metropolitan District Council (U.K.) Title: Reducing Reoffending and Young People in Custody Summary: Bradford has a young population, with 28 per cent of the population under 20 years of age, compared to 24 per cent nationally. It also has relatively high levels of both youth offending and of youths breaching community sentences so that they end up in custody. To address these issues this project set out to utilise customer insight to better understand and engage with young people ultimately hoping to divert them away from offending and improve compliance with court orders. In addition to the obvious benefit this will bring, both for the individual young people themselves and for their families, it will also help to reduce overall costs through lower expenditure on policing; court appearances and short custodial sentences and it should contribute to lower levels of crime within the locality. By gaining a deeper insight into this client group, they would be enabled to deliver more differentiated and targeted youth offending services, as well as removing duplication as different agencies currently work across each other to support his group. The project also set out to profile the wider community and consider their attitudes to youth offending. It sought to identify opportunities to support wider work on community cohesion and identify localities where Big Society initiatives could be used to reduce youth offending. This part of the project sought to provide better information on youth crime to local area committees, providing a vehicle for local residents to determine which preventative services should be delivered in their locality. The principle aim of the project was to reduce youth crime and anti-social behaviour through the delivery of the following objectives:  a reduction of breaches through better compliance with court orders  a reduction in prolific offenders  support to those local social enterprises activities that target crime and anti-social activity  improvement of prevention activity, by understanding how targeted activities work best for different groups  profiling of offenders and anti-social behaviour order information  mapping the frequency of reoffending of young people in custody and patterns to help prevent reoffending.  mapping the impact of breaches of orders  increasing levels of cohesion between youths and the wider community. The project had the following targets, which it recognises are ambitious considering the current economic climate and the increase in youth unemployment:  a 5 per cent reduction in detected offences committed by young offenders  a 5 per cent reduction in young people sentenced to custody  a 3 per cent reduction in the breach of court hearings It was estimated that these would provide the following financial savings:  £448,000 reduction in detected offences committed by young offenders  £203,200 reduction in the costs of providing annual custody for offenders  £12,600 reduction in the cost of preparing for court appearances This is a total potential direct saving of £665,800. Additional benefits are more difficult to quantify and relate directly back to the project, however, these are likely to include those „societal costs‟ that are difficult to measure in financial terms. For example, costs from reoffending in terms of resident well-being (e.g. reduced levels of fear of crime and associated mental health benefits) and local authority and partner provider savings from more effective targeting and delivery of prevention services, avoiding the duplication of services. Details: Bradford, UK: Bradford Metropolitan District Council, 2012. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/effective-practice/crime-effective-practice/other-crime-types/Reducng-Reoffding-and-Yng-People?view=Binary Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/effective-practice/crime-effective-practice/other-crime-types/Reducng-Reoffding-and-Yng-People?view=Binary Shelf Number: 125455 Keywords: Anti-Social Behavior Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Reoffending Treatment Programs, Juveniles

Author: Ziersch, Emma Title: The South Australian Drug Court: A Recidivism Study Summary: One of the primary aims of the South Australian Drug Court is to cease or reduce criminal activity amongst individuals whose offending is related to drug abuse. The court seeks to achieve this through a comprehensive program of intensive supervision, regular drug testing, sanctions and therapy and support services. This evaluation examines and compares the offending behaviour of persons who participate in the Drug Court between 2004 and 2008 with a sample of prisoners who did not take part in the Drug Court program, with the aim of determining the impact of the Drug Court on re-offending. Details: Adelaide: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/SADrugCourtRecidivismStudy.pdf, 2012. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2012 at: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/SADrugCourtRecidivismStudy.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/SADrugCourtRecidivismStudy.pdf Shelf Number: 125513 Keywords: Drug Courts (Australia) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Listwan, Shelley Johnson Title: The Prison Experience and Reentry: Examining the Impact of Victimization on Coming Home Summary: With the adoption of the Prison Rape Elimination Act in 2003, institutions around the country began developing policies and procedures related to the detection, prevention, and elimination of sexual victimization in prison. The research, however, was in its infancy and little was known regarding the context, severity, and impact of victimization on a variety of outcomes. This study explored the impact of emotional, physical, and/or sexual victimization on inmates who were returning to the community. Few, if any studies have explored the additive effect victimization may have on an already difficult transition period for offenders. The study hypothesized that victimization intensified mental health problems and criminal behavior. Recently released prisoners from twenty-two halfway houses and prisons in Ohio, were selected for this study. Standardized instruments were utilized to assess the inmates’ psychological status in various areas, including but not limited to post-traumatic cognitions, depression, anxiety, social support, coping, and criminality. The final analysis compared recidivism rates between those who report having been victimized and those who have reported not being victimization. The findings from this study have implications for policy and practice. For example, by examining patterns of victimization, administrators may be able to develop strategies towards identifying those at risk for victimization even in an inmate who has not come forward, thereby facilitating early, needed interventions. Early detection and intervention could significantly reduce the negative impact of victimization on inmates. Additionally, this study provides support for expanding the types of services provided to incarcerated individuals, both in the institution and after release. It is important that practitioners identify and comprehend the impact that victimization can have on reentry, short- and long-term. Details: Kent, OH: Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Kent State University, 2012. 175p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238083.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238083.pdf Shelf Number: 125609 Keywords: Prison Rape Elimination Act Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Prisoner Sexual Assault Rape in Prison Recidivism Sexual Victimization, Prisoners

Author: Khan, Sabena Title: Initial Analysis of the Impact of the Intensive Alternatives to Custody Pilots on Re-offending Rates Summary: The Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) pilot programme ran from April 2008 to March 2011 to test the use of intensive community orders in diverting offenders from short-term custodial sentences. The Ministry of Justice have undertaken initial analysis to compare re-offending rates for offenders receiving IAC with a well-matched control group receiving short custodial sentences and a well-matched control group receiving court orders. This paper summarises the key findings. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Summary 5/12: Accessed July 17, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/iac-impact-evaluation-research-summary.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/iac-impact-evaluation-research-summary.pdf Shelf Number: 125658 Keywords: Alternative to Incarceration (U.K.) Community Supervision Intensive Community Orders Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Byng, Richard Title: COCOA: Care for Offenders, Continuity of Access. Summary: The project aims to inform policy on improving health and reducing recidivism for offenders by examining access to, and continuity of, healthcare for people in contact with criminal justice agencies. Focus: The project has investigated the impact of health and criminal justice agencies on access and continuity of care. We carried out a multi-method investigation into the continuity of healthcare for offenders; interviewed 200 offenders; carried out 8 organisational case studies; developed a peer offender research group; and developed theory related to offender continuity of care. Key findings: Access and continuity of care for mental health problems was very low in comparison with care for substance misuse. Bothe the organisation of services and also offenders' beliefs and priorities contribute to poor engagement with initial and on-going mental health care. However, models of good practice can be found in isolated pockets across the UK. It is recomended that services for mental health care are best positioned in probation and as individuals leave prison in order to maximise chances of sustained engagement. The study population (prisoners and probationers), were predominantly male, white, skewed to 18-25 age range. Many had partners and children. 23% were employed and 20% homeless. Twenty seven percent had been in prison more than five times. Within the previous six months 37% rated their current health as poor. Fifty three percent reported drug misuse, 36% alcohol misuse, 15% severe and 59% moderate mental health problems. Only 4% believed they had no physical problems. Co-morbidity was typical. The majority of offenders were happy for health services to know about their CJS contact (79%), were willing to share medical information between services (82%), and preferred one person to have an overview of all their healthcare needs (81%). There were significantly more healthcare contacts in probation than in other CJS settings; predominantly for heroin, dependence forming 40% of all health contacts. However for physical problems, healthcare contact rates were significantly higher for prison when compared to other CJS settings. Overall contact rates for mental health problems were low, particularly for those without heroin misuse. Treatment recommended by health services for current health issues across the whole sample was received for the majority of dependency related (74%) and physical health (71%) problems, but for only 50% of the mental health problems reported. Participants in prison rated the quality of their healthcare contacts as significantly lower than in other contexts. Quality was rated higher for drug and mental health services. Participant reports and healthcare records of healthcare contacts were similar. Generally, participants recall was better for substance misuse services than others. Details: London: NIHR (National Institute for Health Research), 2012. 265p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: https://wombat.pcmd.ac.uk/document_manager/documents/files/primary_care/cocoa/COCOA_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://wombat.pcmd.ac.uk/document_manager/documents/files/primary_care/cocoa/COCOA_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 125682 Keywords: Health Care Mental Health Services Prisoners (U.K.) Prisons Probationers Recidivism

Author: McCartt, Anne T. Title: Washington State’s Alcohol Ignition Interlock Law: Effects on Recidivism Among First-time DUI Offenders Summary: Objective: More than half of U.S. states require some DUI offenders to install ignition interlocks on their vehicles for a certain period of time if they want to drive. Increasingly states are strengthening these laws to apply to all offenders, including first-time offenders. The current study evaluated two changes in Washington state’s interlock law: moving the issuance of interlock orders from the courts to the Department of Licensing in July 2003, and extending the interlock requirement to cover all convicted offenders, including first-time offenders with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) lower than 0.15 percent (―first simple DUI offenders‖), in June 2004. The primary focus was whether or not these law changes affected rates of recidivism among first-time DUI offenders. Method: Trends in the types of convictions resulting from a DUI arrest, rates of interlock orders and installations, and rates of recidivism were examined, using data extracted from driver license records. The main focus was first-time convictions (simple, high-BAC, and test refusal DUI; deferred prosecution; or alcohol-related negligent driving) stemming from arrests on DUI charges occurring during January 1999-June 2006. Regression analyses examined the effects on rates of recidivism of the law changes and of interlock installation rates. Possible general deterrent effects of the law changes on alcoholimpaired driving were examined by comparing trends in single-vehicle nighttime (9 p.m.-6 a.m.) policereported crashes and fatal crashes in Washington with trends in California and Oregon. Results: Throughout the study period, about three-quarters of DUI offenses were first offenses. Simple DUI convictions and alcohol-related negligent driving convictions each accounted for about 30-40 percent of first DUI-related offenses. After interlocks were required for simple DUIs in 2004, the proportion of simple DUI convictions trended somewhat downward, while the proportion of alcohol-related negligent driving convictions continued a slow, long-term upward trend. The interlock installation rate among first simple DUI offenders increased dramatically as a result of the 2004 law change, going from less than 5 percent before the law change to about one-third after; increases in installation rates were observed among other first DUI offenders as well. Extending the interlock requirement to first simple DUI convictions was estimated to have lowered the cumulative rate of recidivism during the 2 years following arrest by about 12 percent among people with such convictions (e.g., from an expected 10.6 percent without the law change to 9.3 percent among offenders arrested in the second quarter of 2006, the last part of the study period) and by about 11 percent (from an expected 10.2 to 9.1 percent) among all first-time DUI offenders. There was an estimated 0.06 percentage point decrease in the 2-year cumulative recidivism rate for each percentage point increase in the proportion of first simple DUI offenders who installed interlocks. If the interlock installation rate had been 100 percent rather than 34 percent for first simple DUI offenders arrested in the second quarter of 2006, and if the linear relationship between the recidivism rate and the rate of interlock installations continued, the 2-year cumulative recidivism rate could have been reduced from 9.3 to 5.3 percent. Similarly, if the interlock installation rate had been 100 percent rather than 24 percent for all first DUI offenders arrested in the second quarter of 2006, their 2-year cumulative recidivism rate could have been reduced from 9.1 to 3.2 percent. Although interlock installation rates increased somewhat after moving responsibility for issuing interlock orders to the Department of Licensing in 2003, that action did not significantly affect recidivism rates, perhaps due to the short follow-up period before the second law change. The 2004 law change was associated with a 4.8 percent reduction in the risk of single-vehicle nighttime crashes in Washington, but the change was not significant given the variability in the data. A smaller and likewise non-significant reduction in the risk of single-vehicle nighttime fatal crashes was estimated. Conclusions: Extending an interlock requirement to all first-time DUI convictions reduces recidivism among the cohort of affected offenders, even with relatively low interlock use rates, and additional gains are likely to be achievable with higher use rates. Jurisdictions should seek ways to increase installation rates among offenders required to install interlocks and should re-consider policies that allow reducing DUI charges to other traffic offenses that do not have an interlock requirement. Details: Arlington, VA: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2012. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 20, 2012 at: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1168.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/r1168.pdf Shelf Number: 125696 Keywords: Alcohol Interlock Devices Driving Under the Influence (U.S.) Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Florida. Legislature. Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability Title: Redirection Saves $51.2 Million and Continues to Reduce Recidivism Summary: Over the past five years, the Redirection Program has operated at a lower cost than residential juvenile delinquency programs and has achieved better outcomes. Youth who successfully completed the Redirection Program were significantly less likely to be subsequently arrested for a felony or violent felony, adjudicated or convicted for a felony, or sentenced to prison after treatment than similar youth who successfully completed residential commitment programs. The Redirection Program has achieved $51.2 million in cost savings for the state since it began five years ago due to its lower operating costs compared to residential delinquency programs. If the Legislature wishes to expand the program, it could consider authorizing the Redirection Program to treat certain juvenile sex offenders who are considered appropriate for community treatment and/or gang members; such programs would be less expensive than residential commitment. Details: Tallahassee: Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability, 2010. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 10-38: Accessed July 20, 2012 at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1038rpt.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1038rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 125708 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders (Florida) Juvenile Residential Treatment Programs Recidivism

Author: Potter, Phoebe Margaret Title: Employment and the Desistance Process: The Effect of Employment Status and Wages on Criminal Recidivism among Young Adults Summary: Every year, thousands of ex-convicts in the United States undergo the challenging process of reentering society. Contact with the criminal justice system can disrupt critical developmental experiences for young adults, often resulting in these individuals continuing a life of crime. The purpose of this study is to determine if employment is an effective way for young adults to re-transition into society after being convicted for a crime, and therefore increases the likelihood of desistance from crime. Using data from the NLSY 1997 cohort, the effects of employment status, weekly employment hours, and income on the length of time before an individual recidivates are estimated with Cox proportional hazard models. The results suggest that employment and income both have statistically significant negative relationships with recidivism. These findings are robust even when controlling for other factors that may be spuriously related to both employment and recidivism. Details: Washington, DC: Georgetown University, 2012. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed July 24, 2012 at: http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553877/potterPhoebe.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/553877/potterPhoebe.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 125749 Keywords: Ex-Convicts, Employment Ex-Offenders, Employment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Booth, Lucy Title: North Liverpool Community Justice Centre: Analysis of Re-offending Rates and Efficiency of Court Processes Summary: Based on Community Justice principles, the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre (NLCJC) brings together a range of criminal justice agencies as a one-stop-shop for tackling offending in the local area. Adding to the findings from previous evaluations of the NLCJC, this evaluation assessed the impact the court had on re-offending and the efficiency of court processes. Though the NLCJC had no impact on re-offending rates, breach rates among offenders receiving court orders there were higher than elsewhere. The efficiency findings were mixed, providing evidence of both positive and negative performance at the court. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 10/12: Accessed july 25, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/liverpool-community-centre.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/liverpool-community-centre.pdf Shelf Number: 125781 Keywords: Community Justice Centers (U.K.) Courts Neighborhood Justice Centers Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Proven Re-Offending Statistics: Definitions and Measurement Summary: The Ministry of Justice launched a statistical consultation on improvements to the transparency and accessibility of our information in 2010 and a response to the consultation was published in March 2011. One aspect of the consultation was the measurement of proven re-offending. Responses have supported the proposals to move to a single framework for measuring re-offending where adult and youth data can be provided at the national and local level on a consistent basis. The response to the consultation is available here: www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/consultations/improvements-moj-statistics-consultation-response.pdf Prior to this consultation there were six different measures of proven re-offending:  national adult proven re-offending;  local adult proven re-offending;  national youth proven re-offending;  local youth proven re-offending;  Prolific and other Priority Offending (PPO); and  drug-misusing proven offending. The current framework for measuring proven re-offending integrates these approaches into a single framework. This allows users to:  form a clear picture of proven re-offending at national and local levels;  compare adult and youth results, and enable other work on transition between the youth and adult system;  understand how results for different offender groups (such as those managed by the prison and probation services, those under the PPO schemes, drug-misusing offenders, first time entrants, etc) fit in to the overall picture on proven re-offending; and  continue to be able to analyse proven re-offending behaviour of particular types of offender. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/reoffending/proven-reoffending-definitions-measurement.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/reoffending/proven-reoffending-definitions-measurement.pdf Shelf Number: 125810 Keywords: Crime Statistics (U.K.) Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Morenoff, Jeffrey D. Title: Final Technincal Report: Neighborhoods, Recidivism, and Employment Among Returning Prisoners Summary: The rising number of individuals being released from prison has prompted renewed interest among researchers, policy makers, and practitioners in reintegrating former prisoners. Yet relatively little is known about the communities into which former prisoners return and how they affect the likelihood that former prisoners will secure stable employment or return to prison. This research fills an important gap in the literature on prisoner reentry by focusing on the role that community context plays in the labor market outcomes and recidivism of former prisoners. A rich set of longitudinal administrative records were assembled on individuals paroled in Michigan during 2003, including records from corrections, police, and unemployment insurance databases. This report describes the data collected and presents results indicating that neighborhood context predicted both the recidivism and labor market outcomes of former prisoners. The analysis considered the association between baseline neighborhood characteristics (first post-prison neighborhood) and cumulative exposure to neighborhood conditions during one’s time on parole. The analysis of baseline neighborhood characteristics was based on the full population of 11,064 people released on parole in Michigan in 2003, whereas the analysis of time-varying neighborhood characteristics was based on a 1/6 sample (n=1,848). Returning to a more disadvantaged baseline neighborhood was associated with higher risks of absconding and returning to prison for a technical violation, a lower risk of being arrested, and more adverse labor market outcomes, including less employment and lower wages. Cumulative exposure to disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with lower employment and wages but not related to recidivism. Returning to a more affluent baseline neighborhood was associated with a lower risk of being arrested, absconding, and returning to prison on a technical violation, and more positive labor market outcomes, including greater employment and wages. However, cumulative exposure to affluent neighborhoods was not significantly related to any of the recidivism or labor market outcomes when the full set of controls were added to models. Returning to a more residentially stable baseline neighborhood was associated with a lower risk of absconding and returning to prison for a new conviction, but not with any labor market outcomes; nor was cumulative exposure to residentially stable neighborhoods associated with any recidivism or labor market outcomes. Returning to a baseline neighborhood with a younger age structure was negatively related to the odds of returning to prison on a technical violation, but when measured as cumulative exposure it was associated with an increased risk of being arrested, absconding, and being returned to prison for either a new commitment or technical violation. Being employed substantially reduced the risk of all recidivism outcomes, but there was no evidence that employment mediated the association between neighborhoods and recidivism. Together, these results suggest that the neighborhoods parolees experience during parole were strong predictors of recidivism and labor market outcomes, but there is not a simple answer to the question of what neighborhood characteristics constitute “risky” environments for parolees. Neighborhood socioeconomic composition was a strong predictor of labor market outcomes, as parolees residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods had difficulty securing employment and escaping poverty. For recidivism, the protective effect of living in a residentially stabile neighborhood and the risks posed by spending more time in neighborhoods with higher densities of young people were the most robust predictors. From a policy perspective, these findings suggest that parole outcomes might be improved through more careful evaluation of a parolee’s neighborhood context when approving new residences, placement of institutional housing for former prisoners in more advantaged neighborhoods, inclusion of neighborhood context in risk assessments to better target services to former prisoners in high risk neighborhoods, and place-based parole strategies involving geographically based agent caseloads. Details: Ann Arbor, MI: Population Studies Center and Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 2011. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236436.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236436.pdf Shelf Number: 125825 Keywords: Ex-Offenders, Employment Neighborhoods Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration, Offenders

Author: Kuziemko, Ilyana Title: Should Prison Inmates be Released via Rules or Discretion? Summary: In 1980, nearly all state and federal prisoners were released via the discretion of a parole board, whereas today the majority are subject to rules-based regimes where the original sentence is binding. While opponents of parole have argued that boards are discriminatory or overly lenient, discretion might also have important benefits. If prison time lowers recidivism risk and if parole boards can accurately estimate inmates' risk, then, relative to a rules-based regime where sentences are binding, discretion produces allocative-efficiency benefits (costly prison space is allocated to the highest-risk offenders) and incentive benets (prisoners know they must reduce their recidivism risk to gain an early release, so invest in their own rehabilitation). Exploiting quasi-experiments from the state of Georgia, I show that prison time reduces recidivism risk and that parole boards set prison time in an allocatively efficient manner. Prisoners respond to these incentives -- after a reform that limited parole for certain offenders, they accumulated a greater number of disciplinary infractions, completed fewer prison rehabilitative programs, and recidivated at higher rates than inmates unaffected by the reform. I estimate that eliminating parole increases the prison population by ten percent while simultaneously increasing the crime rate through deleterious effects on recidivism. Details: Princeton, NJ: Princeton University, 2011. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2012 at: http://www.princeton.edu/~kuziemko/parole_29oct2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.princeton.edu/~kuziemko/parole_29oct2011.pdf Shelf Number: 125854 Keywords: Discretion Early Release Parole Parole Boards Recidivism

Author: Marie, Olivier Title: The Best Ones Come Out First! Early Release from Prison and Recidivism A Regression Discontinuity Approach Summary: There is strong evidence that incarceration has a general deterrent effect on individuals on the margin of crime. The impact of the experience of incarceration on future criminal behaviour, self deterrence, is more controversial. It is becoming a pressing issue in view of the large increases in the prison population of past decades. A main question is if harsher or more lenient sentences are more efficient in reducing future recidivism? The fact that offenders with different criminal profiles are treated differently makes it difficult to answer. The best behaved and least dangerous inmates are, for example, more likely to be selected for an early release programme. These characteristics will also influence their future offending behaviour making it difficult to identify the impact of time spent in prison. In this paper we exploit an administrative rule which makes offenders sentenced to less than three months in prison ineligible for the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme in England and Wales to estimate the impact of early release on recidivism using a regression discontinuity (RD) approach. We have access to detailed data on all prisoners released between 2000 and 2006 and their past and future criminal history. We first obtain estimates controlling and matching on observable characteristics which find that the policy reduced recidivism by about 9 percent. The RD methodology takes into account the potential importance of unobservable characteristics. We find that the policy impacts remain relatively unchanged. However, when taking into account prison establishment unobserved characteristics, our results are weakened but still suggest that early release on electronic monitoring can reduce the likelihood of future arrest by 5 to 7 percent. Details: London: Department of Economics, Royal Holloway University of London, 2009. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2012 at: http://www.coll.mpg.de/economix/2009/Marie.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.coll.mpg.de/economix/2009/Marie.pdf Shelf Number: 125856 Keywords: Early Release (U.K.) Electronic Monitoring Recidivism

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Outcome Evaluation of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative in Minnesota Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (InnerChange), a faith-based prisoner reentry program, by examining recidivism outcomes among 732 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2003 and 2009. Results from the Cox regression analyses revealed that participating in InnerChange significantly reduced reoffending (rearrest, reconviction, and new offense reincarceration), although it did not have a significant impact on reincarceration for a technical violation revocation. The findings further suggest that the beneficial recidivism outcomes for InnerChange participants may have been due, in part, to the continuum of mentoring support some offenders received in both the institution and the community. The results imply that faith-based correctional programs can reduce recidivism, but only if they apply evidence-based practices that focus on providing a behavioral intervention within a therapeutic community, addressing the criminogenic needs of participants, and delivering a continuum of care from the institution to the community. Given that InnerChange relies heavily on volunteers and program costs are privately funded, the program exacts no additional costs from the State of Minnesota. Yet, because InnerChange lowers recidivism, which includes reduced reincarceration and victimization costs, the program may be especially advantageous from a cost-benefit perspective. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2012. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2012 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/2-12-DOC_IFI_Evaluation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/2-12-DOC_IFI_Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 125859 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Faith-Based Correctional Programs Mentoring Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Religion

Author: Homeless Link Title: Better Together: Preventing Reoffending and Homelessness Summary: Homelessness and re-offending have a complex link where, for many individuals, each is both a cause and a result of the other. Among people who are homeless there is a vast over-representation of offending backgrounds. Over 75% homelessness services in England support clients who are prison leavers. One in five clients using homelessness services has links with the probation service. In turn, homelessness increases the chances of re-offending. Ex-prisoners who are homeless upon release are twice as likely to re-offend as those with stable accommodation. Offenders who are homeless upon entering prison have a much higher reconviction rate within one year of release, with 79% being reconvicted, compared to 47% who have accommodation. While the links between homelessness and offending have been well documented, less attention has been given to the role that the homelessness sector plays in preventing reoffending, or their working relationships with the criminal justice sector. Too often the homelessness sector has been viewed as synonymous only with ‘housing’ rather than for the wider role that it plays in addressing a whole range of other needs, including preventing re-offending. Our aim was to explore these issues, along two key strands:  How the homelessness sector can play a more active role in supporting clients with offending histories, and in preventing re-offending; and  Ways to build strong partnerships between the homelessness and criminal justice sectors, in order to reduce the re-offending rate of homeless clients. Details: London: Homeless Link, 2011. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 7, 2012 at: http://homeless.org.uk/criminal-justice-project Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://homeless.org.uk/criminal-justice-project Shelf Number: 125894 Keywords: - Housing Homelessness (U.K.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Ipsos MORI Title: Evaluation of the London Youth Reducing Re-offending Programme (Daedalus). Interim report – process evaluation Summary: There has been a long history of studies within the UK highlighting the impact of custodial regimes on the resettlement needs of young people. For example, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons and the Youth Justice Board’s (YJB) joint report, ‘Children and Young People in Custody 2008-2009’ (2010), examined young people’s views on what would help them once released from custody. The report found that there were a number of issues surrounding the extent to which young people felt prepared for release. Only 37% of young people felt they had done anything while in custody that would make them less likely to offend in the future, compared with 42% in the previous reporting period. In terms of being prepared for their release, only 45% believed they had done something useful during their time in custody that would help them get a job, while even fewer said they had spoken to someone about going back into education or had received help in finding accommodation (37% and 23% respectively). The report highlighted the need for more resettlement work around finding employment for young people once leaving custody: 73% felt that getting a job would be the experience most likely to prevent them from re-offending in the future, yet only a quarter (23%) had a job to go to on release. However, studies have also shown that when additional focus is placed on care, treatment and through-care, the outcomes for young offenders can be notably improved. For example, in 1992, Ditchfield and Catan compared the regimes of Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) and Local Authority Secure Units (LASUs) and found that young people in LASUs had lower rates of reconviction. They attributed this directly to the focus of LASUs on care and treatment, compared with the security or control ethos in YOIs. In 1991 and 1996, Professor Gwyneth Boswell also conducted research which compared the experiences of Section 53 offenders in two high-quality Youth Treatment Centres (which have subsequently closed) with those in YOIs, and reached similar conclusions to Ditchfield and Catan. In 2003, she also carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the regimes for Section 90/91 young people at Feltham YOI and at the enhanced Carlford Unit at Warren YOI. The Carlford Unit was found to address the criminogenic needs of the young offenders, due primarily to the injection of extra resources which were used in part to develop a wide range of activities and educational opportunities for those in custody. However, much of the resettlement research to date lacks sufficient information on statistical effectiveness. Additionally, studies have tended to examine the experiences of those aged 18 years or older, and not the youth justice population. Where information is available about young people, it is limited and relates to very small numbers. In light of the impact that focused resettlement work has been shown to have on young offenders, there are several projects currently being under-taken in London. The London Criminal Justice Partnership (CJP) is carrying out a Criminal Justice System (CJS) youth review with support from the Mayor’s office and the YJB. This is a review of the Criminal Justice System relating to young people across London. The review looks at the end-to-end ‘journey’ for young people within the criminal justice system, identifying key points of interaction within the system and the process improvements that are most likely to contribute to public safety, reducing re-offending, and helping young people realise a positive future. The review commenced in June 2010 and a final report was produced in February 2011, with the aim of making practical recommendations on how to shape and inform the future direction of CJS youth strategies in London and how to deliver better co-ordination of activity. Details: London: Ipsos MORI, Social Research Institute, 2011. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed August 10, 2012 at: http://www.londoncjp.gov.uk/publications/ipsos_MORI_Interim_Report_Final_Version_20_04_2011_internal_use_only.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.londoncjp.gov.uk/publications/ipsos_MORI_Interim_Report_Final_Version_20_04_2011_internal_use_only.pdf Shelf Number: 125949 Keywords: Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Offenders, Reentry (U.K.) Re-Offending Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Mortimer, Rhian Title: Risk Factors for Offending: A Developmental Approach Summary: A plethora of research has been conducted to identify the risk and protective factors for offending in low-risk samples, particularly juveniles. However, to date this research has not extended to high security adult offenders who engage in serious offending behaviour, represent the most significant risk to society and are detained in conditions of high security. This thesis utilised previously researched risk factor models to identify how risk and protective factors develop throughout an individual’s lifespan, to increase the likelihood of following an offending pathway in adulthood. This thesis includes a systematic review and review of a psychometric tool, in addition to both an individual case study and a research paper, which identify specific factors relevant to types of high security offenders. The findings demonstrated that aggression and substance misuse were among the most common risk factors, which began in adolescence and continued into adulthood. Therefore, adult high security offenders could be partially retrospectively mapped onto established juvenile risk factor models, thus suggesting that the factors identified in high risk samples are primarily developmental in nature. Further qualitative and quantitative research is recommended to develop these findings; however tentative results demonstrate that interventions with at-risk adolescents may be beneficial in reducing the risk of future high security offenders. In conclusion, the findings support previous research, which suggests that experiences of increased risk factors in conjunction with few protective factors increases the likelihood of individuals being involved in offending behaviour. Therefore, pro-active and reactive measures should be targeted towards such at-risk individuals. Details: Birmingham, UK: Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2010. 228p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 10, 2012 at: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/415/1/Mortimer10ForenPsyD.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/415/1/Mortimer10ForenPsyD.pdf Shelf Number: 126279 Keywords: Adult Offenders (U.K.) At-risk Youth Juvenile to Adult Criminal Careers Recidivism Rehabilitation Risk Assessment

Author: Boulger, Jordan Title: Juvenile Recidivism in Illinois: Examining Re-arrest and Re-incarceration of Youth Committed for a Court Evaluation Summary: This study tracked re-arrest and re-incarceration of 1,230 youth incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) for court evaluation after being released in state fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007. A court evaluation is a 30-, 60-, or 90-day commitment to IDJJ, during which administrators assess a youth’s rehabilitative needs and inform a judge’s sentencing decision. Demographic characteristics, re-arrest, and re-incarceration of the court evaluation population in Illinois were examined. Key findings include:  89 percent of youth incarcerated for court evaluations were male, and about half were African-American. These youth averaged 15.5 years old at admission and 15.8 at exit from the Department of Juvenile Justice.  36 percent of the sample had completed some high school (grades 9 through 12).  Almost two thirds of youth in the sample were incarcerated for court evaluation for a non-violent offense, most commonly a property offense.  About one quarter of the sample youth were released after being sentenced for a Class 2 felony, while 21 percent had been sentenced for a Class 3 felony.  Youth incarcerated for court evaluations averaged about 4.6 prior arrests. Only 3 percent of youth had been previously incarcerated.  Class 4 offenders tended to have more prior arrests, with an average of six. Drug offenders had the lengthiest criminal backgrounds, averaging seven prior arrests.  Of the youth in the sample, 86 percent were re-arrested within three years of release from a youth prison. Overall, 93 percent of the sample were re-arrested within six years.  Drug offenders had the highest three-year re-arrest rate at 93 percent, while sex offenders had the lowest (80 percent).  Class 4 offenders had the highest overall re-arrest rate at 93 percent, while misdemeanants had the lowest (81 percent).  Overall, 59 percent of the sample was re-incarcerated as either a juvenile or an adult, with 36 percent re-incarcerated within a year after release.  Forty percent of the youth had at least one juvenile re-incarceration, while 29 percent were re-incarcerated as adults. 10 percent were re-incarcerated as both juveniles and adults. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2012. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2012 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/IDJJ_Recidivism_Court_Evaluation_082012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/IDJJ_Recidivism_Court_Evaluation_082012.pdf Shelf Number: 126299 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Illinois) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Bostwick, Lindsay Title: Juvenile Recidivism in Illinois: Exploring Youth Re-arrest and Re-incarceration Summary: This study was conducted to add to the understanding of juveniles incarcerated in Illinois by examining re-arrest and re-incarceration of 3,052 juveniles released from the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) in state fiscal years 2005, 2006, and 2007. This report provides a detailed summary of this population, including demographics and offending history to recidivism into the adult system. Key findings include:  63 percent of youth in the sample were incarcerated for a non-violent offense, 43 percent for a property offense, and 31 percent for a person offense.  Most (85 percent) served sentences in IDJJ for felonies.  Youth in the sample had been arrested an average of five times prior to incarceration, and 21 percent had previously been incarcerated.  Youth incarcerated for Class 4 felonies had the highest average number of prior arrests (mean=7) compared to other offense classes.  Youth incarcerated for drug offenses had the highest average number of prior arrests (mean=8) compared to other offense types.  86 percent of youth were re-arrested within three years of release from IDJJ.  Youth released after serving a sentence for a drug offense had the highest re-arrest rates (95 percent), while sex offenders had the lowest (61 percent).  Youth released after serving a sentence for a Class 4 felony had the highest re-arrest rates (91 percent).  Youth released for first-degree murder had the lowest re-arrest rates (46 percent) compared to other offense types.  68 percent of youth in the sample were re-incarcerated within three years of release.  53 percent of youth in the sample were re-incarcerated as juveniles. Some (34 percent) were re-incarcerated as adults.  41 percent of those in the sample were re-incarcerated at least once for a new sentence.  53 percent of youth in the sample were re-incarcerated at least once for a technical violation of parole or MSR.  64 percent of first re-incarcerations were for technical violations of parole. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2012 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/IDJJ_Recidivism_Delinquents_082012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/IDJJ_Recidivism_Delinquents_082012.pdf Shelf Number: 126319 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Illinois) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Wybron, Deb Title: ACT Women and Prisons - Invisible Bars: The Stories behind the Stats Summary: Australia’s culture of institutionalisation remains today, in the form of prisons, remand centres, youth detention centres, mental health facilities and immigration detention centres to name a few. While this paper focuses mainly on women with lived experience of prison, it argues that prisons cannot be considered in isolation from other institutions and outside the greater context of Australia’s history. The reality is that the majority of Australians in prison today have experienced some form of institutional or out-of-home ‘care’ as young people. There is significant evidence to suggest that institutionalisation has a profoundly negative impact on people’s health and well-being, which continues long after they return to the community. Unsurprisingly, the status of Australian women with lived prison experience is frighteningly poor, with research showing that they are more likely to have mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems and to have experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence than women in the broader community. This paper presents the stories of six ACT (Australian Capital Territory) women with a variety of lived prison experiences. While these courageous women told their stories as part of this project, it is acknowledged that there are many more women, who for a variety of reasons have not yet had the opportunity to do so. Information was also gathered from eight ACT women’s service providers who regularly support women with lived experience of prison and institutionalisation. The experiences of all of these women were recorded, and the content analysed using a technique known as ‘thematic analysis.’ Through this analysis, 12 core themes and 10 sub-themes were identified in the women’s conversations. These themes are discussed and a variety of literature is presented to support and validate the women’s experiences. Following this discussion, a section is dedicated to understanding Australia’s history of institutionalisation and the impacts it has had on women with lived prison experience. The paper concludes with a statement of commitment from the agencies involved, which details how they will work together to move forward in addressing the unmet needs of these women. The information gathered in this paper provides significant insight into the impact that imprisonment and institutionalisation has had on these women’s lives. The Women’s Centre for Health Matters (WCHM) and the ACT Women and Prisons Group (WAP) hope that this information will assist counselors, social workers, case managers and other professionals who support women with lived prison experience to better meet their needs. The paper will also be a useful resource for community groups who want to undertake similar activities that allow other marginalised group to have their stories listened to. Details: Mawson, Australia: Women's Centre for Health Matters, Inc., 2009. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2012 at http://www.wchm.org.au/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=35769 Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.wchm.org.au/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=35769 Shelf Number: 126342 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Demographic Trends Female Inmates (Australia) Female Prisoners (Australia) Inmates, Mental Health Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Taussig, Isabel Title: Penalties and Reconviction Risk Among Offenders Convicted of Drug Driving Summary: The aims of this study was to investigate: 1) penalties for drug driving; 2) risk of reconviction among drug drivers; and 3) how penalties and reconviction risk vary according to offender characteristics. Information for 3,770 offenders with proven drug driving offences (2007 - 2011) was extracted from the NSW re-offending database. Aims (1) and (2) were addressed by identifying the most serious penalties for drug driving and the number of convictions accumulated over 12 and 24 months. Aim (3) was addressed by building logistic regression models identifying independent predictors of penalty and recidivism. The results showed that the most common principal penalty for drug driving was a fine (60.2% received a fine and the average fine was $581). While 17.2 per cent of offenders had their matters dismissed without conviction, most dismissals (84%) also included a good behaviour bond. Offenders were less likely to have their matters dismissed if they were younger, had concurrent charges or a prior criminal record. One-third (35.3%) had been convicted for a new offence within 24 months. Recidivism was higher for offenders who had a prior criminal record, were not on bail and/or were Indigenous. Conclusion: The most common outcomes for drug driving are fines and dismissals. Those who have their matters dismissed tend to share characteristics with those at lower risk of recidivism. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2012. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue Paper No. 79: Accessed September 18, 2012 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/BB79.pdf/$file/BB79.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/BB79.pdf/$file/BB79.pdf Shelf Number: 126370 Keywords: Driving Under the Influence (Australia) Drugged Driving Drugs and Driving Recidivism Reoffending Sentence Length Sentencing

Author: White, William L. Title: Management of the High-Risk DUI Offender Summary: The state of Illinois invests considerable resources to prevent and contain the threat to public safety posed by alcohol- and other drug-impaired drivers. Those resources have produced significant changes in legislation and a multi-agency system that seeks to further reduce impaired driving and to respond aggressively to contain, rehabilitate and monitor those convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). Between 1982 and 2001, the efforts of these agencies have reduced the alcohol-related fatalities per 100 million miles of travel in Illinois by more than 60 percent (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2002). One important initiative has been the design and delivery of DUI-related training by the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, the Secretary of State, and the Illinois Department of Transportation. For the past fourteen years, the author has worked with these agencies to update judges, prosecutors, evaluators, probation officers, treatment personnel, and administrative hearing officers on the latest findings about what we are learning about impaired driving, the profile of the DUI offender and the most effective approaches to prevention, rehabilitation and containment. The purpose of this monograph is to capture the information provided through that training in writing so that it may reach a larger audience. It is hoped this information will help orient new personnel filling these roles and aid in the development of new trainers who will continue this work in the future. This monograph has been written with six specific audiences in mind: state’s attorney staff who prosecute DUI cases, judges who hear DUI cases, the evaluators who assess DUI offenders and report their findings to the courts, the probation officers who monitor and supervise DUI offenders, the treatment personnel called upon to counsel DUI offenders, and the Secretary of State administrative hearing officers who decide if and when to reinstate driving privileges for persons convicted of DUI. The monograph will cover the following content areas: Substance use trends and their implication for public safety; The changing perception of the DUI offender; Subpopulations of DUI offenders; The high risk DUI offender profile; The role of addiction treatment and mutual aid resources in managing and rehabilitating the DUI offender; and, Principles and strategies for managing the DUI offender in the local community. Details: Springfield, IL: University of Illinois at Springfield Institute for Legal, Administrative and Policy Studies, 2003. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2012 at http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/Research/documents/Management_of_the_High_Risk_DUI_Offender2003.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/Research/documents/Management_of_the_High_Risk_DUI_Offender2003.pdf Shelf Number: 126387 Keywords: Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Offender Management Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: George, Thomas P. Title: Domestic Violence Sentencing Conditions and Recidivism Summary: This study examined the types of sentence conditions imposed on domestic violence offenders, the combination of conditions that formed offenders’ sentences, and the relationship between the type of sentence received and recidivism. A total of 66,759 individuals charged with a domestic violence offense from 2004 through 2006 in Washington State courts were included in the study, 41% of whom had conditions imposed at sentencing. Over 100 different types of conditions were used during the study period, which were then reduced to 14 condition categories. Offenders received, on average, over six different conditions. Proscriptions, fines, jail, and probation were the most common conditions imposed, each included in over half of all sentences. The combinations of conditions within sentences were then examined, and ten types of sentences were selected for analysis. Logistic regression was used to predict both domestic violence recidivism and any type of subsequent offense, controlling for a number of offender and case characteristics. Results indicated that, when compared to offenders who received sentences involving only fines and/or proscriptions, those who also complied with either probation, victim-oriented treatment, or probation and treatment had lower odds of committing another domestic violence offense during the five-year follow-up period. Any sentence that included a jail term along with fines and/or proscriptions was associated with higher odds of domestic violence recidivism. Results were similar when examining recidivism in general with one exception; sentences that included anger management interventions were also associated with lower odds of recidivating. Offenders who completed state-certified domestic violence treatment, on the other hand, did not have significantly lower or higher odds of recidivating when compared to offenders who received only fines and/or proscriptions. Results suggest a need to re-examine how domestic violence offenders are sentenced as well as whether current models of domestic violence treatment are effective in preventing further violence. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2012 at: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/DV_sentencing_conditions_recidivism.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/DV_sentencing_conditions_recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 126477 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Offenders (Washington, State) Family Violence Punishment Recidivism Sentencing Violence Against Women

Author: Osher, Fred Title: Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery Summary: The large numbers of adults with behavioral health disorders (mental illnesses, substance use disorders, or both) who are arrested and convicted of criminal offenses pose a special challenge for correctional and health administrators responsible for their confinement, rehabilitation, treatment, and supervision. As corrections populations have grown, the requirements for correctional facilities to provide health care to these inmates has stretched the limits of their budgets and available program personnel. They often lack the resources to provide the kinds of services many of these individuals need for recovery and to avoid reincarceration. Addressing the needs of individuals on probation or returning from prisons and jails to the community also raises difficult issues for the behavioral health administrators and service providers who have come to be relied on for treatment. Individuals with behavioral health issues who have criminal histories often have complex problems, some of which are difficult to address in traditional treatment settings. The reality is, however, that public healthcare professionals are already struggling to serve them. A significant number of individuals who receive services through the publicly funded mental health and substance abuse systems are involved in the criminal justice system. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the criminal justice system is the single largest source of referral to the public substance abuse treatment system, with probation and parole treatment admissions representing the highest proportion of these referrals.1 Overlapping populations similarly exist for corrections administrators and mental healthcare providers.2 With state and local agencies enduring dramatic budget cuts, resources are already scarce for serving and supervising individuals with substance abuse and mental health needs who are, or have been, involved in the criminal justice system. The question that many policymakers and practitioners are asking is whether those resources are being put to the best use in advancing public safety and health, as well as personal recovery. They are examining whether allocations of behavioral health resources are increasing diversion from the criminal justice system when appropriate and reducing ongoing criminal justice involvement for individuals under correctional control and supervision.3 The answer, frankly, is we do not think that the scale of the investments in these efforts has come close to addressing the extent of the problem or that resources are always properly focused. The dedication of resources made behind the bars and in the community does not appear to stop the individuals with substance abuse and mental health disorders from cycling through the criminal justice system—in many cases, they are simply insufficient to effect a systemwide change or do not focus narrowly enough on the people who would most benefit from the interventions. These investments in treatment and supervision have traditionally not been coordinated and sometimes even work at cross-purposes. Just as the substance abuse and mental health systems used to operate in silos—but now frequently come together to provide integrated co-occurring treatment options—a similar challenge is now before the corrections and behavioral health systems. The vast majority of inmates eventually return to their home communities from prisons and jails (650,000 or more individuals each year from state prisons alone,4 and more than 9 million individuals from jail).5 This influx of returning inmates has sparked an urgent need for corrections and behavioral healthcare administrators to reconsider the best means to facilitate reentry and service delivery to the many individuals with substance abuse and mental health problems. Despite the overlap in the populations they serve, little consensus exists among behavioral healthcare and community corrections administrators and providers on who should be prioritized for treatment, what services they should receive, and how those interventions should be coordinated with supervision. Too often, corrections administrators hear that “those aren’t my people” from behavioral healthcare administrators and providers. And just as often, the behavioral health community feels they are asked to assume a public safety role that is not in synch with their primary mission. Misunderstandings about each system’s capacity, abilities, and roles, as well as what types of referrals are appropriate, have contributed to the problem. This white paper presents a shared framework for reducing recidivism and behavioral health problems among individuals under correctional control or supervision—that is, for individuals in correctional facilities or who are on probation or parole. The paper is written for policymakers, administrators, and practitioners committed to making the most effective use of scarce resources to improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health problems who are involved in the corrections system. It is meant to provide a common structure for corrections and treatment system professionals to begin building truly collaborative responses to their overlapping service population. These responses include both behind-the-bars and community-based interventions. This framework is designed to achieve each system’s goals and ultimately to help millions of individuals rebuild their lives while on probation or after leaving prison or jail. Details: New York: Council of State Governments, Justice Center, 2012. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2012 at: http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/adults-with-behavioral-health-needs Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://consensusproject.org/jc_publications/adults-with-behavioral-health-needs Shelf Number: 126500 Keywords: Health Care Mental Health Services Mentally Ill Inmates Prisoners (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: Barnoski, Robert Title: The Effects of Parole on Recidivism: Juvenile Offenders Released from Washington State Institutions - Final Report Summary: In July 1998, the Washington State Legislature eliminated parole for youth released from Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) institutions for all but high risk and sex offenders. In a 2001 report, preliminary recidivism findings were compared for juvenile offenders released on parole with juvenile offenders released without parole. Results indicated that parole does not have an influence on recidivism. In this study, the Institute used a longer follow-up period and added a second comparison group. This 2006 study is therefore a more rigorous test of the effect of parole on recidivism for most juvenile offenders. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2006. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/06-07-1203.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/06-07-1203.pdf Shelf Number: 110180 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Parole Recidivism

Author: The Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: States Report Reductions in Recidivism Summary: The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center's National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) released this policy brief on September 25, 2012 highlighting a number of states reporting significant reductions in recidivism. The states profiled in the report show significant declines in their three-year recidivism rates based on data tracking individuals released from prison in 2005-2007. Texas and Ohio reported reductions of 11 percent, while the Kansas rate fell by 15 percent and Michigan's rate dropped by 18 percent. Incorporating data through 2010 (and in some cases, through 2011), the report provides the most recent multi-state information available on recidivism. Details: New York: The Council of State Governments, Justice Center, 2012. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2012 at http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/documents/0000/1569/9.24.12_Recidivism_Reductions_9-24_lo_res.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/documents/0000/1569/9.24.12_Recidivism_Reductions_9-24_lo_res.pdf Shelf Number: 126522 Keywords: Crime Reduction, Recidivism Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Klima, Tali Title: Risk Assessment Instruments to Predict Recidivism of Sex Offenders: Practices in Washington State Summary: This paper reviews policies and practices regarding assessment of sex offenders for risk of reoffense among public agencies and private treatment providers in Washington State. Specifically, we reviewed the use of risk assessment instruments, which gauge the likelihood that individual sex offenders will reoffend. We found that a diverse set of instruments are employed by public and private entities in making decisions about sex offenders. These decisions include sentencing, facility assignment, treatment, release, public notification, and community supervision. As expected, there was greater variability in risk assessment practices among private treatment providers than public agencies. Three policies related to risk assessment were identified as topics of concern. One is the lack of appropriate instruments for juvenile sex offenders. The second is the validity of the primary instrument used to determine risk levels for registration purposes, the WSSORLCT (soon to be replaced). Third, some informants discussed the static nature of risk level assignment and suggested provisions to reassess offenders’ levels during extended registration periods. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2008. 12p. Source: Document No. 08-06-1101: Internet Resource: Accessed October 1, 2012 at http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/08-06-1101.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/08-06-1101.pdf Shelf Number: 126541 Keywords: Re-Offending Recidivism Recidivism, Sex Offenders (Washington) Risk Assessment Sex Offenders

Author: Revolving Doors Agency Title: Ending the Revolving Door: How the First Generation of Police and Crime Commissioners Can Cut Crime by Working in Partnership to Address Multiple Needs Summary: With nearly half a million crimes committed by former offenders in the year ending June 2010, repeat offending and anti-social behaviour is causing serious damage to communities, taking up valuable police resources, and placing a major burden on the public purse. A significant proportion of this crime is committed by people with multiple needs, who are falling through gaps in services and failing to get the help they need to stop offending. This briefing highlights to police and crime commissioner candidates the importance of dealing effectively with this group of ‘revolving door’ offenders in order to reduce crime and maintain an efficient police force, and offers solutions for them to consider locally. Details: London: Revolving Doors Agency, 2012. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2012 at http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/ending-the-revolving-door/ Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/ending-the-revolving-door/ Shelf Number: 126640 Keywords: Anti-Social Behavior Costs of Crime Criminal Justice Policy Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Sturrock, Rachel Title: Supporting Transitions: A Summative Evaluation of the Transition to Adulthood Pilots Summary: This summative evaluation examines the outcomes for young adults benefitting from a ‘T2A approach’ through three pilot projects funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust (BCT). This approach is a new way of working with 18 to 24-year-olds in the criminal justice system which takes into account their distinct developmental needs. It is part of a wider initiative funded by the Trust – the Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) – which is campaigning on this issue. This is the third evaluation of the T2A pilots’ work commissioned by the Barrow Cadbury Trust. The Oxford Centre for Criminology conducted a formative evaluation which explored the work as it developed (Burnett et al; 2010) and Matrix Evidence carried out a break-even analysis (Matrix; 2011). Details: Catch22, 2012. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2012 at: http://www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/T2A-Summative-Evaluation-Catch22-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/T2A-Summative-Evaluation-Catch22-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 126662 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Reoffending Young Adult Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Corabian, Paula Title: Treatment for Convicted Adult Male Sex Offenders Summary: Sexual offending has become a major challenge for social policy because of the high human and financial costs to victims and the social and health services as well as the high public investment in policing, prosecuting, and incarcerating sex offenders. There is an expectation that the correctional systems should make reasonable efforts to reduce the potential that convicted sex offenders will reoffend. One common approach to sex offenders’ management in countries with developed market economies is to provide specialized treatment programs. A number of different sex offender treatment (SOT) programs have been developed and are currently operating, but there continues to be controversy regarding how well they work. To evaluate the effectiveness of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy interventions delivered within SOT programs to reduce the likelihood of reoffending in convicted adult male sex offenders. Eight systematic reviews (SRs) conducted on the effectiveness of SOT interventions and programs met the inclusion criteria of this overview. All eight SRs focused on the use of psychotherapy for convicted sex offenders, whereas one also included surgical castration and hormonal medication. In these studies there was considerable variability in how interventions were classified, the types of sex offenders involved, and the definition of outcomes. According to the reviewed evidence, studies in the area of SOT outcome research have improved over the past 10 years. However, the need for more rigour remains. The following are highlights from the reviewed evidence. —— Although the debate in the scientific literature on what SOT interventions and programs are most effective for convicted adult male sex offenders remains, the results from seven moderate- to-high quality SRs show small but statistically significant reductions in sexual and general recidivism rates among convicted adult male sex offenders treated with various cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches. —— The most recently published high quality SR found that SOT programs using CBT approaches that adhered to the risk/need/responsivity (RNR) model for offender assessment and rehabilitation were most effective in reducing the risk of recidivism in convicted male sexual offenders. On average, programs that followed all three RNR principles reported recidivism rates that were less than half the recidivism rates for comparison groups. In contrast, there was no effect on recidivism rates for programs that did not follow the RNR model. Confidence in these findings, however, must be tempered as the available evidence is based mostly on poor quality primary research studies. —— Although one SR of moderate quality reported promising results on the use of hormonal treatments as an adjuvant to psychotherapy, wellconducted and reported controlled studies are needed to establish the effectiveness of adjuvant hormonal treatment to reduce the risk of recidivism among sex offenders. —— Overall, the results reported by the selected SRs provide little direction regarding how to improve current treatment practices. • It is still not clear whether all sex offenders require treatment or whether current interventions are more appropriate for certain subgroups and typologies of offenders. • There are still uncertainties regarding the most useful elements and components of a SOT program for convicted adult male sex offenders. • There is no clear answer on whether the setting of the SOT program affects its impact on recidivism rates. While the evidence from seven moderate-to-high quality SRs suggests that SOT has the potential to reduce sexual and nonsexual recidivism, the reported findings provide stronger support for the effectiveness of CBT approaches and for programs adhering to the RNR model. Any conclusions drawn from this overview of SRs remain tentative. Given the methodological problems of the available primary research, it is difficult to draw strong conclusions about the effectiveness of SOT programs using various CBT approaches for such a heterogeneous population. The reviewed evidence does not provide clear answers to what are the components of an optimal SOT program and to whether where the program is delivered matters. All SRs concluded that more and better research is needed to clearly answer these questions. Details: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada: Institute of Health Economics, 2010. 104p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 11, 2012 at: http://www.ihe.ca/documents/Treatment%20for%20Convicted%20Adult%20Male%20Sex%20Offenders.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.ihe.ca/documents/Treatment%20for%20Convicted%20Adult%20Male%20Sex%20Offenders.pdf Shelf Number: 126676 Keywords: Male Sex Offenders Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Treatment Programs

Author: Ricklund, Peter Title: Rapid Referral Program: Spectrum Youth & Family Services: Outcome Evaluation Summary: The Rapid Referral Program is a partnership between Spectrum Youth & Family Services of Burlington, Vermont and the Chittenden County District Court. The purpose of this partnership is to increase access to mental health and substance abuse assessment services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system whose charge(s) are related to substance use. The main objective of the Program is to provide judges with a mechanism at arraignment to rapidly refer defendants to Spectrum Youth Services for substance abuse screening and treatment rather than delaying services until the case is disposed by the court. An outcome evaluation attempts to determine the effects that a program has on its participants. In the case of the Rapid Referral Program (hereafter “the Program”), the objective of this outcome evaluation was to determine the extent to which the Program impacts recidivism among Program participants. An indicator of post-Program criminal behavior that is commonly used in outcome evaluations of criminal justice programs is the number of participants who recidivate -- that is, are convicted of a crime after they complete the Program. For this study an analysis of the criminal history records of the 171 subjects who were referred and accepted into the Program from November, 2008 to September, 2011 was conducted using the Vermont criminal history record of participants as provided by the Vermont Criminal Information Center at the Department of Public Safety. The Vermont criminal history record on which the recidivism analysis was based included all charges and convictions prosecuted in a Vermont District Court that were available as of December 5, 2011. The criminal records on which the study was based do not contain Federal prosecutions, out-of-state prosecutions, or traffic tickets. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS 1. The Rapid Referral Program serves its designated target population. 2. The Rapid Referral Program serves defendants who possess a variety of risk factors generally considered to be related to recidivism. 3. The Rapid Referral Program appears to be a promising approach for positively impacting recidivism among Program participants. 4. The vast majority of Rapid Referral Program participants that recidivate are convicted of new crimes within one year of Program completion. Estimates suggest that the percentage of participants who recidivate is not likely to increase as post-Program elapsed time continues to increase for participants. 5. Generally, post-Program reconvictions for Rapid Referral Program participants involved minor types of crime. 6. The Rapid Referral Program seems to be relatively successful in reducing the number of reconvictions for alcohol and drug crimes among participants after Program completion. 7. The Rapid Referral Program recidivists tended to commit post-Program crime in Chittenden County. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2012. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2012 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/downloads-2/files/Spectrum%20Report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/downloads-2/files/Spectrum%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 126747 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Mental Health Services Recidivism Substance Abuse (Vermont)

Author: Wicklund, Peter Title: Windsor County Sparrow Project: Outcome Evaluation Summary: The Sparrow Project was initiated in the spring of 2009 when it was awarded an H.859 Justice Reinvestment Pilot Project grant from the Vermont Court Administrator’s office (CAO). The grant application was submitted by Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont (HCRS) in collaboration with the Windsor District Court, the Windsor County State’s Attorneys Office, a group of Windsor County public defenders, Probation & Parole for the Springfield and Hartford Districts, and the Field Service Division of the Agency of Human Services for the Springfield and Hartford districts. Bill H.859 was passed during the 2007/2008 Legislative session. The Sparrow Project was designed to address a critical need in the community to meet the challenges facing defendants with substance abuse and/or mental health issues. The Sparrow Project offers effective alternatives to incarceration through a viable community-based treatment plan. Through clinical case management services, the Sparrow Project is focused on increasing the availability of therapeutic services to defendants and veterans in Windsor County charged with non-violent property felonies, drug felonies, and other charges. The Sparrow Project is designed to help improve the quality of life for these individuals by decreasing recidivism, helping them develop the skills they need to make healthy decisions, and moving them towards recovery, in order to become successful participants in our community. During the study period 58% of Sparrow Project participants (56 of 97) completed the Project. An outcome evaluation attempts to determine the effects that a program has on participants. In the case of the Sparrow Project the objective of this outcome evaluation was to determine the extent to which participation in the Sparrow Project reduced recidivism among program participants. An indicator of post-program criminal behavior that is commonly used in outcome evaluations of criminal justice programs is the number of participants who recidivate -- that is, are convicted of a crime after they complete the program or, in the case of this study, while they are in the program or after they are dis-enrolled from the program. An analysis of the criminal history records of the 103 subjects who were referred to and accepted into the Sparrow Project from March 30, 2009 to October 28, 2011 was conducted using the Vermont criminal history record of participants as provided by the Vermont Criminal Information Center at the Department of Public Safety. The Vermont criminal history record on which the recidivism analysis was based included all charges and convictions prosecuted in a Vermont District Court that were available as of January 23, 2012. The criminal records on which the study was based do not contain Federal prosecutions, out-of-state prosecutions, or traffic tickets. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS 1. The Sparrow Project appears to be a promising approach for reducing recidivism among Project participants who completed the Project. Participants who successfully completed the Project had a reconviction rate of 17.9% which is substantially less than the 29.3% recidivism rate for those participants who were dis-enrolled from the Project. 2. Participants who successfully completed the Sparrow Project recidivated at the same pace as did participants who were dis-enrolled from the Project. For the recidivists who successfully completed the Sparrow Project, 100% of those reconvictions for any new crime occurred in less than one year. For the recidivists who were unsuccessful in completing the Project, 91.7% (11 of 12) of reconvictions for any new crime occurred in less than one year, and only one occurred during the first year after being dis-enrolled from the Project. Further analysis indicated that though the vast majority of recidivism occurs within the first year, it is unlikely that recidivism will increase substantially as post-Project elapsed time continues to increase for participants. 3. The Sparrow Project appears to be a promising approach for reducing the number of post-Project reconvictions for participants who completed the Project. The reconviction rate for those participants who completed the Project was 39 reconvictions per 100 participants versus 66 reconvictions per 100 participants for the dis-enrolled group. There were no felony reconvictions for participants who successfully completed the Project, whereas there were four felony reconvictions for the dis-enrolled group. For both groups approximately 85% of their reconvictions involved (listed in order of frequency) motor vehicle charges violations of conditions of release, drug crimes, theft, false information to a law enforcement officer, and violation of probation. There was only one reconviction for a violent crime (Domestic Assault); it involved a participant from the “successful completion” group. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2012. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2012 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/sparrowreport_files/SparrowRpt_6-20-12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/sparrowreport_files/SparrowRpt_6-20-12.pdf Shelf Number: 126748 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Abuse and Addiction (Vermont) Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Mental Health Services Recidivism

Author: Bewley, Helen Title: The Effectiveness of Different Community Order Requirements for Offenders Who Received an OASys Assessment Summary: The study used propensity score matching to explore the impact of different community order requirements on the re-offending rate and frequency of re-offending within two years of the initial offence. The analysis used data from the Offender Assessment System, probation and re-offending records and administrative data on employment and benefit receipt. The study found no evidence to suggest that increasing the punitive element of community orders would have a detrimental effect on re-offending, for the combinations of requirements considered. However, combining other types of requirement, such as supervision, with a punitive element, can increase the effectiveness of the community order. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 17/12: Accessed October 24, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/niesr-report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/niesr-report.pdf Shelf Number: 126796 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Sentencing Community Supervision Offenders (U.K.) Probationers Recidivism Reoffending

Author: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Research Title: 2012 Outcome Evaluation Report Summary: To comport with national best practices, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) measures recidivism by tracking arrests, convictions and returns to State custody. CDCR uses the latter measure, returns to State custody, as the primary measure of recidivism for the purpose of this report. We chose this measure because it is the most reliable measure available and is well understood and commonly used by most correctional stakeholders. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2012. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2012 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY_0708_Recidivism_Report_10.23.12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY_0708_Recidivism_Report_10.23.12.pdf Shelf Number: 126894 Keywords: Prisoners (California) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Scotland. Auditor General Title: Reducing Reoffending in Scotland Summary: This audit looked specifically at reducing reoffending. The overall aim was to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of approaches taken to reduce reoffending. The audit focused on what happens to adult offenders sentenced in court. We did not look at preventative work designed to stop people offending in the first place or measures to prevent low-level offenders going to court, such as police warnings or fines imposed by a procurator fiscal. We identified the scale and nature of reoffending, the range of options for sentencing and the amount of money spent on reducing reoffending. We also assessed the effectiveness of partnership working, including the role of CJAs. We did not include young people referred back to the children’s hearing system by a sheriff. Evidence for this audit is based on an analysis of national and local data; information from SPS, the Scottish Government, CJAs and criminal justice social work services; and interviews with a wide range of people who work with offenders. In addition, we commissioned a series of focus groups to gather views of people currently serving a community or prison sentence; and a review of evidence on levels of reoffending in other countries. This work is published in two supplementary reports available on our website www.audit-scotland.gov.uk. A detailed description of our methodology is provided in Appendix 2 and details of our advisory group in Appendix 3. We have developed a series of questions for CJA board members to use to help them improve the effectiveness of the CJA in reducing reoffending. These are included in Appendix 4. Our report is in four parts: • Reoffending in Scotland (Part 1). • Expenditure on reducing reoffending (Part 2). • Services to reduce reoffending (Part 3). • Effectiveness of current arrangements (Part 4). Details: Edinburgh: Audit Scotland, 2012. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2012 at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2012/nr_121107_reducing_reoffending.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/central/2012/nr_121107_reducing_reoffending.pdf Shelf Number: 126952 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending (Scotland)

Author: Sapouna, Maria Title: What Works to Reduce Reoffending: A Summary of the Evidence Summary: This paper has been prepared to support the next stage in the development of the Reducing Reoffending Programme led by the Justice Directorate in the Scottish Government. Its aim is to review the evidence on the effectiveness of different approaches to reduce reoffending or, in other words, promote desistance from crime among young people and adults. The term “desistance” is used extensively in the paper and refers to an extended period of refraining from further offending. However, there is considerable disagreement among researchers about how long an offender must be crime-free before being considered a “desister”, with some researchers claiming that “true desistance” can be determined with certainty only after offenders die. In most evaluations, a two-year follow-up period is used to differentiate desisters from recidivists. The review did not consider studies that assessed the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions in achieving outcomes other than reduced reoffending such as increased public confidence in the criminal justice system and justice to victims. Where available, information on value for money of interventions is provided. The timescales for completing this piece of work were very tight and precluded a comprehensive search of the literature. The review draws heavily upon some key sources of evidence from within Scotland, the rest of the UK and other countries that were easily accessible, mainly systematic reviews of “what works” to reduce reoffending and qualitative studies investigating offenders’ own perceptions of the desistance process and the factors that facilitated or hindered a sustained abstinence from offending. It is hoped, however, that this paper will remain a work in progress that will be updated as additional evidence becomes available. The paper was subject to peer review from analytical and policy officials in the Scottish Government, academics and other experts whose contributions greatly enhanced its quality. This paper also includes a review of ‘what works’ with women offenders. Despite a wealth of studies of male offenders there is a paucity of research which can provide answers to ‘what works’ to reduce reoffending in women. Only three studies in a review by Harper and Chitty (2005) of ‘what works’ with offenders included women, while for their meta-analysis of interventions with female offenders, Dowden and Andrews (1999) were only able to identify 26 studies solely (16) or predominantly (10) involving women. Although there are very few robust outcome studies in the UK that disaggregated by gender, the search of the literature did find a small number of international studies which did measure differences in recidivism. The review also draws evidence from qualitative research which elicits the views of women offenders to gain insights into their perceptions of the offending and desistance pathway. It is important to note that this review does not claim to provide a “gold-standard” solution to the problem of reoffending that can successfully fit all offenders as desistance from offending is a complex, subjective process and what may work for some may not work for others. However, it is hoped that the review will provide some direction to policy makers on the type of interventions that have, overall, proven more effective in reducing reoffending. Details: Edinburgh: Justice Analytical Services Scottish Government, 2011. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2012 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00385880.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0038/00385880.pdf Shelf Number: 126953 Keywords: Desistance from Crime Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending (Scotland)

Author: Armstrong, Sarah Title: Reducing Reoffending: Review of Selected Countries Summary: Audit Scotland commissioned this research by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice on international experiences of reoffending. An international perspective of reoffending can inform understanding of the Scottish experience and suggest where efforts might be targeted to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The specific aims of this review are to: · Provide a sense over time of reoffending patterns and experiences of other, potentially comparable, jurisdictions; and, · Identify valid predictors and explanations of reoffending patterns. In addition, we try to build on this knowledge to comment in general terms on what might help reduce reoffending. Through discussion with Audit Scotland we selected five jurisdictions in addition to Scotland to focus the research. and Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Norway and New Zealand. These countries were selected on the basis of size, proximity and shared or relevant penal practices which might put Scotland’s experience in context. Making direct international comparisons in an area like criminal justice is difficult, if not impossible, but considering the differing experiences of countries may nevertheless shed light on explanations for particular trajectories for reoffending within them. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2012. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 29, 2012 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/documents/Reducing%20Reoffending%20FINAL%20Sept%202012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/documents/Reducing%20Reoffending%20FINAL%20Sept%202012.pdf Shelf Number: 127038 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending (Europe)

Author: Nacro Title: Reducing Offending by Looked After Children Summary: Nacro, the largest crime reduction charity in the UK, has published a new guide for practitioners working with looked after children. This essential guide examines some of the key issues in relation to looked after children and the prevention of offending. Highlighting the principal legislative provisions relating to looked after children, it also addresses the main strategic and operational issues for youth offending teams and children’s services arising from this area. It then considers key decision making points in the criminal justice system which can influence outcomes for looked after children and the importance of using diversionary approaches where appropriate. Examining the particular problems that looked after children can face when remanded or sentenced to custody, the guide also sets out the arrangements for professional support from children’s services, independent reviewing officers and youth offending teams before finally considering the importance of good leaving care services in preventing offending. Equipped with useful checklists for practitioners, this guide to reducing offending by looked after children will be of interest to local authorities, youth offending teams and those working with looked after children in foster care and children's homes. Details: London: Nacro, 2012. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2012 at: http://www.nacro.org.uk/data/files/reducing-reoffending-by-looked-after-children-998.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nacro.org.uk/data/files/reducing-reoffending-by-looked-after-children-998.pdf Shelf Number: 127145 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Juvenile Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections Title: An Outcome Evaluation of Minnesota Circles of Support and Accountability (MnCoSA): Preliminary Results from a Randomized Experiment Summary: In 2008, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) implemented MnCoSA, a sex offender reentry program based on the COSA model developed in Canada during the 1990s. Using a randomized experimental design, the DOC evaluated the effectiveness of MnCoSA by conducting a cost-benefit analysis and comparing recidivism outcomes in the MnCoSA (N = 31) and control groups (N = 31). The average follow-up period for the 62 offenders in this study was nearly two years. KEY FINDINGS • Compared to sex offenders in the control group, MnCoSA participants had lower rates of recidivism for all five measures. o Rearrest: 39% MnCoSA vs. 65% Control  No MnCoSA participants were rearrested for a new sex offense compared to one sex offender in the control group o Reconviction: 26% MnCoSA vs. 45% Control o New Offense Reincarceration: 10% MnCoSA vs. 26% Control o Technical Violation Revocation: 48% MnCoSA vs. 68% Control o Any Reincarceration: 48% MnCoSA vs. 61% Control • Participation in MnCoSA significantly decreased three of the five measures of recidivism. The reductions in recidivism risk were: o 62 percent for rearrest o 72 percent for technical violation revocation o 84 percent for any return to prison • Due to less recidivism, MnCoSA has reduced costs to the State of Minnesota. o MnCoSA has produced an estimated $363,211 in costs avoided o The benefit per MnCoSA participant is $11,716 o For every dollar spent on MnCoSA, the program has generated a benefit of $1.82 (an 82 percent return on investment). Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2012 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/9-12MnCOSAOutcomeEvaluation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/9-12MnCOSAOutcomeEvaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 127196 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Prisoner Reentry Randomized Experiment Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders (Minnesota, U.S.)

Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation Title: Core Case Inspection of Youth Offending Work in England and Wales: Report on Youth Offending Work in Lewisham Summary: This Core Case Inspection of youth offending work in Lewisham took place as part of the Inspection of Youth Offending programme. We have examined a representative sample of youth offending cases from the area, and have judged how often the Public Protection and the Safeguarding aspects of the work were done to a sufficiently high level of quality. We judged that the Safeguarding aspects of the work were done well enough 75% of the time. With the Public Protection aspects, work to keep to a minimum each individual’s Risk of Harm to others was done well enough 68% of the time, and the work to make each individual less likely to reoffend was done well enough 80% of the time. A more detailed analysis of our findings is provided in the main body of this report, and summarised in a table in Appendix 1. These figures can be viewed in the context of our findings from Wales and the regions of England inspected so far. We also found against a difficult backdrop that included gang rivalry, drugs and knife crime, the staff in Lewisham worked constructively with children and young people. Improvements were needed, however, to improve the quality of work related to the Risk of Harm to others and to some aspects of how the vulnerability of those children and young people known to the service could be reduced. Overall, we consider this a creditable set of findings. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Probation, 2012. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 20, 2012 at http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmiprobation/youth-inspection-reports/core-case/lewisham-cci-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmiprobation/youth-inspection-reports/core-case/lewisham-cci-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 127241 Keywords: Disability Diversity Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Juvenile Probation Offender Supervision Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Vincent, Gina M. Title: Using Risk Assessment to Meet Needs and Reduce Recidivism Summary: A growing number of juvenile justice experts are suggesting that an effective approach to reducing recidivism is to evaluate a youth’s risk of reoffending, then match services to his or her specific risk factors. With support from the Models for Change initiative, most of the county-based juvenile probation offices in Pennsylvania have adopted the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS) for this purpose. The near-statewide adoption was a significant accomplishment in a state without a centralized juvenile probation system. A study of the impact of YLS in the probation offices of three counties showed it improved their ability to assign appropriate community-based services and levels of monitoring to individual offenders, and significantly decreased reoffense rates in one county. The study also showed that success requires buy-in from key stakeholders. Pennsylvania’s experience provides a model for how states with decentralized juvenile justice systems can implement statewide innovations. Details: Philadelphia, PA: Models for Change, 2012. 4p. Source: Innovation Brief: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2013 at http://www.modelsforchange.net/publications/356/Innovation_Brief_Using_Risk_Assessment_to_Meet_Needs_and_Reduce_Recidivism.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.modelsforchange.net/publications/356/Innovation_Brief_Using_Risk_Assessment_to_Meet_Needs_and_Reduce_Recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 127273 Keywords: Case Management Juvenile Justice Juvenile Probation Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation Title: Looked After Children: An inspection of the work of Youth Offending Teams with children and young people who are looked after and placed away from home Summary: The inspection of children and young people who are looked after, placed away from home and supervised by YOTs was agreed by the Criminal Justice Chief Inspectors’ Group, as part of the Joint Inspection Business Plan 2010-2012. It was led by HM Inspectorate of Probation, with support from Ofsted and Estyn. Its purpose was to assess the effectiveness of YOT work with this group of children and young people in promoting their rehabilitation and maintaining their links with their family and home area (where appropriate) and to identify barriers to effective YOT work. We visited six areas where we asked the YOT to identify, where possible, ten cases, five of which they were supervising on behalf of other local authorities and five of their own cases being supervised by other YOTs. We then assessed the quality of joint work carried out by the agencies involved. The data was supplemented by information gathered from a number of YOTs which were not part of the main fieldwork. Overall findings This inspection looked at a very specific group of children and young people, who are looked after, who were placed away from home and also subject to supervision by YOTs. This group is extremely vulnerable. Some also pose a high risk of causing harm to others, not least the children and young people with whom they are placed. Concerns had been raised about these children and young people by many of the YOTs we visited during our regular inspection programme of YOT work, particularly those located in areas with a high number of children’s homes. From them we heard about lack of contact by home areas, delays in receipt of information about vulnerability and risk posed to others and difficulties in communication between agencies. This significantly impacted on the work by the host YOT to help children and young people to stop offending. This thematic inspection clearly revealed the fragmentation of these children’s lives and how the fact of being looked after could escalate a child or young person into the criminal justice system. It also showed how the two factors - being in care and offending – exacerbated each other. Many of the children and young people whose cases we examined during the course of our inspection had been placed in a succession of children’s homes. It was difficult to track them precisely, but we saw one young person with 31 placements and one placement that lasted less than 24 hours. Nearly one-third had had more than three placements outside their home area and 18% had had more than five (that were recorded); 63% were living more than 50 miles from their home and 24% more than 100 miles. (Regulations stipulate that, where reasonably practicable, placement should be within the home local authority area and as near to the child or young person’s home as possible). Four-fifths of those in the sample had been moved during the period of YOT supervision and one-quarter being moved more than three times. It was evident that the children and young people in our sample were amongst the most damaged and difficult to place. All had experienced considerable family difficulties, and they continued to struggle with the consequences. We found a significant number had been subjected to abuse - sexual, physical and emotional and/or neglect. Many had witnessed, or been the victims of domestic violence. A high number had emotional or mental health problems. Nevertheless, it was not apparent in many cases, from our inspection of YOT work, how the needs of the child were being promoted or safeguarded by a placement so far away from their home area. A significant number were still in contact with their families and continued to drift back to them, whether or not children’s social care services promoted or even allowed contact. In 55% of cases YOTs worked actively with the child or young person’s parent/carer to maintain contact. In most cases, the breakdown in family relationships was further exacerbated by the frequency of changes in the professional relationships the child or young person was required to make, through social workers moving on, placements changing, disrupted education and different specialist agencies being called in. Details: Source: London: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, 2012. 44p. Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 127281 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Cohen, Thomas H. Title: Pretrial Release and Misconduct in Federal District Courts, 2008-2010 Summary: The report presents findings on pretrial release and misconduct among defendants in federal district courts for the combined fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010. The report examines the pretrial process in federal courts, including the pretrial release rate, the type of pretrial release or detention, and the conditions of pretrial release. It explores the most serious offense charges, criminal history, and demographic characteristics of released defendants. Also, it presents rates of pretrial misconduct, including technical violations, missed court appearances, and rearrests for new offenses, by most serious offense charges, types of release, demographic characteristics, and criminal history of defendants. Highlights: From 2008 to 2010, federal district courts released more than a third (36 percent) of defendants prior to case disposition. Nearly three-quarters of federal defendants released pretrial did not pay a financial bond to secure their release. Federal courts released 10% of noncitizen defendants identified as illegal aliens, compared to 43% of legal aliens and 55% of U.S. citizens. About 8 out of 10 federal defendants released prior to their case disposition had conditions attached to their release. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2013 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/prmfdc0810.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/prmfdc0810.pdf Shelf Number: 127366 Keywords: Federal Courts Jail Statistics Preetrial Release (U.S.) Recidivism

Author: Ireland. Probation Service Title: Probation Service Recidivism Study 2011 Summary: The Probation Service and Central Statistics Office have established a partnership to conduct research on recidivism and related issues among offenders on supervision in the community. This first study report is based on anonymised offender and offence information on a 2007 cohort of offenders from the Probation Service supervision database. The study reports on recidivism within two years among that cohort using four years follow up of recorded crime and Court Service data held by the Central Statistics Office. The study also examines variations in recidivism relating to type of original order, gender and age of the offender, category of original offence and of the subsequent offence. This recidivism study, in partnership with the Central Statistics Office, provides a clear overview of community sanctions and their outcomes; informing the Service in the development and support of effective interventions in working to make our communities safer. Details: Dublin: Probation Service, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 2; Accessed January 29, 2012 at: http://www.probation.ie/pws/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011/$FILE/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.probation.ie/pws/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011/$FILE/The+Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2007-2011.pdf Shelf Number: 127427 Keywords: Offender Supervision Probation (Ireland) Probationers Recidivism

Author: Rhodes, William Title: Recidivism of Offenders on Federal Community Supervision Summary: The Office of Probation and Pretrial Services (OPPS) of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) provides community supervision for offenders convicted of federal crimes and conditionally released to the community. Between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2010 245,362 offenders commenced a term of federal community supervision – 56,361 began a term of probation following a conviction for a federal offense and 189,001 began a term of supervised release following a prison sentence. This report examines criminal recidivism, defined as an arrest for a new crime or a revocation, for these 245,362 offenders. Specifically this report examines:  The rates of recidivism among offenders who entered federal community supervision between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2010.  How recidivism rates vary with risk and protective factors and the accuracy of using risk and protective factors to predict recidivism.  How contextual factors (i.e., district, offender’s environment, and probation officer characteristics) affect recidivism rates. Highlights 38% of offenders received for supervision between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005 recidivated within five years of commencing supervision.  24 percent were re-arrested and almost 13 percent were revoked.  Most were re-arrested for drug (30%), property (25%) and violent (23%) offenses. 30% of offenders received for supervision between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2007 recidivated during their term of supervision (within three years of commencing supervision).  16 percent were re-arrested for a new crime and almost 14 percent were revoked.  They were most often arrested for drug (28%), violent (25%) and property (24%) offenses. Several risk factors increase offenders’ risks of committing new offenses or being revoked during their period of supervision including a history of criminal behavior, gender, race, drug abuse problems, mental health issues, unemployment, and basic needs (e.g., financial assistance, temporary housing, and/or transportation assistance). Several protective factors can decrease offenders’ risks of committing new offenses or being revoked including having a strong social support system, marketable skills (i.e., strong educational foundation or life skills), motivation to change, and age. These risk and protective factors distinguish between offenders who will and will not recidivate during their term of supervision and the seriousness of future offenses. Arrest and revocations rates vary significantly across the 90 federal districts studied, after taking risk and protective factors into account. Several district-level variables explain variation in arrest and revocation rates across the districts including the population size, proportion of American Indians, and average household income in a district. Offenders who return to neighborhoods that are seen as impoverished and transient have higher failure rates. Arrest and revocation rates increase with officer experience in the federal probation system. Similarly, arrest and revocations rates increase when an officer has an advanced degree. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates, Inc., 2012. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 30, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bjs/grants/241018.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bjs/grants/241018.pdf Shelf Number: 127455 Keywords: Offender Supervision Parole Supervision Parolees Recidivism

Author: Tewksbury, Richard Title: Final Report on Sex Offenders: Recidivism and Collateral Consequences Summary: This report examines the efficacy of sex offender registration and notification (SORN) through its influence on sex offender recidivism and collateral consequences. The first study examines the recidivism rates of two samples of sex offenders, those released prior to SORN and a sample released under SORN in New Jersey. It asks whether or not there are distinct risk profiles among sex offenders with regard to their recidivism trajectories, and if these profiles are similar or different for sex offenders pre- and post-SORN. Additional analyses also include an examination of the influence of demographics, substance abuse, mental health issues, treatment history, sex offense incident characteristics, and criminal history on recidivism trajectories. The second study looks at whether the recidivism trajectories post-prison release for post-SORN sex offenders are similar to or different from the recidivism trajectories post-prison release for post- SORN non-sex offenders who are released from prison via parole. It also specifically focuses on whether or not a series of collateral consequences are experienced similarly or differently among these post-SORN sex and post-SORN non-sex offender parolees. Recidivism data for both studies in this report were obtained through the New Jersey State Police Computerized Criminal History System and the National Crime Information Center’s Interstate Identification Unit. The first study utilizes two samples of sex offenders, and each was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC). The pre-SORN group included a random sample of 250 male sex offenders released from prison by the NJDOC during the years 1990-1994, while the post-implementation group utilized the same sampling procedure and size and matched according to relevant demographics (age, race, and criminal history), with the exception that they were released during the years 1995-1999. For the second study, random samples of 247 post-SORN sex offenders and 250 post-SORN non-sex offenders released from prison in New Jersey via parole during 1995-1999 were drawn from the New Jersey Department of Corrections’ databases. The samples in both studies were followed for approximately eight years post-release for assessing recidivism. For both studies, official records of re-arrest for new offenses were employed as the measure of recidivism. Semi-parametric trajectory modeling was also used in both studies to estimate the recidivism trajectories of the pre- and post-SORN releasees, and the recidivism trajectories of the post-SORN sex offender and the non-sex offender releasees. The first study finds that there are limited observable benefits of SORN regarding sex offender recidivism and general recidivism. With an overall low rate of sex offense recidivism, SORN status (e.g. whether an offender is or is not subject to SORN) failed to predict whether sex offenders would reoffend sexually. The results are consistent with previous research which has argued that sex offenders have relatively low rates of recidivism, typically significantly lower than non-sex offenders. SORN status was also not a significant predictor of which sex offenders would reoffend in general, including non-sexual recidivism. Although sex offenders and non-sex offenders share the experience of collateral consequences, results from the second study reveal that several collateral consequences including not living with friends, living in group facilities, and residential relocation appear to differentially impact sex offenders. Policy makers and treatment providers should focus their efforts on those sex offenders identified as belonging to the high-risk trajectory with a particular interest in targeting the risk factors related to a high-risk trajectory. A targeted rather than universal application of SORN seems a viable alternative. Ultimately, the two studies in this report suggest that SORN is not likely to be an effective deterrent for sex offender recidivism and may produce an environment with specific collateral consequences that inhibit reintegration efforts post-prison release for sex offenders. Details: Final Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2011. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238060.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238060.pdf Shelf Number: 127476 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offender Notification Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders (U.S.)

Author: Barefoot Research and Evaluation Title: Support for Women Around Northumberland. Project Evaluation Summary: Support for Women Around Northumberland (SWAN) is one of two projects in the North East which have received funding from the Ministry of Justice under their Diverting Women from Custody Programme. The objectives of SWAN are to reduce the re-offending of female offenders or those at-risk of offending through providing a range of diversionary and preventative interventions. The project became operational in February 2010 and has received funding until March 2011. SWAN is delivered by a partnership of voluntary sector organisations in Northumberland - ESCAPE Family Support (the lead agency), the Women’s Health Advice Centre (WHAC), Fourth Action and Relate. The original project document stated that between February 2010 and March 2011, the project would undertake needs assessments and create support plans for 80 women. It also stated that over the course of the project, a total of 50 women will consistently engage with the project. Between February and November a total of 120 women have been referred into SWAN. At the time of writing this evaluation report, a total of 70 women have been assessed with a resultant support plan. Of these, a total of 50 women have engaged regularly with the project. The project has resulted in a 70 percent reduction in the rate of re-offending of the women who have engaged with the project. There has also been a significant reduction in the number of charges (73 percent) made by the Police and the number of convictions (81 percent) amongst engaged female offenders. There has also been a 72 percent reduction in appearances before Magistrates. Details: Barefoot Research and Evaluation, 2010. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed February 7, 2013 at: http://www.barefootresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/SWAN-Report-Single-Pages.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barefootresearch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/SWAN-Report-Single-Pages.pdf Shelf Number: 127537 Keywords: Female Offenders (U.K.) Intervention Programs Recidivism Reoffending Treatment Programs

Author: Drake, E.K. Title: Confinement for Technical Violations of Community Supervision: Is There an Effect on Felony Recidivism? Summary: The Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) has jurisdiction over offenders when a superior court orders community supervision. While on supervision, offenders must adhere to conditions such as reporting regularly to their Community Corrections Officer (CCO). If conditions are violated, DOC may impose sanctions ranging from reprimands to confinement. Between fiscal years 2002 and 2008, approximately 72 percent of all offenders who had a violation received confinement as a sanction. We investigate whether the use of confinement—as a sanction for a violation—has an impact on recidivism. We rely on a “natural experiment” to analyze this question. We discovered that some CCOs use confinement as a sanction more than others, and that DOC attempts to evenly distribute offenders to CCO caseloads by risk for reoffense. These two factors allow us to test whether recidivism is affected by confining offenders who violate the conditions of their community supervision. We employed numerous tests, all of which demonstrate that recidivism is not lowered for offenders who are confined for a violation of supervision. Limitations and possible extensions of this research are discussed. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2013 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/12-07-1201.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/12-07-1201.pdf Shelf Number: 127573 Keywords: Community Based Corrections (Washington State) Community Supervision Probation Probationers Recidivism

Author: Adler, Robin Title: Vermont Department of Corrections Work Camp Outcome Evaluation Summary: In Act 41, this body tasked the Vermont Center for Justice Research (VCJR) with evaluating the recidivism rates of defendants assigned to the Northeast and Southeast Work Camps as compared to defendants sentenced to prison/jail without the benefit of work camp. The principal findings of the evaluation include: • The overall recidivism rate for work camp participants was 35%, compared to a 46% recidivism rate for those who went to prison. • Work camp participants with an LSI risk assessment score of “Medium” had a 35% recidivism rate compared to a 53% recidivism rate for prison inmates with an LSI score of “Medium.” • The work camp that a defendant is assigned to is significant in reducing recidivism. Participation at the Northeast Work Camp is more statistically significant in reducing the likelihood of recidivism than is participation at the Southeast Work Camp. • The re-offense patterns for the Work Camp Group and the Prison Group were generally the same. Recidivists from both groups were reconvicted of a wide variety of crimes. Over 70% of the reconvictions for both groups were misdemeanors. During the study period the median number of reconvictions for the Work Camp Group was two as opposed to three reconvictions for the Prison Group. • Recidivists from both groups were reconvicted soon after release from DOC custody. Approximately 45% of the recidivists from the Work Camp Group were reconvicted within one year and 92% were reconvicted within three years. Forty-nine percent of the Prison Group recidivists were reconvicted within one year and 88.4% were reconvicted within three years. • Sixty-nine percent of recidivists in both the Work Camp Group and the Prison Group earned their new offense in the county in which they lived at the time of entry into custody. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Department of Corrections, 2012. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/workcamp_files/Work%20Camp%20Final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/workcamp_files/Work%20Camp%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 127587 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Work Camps (Vermont)

Author: Frost, Natasha A. Title: Recidivism Among Inmates Released from the Billerica House of Correction Summary: In May 2008, the Center for Criminal Justice Policy Research at Northeastern University was awarded a grant from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) to conduct a study of recidivism among inmates released from the Middlesex House of Correction at Billerica. The MSO project involved (1) developing profiles of all inmates released from the facility annually between 1994 and 2007 (initially submitted as an interim report in January 2009); (2) conducting a comprehensive recidivism study that would establish recidivism rates for samples of inmates released from the facility in 1994, 2004, and 2007; and (3) delivering a platform for ongoing recidivism research. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office provided electronic records for all inmates released from the Billerica House of Correction (BHOC) between 1994 and 2007. An interim report using data for all releases from the BHOC summarized release patterns annually (for every year between 1994 and 2007) and examined release trends over time (between 1994 and 2007). This interim report is included as a part of this final report as well. Data from calendar‐years 1994, 2004, and 2007 were used to conduct a more comprehensive recidivism study. Collection of release data across three points in time allowed for the study of time‐to‐recidivism using both one‐year and three‐year windows for recidivism and allowed for the study of changes in recidivism rates across the two release cohorts (spaced ten years apart). These years (1994 and 2004) were selected to allow for a three year time‐to‐recidivism window. Three‐year windows for recidivism are standard and customary for this type of study and are used in national and state studies of inmate recidivism. Although most released inmates who reoffend will do so in the first year following release, it can take some time to process offenders through the criminal justice system and therefore a three‐year window for recidivism is more reliable (particularly when recidivism is measured as either reconviction or reincarceration as it is in the present study). Due to some fairly substantial structural and programmatic changes at the facility, we also conducted a one‐year recidivism analysis for inmates released more recently in 2007. The report itself is divided into a number of sections and opens with a general introduction to issues related to prisoner reentry and recidivism. In this opening section of the report, we summarize key findings from earlier national recidivism studies conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and state recidivism studies conducted by state agencies and research organizations. We then describe the Billerica House of Correction (BHOC) including descriptions of: (1) the recent renovation and modernization project, (2) the processes most related to programming and to prisoner reentry, and (3) the programs in place at the BHOC when the study launched. A description of the overall methodology for the study is followed by a description of the sample in terms of demographic and justice system relevant characteristics. The core findings are then described with an emphasis on four major areas: (1) program participation and completion; (2) recidivism – measured as both reconviction and reincarceration – at one‐ and threeyear from release; (3) program participation, program completion, and recidivism; (4) recidivism among specific subsets of released inmates. A supplemental section describes a smaller project focused on the LS‐CMI assessment instrument and program participation/completion. Key findings from each of the four primary results sections are included in this executive summary. Details: Boston: Northeastern University 2009. 204p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2013 at: http://www.middlesexsheriff.org/Northeastern%20Recid%20Study.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.middlesexsheriff.org/Northeastern%20Recid%20Study.pdf Shelf Number: 127588 Keywords: Correctional Programs Prisons (Massachusetts) Recidivism

Author: Wiliszowski, C. Title: An Evaluation of Intensive Supervision Programs for Serious DWI Offenders Summary: Intensive Supervision Programs (ISPs) for offenders convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) vary considerably around the United States. There are State “systems” that provide standard guidelines to counties and local communities in the State, and there are numerous local county and community programs that appear promising in reducing DWI recidivism. We prepared case studies for two State programs (Nebraska and Wisconsin), four individual area ISPs (“Staggered Sentencing for Multiple DWI Convicted Offenders” in Minnesota; “Serious Offender Program” in Nevada; “DWI Enforcement Program” in New York; and “DUII Intensive Supervision Program” (DISP) in Oregon) and two rural programs (“24/7 Sobriety Project” in South Dakota; and “DUI Supervised Probation Program” in Wyoming). These ISPs revealed certain common features:  Screening and assessment of offenders for the extent of their alcohol/substance abuse problem  Close monitoring and supervision of the offenders  Encouragement by officials to complete the program requirements successfully  Jail for noncompliance The authors evaluated three of the programs. The Minnesota Staggered Sentencing Program appeared to be successful in reducing offender recidivism, even given the small sample size of program offenders (n=200). Compared to a similar matched group of DWI offenders, the staggered sentencing offenders had a significant 30.6% lower recidivism rate (p=.017) up to 4 years post-offense. The program prevented an estimated 15 to 23 re-arrests for DWI due to its effectiveness. The Westchester County program appeared to be effective in the short term (18.1% lower recidivism in 5 years post-offense [p<.001]) but not in the long term (only 5.4% [p=.171] lower recidivism in 15 years post-offense). This program resulted in an estimated 78 fewer re-arrests for DWI in the first 5 years. The Oregon DISP intervention group had 54.1% lower recidivism up to 8 years post index offense than both of the stratified matched-sample comparison groups, adjusting for the demographic covariates (Wald=51.50; p>.001). The program prevented 67 re-arrests for DWI in the first 8 years. The benefit/cost of ISPs appears to be very good for the prevention of rearrests. Preventing re-arrest for DWI for multiple offenders saves thousands of dollars in sanctions (jail time) and rehabilitation. Details: Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Behavioral Safety Research, 2011. 118p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2013 at: www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811446.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 127596 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Intensive Supervision (U.S.) Probationers Recidivism

Author: Zgoba, Kristen M. Title: A Multi-State Recidivism Study Using Static-99R and Static-2002 Risk Scores and Tier Guidelines from the Adam Walsh Act Summary: This study seeks to examine important components of our nation’s sex offender tracking and monitoring systems, with a focus on risk assessment and sexual recidivism (measured by re-arrest). The principal aims of this study were fourfold: (1) to compare the nationally recommended Adam Walsh Act (AWA) classification tiers with actuarial risk assessment instruments in their respective abilities to identify high risk individuals and recidivists; (2) to evaluate the predictive accuracy of existing state risk assessment classification schemes; (3) to examine the distribution of risk assessment scores within and across tier categories as defined by the AWA; and (4) to examine the role of offender age in recidivism risk across the adult lifespan. Data were collected from 1,789 adult sex offenders in four states (Minnesota, New Jersey, Florida and South Carolina) to inform these analyses. Variables including offender demographics and criminal history information, coded from state criminal justice records, were used to score actuarial risk assessment instruments and sex offender registry information. On average, we found that the recidivism rate was approximately 5% at five years and 10% at 10 years. AWA tier was unrelated to sexual recidivism, except in Florida, where it was inversely associated with recidivism. Actuarial measures and existing state tiering systems both showed better predictive validity than AWA tiers. Finally, offender age was found to have a significant protective effect for sexual reoffending, with older offenders showing a decreased risk for sexual recidivism. The findings indicate that the current AWA classification scheme is likely to result in a system that is less effective in protecting the public than the classification systems currently implemented in the states studied. Policy makers should strongly consider substantial revisions of the AWA classification system to better incorporate evidence-based models of sex offender risk assessment and management. Details: Final Report submitted to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2012. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240099.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240099.pdf Shelf Number: 127640 Keywords: Adam Walsh Act Recidivism Risk Assessment Risk Management Sex Offenders (U.S.)

Author: Dunham, Kate Title: The Effort to Implement the Youth Offender Demonstration Project (YODP) Impact Evaluation: Lessons and Implications for Future Research Summary: In the summer of 2005, the Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL ETA) issued a request for proposals (RFP) to conduct an Impact Study of the Youth Offender Demonstration Program (YODP). The YODP evaluation team selected by DOL was comprised of Social Policy Research Associates (SPR), MDRC, Decision Information Resources (DIR), and Johns Hopkins University. As detailed in the RFP, the intended study was a random assignment evaluation to address a number of important questions about how to work most effectively with youth offenders to prevent recidivism and increase their employment and earnings. To try to answer these questions, the study would have had courts in six different jurisdictions agree to use random assignment methodology to assign youth to a control group in which they received only standard incarceration or assign youth to one of two study groups as follows: study group 1, in which youth were incarcerated but received aftercare services from a YODP grantee, or study group 2, in which youth received services from a YODP grantee in lieu of being incarcerated. To implement the random assignment study required that the courts allow the random assignment process to determine which youth would be incarcerated and which would be assigned to a YODP grantee (essentially to be set free), instead of relying on the judge’s discretion. A similar study took place in the Wayne County Juvenile Court in Detroit, Michigan in the mid 1980s. This study randomly assigned more than 500 youths to either a control group in which youth were assigned to state incarceration or to a study group in which youth received intensive supervision as an alternative to incarceration. This study was only successfully implemented due to a set of very specific circumstances (described in detail below) that did not exist within the six YODP sites. Despite the evaluation team’s best efforts, the evaluation team was unable to convince the courts and YODP programs in any of the six selected jurisdictions to accept the random assignment methodology. As a result, DOL opted not to proceed with the evaluation. This paper describes the evaluation team’s efforts in persuading sites to implement the random assignment design, discusses the range of reasons why these efforts were unsuccessful, and explores what lessons can be drawn from this experience and other studies that have employed random assignment to aid the implementation of future random assignment evaluations. The paper begins with an overview of the six YODP grantees selected by DOL to participate in the evaluation and of the random assignment evaluation plan as outlined in the evaluation team’s proposal. Next, the paper describes the various challenges encountered by the evaluation team in implementing the original random assignment design. Following this, the paper summarizes a number of other studies that have successfully implemented random assignment and draw comparisons and contrasts of these studies to the intended design in the YODP evaluation. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of lessons learned from this effort and several recommendations that may assist DOL in implementing future random assignment evaluations. Details: Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates, 2008. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2013 at: http://www.nawdp.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ResearchReports/2009-5-TheEfforttoImplementtheYouthOffendeDemonstrat.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.nawdp.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ResearchReports/2009-5-TheEfforttoImplementtheYouthOffendeDemonstrat.pdf Shelf Number: 127649 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Employment Ex-Offender Employment Intensive Supervision Recidivism Treatment Programs Young Adult Offenders (U.S.)

Author: South Dakota. Unified Judicial System Title: Drug Court Study Summary: In 2009, the South Dakota Legislature passed SB78, which required the Unified Judicial System (UJS) to provide a plan to “determin[e] the need for an additional drug court or drug courts to be established in judicial circuits with the highest volume of felony convictions” and for such findings to “be presented to the 2010 Legislature for possible implementation in fiscal year 2011”. The stated goal of this plan was to present proposals to reduce the prison population without jeopardizing the public safety. To effectuate this plan, the following study was conducted to analyze the need and interest of alternative sentencing options and make appropriate initial recommendations. Ultimately, by utilizing alternative sentencing programs, the final objective is to address the underlying problem of addiction, subsequently reducing recidivism and substance abuse related crime. An overall examination of literature relative to the subject was conducted and is included within this report. Overview information and statistical data specific to each of the three programs currently in place in South Dakota was examined and detailed. For expansion evaluation purposes, in order to determine the highest areas of need in the state, the ten counties with the highest numbers of felony drug and DUI charges for FY 08 were selected for consideration. The ten counties were: Beadle, Brookings, Brown, Brule/Buffalo, Codington, Davison, Lincoln, Pennington, Union, and Yankton. At their request, Walworth County’s DUI convictions were also examined for purposes of this report. All Fourth and Sixth Circuit counties and Minnehaha County were excluded from the study because these areas currently have drug/DUI alternative sentencing programs in place. Upon completion of the study, conclusions were drawn and the following recommendations were made: 1) Continued state allocation of general funds to support the Northern Hills Drug Court Program in the Fourth Circuit; future allocation of state general funds to support the Sixth Circuit STOP DUI Program, and continued state allocation of general funds to support the Adult Intensive Court Services Officer position for the Meth Sentencing Alternative Program in the Second Circuit. 2) Based upon this study’s conclusions, Pennington County, Brown, Yankton, and Davison Counties are identified as showing the greatest need and feasibility for establishing some form of sentencing alternative program. Therefore, these four counties should be pursued as possible candidates for expansion areas. 3) Further study is necessary and appropriate to identify alternative sentencing program specifications in the previously named counties. It is imperative to have a strong foundation and plan in place prior to implementation of any type of alternative sentencing program. The Unified Judicial System should conduct a Symposium to convene pertinent stakeholders from current programs and possible expansion areas to further determine feasibility and program specifics based upon jurisdictional need. From this additional study, specific recommendations regarding possible expansion of alternative sentencing programs, including funding needs, can be presented to the 2011 Legislative session. Details: Pierre, SD: South Dakota Unified Judicial System, 2009. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: http://www.sdjudicial.com/Uploads/PublicDocuments/Final_2009_Drug_Court_Study_Reprinted_08_2010.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.sdjudicial.com/Uploads/PublicDocuments/Final_2009_Drug_Court_Study_Reprinted_08_2010.pdf Shelf Number: 127687 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drug Coruts (South Dakota) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Inmate Reentry Programs: Enhanced Information Sharing Could Further Strengthen Coordination and Grant Management Summary: About 700,000 inmates are released from federal and state custody each year, and another 9 million are booked into and released from local jails. Former inmates face challenges as they transition into, or reenter, society, such as finding housing and employment. According to the most recent data available, more than two-thirds of state prisoners are rearrested for a new offense within 3 years of release, and about half are reincarcerated. Federal reentry grants are available for state and local providers, as successful reentry reduces rearrest or reincarceration, known as recidivism. GAO was asked to review (1) the extent to which there is fragmentation, overlap, and duplication across federal reentry grant programs; (2) the coordination efforts federal grant-making agencies have taken to prevent unnecessary duplication and share promising practices; and (3) the extent to which federal grant-making agencies measure grantees’ effectiveness in reducing recidivism. GAO identified and analyzed the grant programs and agencies that supported reentry efforts in fiscal year 2011; analyzed agency documents, such as grant solicitations; and interviewed agency officials. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that DOJ, Labor, and HHS enhance their information sharing on approaches for determining how effectively grantees reduce recidivism. In response, DOJ, Labor, and HHS reported that they would take actions to address our recommendation. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2012. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-13-93: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/650900.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/650900.pdf Shelf Number: 127691 Keywords: Federal Prisoners (U.S.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Trotter, Chris Title: Analysing of Supervision Skills of Juvenile Justice Workers Summary: There is evidence that the style of supervision by juvenile justice workers can make a difference to the likelihood that young people under supervision will re-offend. This study aimed to examine the style of supervision offered by juvenile justice workers and how this relates to re-offending patterns by clients. It provides information about what goes on in worker/client interviews and what works best in fostering reduced recidivism. More specifically the aim was to gather information about the nature of micro-skills which are used by youth justice workers in the supervision of offenders on probation, parole and other community based orders, how clients respond to the use of those micro-skills and how the use of the skills relates to client outcomes such as recidivism. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Juvenile Justice in NSW. Forty-seven workers participated in the study. The next 5 clients allocated to the workers from the time of volunteering from the study were then selected for each of the workers. The workers were then asked to invite the research officers who were working on the project to observe the next interview they conducted with any one of the five clients who were allocated to them. Eighty-nine interviews were observed however an additional 39 were also observed as part of the pilot study for this project. They are included in the analysis and results reported on in this paper. In total 128 interviews were observed. Eighty interviews were also conducted with clients following the observation and 78 interviews were conducted with workers following the observations and interviews with the clients. Two year recidivism data is available for 117of the observations. Eleven of the interviews were conducted in remote areas of NSW during 2011 and the recidivism data for those interviews is not yet available. Details: Report to the criminology Research Advisory Council, 2012. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2013 at: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/1213/24-0708-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/1213/24-0708-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 127708 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Staff Juvenile Offender Supervision (Australia) Juvenile Parole Officers Juvenile Probation Officers Recidivism Reoffending Youth Justice Workers

Author: West Yorkshire National Probation Services' Cocker, Sarah Title: Using Reconviction Data to Explore the Usefulness of Community Penalties in West Yorkshire Summary: • This study is based on two samples of offenders. The first (Community Penalties) comprised 343 offenders sentenced to a Community Punishment Order, a Community Rehabilitation Order, or a Community Punishment and Rehabilitation Order. The second sample (Comparison) consisted of 215 cases that had a proposal for one of the three community penalties in their Pre-Sentence Report (PSR) but who received a lesser sentence at court (i.e. no period of supervision by the probation service). • The two samples were not found to be well matched in terms of age, risk of reconviction (OGRS), and index offence. The samples were also taken from differing time periods. This makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of West Yorkshire community penalties based on this data alone. • The actual reconviction rate for the Community Penalties sample was 45.2%; this is 0.3% higher than the predicted rate of 44.9%. In contrast, the actual reconviction rate for the Comparison sample was 31.6%; this is 5.5% lower than the predicted rate of 37.1%. • The actual reconviction rate for the Community Penalties group was 8.1% lower than the recent national figures for community sentences (53.3%). The two studies used different counting methods and are therefore not directly comparable. • Those who were reconvicted in both the Community Penalties and Comparison samples tended to be younger and had higher predicted reconviction rates than those who did not re-offend. • Younger offenders were also found to have higher actual reconviction rates than older offenders in both samples. Offenders aged between 16-20 years had actual reconviction rates of 65.4% (Community Penalties sample) and 63.6% (Comparison sample) whilst offenders in the 35+ age bracket had reconviction rates of 19.2% and 20.3% respectively. • Analysis of reconviction rates by risk band (OGRS) showed that the reconviction rate increased with each risk band. For example, cases with an OGRS score between 0-25 had reconviction rates of 14.0% (Community Penalties) and 11.4% (Comparison) compared to reconviction rates of 83.8% and 77.8% respectively for cases with OGRS scores between 76-100. This suggests that OGRS is a useful predictor of risk of reconviction for both samples. • Cases with index offences of an ‘acquisitive’ nature had the highest reconviction rates in both the Community Penalties (68.4%) and Comparison (50%) samples. • Cases with a Community Punishment Order (CPO) had the lowest reconviction rates (33.8%) of those in the Community Penalties sample. Those with a Community Rehabilitation Order (CRO) had the highest rate (57.9%) whilst those with a Community Punishment & Rehabilitation Order (CPRO) had a reconviction rate of 36.4%. This rate is lower than anticipated although this may be due to the small number of cases with a CPRO and should be used with caution. • Reconviction rates for those who did and did not complete their community order were significantly different; the reconviction rate for those who completed was 33.2% (n=76) compared to a reconviction rate of 70.3% (n=71) for those who did not complete. However, those who completed their order had a much lower predicted reconviction rate (38.6%) than those who did not complete (59%). • In terms of first re-offence, a larger proportion (+12.4%) of cases that did not complete their community order committed an offence which was of a more serious nature than those who completed their order (47.9% compared to 35.5% respectively). • By the six month stage, 23% of the Community Penalties sample had been reconvicted of an offence and 52% of those who were reconvicted within the two year period had already done so. By 12 months 35% of the sample had been reconvicted and 77% of those who were reconvicted had already done so. • In contrast, by the six month stage, 16% of the Comparison sample had been reconvicted and 51% of those who were reconvicted in this sample had done so by this stage. By 12 months, 22% of the Comparison sample had been reconvicted and 69% of the Comparison sample who were reconvicted had done so by this stage. These findings suggest that the first few months after sentence are critical in terms of reducing the risk of further reconviction. • A larger proportion of the Comparison sample (52.9%, n=66) were convicted of only one offence within two-years compared to the Community Penalties sample (42.6%, n=36). Similar proportions of offenders in the Community Penalties (40%, n=62) and Comparison samples (38.2%, n=26) had two, three or four reconvictions within two-years. However, a much larger proportion (17.4%, n=27) of offenders in the Community Penalties sample had between 5 & 11 reconvictions compared to the Comparison sample (8.8%, n=6). Details: Wakefield, UK: National Probation Service (West Yorkshire), 2006. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 3, 2013 at: http://www.westyorksprobation.org.uk Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.westyorksprobation.org.uk Shelf Number: 127818 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Community Penalties Probationers Recidivism Reconviction (U.K.)

Author: Miller, Marna Title: What Works to Reduce Recidivism by Domestic Violence Offenders? Summary: The 2012 Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to: a) update its analysis of the national and international literature on domestic violence (DV) treatment; b) report on other interventions effective at reducing recidivism by DV offenders and criminal offenders in general; and c) survey other states’ laws regarding DV treatment for offenders. Similar to 25 other states, Washington’s legal standards for DV treatment require treatment to be group-based and incorporate elements of a treatment model developed in the 1980s in Duluth, MN. In updating our review of the literature, we identified 11 rigorous evaluations—none from Washington—testing whether DV treatment has a cause-and-effect relationship with DV recidivism. Six of those evaluations tested the effectiveness of Duluth-like treatments. We found no effect on DV recidivism with the Duluth model. There may be other reasons for courts to order offenders to participate in these Duluth-like programs, but the evidence to date suggests that DV recidivism will not decrease as a result. Our review indicates that there may be other group-based treatments for male DV offenders that effectively reduce DV recidivism. We found five rigorous evaluations covering a variety of non-Duluth group-based treatments. On average, this diverse collection of programs reduced DV recidivism by 33%. Unfortunately, these interventions are so varied in their approaches that we cannot identify a particular group-based treatment to replace the Duluth-like model required by Washington State law. Additional outcome evaluations, perhaps of the particular DV programs in Washington State, would help identify effective alternatives to the Duluth model. This report includes separate statements from the Washington State Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission and the Northwest Association of Domestic Violence Treatment Professionals. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2013. 20p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 4, 2013 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/13-01-1201.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/13-01-1201.pdf Shelf Number: 127819 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.S.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Barnoski, Robert Title: Recidivism Findings for the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration's Mentoring Program: Final Report Summary: The Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to evaluate the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration’s mentoring program. The Institute conducted a preliminary analysis of the program in 2002 using a 12-month follow-up period and found reduced recidivism for mentor participants. This report updates the preliminary findings by using a longer follow-up period to measure recidivism. Findings • During the preliminary follow-up, the mentor group recidivated at a lower rate than the comparison group. However, the gap converges by the 36-month follow-up. None of the differences between the two groups is statistically significant for any type of recidivism at the 24- or 36-month follow-up periods. • This study is limited by having a relatively small number of youth in the mentor and comparison groups. As a result, large differences between the groups are necessary to show statistical significance. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2006. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2013 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/06-07-1202.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/06-07-1202.pdf Shelf Number: 127820 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Mentoring Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Lovell, David Title: Felony and Violent Recidivism Among Supermax Prison Inmates in Washington State: A Pilot Study Summary: Since the early 1980’s, most prison system have built specially designed facilities that keep selected offenders in lockdown status for lengthy periods of time, sometimes years, on the grounds that they pose a danger to the prison community. There have been several successful court challenges to some aspects of these practices, for example confinement of psychologically vulnerable inmates in such facilities, but there is scarcely any systematic research on who gets assigned to supermax, how it affects them while they’re there, whether such facilities actually reduce violence within prison systems, and whether it has any bearing on their later behavior. This study compares recidivism in the community by released offenders who were and who were not subjected to substantial periods of supermax confinement while in prison. Specifically, we ask: 1. Whether supermax assignment is associated with the probability, seriousness, or timing of new offenses. 2. Whether the probability, timing, and seriousness of new offenses is associated with (a) the amount of time offenders spend in supermax environments or (b) the length of the interval between transfer out of supermax and release to the community. Details: Seattle: University of Washington, Department of Psychosocial & Community Health, 2004. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2013 at: http://www.son.washington.edu/faculty/fac-page-files/Lovell-SupermaxRecidivism-4-19-04.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://www.son.washington.edu/faculty/fac-page-files/Lovell-SupermaxRecidivism-4-19-04.pdf Shelf Number: 127911 Keywords: Prisoners Recidivism Supermax Prisons

Author: Newman, Mark Title: A Systematic Review of Selected Interventions to Reduce Juvenile Re-offending Summary: What do we want to know? This is a report of the methods and results of a systematic review of primary research on the effectiveness of selected interventions to reduce juvenile re-offending. The review provides answers to the question of the relative effectiveness of a small number of selected interventions in reducing juvenile re-offending. What did we find out about interventions? Consistent evidence of reducing re-offending • Pre-sentencing Diversion – personal skill straining + for first time offenders. The intervention included: o personal skills training/ counselling which is about anger management, personal responsibility and decision making. o some form of reparation to the community/ victim of crime. o family involvement. compared to standard diversion (caution & monitoring). • Community based family residential placement for female juvenile offenders. The intervention included: o Residential placement for six months to a year in small group supportive ‘family type’ environment. o personal skills training/ counselling which is about anger management, personal responsibility and decision making. o Monitoring and use of appropriate incentives and sanctions. compared to standard residential placement. Promising effects (positive or negative) limited or inconsistent evidence • ‘Teen Courts’ compared to other diversion – Positive • Community based family residential placements compared to standard residential placements for male juvenile offenders – Positive Insufficient evidence • Secure incarceration compared to community sentence • Psycho-dynamic counselling compared to ‘normal Court interventions • Pre-sentence diversions compared to court community sentence • Multi component diversion for persistent offenders (comparison not clear) • Multi-component diversion for mixed groups of offence severity (comparison not clear) • Supported transition from secure incarceration to community compared to no or limited support • Probation plus sports counselling compared to probation only • Violence re-education programme compared to court imposed community service. Details: London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 2012. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: EPPI-Centre report no. 2008T: Accessed March 12, 2013 at: http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3YwaW7wpQnU%3D&tabid=3360 Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3YwaW7wpQnU%3D&tabid=3360 Shelf Number: 127914 Keywords: Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Re-Offending Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: King, Samuel Joshua Title: Going Straight On Probation: Desistance Transitions and the Impact of Probation Summary: This thesis explores primary desistance as a transitional phase between offending and crime cessation. Recent work has explored desistance within an integrated theoretical framework, combining elements of both structure and agency theories, and this thesis builds upon this by exploring the initial transitions towards desistance, and the prospective strategies to sustain it, among a group of adult male offenders under Probation supervision. Where agency has been employed in such accounts its conceptualisation has tended to be vague, and this thesis seeks to address this by examining agency as the temporally located reflexive deliberations of adult offenders upon their future goals and present social environment. This allows for the identification of individuals’ future goals in relation to desistance and the strategies that they intend to pursue to achieve them, in relation to their personal and social contexts. The thesis finds that recent Probation policy has delimited the role of supervising officer towards that of Offender Manager, which inhibits the relationship between officer and offender such that would-be desisters tend to revert to past repertoires of thought and action in their strategies. This is likely to sustain the social contexts that led to offending in the past, and is likely to hinder desistance in the future. Details: Birmingham, UK: School of Social Policy, College of Social Sciences, The University of Birmingham, 2010. 353p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed March 14, 2013 at: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3172/5/King_11_PhD.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3172/5/King_11_PhD.pdf Shelf Number: 127936 Keywords: Desistance (U.K.) Probationers Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Kilgour, Glen Title: Breaking the Cycle of Crime: Special Treatment Unit Evaluation Report Summary: This summary report outlines a multi-layered evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the four High Risk Special Treatment Units (HRSTUs) run by the Department of Corrections, New Zealand. Projects covered the description of programme participants, completers’ perceptions of the programme, programme integrity, pre- and post-programme results on psychometric measures, misconduct rates following treatment and recidivism outcomes. The evaluation found that: • The HRSTUs are generally targeting the offenders for which they were designed; Maori participants are represented in proportion to their presence within the high risk prisoner population. • The programmes are well received by programme completers; the units are typically regarded as ‘safe’ places that effectively challenge antisocial thinking and behaviour. • Programme integrity is generally satisfactory but changes in some areas could improve the ‘therapeutic community’ aspect of the environment and other indicators of integrity (e.g. supervision, staff selection, adherence to manuals). • Initial indications show changes in the right direction on several measures of programme outcome including psychometric testing results, prison incidents, and recidivism. The recommendations are divided into five sections: changes to programme eligibility criteria; HRSTU programme improvements; post-programme support and reintegration; general management of the units, and ongoing research and evaluation. The recommendations include: • reviewing the use of key programme assessment measures • refining aspects of the selection and retention of programme participants • ensuring regular and robust supervision of programme staff • improving post-treatment support, release planning, and reintegration initiatives for programme attendees • changing structural aspects of the programme and improving staff selection procedures and training to strengthen the therapeutic community • maintaining an ongoing evaluative component of the programme following an internal review of appropriate psychometric measures and the model of data capture. Details: Wellington, NZ: Psychological Services Department of Corrections, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2013 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/641217/COR_Breaking_the_Cycle_of_Crime_WEB.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/641217/COR_Breaking_the_Cycle_of_Crime_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 127966 Keywords: Correctional Programs Correctional Rehabilitation Programs (New Zealand) Mental Health Services Psychological Services Recidivism

Author: Lutze, Faith E. Title: Washington State's Reentry Housing Pilot Program Evaluation: Year 3 Final Report Summary: In 2007 Washington State continued its work to end homelessness and to reduce recidivism committed by high risk and high need offenders being released from prison or jail without a home or a viable release plan. To address the issue of recidivism and homelessness the State implemented the Reentry Housing Pilot Program (RHPP) and similar programs funded by the Housing Grant Assistance Program (HGAP). This report provides the results of the final phase of the research project designed to determine whether providing wrap around services, treatment, and offender accountability with the provision of affordable and safe housing reduces recidivism. This report provides (1) a description of each of the RHPP programs implemented in Clark, King, and Spokane Counties and the HGAP programs implemented in Clallam and Whatcom Counties; and (2) a 24 month follow-up outcome evaluation comparing RHPP/HGAP participants with a similar group of offenders released from prison. RHPP/HGAP participants are compared with offenders who were released from prison into homelessness, unstable housing, or stable housing. The Washington State Legislature eliminated funding for the RHPP program in 2009 due to the economic crisis confronting the state. RHPP Outcome Evaluation Findings:  RHPP participants were less likely (32%) than the comparison groups (36%) to be convicted for a new crime 24 months following their release from prison. This finding was not statistically significant.  RHPP participants were less likely (45%) than the comparison groups (50%) to be revoked from community supervision for a violation. This finding was not statistically significant.  RHPP participants were significantly less likely (53%) than the comparison groups (62%) to be readmitted to prison. HGAP Outcome Evaluation Findings:  HGAP participants experience significantly fewer new convictions. These findings were mixed based on county.  HGAP participants were significantly less likely (17%) to have their community supervision revoked than the comparison group (41%).  HGAP participants were significantly less likely (41%) to be readmitted to prison than the comparison groups (60%). Details: Pullman, WA: Washington State University, Criminal Justice Program, 2011. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/wchac/pdf/rhpp_year3_report_june_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/wchac/pdf/rhpp_year3_report_june_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 128016 Keywords: Ex-Offenders Homelessness Housing Prisoner Reentry (Washington State, U.S. Recidivism

Author: Wicklund, Peter Title: Chittenden County Mental Health Court: Outcome Evaluation Summary: The Chittenden County Mental Health Court (CMHC) began operation in January 2003. It is a program for adults who have committed a crime and are having difficulty with issues related to severe and persistent mental illness but are deemed competent to stand trial. These mental illnesses could include schizophrenia, paranoia, clinical depression, and borderline personality disorders. The CMHC accepts participants with any mental health diagnoses, including personality disorders and intellectual disabilities, but the majority of participants also have a co-occurring substance use condition as well. Typically, their offenses are crimes such as disorderly conduct, unlawful trespass, drug possession, burglary, and retail theft. Occasionally, the court will hear felonies, such as arson, DWI, and assault, though all cases must first be approved by the State’s Attorney’s office. An outcome evaluation attempts to determine the effects that a program has on participants. In the case of the Chittenden County Mental Health Court (CMHC) the objective of this outcome evaluation was to determine the extent to which the CMHC reduced recidivism among program participants. For this outcome evaluation, the study cohort was divided into two groups – subjects who successfully completed the CMHC program (n=56), and a segment that was terminated or withdrew from the program (n=43). Six other subjects who were currently active in the CMHC were also on the participant list provided by the Court Administrator’s Office, but they were not included in this report. During the study period, 57% of CMHC participants (56 of 99) successfully graduated from the CMHC. An indicator of post-program criminal behavior that is commonly used in outcome evaluations of criminal justice programs is the number of participants who recidivate -- that is, are convicted of a crime after they complete the program. An analysis of the criminal history records of the 99 subjects who were referred to the CMHC from March 21, 2003 to May 24, 2012, was conducted using the Vermont criminal history records of participants as provided by the Vermont Criminal Information Center (VCIC) at the Vermont Department of Public Safety. The Vermont criminal history record on which the recidivism analysis was based included all charges and convictions prosecuted in a Vermont Superior Court-Criminal Division that were available as of July 13, 2012. The criminal records on which the study was based do not contain federal prosecutions, out-of-state prosecutions, or traffic tickets. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS 1. The Chittenden County Mental Health Court (CMHC) appears to be a promising approach for reducing recidivism among participants who completed the program. An analysis of the Vermont criminal records for the 99 study subjects shows that significantly fewer CMHC graduates were reconvicted of some type of crime as compared to the subjects who were terminated/withdrew from the program (25.0% versus 51.2%). 2. The CMHC was shown to be effective in producing graduates that remained conviction free in the community during their first year after leaving the program. Approximately 82% of the successful graduates of the CMHC were conviction-free during their first year after leaving the program. The success rate dropped to 72% for the study group that was terminated or withdrew from the CMHC. 3. The CMHC appears to be a promising approach for reducing the number and severity of reconvictions for participants who completed CMHC. The reconviction rate of the successful CMHC participants was less than half the rate for the participants that were unsuccessful (91 compared to 225 reconvictions per 100, respectively). 4. The CMHC recidivists from both study groups tended to commit a majority of their post-CMHC crime in Chittenden County. 5. Subject characteristics that were found to have some correlation with the tendency to recidivate were the Age at First Conviction/Contact, Age at Referral to CMHC, the Base Charge Sentence Type, and Total Prior Misdemeanors. However, further analysis showed that these correlations were not strong enough to result in a useful model that could be used as a predictor of recidivism. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/CMHCreport_files/CMHC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/CMHCreport_files/CMHC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 128186 Keywords: Mental Health Courts Mentally Ill Offenders (Vermont, U.S.) Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Wicklund, Peter Title: Washington County Treatment Court: Outcome Evaluation Summary: In 2002, under Act 128, the Vermont Legislature established a pilot project to create drug court initiatives and begin implementing drug courts in three Vermont counties -- Rutland, Chittenden, and Bennington. Since the establishment of these drug courts, and the initial indications of their efficacy, additional Vermont counties have started drug court programs. The Washington County Treatment Court began official operation in September of 2006. It was established as a pilot program for combating drug crimes, not only drug possession, but drug-related crimes, both misdemeanors and felonies, such as retail theft, burglaries, and grand larceny. Offenders identified as drug-addicted are referred to the court by law enforcement, probation officers and attorneys and put into a treatment program whose goal is to reduce drug dependency and improve the quality of life for offenders and their families. In most cases, after their successful completion of drug court, the original charges are dismissed or reduced. The benefits to society include reduced recidivism by the drug court participants, leading to increased public safety and reduced costs to taxpayers. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2013. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/wctcreport_files/WCTC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/wctcreport_files/WCTC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 128187 Keywords: Drug Courts (Vermont, U.S.) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Wicklund, Peter Title: Chittenden County Rapid Intervention Community Court: Outcome Evaluation Summary: The Chittenden Rapid Intervention Community Court (hereafter the “RICC”) is a program that is available to non-violent offenders whose crimes have been driven by untreated addiction or mental illness. The program is designed as a pre-charge system through which offenders are quickly assessed using evidence-based screening tools and offered diversion to community programming, services, and community-based accountability programs. The RICC staff work closely with the Chittenden County State’s Attorney and the Burlington Police Department to identify individuals who may benefit from a rapid intervention program, without which they may reoffend and engage in conduct that is costly both to them and to the community. The Burlington Community Justice Center accepts referrals from RICC for individuals who agree to meet with a restorative justice panel to take responsibility for the crime, learn how individuals and the community were impacted, and take steps to repair the harm caused by the crime. An outcome evaluation attempts to determine the effects that a program has on participants. In the case of the RICC the objective of this outcome evaluation was to determine the extent to which the RICC reduced recidivism among program participants. An indicator of post-program criminal behavior that is commonly used in outcome evaluations of criminal justice programs is the number of participants who recidivate -- that is, are convicted of a crime after they complete the program. An analysis of the criminal history records of the 654 subjects who entered the RICC from September 14, 2010 to December 5, 2012, was conducted using the Vermont criminal history record of participants as provided by the Vermont Criminal Information Center at the Department of Public Safety. The Vermont criminal history records on which the recidivism analysis was based included all charges and convictions prosecuted in a Vermont Superior Court – Criminal Division that were available as of September 17, 2012. The criminal records on which the study was based do not contain Federal prosecutions, out-of-state prosecutions, or traffic tickets. For this evaluation, the study cohort was divided into three segments – subjects who successfully completed the RICC program (n=470), a segment that did not complete the program and were returned to docket (n=71), and a segment that were currently in the RICC and pending outcome (n=113). Summary of Conclusions 1. The RICC appears to be a promising approach for reducing recidivism among participants who successfully complete the program. Only 7.4% of the successful participants of the RICC were reconvicted of a crime after leaving the program. In comparison, 25.4% of participants who were unsuccessful at completing the RICC were convicted of a new crime after leaving the program. Although this is a significantly higher rate of recidivism compared to the successful participants, the rate is still relatively low. This indicates that even an abbreviated exposure to the benefits of the RICC may provide a positive influence on those participants who do not complete the program. 2. The RICC was shown to be very effective in producing successful participants that remained conviction free in the community during their first year after leaving the program. Approximately 93% of the successful participants of the RICC had no arrest for any new criminal conviction within one year after program completion. The unsuccessful participants had a significantly lower success rate – only 78% remained conviction free within the first year after leaving the program. 3. The RICC appears to be a promising approach for reducing the number of post-program reconvictions for participants who successfully complete the RICC. The successful participants of the RICC had a significantly lower reconviction rate of 15 per 100 participants compared to 48 reconvictions per 100 participants for those who did not complete the program. 4. A large majority of the recidivists who completed the RICC were reconvicted in Chittenden County (91%), followed by Franklin and Addison counties. The recidivists who did not complete the RICC showed a similar pattern with most of their crimes occurring in Chittenden County (76%), and the remaining occurring in Franklin, Addison, Grand Isle, and Lamoille counties. 5. Comparing the demographic and criminal history profiles between the subjects who were successful in completing the RICC and those who were unsuccessful revealed no significant differences. This leads to the conclusion that the reduced recidivism rates observed for the successful participants compared with those who were unsuccessful at completing the program were more likely due to the benefits of the RICC program rather than to differences in characteristics of the study segments. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/chittricc_files/Chitt%20Rapid%20Referral%20Rpt2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/chittricc_files/Chitt%20Rapid%20Referral%20Rpt2.pdf Shelf Number: 128188 Keywords: Community Courts Drug Offenders Mentally Ill Offenders Problem-Solving Courts (Vermont, U.S.) Recidivism

Author: Wicklund, Peter Title: Rutland County Treatment Court: Outcome Evaluation Summary: In 2002, under Act 128 the Vermont legislature established a pilot project to create drug court initiatives and begin implementing drug courts in three Vermont counties: Rutland, Chittenden, and Bennington. The Rutland County Treatment Court (hereafter, the “RTC”) was one of the drug courts established by Act 128, and began operating in January 2004. It was established as a pilot program for combating drug crimes, not just possession, but drug-related crimes such as retail theft, burglaries, grand larceny – both misdemeanors and felonies. Offenders identified as drug-addicted are referred to the court by law enforcement, probation officers, and attorneys and put into a treatment program that will reduce drug dependency and improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. In most cases, after their successful completion of drug court, the original charges are dismissed or charges are reduced. The benefits to society include reduced recidivism by the drug court participants, leading to increased public safety and reduced costs to taxpayers. An outcome evaluation attempts to determine the effects that a program has on participants. In the case of RTC, the objective of this outcome evaluation was to determine the extent to which the RTC reduced recidivism among program participants. An indicator of post-program criminal behavior that is commonly used in outcome evaluations of criminal justice programs is the number of participants who recidivate -- that is, are convicted of a crime after they complete the program. An analysis of the criminal history records of the 165 subjects who were referred to and accepted into the RTC from January 6, 2004 to February 7, 2012, was conducted using the Vermont criminal history record of participants as provided by the Vermont Criminal Information Center at the Department of Public Safety. The Vermont criminal history record on which the recidivism analysis was based included all charges and convictions prosecuted in a Vermont Superior Court – Criminal Division that were available as of April 24, 2012. The criminal records on which the study was based do not contain Federal prosecutions, out-of-state prosecutions, or traffic tickets. SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS 1. The RTC appears to be a promising approach for reducing recidivism among participants who completed the program. People who graduated from the RTC had a recidivism rate of 35.4% which is significantly less than the recidivism rate of 54.0% for participants who were terminated or withdrew from the RTC. 2. The research showed that significantly more graduates of the RTC (84.6%) remained conviction-free for the first year after leaving the program, compared to the subjects who were unsuccessful in completing the RTC (69%). 3. The RTC appears to be a promising approach for reducing the number and severity of post-RTC reconvictions for participants who complete the RTC. The reconviction rate for the successful RTC participants was almost half the rate for the participants that were unsuccessful (109 compared to 226 reconvictions per 100, respectively). RTC graduates also had significantly fewer felony reconvictions than did the subjects that did not complete the RTC. 4. The RTC recidivists tended to commit post-project crime in Rutland County. For the total study group, 84% of new convictions were prosecuted in Rutland County. 5. The reduced recidivism rates observed for the graduates of the RTC compared with the subjects who were unsuccessful in completing the program were most likely due to the benefits of the RTC rather than due to differences in demographic, criminal history, or base charge characteristics of the study segments. 6. An investigation into the demographic and criminal history characteristics of the RTC participants showed correlations between base docket sentencing severity and type, and tendency to recidivate. However, the correlations were not strong enough to result in a useful model that could be used as a predictor of recidivism. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2013. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/RTCreport_files/RTC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/RTCreport_files/RTC%20Outcome%20Eval%20Rpt.pdf Shelf Number: 128189 Keywords: Drug Courts (Vermont, U.S.) Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Light, Miriam Title: Gender differences in Substance Misuse and Mental Health Amongst Prisoners. Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal cohort study of prisoners Summary: This research explored substance misuse and mental health of male and female prisoners, using the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal survey of 1,435 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales in 2005 and 2006. The sample consisted of 1,303 male and 132 female prisoners. Other surveys and management information were used as secondary sources. The research examined: drug and alcohol use; rates of self-harm and suicide; the presence of specific mental health disorders; and links to reconviction. The number of women was relatively small (132), reflecting the relative size of the female prison reception population. Results based on the female prisoners’ sample are less likely to be representative than those from the larger men’s sample. The women’s sample may be too small to allow some smaller gender differences to be detected. These limitations should be taken into account when interpreting the findings in this report. The main findings were:  Patterns of alcohol consumption did not differ substantially by gender. The rate of alcohol use overall amongst prisoners was slightly lower than in the general population, when comparing those who said they drank alcohol in the last year. However, amongst those prisoners who drank alcohol in the four weeks before custody, the amount of hazardous drinking was higher than in the general population and amongst offenders on community orders. Male and female prisoners both reported high levels of hazardous drinking (reporting drinking with similar frequency and consuming similar volumes of alcohol).  Alcohol use amongst prisoners was associated with reconviction on release, although to a lesser extent than drug use. Associations between daily drinking and reconviction were observed for both male and female prisoners, and, notably, there was a higher reconviction rate amongst female binge drinkers (compared to female prisoners who did not binge drink). This association was not found amongst male prisoners.  Rates of illegal drug use amongst both male and female SPCR prisoners were higher than for offenders on community orders, the general population, and an earlier prisoner survey (the 1997 Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (PsyMS)). There were no differences in the proportions of male and female SPCR prisoners reporting ever having used drugs, nor were there any gender differences detected in overall drug use in the four weeks before custody.  Female prisoners did however report more Class A drug use in the four weeks before custody than male prisoners, and were also more likely to report that their offending was to support someone else’s (as well as their own) drug use.  Drug use was strongly associated with reconviction on release from prison (this did not differ by gender).  Reports of first use of heroin in prison by heroin users were lower in SPCR (covering interviews from 2005/6) compared with the 1997 PsyMS (19% and 30% respectively). Male and female SPCR heroin users were equally likely to report having used heroin in a prison before (55%), and there was evidence that male prisoners were more likely than female prisoners to use heroin for the first time in a prison.  Female SPCR prisoners reported poorer mental health than both women in the general population and male SPCR prisoners. This was true in relation to self harm, suicide attempts, psychosis, and anxiety and depression.  Female prisoners suffering from the combination of anxiety and depression were significantly more likely to be reconvicted in the year after release from custody compared to female prisoners without such symptoms (this relationship was not found amongst male prisoners). Both male and female prisoners suffering from depression were however more likely to be reconvicted in the year after release from custody.  Male prisoners with symptoms of psychosis were more likely to be reconvicted in the year after custody. This relationship was not found amongst female prisoners, despite more female prisoners reporting symptoms indicative of psychosis. There were some important differences between male and female prisoners’ substance misuse and mental health, but also areas of similarity. The greatest differences were observed between the general population and the prisoner population rather than between male and female prisoners. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 36p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/gender-substance-misuse-mental-health-prisoners.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/gender-substance-misuse-mental-health-prisoners.pdf Shelf Number: 128192 Keywords: Drug Offenders Gender Inmates (U.K.) Mentally Ill Offenders Prisoners Recidivism Reconviction

Author: Turner, Russell Title: Thinking about Re-offending: Reductions in reconviction rates for offenders on the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme. Summary: The Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme has been operating in West Yorkshire for over 5 years and 2005/6 saw 882 offenders ordered to attend the programme. This is a sizeable investment in accredited programmes as a method to tackle general offending behaviour. National research on the effectiveness of programmes such as ETS is still in its infancy and at present gives mixed results. How well an area delivers its programmes may in part cause this. There has been much local research in West Yorkshire on programme implementation and delivery but none on the impact on reconviction. This report aimed to provide data on the impact upon reconviction during a two-year follow-up period on a sample of 298 offenders ordered to attend the programme mainly during 2002/3 as part of a Community Rehabilitation Order (CRO) or Community Punishment & Rehabilitation Order. Reconviction data was also obtained on a comparison group of 182 offenders who were either eligible to attend the programme or likely to have been eligible to attend, but were given a CRO without an ETS condition during the same period. Reconviction data from the Home Office could not be matched for 11% (n=51) of the cases: 9% (n=28) from the ETS sample and 13% (n=23) from the comparison group. The remaining samples – 264 ETS offenders and 157 comparison offenders – differed on several key aspects. Predicted reconviction rates, as given by the Offender Group Reconviction Scale (OGRS), were lower for the comparison sample at 50.5, compared to 63.6 for the ETS sample. The comparison sample was on average slightly older with an average age of 28.6 compared to 26.4, and proportionately had more women: 29% (n=46) compared to 13% (n=34) in the ETS sample. Lower predicted rates were also found for the comparison group when men and women were considered separately. The relationship between these factors - OGRS, age, and gender - and reconviction is complex but taken together strongly suggests that we would expect the comparison sample to have lower reconviction rates than the ETS sample, even if the ETS sample do better than expected using their predicted reconviction rate. Conversely, the ETS sample had a lower actual reconviction rate than the comparison sample: 60.6% were reconvicted within two years compared to 66.2% of the comparison sample, a difference of 5.6%. This difference was not sufficient to be statistically significant with this sample and may have arisen due to chance. The actual reconviction rate for the ETS sample was also 3% lower than their predicted rate, whilst the rate for the comparison group was 16% higher than their predicted rate. A ‘true’ reduction for the ETS group, from predicted to actual reconviction rate, is very likely to be between 0.6% and 5.4%, based on this sample. Clearly, this ranges between a negligible effect to one in line with national targets, i.e. the Government’s 5% reduction in reconviction. The 3% difference found for this West Yorkshire sample might be indicative of a ‘real’ difference in the behaviour of these offenders, compared to what was expected. However, these rates are based on all offenders sentenced to ETS. The reconviction rate halves to 33% for those offenders who complete the programme, compared to 73% for the combined non-completers. This difference is statistically significant and also stands when differences in predicted reconviction rates between the completers and non-completers are taken into account. Additionally, the completers’ actual reconviction rate is 25% points lower than their predicted rate, whereas the non-completers do show any improvement effect. This strongly suggests that the ETS programme in West Yorkshire helps reduce reconviction providing offenders complete the programme. What this research does not address however is the relationship between a ‘treated’ offender profile (see Friendship et al., 2003) and reductions in reconvictions, i.e. to what extent did ETS change offenders’ thinking, and their subsequent behaviour? A third of offenders sentenced to ETS had OGRS scores over 75. These offenders may have had additional conditions imposed to address their risk of re-offending, as opposed to simply being poor-targeting. When different risk-bands are considered separately, only the medium-high risk offenders reconvict less than expected. The medium-low offenders’ reconviction rate is 5.5% higher than that given by OGRS, although it is 9% lower than the comparison group. The medium-high risk offenders, on the other hand, have an actual rate some 8% lower than the predicted rate and 25% lower than the comparison group. Whilst this implies that ETS has a stronger effect on medium-high risk offenders, it reaffirms the need for correct targeting. Whilst reconviction rates for each age-band in the ETS sample are between 2% and 7% lower than the comparison sample, they are not lower than the predicted rates in all age-bands. Indeed, only the 18-20 age-group shows a reliable effect with the reconviction rate for this group being nearly 9% lower than predicted. The other three age-groups do not show any notable effect. This suggests that the ETS programme in West Yorkshire had a greater impact upon reconviction rates for younger offenders. It may well be the case that the older a recidivist offender gets, the more likely they have experienced ETS or a similar intervention, and the less effective a repeat experience will be. The ETS offenders who did reconvict had, on average, higher OGRS scores than those who did not, but did not differ in age from offenders who did not reconvict. This again highlights the need for correct targeting of offenders for ETS: nearly half (48%) of the cases who did reconvict had OGRS scores of 75 and over, whereas of those who did not reconvict only 16% had high OGRS scores. Given that offenders who complete the programme have much lower reconviction rates, it would be useful to see if the effects of age and risk upon reconviction found in this study on all offenders sentenced are also found for completers and non-completers. Much larger samples of completers than obtained in this study would be necessary to run reliable statistical analyses. The ETS offenders had lower actual reconviction rates for both men and women. These differences were too small to be found statistically significant with these samples and may have arisen due to chance. The difference between the comparison and the ETS samples’ actual reconviction rates is larger for the men: -7.6% compared to -2.1% for the women. When actual reconviction rates are compared against the predicted rates, it appears that only men in the ETS sample reconvict less than expected. Much caution is needed with the difference for the women due to the low numbers of women in the samples overall but this might suggest that although receiving ETS is better than not for both sexes, the programme in West Yorkshire is less effective with women than with men. Further research with larger samples of women is needed. The average on-set time to the first reoffence was 189 days for the ETS sample and 233 days for the comparison sample. This difference was not statistically significant suggesting no real difference in how quickly the two samples began reoffending again. However, during the first year the comparison group’s reconviction rate was lower than the ETS group’s rate, at a maximum of 6.5% lower 5 months after being sentenced. This trend reversed at approximately 8-9 months when the ETS group’s reconviction rate began to slow, falling below the comparison group’s rate after one year. By 18 months the ETS group’s reconviction rate was at its maximum difference of 6.6% lower than the comparison group. Poor targeting may in part cause this: offenders with higher OGRS scores reoffend faster in both samples and the ETS sample had higher proportions of these offenders. However, we can also theorise that the decrease in reoffending rate at the 8-9 month point is linked to offenders completing the programme, as the average time to completion was 7 months and offenders who complete have lower reconviction rates than predicted. A criticism of reconviction studies is that just one reconviction is necessary, perhaps for a relatively minor offence, for the offender to be counted as ‘reconvicted’. Considering the volume or frequency of reconvictions over a two-year period and the seriousness of these provides another more sensitive measure of reconviction. To look at frequency and seriousness however, each offender needs to have an equivalent period of two-years at liberty to reoffend, i.e. not in prison. Due to the time-frame of this study, this resulted in 90 offenders being excluded from frequency and seriousness analyses as they were in custody. Cases ‘lost to custody’ – 23% (n=70) from the ETS sample and 12% (n=21) from the comparison group – had higher OGRS scores than the remaining cases: 11% and 12% points for the comparison and ETS samples respectively. This suggests that the remaining ETS sample used in this part of the study is slightly skewed towards medium-high risk offenders and actual figures should be used with much caution. However, as the difference in OGRS scores between cases lost to custody and the final sample was proportionately the same the comparison between the two samples is not necessarily jeopardised by the exclusion of these cases. The ETS sample was responsible for more reconvictions and offences, on average per reconvicted offender. The ETS sample had an average of 2.26 reconvictions, compared to 2.05 for the comparison sample, although this difference is not sufficient to be statistically significant. The comparison sample also had a higher proportion of offenders with only 1 reconviction, this being 54.1% of those who reconvicted, compared to 41.5% in the ETS sample. It might be the case that more offences were committed by the ETS sample but done so by a smaller number of offenders. However this conjecture cannot be statistically confirmed or refuted due to the smaller number of offenders who actually did reconvict. For the purpose of this study, a quick and systematic method was used to gauge the seriousness of a reconviction using the courts’ view of seriousness as determined by the disposal given. This enabled a robust comparison between the two samples; it was not intended to make a theoretical point about offence seriousness per se. Approximately 39% of both samples’ reoffences were more serious than the index offence, whilst the ETS group had slightly higher proportions (+6.5%) of less serious reoffences than the comparison group. The comparison group had similarly higher proportions of same-seriousness reoffences. This implies that the reoffending committed by the ETS sample is no worse than that of the comparison group. Details: Wakefield, UK: West Yorkshire Probation Service, 2006. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 5, 2013 at: http://www.westyorksprobation.org.uk/documentlist.php?type=1&year=2006 Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.westyorksprobation.org.uk/documentlist.php?type=1&year=2006 Shelf Number: 128272 Keywords: Community-Based Corrections Cognitive Skills Enhanced Thinking Skills Probationers Recidivism Reoffending (U.K.)

Author: Kansas. Department of Corrections Title: Offender Program Evaluation: Volume VIII Summary: The programs described in this report have different curricula, different program durations, different objectives, different offender target groups, and different contractors. This set of differences makes program-to-program comparisons not “apples-to-apples.” Nonetheless, below we present a summary of some of the FY 2008 program results. Please keep in mind that these comparisons are not direct and that final interpretation and meaning must occur within the context of each individual program. Detailed data for each program is reported in subsequent sections of this report. It should be noted that during quality assurance reviews of the final draft of this report, the Department identified errors and inconsistencies with utilization data. Due to time constraints to investigate and correct the errors, utilization data is not provided in this evaluation. Total Program Participants -- The total number of program participants ranges from a low of 88 (Substance Abuse Treatment Program for females) to a high of 1,535 (Academic Education) for FY 2008. The Work Release Program had the second highest total number of participants at 828 and the Sex Offender Treatment Program had the third highest total participant number with 723. Number of Program Completions The total number of program completions (unduplicated) during FY 2008 ranged from a high of 412 (Work Release) to a low of 11 (Special Education). The Academic Education program achieved the second highest number of program completions at 390 and the Sex Offender Treatment program ranked third with a total of 251 program completions. The programs considered in this report also vary in the number of slots contracted or allocated to each program. This figure contributes heavily to the number of total participants that, in turn, influences the number of potential program completers. For FY 2008, the largest number of slots (average full-time equivalents) was for the Work Release program at 316. The next highest number of slots was for the Therapeutic Communities substance abuse treatment program at 220. Vocational Education (all types of vocational education combined) had the third-highest number of slots at 213. The smallest program in terms of contracted slots was Substance Abuse Treatment program for females (16 slots). Cost per Program Slot For the contractually operated programs, the FY 2008 actual expenditures can be divided by the number of program slots to obtain a cost per slot for the program. To ensure comparable figures, all slots are stated in terms of full-time equivalents. Actual program expenditures are not maintained for the KDOC-operated programs in a fashion that is separable from other KDOC functions (e.g., security, classification, etc.) associated with the program. Therefore, no cost per program slot is available for the KDOC-operated Chemical Dependency Recovery Program (CDRP) substance abuse treatment, Pre-Release, or Work Release programs. It should also be noted costs per slot are not reported for InnerChange, as all costs are assumed by the contract provider. Of the contracted programs considered in this report, Therapeutic Communities substance abuse treatment program demonstrates the lowest cost per program slot at $5,110 followed by Vocational Education at $5,137 and the Transitional Training Program at $6,149. The highest cost per slot was in the Academic Education Program ($10,520) followed by Special Education ($10,100) and the Sex Offender Treatment program ($9,970). Cost per Participant Using the same actual expenditure figures, the cost per participant can also be calculated for each of the contracted programs. As previously noted, costs are not reported for InnerChange, as all costs are assumed by the contract provider. Cost per participant was highest for the Special Education program ($4,720) followed by the Transitional Training program ($2,617) and the Sex Offender Treatment Program ($2,151). The lowest cost per participant was realized by Academic Education ($1,017), followed by Vocational Education ($1,460) and Therapeutic Community substance abuse treatment program ($1,976). The costs per participant for Special Education in Corrections, as it is in the public school system, are higher than other programs due in part to mandated requirements including lower class sizes, comprehensive evaluations, development and annual review of individualized education plans, provision of necessary services to qualified student(s) regardless of number of students available (can create teacher-student class ratios of 1 to 1), and that often as a result of disabilities, few students will achieve GED or complete all aspects of the IEP in the time in the program. Cost per Program Completion Although cost per participant gives a sense of how much it costs to have an offender enrolled in these programs, how much it costs for a program completion is also of interest. Special Education realized the highest cost per completion of the programs considered in this report ($45,909). This was followed by the Transitional Training program ($13,665) and the Therapeutic Community substance abuse treatment program ($8,185). The lowest cost per program completion was the Academic Education program ($4,003) followed by the Vocational Education program ($4,410). Note that important factors in this program cost calculation include the number of slots, the completion ratio, and the length of the treatment program. Costs per program completion for InnerChange are not reported, as all costs are assumed by the contract provider. The costs per program completion for Special Education in Corrections, as it is in the public school system, are higher than other programs due in part to mandated requirements including lower class sizes, comprehensive evaluations, development and annual review of individualized education plans, provision of necessary services to qualified student(s) regardless of number of students available (can create teacher-student class ratios of 1 to 1), and that often as a result of disabilities, few students will achieve GED or complete all aspects of the IEP in the time in the program. Completion Ratio The Completion Ratio is a calculation that compares the number of offenders completing a specific program within a fiscal year to the number who enrolled and had the opportunity to complete the program. The completion ratio is another measure of program efficiency. In FY 2008, the highest completion ratios were achieved by the Pre-Release program (88.9%), followed by the Work Release program (78.6%), the Substance Abuse Treatment Program for females (77.5%), and the Sex Offender Treatment program (68.0%). The lowest completion ratios were experienced by the Special Education Program (17.5%), Transitional Training (36.0%) and Academic Education (38.3%). PROGRAM OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: OVERVIEW Recidivism For most of the correctional interventions considered in this report, one of the program goals includes a reduction in recidivism, i.e., the number of returns to prison. There is no universally accepted definition of recidivism and it varies in three main areas: definition of “recidivating act”, “recidivism pool” and “length of follow-up period”. Please take caution in comparing outcome results in this report to those generated by other jurisdictions. The recidivism analysis pool consists of “new commitments” (including probation violators with or without new sentences) admitted and released during the period FY 1992 – FY 2008. For this evaluation some refinements to the outcome pool were imposed. In order to increase the homogeneity of the group on which recidivism information is reported and to ensure that all offenders in this recidivism analysis pool have “similar” opportunities for “success” or “failure,” the initial outcome pool was refined by excluding certain sub-groups (primarily “short termers” – offenders who served less than four months, which is usually insufficient time for program completion). The basic outcome measure is return to a Kansas Department of Corrections facility with or without a new sentence during the period of post-incarceration supervision or as a return via new court commitment following discharge from the initial sentence. Each offender is tracked individually for follow-up periods of one year, two years and three years. For most programs covered in this report, outcome is considered across the period FY 1992 through FY 2008. Exceptions to this include the Work Release program where outcomes are tracked from FY 1995 through FY 2008, InnerChange program where outcomes are tracked from FY 2000 through FY 2008 and the Therapeutic Communities for which the outcome tracking period varies. Further, given the fact that we do not employ experimental design (for discussion, see Section IV: Study Limitations), the difference in recidivism rates among groups does not necessarily imply a causal relationship with program experience. At best, we can only say that these events co-occur. To move toward a causal relationship would require employment of experimental or quasi-experimental research design(s). Also, in the following data presentation, treatment programs are treated as if they have remained static in modality and curriculum over the time period considered. In experience, however, this is not the case. The programs have undergone numerous changes over the course of the time frame considered. In alignment with the Department’s commitment to evidence-based practices, the KDOC has made strides toward identifying and targeting the high risk offender with the implementation of the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R). Research suggests that targeting higher risk offenders for intensive treatment and reducing the mixing of risk levels will reduce recidivism (Andrews, Zinger, Hoge, Bonta, Gendreau & Cullen, 1990; Andrews & Dowden, 1999, 2006; Dowden & Andrews, 1999a, 1999b; Lipsey & Wilson, 1998; Lowenkamp & Latessa, 2005; Lowenkamp, Latessa, & Holsinger, 2006; Lowenkamp, Smith & Bechtel, 2007).1 In an effort to conduct more rigorous analyses with our data, the Department has conducted logistic regression models.2 While previous reports have primarily provided frequencies for re-admission to KDOC, this analysis considers the influence that sex, race, age and LSI-R total score have on recidivism and controls for these factors. These multivariate models can generate probabilities which can be interpreted as rates of failure based on the low, medium and high risk levels as determined by the LSI-R. These probabilities are presented in the bar chart below.3 Specifically, these findings suggest that over the three year follow-up period, recidivism rates do increase, regardless of the risk level. Over the three years, the rates of recidivism for the low risk group increases from 11.7% to 45.2%, resulting in an increase of 33.5%. Similarly, for the medium and high risk groups, the difference in rates of recidivism between the three year periods is 43.2% and 35.4% respectively. The key finding with this bar chart is that for each time period, the lower risk offenders are consistently re-admitted at a significantly lower rate than that of the moderate and high risk groups. Further, this provides empirical evidence that the Kansas Department of Corrections is adhering to the risk principle. It is important to note that these findings are not to be interpreted as program characteristics associated with the recidivism rates by risk level as we have not conducted such an analyses. Details: Topeka, KS: Kansas Department of Corrections, 2009. 156p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2013 at: http://www.doc.ks.gov/publications/program-evaluation-reports/offender-programs-evaluation-volume-viii-april-2009/view Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.ks.gov/publications/program-evaluation-reports/offender-programs-evaluation-volume-viii-april-2009/view Shelf Number: 128329 Keywords: Correctional Programs (Kansas, U.S.) Costs of Corrections Evidence-Based Policies Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Papachristos, Andrew V. Title: Desistance and Legitimacy: The Impact of Offender Notification Meetings on Recidivism among High Risk Offenders Summary: Objective: Legitimacy-based approaches to crime prevention operate under the assumption that individuals — including violent offenders — are more likely to comply with the law when they believe that the law and its agents are legitimate and act in ways that seem inherently “fair” and “just.” While mounting evidence finds an association between such legitimacy-based programs and reductions in aggregate levels of crime and violence, no study has investigated whether such programs influence individual offending. This study evaluates the effectiveness of one such program — Project Safe Neighborhoods’ (PSN) Offender Notification Meetings — at reducing individual recidivism among a population of returning prisoners in Chicago. Methods: This study uses a quasi-experimental design and two types of survival analyses (Cox hazard models and competing risk models) to evaluate the effects of PSN on the subsequent recidivism of program participants relative to the control group. Results: Cox hazard models and competing risk models suggest that involvement in PSN significantly reduces the risk of subsequent incarceration. In fact, participation in PSN Offender Notification Forums is associated with a significant lengthening of the time that offenders remain on the street and out of prison. Conclusion: This study provides some of the first individual-level evidence of the efficacy of such programs on patterns of individual offending. Results suggest that interventions such as these do indeed reduce rates of recidivism in the treatment group. Details: Working Paper, 2013. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2240232 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2240232 Shelf Number: 128349 Keywords: Crime Prevention Legitimacy Offender Notification Meetings Prisoner Reentry Project Safe Neighborhoods Recidivism

Author: Guliyeva, Nargiz Title: What are Determinants of the Level of Juvenile Recidivism in the Azerbaijan Republic? Summary: Eventually, all former prisoners return to society. The most sensitive question is: “Will they be able to successfully integrate into it or not?” Unfortunately, in most cases the answer is negative; sooner or later they end up back in jail. The issue becomes more dramatic when it concerns juvenile offenders who were sentenced between the ages of 13-17. Most adult criminals begin their criminal careers as juveniles, and although the amount of juvenile crimes has annually decreased in Azerbaijan, half of those who are already in prison have committed multiple crimes. There are many reasons for juvenile recidivism. The most common set of problems which constricts the ability of released juveniles to start a new and successful life includes: uselessness in the society, limited job perspectives, homelessness, deteriorating health, and psychological problems. This paper is based upon several primary assumptions that reflect current research in the field of juvenile recidivism. The main purposes are to investigate the reasons behind and suggest possible solutions for juvenile recidivism in Azerbaijan. Data was collected from: A founding text on criminology which gives a general picture of juvenile psychology and actions; various researches which reflect foreign experience on this issue; reports from local NGOs and the office of UNICEF in Azerbaijan which provide precise descriptive and statistical information on the juvenile justice system; data from the State Statistical Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic; interviews with the people who work on the issue of children’s rights in Azerbaijan. The results of this research propose recommendations to reduce the rate of juvenile recidivism in Azerbaijan. Details: Baku, Azerbaijan; Khazar University, 2011. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2013 at: http://dspace.khazar.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1965/1/juvenile%20recidivism.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Azerbaijan URL: http://dspace.khazar.org/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1965/1/juvenile%20recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 128357 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders (Azerbaijan) Recidivism

Author: Cheesman, Fred L. Title: Virginia Adult Drug Treatment Courts: Cost Benefit Analysis Summary: To date, Virginia has formally implemented 16 adult drug treatment courts. In addition, there are eight planning courts that gained approval for implementation following the 2012 Virginia General Assembly as a result of changes to the 2012-2014 budget language and an additional adult drug court that was approved in October 2012 by the Virginia Drug Treatment Court Statewide Advisory Board. Data from 12 of Virginia’s adult drug treatment courts are included in this report. The 12 adult drug court sites included in this study are: • Charlottesville/Albemarle Adult Drug Court • Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Adult Drug Court • Hampton Adult Drug Court • Henrico Adult Drug Court • Loudoun Adult Drug Court • Newport News Adult Drug Court • Norfolk Adult Drug Court • Portsmouth Adult Drug Court • Rappahannock Regional Adult Drug Court • Roanoke Adult Drug Court • Richmond Adult Drug Court • Staunton Adult Drug Court The other four operational adult drug treatment courts – Tazewell Adult Drug Court, Hopewell/Prince George Adult Drug Court, Bristol Adult Drug Court and Chesapeake Adult Drug Court – were excluded from the study due to limited available data. The following report is the second produced as a result of the National Center for State Courts’ study of Virginia’s adult drug courts. The critical finding from the first report was that drug court participants in the sample were significantly less likely to recidivate than the carefully matched “business-as-usual” comparison group and that this reduction in recidivism was a robust and sustained effect. In this, the second report, the following research questions were answered: Key Question 1: What defendant characteristics and program characteristics are associated with the graduation rates and recidivism rates of drug court participants? Key Question 2: Controlling for differences in demographics and criminal history, do drug court participants demonstrate better recidivism outcomes than defendants processed through the traditional criminal justice system? Key Question 3: How much does an adult drug court in Virginia cost per participant? Key Question 4: What is the impact on the criminal justice system of processing defendants through a drug court compared to traditional case processing? Details: Williamsburg, VA: National Center for State Courts, 2012. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2013 at: http://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/spcts/id/245/rec/54 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/spcts/id/245/rec/54 Shelf Number: 128407 Keywords: Cost Benefit Analysis Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Courts (Virginia) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts (Virginia) Recidivism

Author: Scarbrough, Sarah Huggins Title: Reducing Recidivism in Returning Offenders with Alcohol and Drug Related Offenses: Contracts for the Delivery of Authentic Peer Based Recovery Support Services Summary: In collaboration with Sheriff C. T. Woody, the Deputies and other jail personnel, Kingdom Life Ministries (KLM) operates in the City of Richmond Jail. Aimed at serving individuals who suffer from alcoholism and other drug addictions, KLM’s programs offer peer-to-peer recovery support services; meaning people who are successful in their recovery deliver the recovery message. On any given day, rehabilitation and recovery services are provided to 120 men in what used to be the worst tier of the Richmond City Jail. A large portion of these men battle substance abuse disorders and have exhibited habitual criminal behavior over an extended period of time. Using a mixed methods approach, this study examined the effectiveness of KLM, during two stages — while the men are incarcerated and upon release. Beginning in February 2008, with the initial implementation of the KLM program, the examination spanned three and a half years, concluding in September 2011. The qualitative and quantitative findings of this study revealed the effectiveness of the KLM program. Secondary data examining other programs in and outside of Virginia was also reviewed to in order to develop best practices recommendations for substance abuse treatment organizations. Last, it was also discovered that private organizations provide more efficient services than public programs, and do in a much more cost effective manner. Details: Richmond VA: Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012. 223p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 13, 2013 at: http://sarahscarbrough.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scarbrough-dissertation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://sarahscarbrough.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/scarbrough-dissertation.pdf Shelf Number: 128714 Keywords: Alcohol Offenders Correctional Programs Drug Offenders Jail Inmates (Virginia) Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Robertson, Caroline Title: Current Issues in the Treatment of Sexual Offenders Summary: This thesis investigates the debate around sex offender treatment efficacy. Numerous methods are utilised to explore this topic, including a meta-analysis (N =15,931), empirical research (N =322) and a single case study. Chapter 1 reviews the efficacy of sex offender treatment in relation to study design, treatment type, and treatment setting. Results indicate a positive effect of treatment in reducing both sexual and general recidivism for treated versus untreated offenders. However, treatment effects varied greatly according to the study design used, with no significant effect of treatment found for randomised controlled trials. Within Chapter 2, survival analysis and logistic regression are used to examine the impact of treatment dose (‘Risk Principle’) on reconviction and within-treatment change. Results indicate that whilst controlling for Risk Matrix 2000 (Thornton, Mann, Webster, Blud, Travers, Friendship & Erikson, 2003) classification, treatment dose does not influence treatment outcome. The results are discussed in light of the need to consider the way that sexual offenders interact with the amount of treatment received. Chapter 3 uses a single case design to explore assessment and low-dose intervention with an internet offender. The case study explores practice based issues, including the difficulty in applying pre-existing knowledge of contact sexual offenders to internet offenders. Chapter 4 provides a critique of Risk Matrix 2000 (Thornton et al., 2003). Chapter 5 discusses the practical and theoretical implications of this thesis, explores limitations of the thesis, and provides recommendations for future research. Details: Birmingham, UK: Centre for Forensic and Criminological Psychology of the University of Birmingham, 2010. 161p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 13, 2013 at: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/857/1/Robertson10ForenPsyD.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/857/1/Robertson10ForenPsyD.pdf Shelf Number: 128716 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Programs Sex Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Centre for Social Justice Title: Can Secure Colleges Transform Youth Custody? Transcript from a roundtable discussion on Secure Colleges Summary: The case for change is clear. Last year more than 3,500 young offenders were sentenced to custody and more than 70% of them went onto reoffend within a year, despite an average of around £100,000 per annum being spent on their detention. There is an urgent need to improve the educational attainment of children in custody, reduce the sky-high levels of reoffending, and turn around the lives of these young people for their own sake and for the sake of the communities that are blighted by the crime they commit. The CSJ has long argued for education to play a central role in the rehabilitation of young offenders. We were delighted to host a roundtable on Secure Colleges with the Minister for Prisons and Rehabilitation, Jeremy Wright MP, and leading voices from the criminal justice and education sectors. Our aim was to bring together key individuals and organisations that can help the Coalition Government make the idea of Secure Colleges a successful reality in the UK. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2013. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2013 at: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/publications/can-secure-colleges-transform-youth-custody Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/publications/can-secure-colleges-transform-youth-custody Shelf Number: 128796 Keywords: Educational Programs Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Reoffending Young Adult Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: The Effects of Minnesota Prison-Based Educational Programming on Recidivism and Employment Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of prison-based educational programming by examining the effects of obtaining secondary and post-secondary degrees on recidivism and post-release employment outcomes among offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2007 and 2008. Obtaining a secondary degree in prison significantly increased the odds of securing post-release employment by 59 percent but did not have a significant effect on recidivism or other employment measures such as hourly wage, total hours worked, and total wages earned. Earning a post-secondary degree in prison, however, was associated with greater number of hours worked, higher overall wages, and less recidivism. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/MNDOCEducationalProgrammingEvaluation_Final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/MNDOCEducationalProgrammingEvaluation_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 128880 Keywords: Educational Programs Ex-Offender Employment Prison Programs Prisoners (Minnesota, U.S.) Recidivism Vocational Training and Education

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: The Effects of Private Prison Confinement in Minnesota on Offender Recidivism Summary: Evidence has been mixed as to whether private prisons are more effective than state-operated facilities in reducing recidivism. This study analyzes whether private prison confinement in Minnesota has had an impact on recidivism by examining 3,532 offenders released from prison between 2007 and 2009. Propensity score matching was used to individually match a comparison group of 1,766 inmates who had only been confined in state-run facilities with 1,766 offenders who had served time in a private prison facility. Using multiple measures of recidivism and private prison confinement, 20 Cox regression models were estimated. The results showed that offenders who had been incarcerated in a private prison had a greater hazard of recidivism in all 20 models, and the recidivism risk was significantly greater in eight of the models. The evidence presented in this study suggests that private prisons are not more effective in reducing recidivism, which may be attributable to fewer visitation and rehabilitative programming opportunities for offenders incarcerated at private facilities. Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2013. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/MNPrivatePrisonEvaluation_WebsiteFinal.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/documents/MNPrivatePrisonEvaluation_WebsiteFinal.pdf Shelf Number: 128882 Keywords: Private Prisons (Minnesota, U.S.) Privatization Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Research Title: Realignment Report: A One-year Examination of Offenders Released from State Prison in the First Six Months of Public Safety Realignment Summary: One-year arrest rates are down and conviction rates are virtually static for offenders released after completing their state prison sentences post-Realignment, according to a report released today by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). For this Realignment Report, CDCR identified all offenders who had served their full sentence and were released from prison during the first six months after the implementation of Realignment (October 2011 through March 2012). Researchers then tracked the offenders, which include those released to state parole supervision and those released to county probation supervision, for one year to see if they were re-arrested, convicted of a new crime, or returned to state prison. CDCR then compared those results with all offenders released during October 2010 to March 2011 (pre-Realignment) and tracked them for one year in the same manner. Key findings include: • Post-Realignment offenders were arrested at a lower rate than pre-Realignment offenders (62 percent pre-Realignment and 58.7 percent post-Realignment). • The rate of post-Realignment offenders convicted of new crimes is nearly the same as the rate of pre-Realignment offenders convicted of new crimes (21.3 percent pre-realignment and 22.5 percent post realignment). • Post-Realignment offenders returned to prison at a significantly lower rate than pre-Realignment offenders, an intended effect of Realignment as most offenders are ineligible to return to prison on a parole violation. (42 percent pre-Realignment and 7.4 percent post-Realignment) Under California’s Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011, no offenders receive an early release from state prison. The law, which was passed by the Legislature in response to a federal court order to reduce California’s prison population, has achieved dramatic reductions by stemming the flow of low-level inmates and parole violators into prison. The intent of Realignment is to encourage counties to develop and implement evidenced-based practices and alternatives to incarceration to limit future crimes and reduce victimization. Prior to Realignment, more than 60,000 felon parole violators returned to state prison annually, with an average length of stay of 90 days. Beginning on October 1, 2011, most parole violations are now served in county jails. Also, offenders newly convicted of certain low-level offenses serve their time in county jail. Under another component of Realignment, inmates who have served their full state prison sentence for a non-serious, non-violent or non-sexual offense are now supervised upon their release by county probation rather than state parole. Realignment provides a dedicated, constitutionally protected, and permanent revenue stream to the counties. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/realignment/docs/Realignment%206%20Month%20Report%20Final_5%2016%2013%20v1.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/realignment/docs/Realignment%206%20Month%20Report%20Final_5%2016%2013%20v1.pdf Shelf Number: 128887 Keywords: California Realignment Costs of Corrections Parolees Prison Overcrowding Prisoners (California) Recidivism

Author: Latessa, Edward J. Title: Final Report: Outcome and Process Evaluation of Juvenile Drug Courts Summary: This study adds to the existing juvenile drug court literature by providing a national multi-site outcome and process evaluation of nine juvenile drug courts from across the U.S. This study assesses the relative effect of each court, as well as their combined effectiveness in reaching the overall goal of reducing recidivism and improving youths' social functioning. It also identifies, where possible, the characteristics of youth and programs associated with successful outcomes. The goals of this research are consistent with those stated in the OJJDP-approved grant proposal. There were six original goals. One additional goal was added at the request of OJJDP. The goals of this research are: 1) To determine if there is a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse associated with participation in a juvenile drug court program, relative to comparison groups. 2) To determine if there are increases in social functioning related to participating in juvenile drug court programs relative to comparison groups. 3) To identify the characteristics of successful juvenile drug court participants. 4) To determine if juvenile drug courts are operating in a manner consistent with evidence-based approaches. 5) To identify the programmatic characteristics of effective juvenile drug courts. 6) To provide policymakers with information about the effectiveness of juvenile drug courts. 7) To determine if the 16 strategies for juvenile drug courts recommended by the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI) are effective practices (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2003). The nine juvenile drug courts participating in this research study are located in: Ada County, Idaho; Clackamas County, Oregon; Jefferson County, Ohio; Lane County, Oregon; Lucas County, Ohio; Medina County, Ohio; Rhode Island (the state); San Diego County, California; and Santa Clara County, California. As discussed above, the study included both process and outcome evaluation components. Details: Cincinnati, OH: Center for Criminal Justice Research, University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice, 2013. 421p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/241643.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/241643.pdf Shelf Number: 128931 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Offenders Juvenile Drug Courts Juvenile Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Community Reentry after Prison Drug Treatment: Learning from Sheridan Therapeutic Community Program participants Summary: The Sheridan Correctional Center National Model Drug Prison and Reentry Program is a drug treatment program providing in-prison substance abuse treatment as well as substance abuse treatment upon release. Prior research has shown reductions in recidivism among Sheridan participants compared to other prisoners. This study examined a group of 50 re-incarcerated men who successfully completed the in-prison phase of the Sheridan program and what led to their re-incarceration. Among this sample, positive findings about the Sheridan program and its participants include: • Sixty-two percent stated they were Very engaged in the Sheridan program. • Slightly more than half (60 percent) felt Sheridan prepared them for success after release. • Over three-fourths (76 percent) indicated they had a job at some point after graduating Sheridan and before their re-incarceration. • A majority (84 percent) reported having little difficulty in finding housing. • Most (86 percent) said Sheridan helped them more than a traditional prison. Other notable findings include: • On average, Sheridan graduates in this study spent 738 days (about two years) in the community before returning to IDOC. The range was 40 to 2,096 days (over five-and-a-half years). • A majority of the men in our sample (90 percent) relapsed into drug or alcohol use after their release from Sheridan. • Slightly more than half (56 percent) of the sample reported they had illegal sources of income. • Sixty-eight 68 percent stated drug dealing was common in the neighborhood they lived in after release. This study found many factors associated with length of time to relapse to drug or alcohol use and recidivism (self-reported criminal activity or re-incarceration) including: • Younger participants engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner than older participants. Younger participants also reported being less engaged in the Sheridan program than older participants. • After prison, those who returned to their original neighborhood relapsed sooner than those who did not return to their original neighborhood. • Unemployed participants engaged in criminal activity sooner than employed participants. • Those living in neighborhoods that were perceived as unsafe and/or where drug dealing was common relapsed sooner than those living in safer, lower-risk neighborhoods. • Those who reported spending time with persons who engage in risky activities—substance use and/or criminal activity—relapsed sooner than those who did not spend time with persons engaging in risky activities. • Those with gang involvement engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner. • Those who did not complete aftercare engaged in criminal activity and relapsed sooner than those who did complete aftercare. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2013. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2013 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/researchreports/reentry_sheridan_report_012012.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/researchreports/reentry_sheridan_report_012012.pdf Shelf Number: 128958 Keywords: Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Prisoner Reentry (Illinois, U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Armstrong, Gaylene Title: Evaluation of the Windham School District Correctional Education Programs Summary: The Windham School District (WSD) provides educational services to the eligible offender population within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Approximately 63,000 offenders participated in services during the 2011-2012 school year. Sam Houston State University researched and reported on offender outcomes based on various levels and types of participation in educational programs. After a review of research and program descriptions, the findings will provide a general overview from a service delivery perspective. Next, the report examines the impact of WSD program delivery on offender outcomes, specifically the advancement of educational achievement levels and recidivism. Finally, this report presents the results of the impact of participation in WSD programs on average quarterly wages for those offenders employed subsequent to their FY2009 release. All investigative findings should take into consideration that the study found that as legislatively mandated, the WSD prioritizes services for offenders with high risk characteristics. However, because offenders within the TDCJ are not individually identified as high or low risk for re-incarceration, measuring the impact of programming to recidivism was challenging. An individual program assessment of the pre-release program, CHANGES, is not included in the study because significant curriculum revisions infusing cognitive skills were made during the 2009 school year. However, CHANGES students were included as participants in applicable cohorts of the study. A Brief Comparison of Literature Review and Study Findings Literature: Research has indicated that program intensity and duration of rehabilitation programs are directly related to positive outcomes, including recidivism, for certain offenders. Finding: Each WSD program demonstrated to a statistically significant degree that higher levels of program exposure decreased the likelihood of WSD offender re-incarceration. Literature: The higher the overall education level of the offender, the less likely they are to recidivate. Finding: Advances in educational achievement levels, specifically reading, led to much lower re-incarceration levels in many cases. Offenders who participated in WSD adult basic education programs had significantly higher reading, math and language grade equivalency scores as well as overall composite scores upon release in FY2009 as compared to non-participants. Literature: Research found that participants were 1.7 times more likely to be employed upon release to the community. Finding: WSD offenders who earned a GED were even more likely to report post-release earnings as compared to non-WSD offenders. Literature: Empirical evidence suggests correctional education participation results in an increased likelihood of success in obtaining and maintaining employment and higher wage earnings for former offenders. Finding: WSD offenders who had a higher level of reading ability as indicated by their reading category were more likely to report post-release earnings. Furthermore, participants in WSD programs improved their reading ability an average of two grade levels. Literature: Studies have shown that offenders who participate in correctional education programs have higher rates of employment upon release and participating offenders earn higher wages in each successive year. Finding: On average, WSD offenders earned higher wages per quarter as compared to Non-WSD offenders. Literature: Researchers have found that individuals who obtain meaningful, quality employment upon release have lower recidivism rates than those who obtain employment of a lesser quality. Finding: Obtaining Vocational Certification certificates further bolstered earnings within WSD offender groups. WSD offenders who earned vocational certifications on average earned $3,180.81 per quarter as compared to WSD offenders who engaged in vocational programming but did not earn certification who on average earned $2,795.37 per quarter. Literature: Findings are relatively consistent in that participation in correctional education reduces recidivism. Finding: Overall, younger offenders (<35) were significantly more likely to re-offend in contrast to offenders above the age of 35; however, within both age groups, educational achievement of WSD offenders had a suppression effect on re-incarceration. Literature: Cognitive-behavioral treatment is well-established as an effective method for adjusting maladaptive thinking and producing positive behavioral outcomes. Finding: WSD offenders who completed the Cognitive Intervention Program (CIP) earned significantly higher wages when post-release earnings were reported as compared to non-CIP participants. Further Considerations Future evaluation efforts should consider the examination the impact of consecutive or concurrent enrollment. Given that more than 43 percent of the offenders in this sampling time frame were incarcerated on more than one occasion, future consideration should be given to program involvement across various periods of incarceration. Future evaluations should compare differences between offenders exposed to a single correctional education program with those exposed to multiple programs. Details: Austin, TX: Sam Houston State University, 2012. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/reports/WSD_Rider6_Response.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/reports/WSD_Rider6_Response.pdf Shelf Number: 128972 Keywords: Correctional Education Programs (Texas, U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Vocational Education and Training

Author: Victoria. Sentencing Advisory Council Title: Reoffending Following Sentencing in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria Summary: An important aspect of the Sentencing Advisory Council’s work is examining the effects of sentencing on an offender’s subsequent behaviour. This is one element of the more general question of whether, and to what extent, sentencing can achieve its various purposes. Information about the effects of sentencing should inform decision-making in relation to sentencing policy and practice. In order to provide this information, the Council has developed a database to examine the nature and extent of reoffending following sentencing in Victoria. This report uses statistical techniques to estimate the effect of each of a number of variables on the likelihood of reoffending. The variables include the type of sentence imposed for the initial offence as well as factors such as the offender’s age, gender and criminal history. These techniques enable an examination of whether sentencing has an effect on reoffending in Victoria and if it does: • how the effect of sentencing compares with the effects of other factors; and • the extent to which this varies according to the type of sentence imposed. Details: Melbourne: Victoria Sentencing Advisory Council, 2013. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: https://sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/files/reoffending_following_sentencing_in_the_magistrates_court_of_victoria.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: https://sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/files/reoffending_following_sentencing_in_the_magistrates_court_of_victoria.pdf Shelf Number: 128978 Keywords: Recidivism Reoffending Sentencing (Australia)

Author: Wood, Martin Title: Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS) Baseline Technical Report Summary: The Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS) was a longitudinal study that brought together a wide range of data to describe the cohort of offenders aged 18 and over who started Community Orders between October 2009 and December 2010. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) commissioned NatCen Social Research and Get the Data (GtD) to carry out the OMCCS. The broad aims of the study were:  to assess the effectiveness of interventions in reducing offending behaviour; and  to evaluate aspects of offender management. In its initial conception, the OMCCS comprised three main stages:  Baseline (Wave 1) – which would describe the commencement of Community Orders and offenders’ position at an early stage in their sentence;  Mid-order (Wave 2) – which would describe the implementation of Community Orders, including what was delivered and to whom, and;  End of Order (Wave 3) – a final stage that would explore the outcomes for the cohort, particularly in relation to breach of the Community Orders and reoffending. Although there were changes to the design as the study progressed, this remained the basic approach. This is the first of three technical reports on the OMCCS and it focuses on the baseline stage. Research design The OMCCS used a dataset based on three data sources:  A longitudinal survey of a representative sample of 2,919 offenders, drawn from ten Probation Areas. This provides information on their perceptions and experiences of Community Orders, their backgrounds, attitudes and needs, and how these change over time. The first survey (the baseline survey) was carried out around three months after the start of the offender’s Community Order, with subsequent surveys carried out seven months, on average, into the sentence and following its expected end point.  Central administrative records for all those offenders starting a Community Order during the period (144,407 offenders) describing the sentence received, offences and the risks and needs of offenders as assessed by practitioners. This includes: FORM 20 data detailing Community Order commencements and terminations; Offender Assessment System (OASys) data, containing details of the needs and risks that offenders present with; and Interim Accredited Programmes System (IAPS) data on offenders’ attendance on accredited programmes.  Local administrative records from the same ten Probation Areas selected for the survey (covering 48,943 offenders), which describe how offender management operates and how offenders complete or breach their sentences. The survey and administrative data sources were combined to form a ‘Universal Dataset’. Structure of the report This technical report covers the baseline data collection, comprising the first survey interview and the initial round of data collection from the central and local administrative data sources. Many of the same processes were followed for the subsequent stages of the study, and further details about these later stages will be included in future technical reports on the OMCCS. Following this introductory chapter, the structure of this report is as follows:  chapter 2 discusses the sample design and selection for the survey, and the coverage of the administrative data collection;  chapter 3 describes the fieldwork for the face-to-face survey of offenders;  chapter 4 sets out the response to the survey and the challenges faced;  chapter 5 details the administrative data collection;  chapter 6 deals with the weights that were developed for the survey to deal with differences in selection probabilities and to correct for non-response bias;  chapter 7 describes the approach to a ‘Universal Dataset’ that brought the different data sources together for the cohort. The report does not contain results from the study; the Assessment and Sentence Planning report, which describes the characteristics of the whole cohort of offenders on Community Orders, their sentences, assessments of their needs and their sentence plans, is available on Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2013 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206735/omccs-baseline-technical-report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206735/omccs-baseline-technical-report.pdf Shelf Number: 129035 Keywords: Community Orders Community Sentences Offender Management (U.K.) Probation Recidivism

Author: Cattell, Jack Title: Results from the Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS): Assessment and sentence planning Summary: This report uses the Ministry of Justice’s Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS), a longitudinal cohort study of offenders who started Community Orders between October 2009 and December 2010. This is the first, baseline, report from the study, and explores which offenders are sentenced to Community Orders, which offenders on Community Orders have their needs assessed, and what their needs are; and sentence planning and how sentences are tailored for these offenders. Community Orders, for offenders aged 18 and over, were introduced in England and Wales in 2005 to enable judges and magistrates to tailor sentences according to the particular nature of the offence and the offender. Community Orders comprise a ‘menu’ of possible requirements, such as unpaid work or treatment for drug problems, which can be imposed by the courts individually or combined.1 Offenders serving sentences in the community are assessed to identify the risk of harm that they pose to the community. A proportion of them also go through a formal process to identify the needs they have that may lead to further offending. Identifying needs associated with an offender’s risk of reoffending2 allows resources to be directed towards those needs, optimising the reduction of harm. This assessment is the first step in the National Offender Management Model (NOMM). The role and effectiveness of Community Orders have come under renewed scrutiny recently. The Ministry of Justice consultation ‘Punishment and Reform: effective community sentences’ (MoJ, 2012) proposed that there was a lack of public confidence in Community Orders that might be addressed by increasing their punitive content. This has led to changes to ensure that every Community Order contains a punitive requirement unless there are exceptional circumstances. A subsequent consultation, ‘Transforming Rehabilitation: A revolution in the way we manage offenders’ (MoJ, 2013), set out proposals for reforming 1 At the time the OMCCS was carried out there were 12 requirements. This has now been increased to 14 requirements under The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. 2 Known as ‘criminogenic’ needs; these are needs which are known to influence offending behaviour for an individual. the provision of services in the community to reduce reoffending and deliver improved value for money. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed June 21, 2013 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206734/results-omccs.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206734/results-omccs.pdf Shelf Number: 129036 Keywords: Community Orders Community Sentences Offender Management (U.K.) Probation Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Moushey, Bill Title: Stories of Transition: Men and Women in the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative’s Reentry Program Summary: The Allegheny County Jail’s Reentry Program is one of a set of initiatives of the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative, a partnership among the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, the Allegheny County Jail, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, the Allegheny County Health Department, community organizations and civic leaders. The Jail Collaborative was created in 2000 in an effort to identify creative ways to improve public safety and reduce recidivism. More than 200 people have completed the Reentry Program since its start in 2010, and the Jail Collaborative knows from the outcomes that the program is reducing recidivism. Sophisticated evaluations will tell us more about why it is working and what we can do to make the program better. The Jail Collaborative wants to understand what the experience of reentry is like for the people behind the statistics — the men and women who are in the midst of their transition from jail. It needs to hear their stories, including the struggles, their reflections and their advice for others. To do this, the Jail Collaborative commissioned award-winning journalist Bill Moushey to interview participants in the Reentry Program and write their stories of transition. Moushey, who was an investigative reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and winner of the National Press Club’s Freedom of Information Award, agreed to this assignment on one condition: that he be permitted to write in his unvarnished way. These are the first two of Bill Moushey’s reports about men and women in transition. Their memories of their experiences in jail are still fresh, and they spoke openly with Moushey about the help they received and the challenges they faced during jail and since their release. Their names have been changed to protect their privacy. Details: Pittsburgh, OH: The Allegheny County Department of Human Services, 2013. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2013 at: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/DHS/About_DHS/Report_and_Evaluation/13-ACDHS-03_StoriesOfTransition_052813.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/DHS/About_DHS/Report_and_Evaluation/13-ACDHS-03_StoriesOfTransition_052813.pdf Shelf Number: 129216 Keywords: Jail Inmates Prisoner Reentry (Ohio, U.S.) Recidivism

Author: Carns, Teresa White Title: Recidivism in Alaska’s Felony Therapeutic Courts Summary: The Alaska Judicial Council found that graduates of the Anchorage Felony Driving Under the Influence, Anchorage Felony Drug, and Bethel Therapeutic Courts were rearrested and re-convicted far less frequently than comparison offenders. The Council followed graduates for one year after they completed their program and tracked comparison offenders for one year after they were released from serving their sentence. Therapeutic court graduates were also re-arrested far less frequently than a baseline sample of Alaskan offenders charged with felonies in 1999, discussed in the Council’s January 2007 report, Criminal Recidivism in Alaska. Findings included: • The longer the participants stayed in the program, the less likely they were to recidivate even if they did not graduate. • 54% of the participants in these project graduated. • 13% of graduates were re-arrested within one year after completing a therapeutic court program compared to a 32% re-arrest rate for comparison offenders and a 38% re-arrest rate for offenders charged with felonies in 1999. • Participants who were discharged from the programs or who left voluntarily had about the same rate of recidivism as the offenders charged with felonies in 1999. • Older participants were less likely to be re-arrested than younger participants. • Participants in the Anchorage Felony DUI Court were less likely to be re-arrested than those in the Anchorage Felony Drug Court and the Bethel Therapeutic Court. • No participants in the programs who were re-convicted within the first year were convicted of an offense at a more serious level than the one on which they entered the therapeutic courts. None were convicted of a Drug or Sexual offense. In contrast, 3% of the comparison offenders were convicted of offenses at a more serious level. In the Council’s companion report on recidivism among 1999 offenders, about 15% of most types of offenders were convicted of offenses at a more serious level. • Native participants responded as well to the therapeutic court programs as did Caucasian participants. Blacks and other ethnicities did not do as well as Caucasian participants. • The Council recommended that the state should develop further information about the costs and benefits of therapeutic court programs; should explore the reasons for the relative success of Native participants in the programs; and should determine why ethnic groups other than Natives and Caucasians did not do as well in the programs. Details: Anchorage: Alaska Judicial Council, 2007. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2013 at: http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/reports/recidtherct07.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/reports/recidtherct07.pdf Shelf Number: 129227 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder Courts (Alaska, U.S.) Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Felony Therapeutic Courts Recidivism

Author: Rubin, Mark Title: Drug Offense Trends and Drug Offender Recidivism in Maine Summary: For years, Maine’s criminal justice and public health systems have grappled with the issues of substance abuse, drug and alcohol‐related offending, and treatment for various addictions to legal and illegal substances. The body of knowledge on drug offenders and drug offenses in Maine, however, has not kept pace with the urgent need to respond to an array of drug‐related issues in communities. This new report, funded by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, and developed by the Maine Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) of the USM Muskie School of Public Service, enhances the knowledge base by public safety drug arrest trends (with comparison to other states) and recidivism rates of drug offenders admitted to probation in Maine. Key findings include: •Drug arrests increased dramatically in Maine over the last 25 years, from 1,747 in 1986 to 5,912 in 2010. The share of drug arrests as a percentage of all arrests in Maine rose from 4.1 percent in 1986 to 10.9 percent in 2010. •Arrests for marijuana offenses remained the most prevalent type of drug arrests at 58.7 percent of all drug arrests in 2010. However, the percent of marijuana arrests compared to all drug arrests declined from 80.5 percent of all drug arrests in 1995 to the 58.7 percent mark in 2010. •Drug offenders had lower rates of re-arrest for a new crime (21.9 percent) than non-drug offenders (24.4 percent) at one and two years after admission to Maine's adult probation system. Details: Portland, ME: Maine Statistical Analysis Center, 2013. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2013 at: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Drug_Trends_and_Drug_Offender_Recidivism_in_Maine.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/justiceresearch/Publications/Adult/Drug_Trends_and_Drug_Offender_Recidivism_in_Maine.pdf Shelf Number: 129233 Keywords: Drug Arrests Drug Offenders (Maine, U.S.) Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Roguski, Michael Title: He Pūrongo Arotake 2: Hard to Reach Youth (CART) Evaluation Report 2: Hard to Reach Youth (CART) Summary: In 2006 the government launched its Effective Interventions (EI) policy package. The package was established to identify and support options for reducing offending and the prison population, thereby reducing the costs and impacts of crime on New Zealand society. An important component of the EI package was the need to enhance justice sector responsiveness to Māori. As such, Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) and the Ministry of Justice developed and Programme of Action for Māori (later known as the Justice Policy Project with the change of government) which comprised the following three elements:  ongoing engagement with Māori communities;  supporting learning from promising and innovative providers; and  enhancing information gathering and analysis across the sector about effectiveness for Māori. Under the Justice Policy Project, Te Puni Kōkiri invested in a small number of interventions (up to June 2008) that were designed, developed and delivered by Māori providers and test facilitators of success for Māori in the justice sector. This work has contributed to an initial platform for developing an empirical evidence base about „what works‟ for Māori, while agencies develop options for sustainable funding streams. At the direction of the Minister of Māori Affairs, several providers were selected as candidates whose programmes have potential to impact on Māori rates of offending, re-offending and imprisonment. This project aims to gather detailed information on two of the six initiatives. The objectives of this evaluation are to:  gather quantitative information to augment the process evaluations undertaken after one year of operation;  document in narrative form, at least two of the six intervention initiatives, providing at least two examples of successful transition from involvement in crime and the criminal justice sector into pro-social living and a life without offending, utilising networks gained through the first evaluations; and  to go beyond documenting problems and gaps, towards providing examples of Māori succeeding as Māori. The key questions that this evaluation aimed to answer were:  What has Te Puni Kōkiri learnt from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives within the criminal justice sector?  What are the facilitators of success for Māori in the justice sector? Details: Wellington, NZ: Te Puni Kökiri, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2013 at: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/addressing-the-drivers-of-crime-for-maori/download/tpk-evaluation-report-2-hard-to-reach-youth.pdf Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/addressing-the-drivers-of-crime-for-maori/download/tpk-evaluation-report-2-hard-to-reach-youth.pdf Shelf Number: 129257 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Evidence-Based Practices Juvenile Offenders (New Zealand) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: Roguski, Michael Title: He Pūrongo Arotake 2: Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Evaluation Report 2: Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Summary: In 2006 the government launched its Effective Interventions (EI) policy package. The package was established to identify and support options for reducing offending and the prison population, thereby reducing the costs and impacts of crime on New Zealand society. An important component of the EI package was the need to enhance justice sector responsiveness to Māori. As such, Te Puni Kōkiri (TPK) and the Ministry of Justice developed Programme of Action for Māori (later known as the Justice Policy Project with the change of government) which comprised the following three elements:  ongoing engagement with Māori communities;  supporting learning from promising and innovative providers; and  enhancing information gathering and analysis across the sector about effectiveness for Māori. Te Puni Kōkiri invested in a small number of interventions (up to June 2008) that were designed, developed and delivered by Māori providers and test facilitators of success for Māori in the justice sector. This work has contributed to an initial platform for developing an empirical evidence base about „what works‟ for Māori, while agencies develop options for sustainable funding streams. This study looks at the Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri (Ōtāhuhu), who deliver a programme aimed at reducing re-offending among 20 of Auckland recidivist offenders and their whānau referred by Police. The objectives of this evaluation are to:  gather quantitative information to augment the process evaluations undertaken after one year of operation;  document in narrative form, at least two of the six intervention initiatives, providing at least two examples of successful transition from involvement in crime and the criminal justice sector into pro-social living and a life without offending, utilising networks gained through the first evaluations; and  to go beyond documenting problems and gaps, towards providing examples of Māori succeeding as Māori The key questions that this evaluation aimed to answer were:  what has Te Puni Kōkiri learnt from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives within the social justice sector?  what are the facilitators of success for Māori in the justice sector? Details: Wellington, NZ: Te Puni Kökiri, 2011. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2013 at: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/addressing-the-drivers-of-crime-for-maori/download/tpk-evaluation-report-2-te-whare-ruruhau-o-meri.pdf Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/addressing-the-drivers-of-crime-for-maori/download/tpk-evaluation-report-2-te-whare-ruruhau-o-meri.pdf Shelf Number: 129258 Keywords: Indigenous Peoples Juvenile Zealand) Maori Recidivism Repeat Offenders Treatment Programs

Author: Trimboli, Lily Title: Does CREDIT Reduce the Risk of Re-offending? Summary: Aim: To determine whether being referred to the Court Referral of Eligible Defendants into Treatment (CREDIT) pilot program reduces re-offending. Method: Using propensity score matching, adult defendants referred to the CREDIT program, who had their matter finalised in court by 30 June 2011, were matched to control defendants on a large number of socio-demographic, index offence and prior offence characteristics. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted separately for the two CREDIT pilot sites of Tamworth (n = 261) and Burwood (n = 159). Re-offending was measured until 30 June 2012. Results: No significant differences were found between defendants referred to CREDIT and their matched controls in the proportion re-offending within 12 months, the number of court re-appearances within 12 months or the time to the first proven re-offence. Conclusion: These results suggest that defendants referred to the CREDIT program are as likely to re-offend as defendants who are dealt with through the normal court process. However, these results may reflect the very small number of defendants referred to the program over the study period, the short follow-up period involved and the inability to match treatment and control defendants on key variables related to offending (e.g. drug use, mental health issues). Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 169: Accessed July 8, 2013 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb169.pdf/$file/cjb169.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb169.pdf/$file/cjb169.pdf Shelf Number: 129277 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Programs Offender Treatment Programs Re-offending (Australia Recidivism

Author: University of Auckland Title: An Outcome Evaluation of New Zealand Fire Service Fire Awareness and Intervention Programme Summary: The purpose of the current study was to assess the post intervention arson recidivism rates and other offending behaviours of a group of children and adolescents referred to the New Zealand (NZ) Fire Awareness and Intervention Programme (FAIP) over an approximate follow up period of 10 years. Based on the findings and in light of current literature the report aims to provide key recommendations for the FAIP. Details: Auckland, NZ: University of Auckland, 2009. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://www.fire.org.nz/Research/Current-Round/Documents/An%20Outcome%20Evaluation%20of%20NZ%20Fire%20Service%20FAIP%20-%20recidivism%20rate%20part.pdf Year: 2009 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.fire.org.nz/Research/Current-Round/Documents/An%20Outcome%20Evaluation%20of%20NZ%20Fire%20Service%20FAIP%20-%20recidivism%20rate%20part.pdf Shelf Number: 129356 Keywords: Arson (New Zealand) Arsonists Juvenile Arsonists Prevention Programs Recidivism

Author: Pichler, Stefan Title: Juvenile Law and Recidivism in Germany - New Evidence from the Old Continent Summary: Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the effect of the criminal justice system on juvenile recidivism. Using a unique sample of German inmates, we are able to disentangle the selection into criminal and juvenile law from the subsequent recidivism decision of the inmate. We base our identification strategy on two distinct methods. First, we jointly estimate selection and recidivism in a bivariate probit model. In a second step, we use a discontinuity in law assignment created by German legislation and apply a (fuzzy) regression discontinuity design. In contrast to the bulk of the literature, which mainly relies on US data, we do not find that the application of criminal law increases juvenile recidivism. Rather, our results suggest that sentencing adolescents as adults reduces recidivism in Germany. Details: Unpublished paper, 2011. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1986789 Year: 2011 Country: Germany URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1986789 Shelf Number: 129409 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Offenders (Germany) Recidivism

Author: Howard League for Penal Reform Title: Life Outside: Collective Identity, Collection Exclusion Summary: Much of the subsequent debate has singled out the involvement of children and young people in the looting and violence, although in reality the age range and backgrounds of those convicted in the courts have been considerably more diverse than was initially suspected. The debate has split in part over an emphasis on the criminal justice response to be made, and partly over an emphasis on causes. While not developed with these terrible events in mind, Life Outside makes a contribution to both aspects of this debate. Life Outside is the second substantive policy report to be produced from participation with children and young people in the criminal justice system as part of U R Boss, a five year project supported by the Big Lottery Fund. The first report, Life Inside, explored the experience of teenage boys in prison. This report picks up the story after children and young people leave custody. Taken together, the two reports spell out the failures of our current approach to youth justice. The youth justice system, dealing with children under the age of 18, has received a great deal of investment and the last Labour government introduced a network of youth offending teams up and down the country, as well as sentencing innovations such as the Detention and Training Order. Child custody numbers duly exploded and interventions previously rooted in the welfare system became increasingly punitive and linked to a culture of compliance and control that pays little heed to the chaotic nature of these young people’s lives, and which has little or no purchase over the deep and complex social problems which form the underlying causes of youth crime. Unsurprisingly, reoffending rates among children remain the highest of any age group in the penal system. The young people we spoke to make clear why the various stages of life after custody are all too often opportunities to fail, rather than a sure pathway to success. Much of what they told us confirmed the Howard League’s longstanding view that the funding directed into the youth justice system would be better directed into a welfare approach, and that downward pressure should be exerted on the system through measures such as raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility. What the young people we spoke to particularly emphasised, however, was the issue of identity and the way in which the current system sets out to reinforce the feelings of disenfranchisement and detachment from society that erodes these children’s hopes of a positive future. At its very foundation, the youth justice system is predicated on mistaken assumptions that doom those within its ambit from the very start. And the relevance of this to the public debate now raging? The collective exclusion that young people feel may well have played its part in why disorder flared on the streets of London and elsewhere this summer. But we would be wise to think twice before perpetuating responses that simply serve to exacerbate that exclusion and which fail to unpick the reasons why young people commit crime in the first place. Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2013 at: http://www.urboss.org.uk/downloads/publications/HL_Life_outside.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.urboss.org.uk/downloads/publications/HL_Life_outside.pdf Shelf Number: 129464 Keywords: Juvenile Aftercare Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Juvenile Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Reintegration Resettlement

Author: Wilkinson, Katherine Title: An Evaluation of The Prison Radio Association's Activity: Final Report Year 1. The West Midlands Prison Radio Taster Project Summary: The Prison Radio Association (PRA) was set up in 2005 and achieved charitable status in 2006. The PRA continues to contribute to the reduction of re-offending by capitalising on the opportunity prison provides to stop people offending for good. The Association is committed to the ways in which prison radio can provide a unique and innovative way to engage offenders (regardless of age, ethnic origin, gender or faith) in education; particularly those hard to reach offenders disenfranchised by the educational system. The PRA currently works with over 40 prisons across England and Wales. In 2007, the Prison Radio Association and partners developed a two week taster course in radio production for delivery in six prisons across the West Midlands, entitled: the West Midlands Prison Radio Taster Project. The objectives of this project were firstly, overall project delivery, which consisted of the recruitment of a radio trainer, developing a radio training course which embeds basic skills and the delivery of the taster courses in six prisons. The wider objectives concerned raising awareness of the potential of radio training to embed basic skills and to examine sustainability within prison service education. The findings of the external evaluation conducted by the Hallam Centre for Community Justice are presented in this report. Details: Sheffield, UK: Hallam Centre for Community Justice Sheffield Hallam University, 2008. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.cjp.org.uk/publications/academic/ Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjp.org.uk/publications/academic/ Shelf Number: 129521 Keywords: Prison Rehabilitation Prisoners (U.K.) Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Wilkinson, Katherine Title: An Evaluation of the Prison Radio Association's Activity, Year 3: The Way Forward Summary: The PRA developed a strategic three year activity plan (2007- 2009) which has been evaluated annually by the Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. In 2009, key PRA objectives were to continue to provide prisons with support to set up their own radio projects, to host the Second Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, to develop a National Prison Radio Service (NPRS) and to develop a sustainable funding strategy and press strategy. The findings of the evaluation of these three activity areas are contained within the main body of this report. Details: Sheffield, UK: Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam Unviersity, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.cjp.org.uk/publications/academic/ Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjp.org.uk/publications/academic/ Shelf Number: 129522 Keywords: Prisoner Rehabilitation Prisoners (U.K.) Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Wilkinson, Katherine Title: The Doncaster Desistance Study Summary: The Hallam Centre for Community Justice conducted two evaluations of the DoVeS Counselling Service at HMP Doncaster, which supports offenders who have had experiences of domestic violence. These reports showed the positive affects of accessing the service on their client's attitudes to their own offending behaviour and demonstrated the challenges of collecting robust data to reflect on service efficiency post release. The Doncaster Violent Crime Theme Group wanted to fund the service, however required evidence that the service affected re-offending rates. Demonstrating effectiveness quantitatively through reconviction/reoffending follow-up studies with a comparable control group with this population would prove complex and expensive. Therefore, this study was developed as an alternative way of examining the affects of DoVeS service engagement post release on desisting from offending. A desistance approach was adopted, given the previous evaluation findings that individual identity shifts featured highly in DoVeS service user narratives. A qualitative narrative approach was therefore adopted as an appropriate method to explore desisting positions and identify the impact of CJS interventions on respondent's adopting non-offending lifestyles. By adopting this approach, this small research project hopes to move beyond evaluating reducing reoffending programmes from a quantitative, positivist stance, to focus on how interventions may work to foster or support desistance. This study therefore identifies the transition and sequencing of desistance from criminal activity of a sample of sentence serving offenders who were in custody at HMP Doncaster in 2006. 20 men who were interviewed twice regarding accessing the DoVeS counselling service were invited to take part in this project. The research team successfully contacted and interviewed five (ex) offenders who had been desisting from offending for up to 3 years. Details: Sheffield, UK: Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, 2009. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/997/1/fulltext.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/997/1/fulltext.pdf Shelf Number: 129545 Keywords: Counseling Services Desistance Domestic Violence Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Prospero, Moises Title: Jail as a Condition of Felony Probation Summary: Although the literature has found that incarceration generally has no effect on recidivism, alternative sentencing practices have been found to have some reductions on recidivism rates. Jail as a condition of felony probation (JCFP) is the practice of sentencing convicted felony offenders to jail for up to a year as a privilege for receiving probation. The purpose of this article is to describe the use of JCFP throughout the state of Utah and to reveal the effects of time in jail on recidivism. The results of the present study found that individuals served approximately 70% of time sentenced and that this trend was similar across offense types and most counties. Both the survival analyses and the linear regression model revealed that longer periods of time spent in jail for similar offenses did not reduce or increase the likelihood of recidivism. Additionally, the study did not find an “optimal time” for jail to reduce recidivism. The study also found that the largest effect on recidivism was risk level of offenders, which highlights the need for assessment and provision of appropriate services to address offender needs in order to reduce reoffense. Details: Salt Lake City: Center for public Policy & Administration, University of Utah, 2009. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy In-depth: 09-30-2009: Accessed August 7, 2013 at: http://cppa.utah.edu/_documents/publications/criminal-justice/jail-as-condition-of-probation.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://cppa.utah.edu/_documents/publications/criminal-justice/jail-as-condition-of-probation.pdf Shelf Number: 129569 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Felony Probation (Utah, U.S.) Jail Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Huebner, Beth Title: Sex Offender Recidivism in Missouri and Community Correction Options Summary: There has been substantial public scrutiny over the release of sex offenders to the community, predominantly for individuals who have assaulted young children. The vast majority of sex offenders, however, will be returned to the community following incarceration. Understanding the recidivism patterns of sex offenders and successful community corrections options are one step in developing effective sentencing and correctional policies. Using data provided by the Missouri Department of Corrections, a sample of men in all offense categories released from Missouri prison in 1998 was analyzed. The sample was analyzed by demographic factors, criminal history, and institutional behavior. The results show that Missouri sex offenders were more likely to be older, white, and have less educational and employment deficits than the general prison population. Sex offenders were significantly more likely to have consistent employment histories, have been convicted of a prior sex crime, provide moderate risk to the public, have a higher salient factor score, have lower institutional risk scores, and to have spent more time in prison. Sex offenders spent significantly more time in prison than offenders who had committed other types of crime. Consistent with prior studies on prisoner recidivism, inmates convicted of property crimes had the highest recidivism rates. Sex offenders had the lowest rates of recidivism and the Missouri rates were consistent with national averages. Little variation in recidivism outcomes was observed for sex offender types in the current sample. Although the rates of recidivism vary across offender groups, when these men do recidivate, they are more likely to commit the type of offense for which they were previously imprisoned. For sex offenders in Missouri, however, a smaller percentage were convicted of another sex crime. Analyses to determine which independent variables were predictors of recidivism could not be meaningfully conducted for sex offenders due to the small sample size. Future studies should consider recidivism outcomes from a multi-year cohort of sex offenders. The state of Washington, as well as county jurisdictions in Illinois and Arizona have put into practice punishment policies, designed specifically for sex offenders, which have been regarded as effective alternative methods to punitively control those convicted of sex crimes. Washington sentencing statutes dictate statewide uniformity in the sentencing in addition to the use of intermediate community-based punishments for sex offenders. However, legislative bodies in Arizona and Illinois have not established similar statewide mandates; nonetheless, individual counties within each state maintain punishment policies mirroring those employed at a larger level in Washington. According to the literature, offenders who receive such sentences “differ in important ways from those sentenced to prison” (Hepburn and Griffin 2004:8). Indeed, they are commonly deemed as low-risk to the community and considered to have a moderate likelihood of committing another sex crime. Details: Columbia, MO: Institute of Public Policy, Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri – Columbia, 2006. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2013 at: http://www.mosac.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45354 Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.mosac.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45354 Shelf Number: 129592 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offenders (Missouri, U.S.)

Author: Huebner, Beth Title: Sex Offender Risk Assessment Summary: Compared to clinical methods, actuarial risk instruments are a preferred method to discern sex offenders risk for sexual as well as violent recidivism because, unlike clinical practices, they are considered inexpensive, objective and modestly accurate. Scientists argue that risk instruments that employ only static, or historic measures of offender characteristics, rather than dynamic, are certainly sufficient for the purposes of gauging individuals’ likelihood of recidivism. In fact, Harris and Rice (2003:207) contend that dynamic constructs are “unnecessary for anticipating who will recidivate in a given time period”; furthermore they state that “very accurate statements about the likelihood of another…offense can be based upon knowledge of an individual’s lifetime conduct.” In their view, offender risk scales that incorporate only static information are essentially capturing factors that reflect a person’s underlying antisocial propensity. Although there are a considerable number of risk instruments available for corrections officials to utilize, far fewer have been rigorously evaluated. Of those that have, Harris and Rice (2003) recommend that the MnSOST-R and the Static-99 are two of the most “promising” scales for predicting sexual recidivism. An emerging body of work also suggests that the SORAG is quite effectual in terms of its predictive accuracy. Additional empirical research is likely to surface which will provide further evidence of the statistical accuracy of sex offender risk instruments. Details: Columbia, MO: Institute of Public Policy, Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri – Columbia, 2006. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 10, 2013 at: http://www.mosac.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45355 Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.mosac.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45355 Shelf Number: 129613 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment Instruments Sex Offenders (Missouri, U.S.)

Author: Spohn, Ryan Title: Nebraska Sex Offender Registry Study – Final Report July 31, 2013 Summary: The Consortium for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Nebraska Omaha was charged by the Nebraska Legislature’s Judiciary Committee to undertake a study of the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. The primary goal of the study was to compare sex offender recidivism under the pre-LB 285 classification system that utilized risk levels derived from a psychological risk assessment instrument to sex offender recidivism under the post-LB 285 classification system utilizing Adam Walsh Act Tier Levels derived from offense severity. Additional goals include an overall examination of offender characteristics, victim characteristics, and offense characteristics among all individuals on the registry, as well as the relationship of these offender, victim, and offense characteristics with recidivism. Methods: Data for the project was collected from three sources: 1) Nebraska’s Sex Offender Registry database, 2) the Nebraska State Patrol Criminal History Database (PCH), and 3) an FBI nationwide criminal records search. Graduate research assistants from UNO’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice extracted relevant data from the Sex Offender Registry database and linked it to recidivism data from Nebraska’s PCH database and the FBI criminal records search. The resulting dataset was analyzed by Dr. Ryan Spohn using SPSS version 20. Major Results: Characteristics of offenders, victims, and offenses. The typical registered sex offender in Nebraska is a white male over the age of 26. The typical victim is a female acquaintance, age 12 to 17. By far, the most common type of offense was fondling. For both the pre-LB 285 risk-based classification system and the post-LB 285 tier system based on offense severity, the most common tier classification is Risk Level 3 or Tier 3, the most serious classification for each system. Although violence and/or a weapon were present in almost a quarter of the offenses, serious bodily injury was a rare event. Sex offense recidivism. In comparing the old risk-based system of classification to the new offense-based system of classification, the former risk-based system resulted in less overall recidivism. Specifically, the pre-LB 285 classification system resulted in a 2-year recidivism rate of 1.7% and a 1-year recidivism rate of 0.6%. In comparison, the post-LB 285 classification system resulted in a 2-year recidivism rate of 2.6% and a 1-year recidivism rate of 1.7%. We also examined the effectiveness of each classification system in identifying offenders at the highest risk to reoffend. In general, the former system that utilized a psychological risk assessment tool consistently distinguished offenders who were at a high, medium, and low risk to reoffend. In comparison, the AWA system was very effective in distinguishing those at a high risk to reoffend from medium and low risk offenders. However, the AWA classification system consistently failed to distinguish offenders at medium risk to recidivate from those at low risk to recidivate. Our findings suggest that, as an overall tool for identifying a nuanced risk to reoffend, the old risk-based system appears more effective. However, if the goal is simply to distinguish the highest risk offenders from everyone else, the Adam Walsh Act Tier system appears most effective. One caveat, however, is that this latter finding is in sharp contrast to published research on sex offenders in other states (Zgoba et al. 2012). Factors related to sex offender recidivism in Nebraska. Our analysis focused on characteristics of the offenders, victims, and offenses that were significantly related to reoffending. Regarding offender characteristics, male offenders were more likely to reoffend as compared to female offenders and offenders diagnosed with a personality disorder were more likely to reoffend. Regarding victim characteristics, rates of recidivism were significantly elevated if the victim was a family member or an acquaintance, with the latter more than doubling the likelihood of a new sex offense. Recidivism is also more likely if the victim was age 11 or under. The most salient characteristic of victims, however, is the sex of the victim, as rates of recidivism were substantially higher if the offense leading to registry involved both male and female victims. Finally, regarding characteristics of the offense, rates of recidivism were elevated if the offense included explicit material or fondling, with the latter displaying the strongest relationship to subsequent offending. Offenses that involved the use of violence and/or a weapon were also related to recidivism. Multivariate analyses of factors predicting recidivism. These analyses allow a simultaneous consideration of multiple factors while predicting the effect of each factor on recidivism, holding constant the effect of the other variables in the model. This analysis indicated that the most important factors for predicting recidivism were characteristics of the victims, suggesting that we must take into account victim characteristics if we want to adequately predict recidivism amongst sexual offenders. We also applied models to assess the ability of the old classification system versus the new classification system to predict recidivism while controlling for, or holding constant, the effect of offender characteristics. For the old system, being assigned a high or medium risk level significantly predicted recidivism as compared to being assigned a low risk level to reoffend. Regarding the AWA classification system, the model predicts that the highest tier (Tier 3) offenders in Nebraska were nearly 14 times more likely to recidivate as compared to the lowest tier (Tier 1) offenders. Details: Omaha, NE: Consortium for Crime and Justice Research, 2013. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: Nebraska Sex Offender Registry Study – Final Report July 31, 2013 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 129643 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offender Registries Sex Offenders (Nebraska, U.S.)

Author: Walsh, Michael Allen Title: Wilderness Adventure Programming as an Intervention for Youthful Offenders: Self-Efficacy, Resilience, and Hope for the Future Summary: A review of the literature on positive youth development clearly identifies demonstrated empirical relationships between perceived self competence, adolescent resilience, and hope, which are theorized in a strengths-based focus on youth offenders to be predictors of reduced recidivism. This evaluation of outcomes associated with participation in the Wilderness Endeavors (WE) Program of Thistledew seeks to test this theory that individuals who participate in WE will develop enhanced levels of perceived self competence, resiliency, and hope for the future, and therefore, result in a reduction of recidivism. The specific aims guiding this exploratory study include: 1) to establish a matched-pair control group using youth who were not referred to Thistledew, but which were referred from the same county court system to a Minnesota Department of Correction (MDOC) disposition or other programs, by using as matching variables age, age of first offense, type of committing offense, and risk assessments as determined by the Youth Level of Service Inventory (YSLI) used by the referring Youth Probation Officer (if possible given county court use of the YSLI from which a control group will be drawn); 2) to assess the baseline scores of the youth participant's on the following measures: a) Perceived-Self Competence (Self Efficacy), b) Hope, and c) Adolescent Resiliency; and to assess post-program scores on Perceived-Self Competence, Hope, and Adolescent Resiliency, and 3) to conduct a six-month follow up assessment that will assess both treatment and control youth re-offense rates, including the nature and degree of the re-offense. The paired t tests revealed that self efficacy and hope scores showed significant changes from pretest to posttest, suggesting that the Wilderness Endeavors Program had a significant positive effect on participant's self-efficacy and hope for the future. The non parametric test (McNemar) utilized to investigate the four hypotheses related to Wilderness Endeavors Program participation on the future offending behaviors (recidivism) of participants revealed that there were no significant differences in recidivism rates, or new program placements, between the treatment and control groups. Furthermore, involvement in school and employment were not significantly associated with recidivism rates in both treatment and control groups. The binary logistic regression showed that higher levels of hope were associated with those Wilderness Endeavors Program participants who did not recidivate, while changes in self-efficacy and resilience scores had no association with recidivism. Finally, the three demographic variables that are supported in the literature as being strong predictors of recidivism for juvenile offenders revealed only YLSI scores were associated with recidivism; those individuals who did not recidivate were more likely to have a lower risk score. Gender and age of first offense had weak or no associations with either group. Details: St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota, 2009. 184p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 11, 2013 at: http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/57003/1/Walsh_umn_0130E_10685.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/57003/1/Walsh_umn_0130E_10685.pdf Shelf Number: 131611 Keywords: Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Wilderness Programs Youthful Offenders

Author: Lowenkamp, Christopher T. Title: The Hidden Costs of Pretrial Detention Summary: In the criminal justice system, the time between arrest and case disposition is known as the pretrial stage. Each time a person is arrested and accused of a crime, a decision must be made as to whether the accused person, known as the defendant, will be detained in jail awaiting trial or will be released back into the community. But pretrial detention is not simply an either-or proposition; many defendants are held for a number of days before being released at some point before their trial. The release-and-detention decision takes into account a number of different concerns, including protecting the community, the need for defendants to appear in court, and upholding the legal and constitutional rights afforded to accused persons awaiting trial. It carries enormous consequences not only for the defendant but also for the safety of the community. Little is known about the impact of pretrial detention on pretrial outcomes and post-disposition recidivism. Some researchers and legal professionals believe there is a relationship between the number of days spent in pretrial detention and the defendant's community stability (e.g., employment, finances, residence, family), especially for lowerrisk defendants. Specifically, the defendant's place in the community becomes more destabilized as the number of days of pretrial detention increases. This destabilization is believed to lead to an increase in risk for both failure to appear and new criminal activity. While this purported relationship makes intuitive sense, there has been no empirical evidence in existence to support or refute this idea. Beyond the relationship between length of pretrial detention and pretrial outcomes, there is an additional underdeveloped area of research - the impact of pretrial detention on post-disposition recidivism. Using data from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, this research investigates the impact of pretrial detention on 1) pretrial outcomes (failure to appear and arrest for new criminal activity); and 2) postdisposition recidivism. Details: Houston, TX: Laura and John Arnold Foundation, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2013 at: http://arnoldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/pdf/LJAF_Report_hidden-costs_FNL.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://arnoldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/pdf/LJAF_Report_hidden-costs_FNL.pdf Shelf Number: 131701 Keywords: Failure to Appear Pretrial Detention (Kentucky) Recidivism

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: Using the Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set to measure youth recidivism Summary: This report reviewed results and recommendations of a project exploring youth recidivism, including determining whether youth recidivism could be analysed using data from the Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set (JJ NMDS). There are substantial benefits in using a longitudinal data collection such as the JJ NMDS, but also some limitations. Preliminary data analysed showed that nationally, over two-fifths (43%) of young people with sentenced supervision in 2010-11 had returned to sentenced supervision within 1 year, while over three-fifths (63%) of those with sentenced supervision in 2009-10 had returned to sentenced supervision within 2 years. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Juvenile Justice Series No. 14: Accessed December 4, 2013 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Research/AIHW_UsingTheJuvenileJusticeNationalMinimumDataSetToMeasureJuvenileRecidivism_Dec_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Research/AIHW_UsingTheJuvenileJusticeNationalMinimumDataSetToMeasureJuvenileRecidivism_Dec_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 131733 Keywords: Juvenile Justice (Australia) Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Wilson, Edith Title: Youth Justice Interventions - findings from the Juvenile Cohort Study (JCS) Summary: This report aims to provide a broad overview of 'what Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) do' in terms of planning and delivering interventions to young people (aged 10-17 years) who are under their supervision in the community. The study was conducted to fill a gap in the youth justice evidence base by assessing the range of interventions delivered by YOTs and how these relate to young people's offending-related risks, needs and future re-offending. This study is the first of its scale as previous research was based on small samples or focused on specific types of interventions. The main aim of the Youth Justice System (YJS) in England and Wales is to prevent young people from offending. Within the YJS, a YOT's primary role is to co-ordinate the youth justice services in the local area, and work with young people who have come into contact with the police or have been given a criminal justice disposal. In order to support the young person to desist from further offending, the YOT practitioner assesses their offending-related risks and needs via a standard youth assessment tool called Asset. The findings from this assessment inform the production of the intervention plan, which sets out the aims and nature of the interventions that will be delivered by the YOT to help the young person to stop offending. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2014 at: Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/266405/juvenile-cohort-study.pdf Shelf Number: 131757 Keywords: Interventions Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Willison, Janeen Buck Title: FY 2011 Second Chance Act Adult Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects Evaluability Assessment, Executive Summary Summary: Prisoner reentry remains a pressing national and local policy issue. In 2008, more than 735,000 prisoners were released from state and federal prisons across the country (West, Sabol, and Cooper 2009), and another 10 to 12 million cycle through the nation's jails each year (Beck 2006). Chances of successful reentry are low: close to 68 percent of prisoners are re-arrested within three years of release (Langan and Levin 2002).Numerous factors contribute to these high recidivism rates. In 2008, the Second Chance Act (SCA): Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention was signed into law with the goal of increasing reentry programming for offenders released from state prisons and local jails, and improving reentry outcomes for both the criminal justice system and the individuals it serves. Since 2009, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has awarded dozens of SCA adult offender demonstration grants to communities across the nation. The goals of the SCA projects are to measurably (1) increase reentry programming for returning prisoners and their families, (2) reduce recidivism and criminal involvement among program participants by 50 percent over five years, (3) reduce violations among program participants, and (4) improve reintegration outcomes, including reducing substance abuse and increasing employment and housing stability. In the summer of 2012, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) commissioned a four-month, intensive evaluability assessment (EA) of eight FY 2011 SCA adult offender reentry demonstration sites selected by BJA for further study. EA is crucial in determining if a project is a candidate for meaningful evaluation (Wholey, Hatry, and Newcomer 2004). At a minimum, an evaluable program must have well-defined program goals, target populations, and eligibility criteria, as well as reliable and accessible performance data, and a defensible counterfactual (Barnow and The Lewin Group 1997). Given NIJ's interest in some level of evaluation in all eight adult SCA sites, EA data collection was designed to support more nuanced evaluation recommendations than "Evaluate: Yes or No." Specifically, the EA aimed to answer two questions: is the program evaluable and if so, how, and at what level of effort. Design options were expected to address both the recommended level and type of evaluation, including the suggested mix of process, outcome, impact, and cost analyses. In addition to these EA tasks, the solicitation also requested information about site training and technical assistance (TTA) needs that BJA and the Council of State Government's National Reentry Resource Center could use to improve the provision of both. Lastly, the solicitation specified two sets of deliverables: site-specific EA reports and one cross-site final EA report. The Urban Institute (UI), and its partner RTI International, were selected to conduct the EA following a competitive process. While eight sites were initially targeted for the EA, this number expanded to ten in the spring of 2013: 1. Beaver County (PA) ChancesR: Reentry, Reunification, and Recovery Program; 2. Boston (MA) Reentry Initiative; 3. Hudson County (NJ) Community Reintegration Program; 4. Johnson County (KS) Reentry Project; 5. Minnesota Department of Corrections High Risk Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Project; 6. Missouri Department of Corrections Second Chance in Action Program; 7. New Haven (CT) Reentry Initiative; 8. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Healthy Environments, Loving Parents Initiative; 9. Palm Beach County (FL) Regional and State Transitional Ex-Offender Reentry Initiative; 10. Solano County (CA) Women's Reentry Achievement Program. While each program targets adult offenders under state or local custody (and about to return to the community) for comprehensive reentry programing and services designed to promote successful reintegration and reduce recidivism, there is considerable variation among the sites. Three sites focus exclusively on female offenders (Ohio, Missouri, and Solano County). One project targets individuals re-incarcerated for supervision violations (Minnesota) while another focuses on individuals with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders (Beaver County). Half of the sites target prisoners returning from state departments of correction (Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio), while the rest address local jail transition (Beaver County, Boston, Hudson County, Johnson County; and Solano County). Some programs front-load case management services, while others emphasize community and family supports. The composition and structure of the FY 2011 SCA projects also vary by jurisdiction with agencies outside the criminal justice system leading three of the projects (Boston, Beaver County, and Solano County). These variations in program design and intended client population type underscore the critical importance of the evaluability assessment commissioned by the NIJ. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2013. 12 p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243978.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243978.pdf Shelf Number: 131812 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration Second Chance Act

Author: Crisler, Lane Title: Recidivism within Salt Lake Peer Court:A Program Evaluation of Salt Lake Peer Court based on Recidivism Analysis Between Salt Lake Peer Court and the Juvenile Division of Salt Lake City Justice Courts Summary: Background - The younger an individual begins criminal behavior the more costly that individual is to society. - The value of diverting a youth from a lifetime of crime ranges from $2.6 to $5.3 million in 2008 (Cohen M. A., 2009). - Intended to divert youth becoming career criminals, peer courts attempt to leverage the social influence peers have over one another in order to implement restorative justice practices. - Salt Lake Peer Court (SLPC) began in 1993, as peer courts were just emerging in the juvenile justice arena. -- The, program managed 40 youth offender cases and required 15 volunteers. -- Currently, program handles approximately 300 youth offender cases and requires over 120 volunteers. Research - This study analyzed calendar year SLPC cases from 2007 through 2011. - 1101 cases were analyzed (Male=618, Female=467, Unidentified=16). - Of the 1101 cases, 60% of SLPC deferred youth had juvenile court records, disproportionately weighted by males (Male=406, Female=260). - This study seeks to identify characteristics of youth offenders who are most likely to recidivate to Juvenile Court within one year of being deferred to SLPC. - Dependent Variables = ordinal or binary recidivism variables. - Independent Variables = demographics, offenses, sentences, sentence completion, and sentence length. Program Recommendations - Improve treatment for substance abuse and violence offenders. - Attempt to identify benefits of case management. - Develop crisis management plan to help facilitate contract completion. - Emphasize role of SLPC as first point of contact for juvenile offenders - Develop metrics, improve data control , administer follow up surveys Details: Salt Lake City, UT: University of Utah, 2013. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.globalyouthjustice.org/uploads/Peer_Court_Research.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.globalyouthjustice.org/uploads/Peer_Court_Research.pdf Shelf Number: 131899 Keywords: Juvenile Courts Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Teen Courts

Author: Kilmer, Beau Title: Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism Summary: The prison population in the United States has been growing steadily for more than 30 years. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that since 1990 an average of 590,400 inmates have been released annually from state and federal prisons and almost 5 million ex-offenders are under some form of community-based supervision. Offender reentry can include all the activities and programming conducted to prepare ex-convicts to return safely to the community and to live as law-abiding citizens. Some ex-offenders, however, eventually end up back in prison. The most recent national-level recidivism study is 10 years old; this study showed that two-thirds of ex-offenders released in 1994 came back into contact with the criminal justice system within three years of their release. Compared with the average American, ex-offenders are less educated, less likely to be gainfully employed, and more likely to have a history of mental illness or substance abuse - all of which have been shown to be risk factors for recidivism. Three phases are associated with offender reentry programs: programs that take place during incarceration, which aim to prepare offenders for their eventual release; programs that take place during offenders' release period, which seek to connect ex-offenders with the various services they may require; and long-term programs that take place as ex-offenders permanently reintegrate into their communities, which attempt to provide offenders with support and supervision. There is a wide array of offender reentry program designs, and these programs can differ significantly in range, scope, and methodology. Researchers in the offender reentry field have suggested that the best programs begin during incarceration and extend throughout the release and reintegration process. Despite the relative lack of research in the field of offender reentry, an emerging "what works" literature suggests that programs focusing on work training and placement, drug and mental health treatment, and housing assistance have proven to be effective. The federal government's involvement in offender reentry programs typically occurs through grant funding, which is available through a wide array of federal programs at the Departments of Justice, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. However, only a handful of grant programs in the federal government are designed explicitly for offender reentry purposes. The Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) was enacted on April 9, 2008. The act expanded the existing offender reentry grant program at the Department of Justice and created a wide array of targeted grant-funded pilot programs. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014, 34p. Source: Internet Resource: RL34287: Accessed March 14, 2014 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf Shelf Number: 131911 Keywords: Ex-Offenders Prisoner Reentry Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation Second Chance Act

Author: Willis, Charlene Title: Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programmes for Reducing Drink Driving Recidivism (Review) Summary: Convicted drink drivers are sometimes offered the choice of a standard punishment, or for an alcohol ignition interlock to be fitted to their car for a fixed period. To operate a vehicle equipped with an interlock, the driver must first give a breath specimen. If the breath alcohol concentration of the specimen is too high, the vehicle will not start. A number of studies have been conducted to see whether the interlock stops drink drivers from offending again. Most of these studies have not been of high quality. The interlock seems to reduce re-offending as long as it is still fitted to the vehicle, but there is no long-term benefit after it has been removed. However, more studies of good quality are needed to confirm these findings. The low percentage of offenders who choose to have an interlock fitted also makes it difficult to reach firm conclusions about their effectiveness. Details: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2009, Issue 1. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2014 at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004168.pub2/pdf Year: 2009 Country: International URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004168.pub2/pdf Shelf Number: 131974 Keywords: Alcohol Interlock Devices Alcohol Law Enforcement Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Program Recidivism

Author: Mews, Aidan Title: Updated Analysis of the Impact of the Intensive Alternatives to Custody Pilots on Re-offending Rates Summary: The Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) pilot programme ran from April 2008 to March 2011 to test the use of intensive community orders in diverting offenders from short-term custodial sentences. The Ministry of Justice have undertaken updated analysis to compare re-offending rates for offenders receiving IAC orders in 2009 and 2010, with matched offenders receiving short custodial sentences and court orders. The analysis assesses the effectiveness of Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) orders in reducing re-offending compared with a) short-term custodial sentences and b) court orders. Offenders starting an Intensive Alternative to Custody (IAC) order in 2009 or 2010 were matched to similar offenders receiving these disposals and their re-offending was compared. This report updates previous analysis published in July 2012 by including a larger sample (due to 2010 re-offending rates becoming available), using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methodology as opposed to variable by variable matching, and by including additional offender information from Offender Assessment System (OASys), Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) data sources. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed March 20, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289369/updated-analysis-impact-of-intensive-alternatives-to-custody-pilots-on-re-offending-rates.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/289369/updated-analysis-impact-of-intensive-alternatives-to-custody-pilots-on-re-offending-rates.pdf Shelf Number: 131989 Keywords: Alternative to Incarceration Intensive Supervision Offender Supervision Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: A Review of Restorative Justice Responses to Offending Summary: The present review sought to determine on the available evidence (a) whether restorative justice (RJ) is an effective means of reducing re-offending (b) what benefits victims of crime obtain from participation in the RJ process (c) whether the public supports the principles of RJ and (d) how the cost and efficiency of RJ proceedings compare with conventional courts in cost and efficiency (i.e. time taken to finalize cases). The review finds little reliable evidence that RJ reduces re-offending. Victims who participate in RJ are generally satisfied with the experience but it is unclear whether they are more satisfied than victims in similar cases that are dealt with in court. The limited evidence available suggests that the public supports the principles of RJ. It appears to be a less expensive and more efficient way of finalizing criminal cases involving young people but, once again, the evidence on this issue at this stage is rather limited. Details: Sydney: Australia and New Zealand School of Government, 2013. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Evidence Base, Issue 1: http://journal.anzsog.edu.au/publications/4/EvidenceBase2013Issue1.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://journal.anzsog.edu.au/publications/4/EvidenceBase2013Issue1.pdf Shelf Number: 104861 Keywords: Recidivism Restorative Justice Victims of Crime

Author: Ritter, Amber Title: The Predictive Validity of MACI Derived Clusters for Juvenile Sex Offenders Summary: The Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory scores from 648 juvenile sex offenders aged 12 - 19 (M = 15.88, SD = 1.43) were examined using cluster analysis in order to replicate five personality-based clusters identified in a previous study (Loper 2008). However, only three of the five clusters were able to be replicated in the population. The current cluster analysis identified the following five clusters: the Anxious/Submissive/Passive cluster, the Disorganized Disturbed cluster, the Dysthymic/Shame-Based/Negative Self-Image cluster, the Narcissistic/Delinquent cluster, and the Situational Offender cluster. Significant differences were observed between the clusters regarding history of sexual abuse, history of physical abuse, history of neglect, history of trauma, mental health treatment, previous and current psychotropic medication, the gender of the victim in the index offense, the victim's age relative to the offender's age in the index offense, and the age of the first victim. Cluster membership was unrelated to the perpetrator's relationship with the victim in the index offense, physical intrusiveness involved in the index offense, use of restraints in the index offense, age of the juvenile sex offender, juvenile sex offender's age at first sexual abuse and physical abuse, and the number of victims. The recidivism data were collected from between 1 to 10.5 years (M = 4.55, SD = 2.77). However, no significant differences were found between the Kaplan-Meier survival curve estimates for non-violent, violent, or sexual re-arrest. Details: Auburn, AL: Auburn University, 2013. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/3820/Dissertation%20Final%202013.pdf?sequence=2 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://etd.auburn.edu/bitstream/handle/10415/3820/Dissertation%20Final%202013.pdf?sequence=2 Shelf Number: 132012 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Juvenile Sex Offenders Recidivism

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: An Evaluation of the Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Plan (MCORP) Pilot Project: Final Report Summary: Using a randomized experimental design, this study evaluated the effectiveness of the Minnesota Comprehensive Offender Reentry Plan (MCORP), a prisoner reentry pilot project implemented in 2008. In an effort to reduce recidivism, the MCORP pilot project attempted to increase offender access to community services and programming by producing greater case management collaboration between caseworkers in prison and supervision agents in the community. Results from Cox regression models showed that MCORP significantly reduced four of the five recidivism measures examined, although the size of the reduction in hazard ratios was relatively modest (20-25 percent). The findings further suggested that MCORP reduced costs. Sensitivity analyses showed, however, that the cost avoidance estimates were not robust across all assumptions that were examined. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2013. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2014 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/pages/files/8913/8142/3580/MCORP_Evaluation_Final_DOC_Website.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/pages/files/8913/8142/3580/MCORP_Evaluation_Final_DOC_Website.pdf Shelf Number: 132030 Keywords: Case Management Offender Supervision Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Usher, Amelia Title: The Effectiveness of Correctional Programs with Diverse Offenders: A Meta-Analytic Study Summary: Correctional populations in most countries today are composed of a heterogeneous group representing offenders from varying ethnic and racial backgrounds. Correctional constituencies therefore have an interest in determining if interventions are effective in reducing criminal recidivism for a diverse group of individuals. Canada's federal offender population increasingly represents a broad range of ethnic and cultural groups. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is responsible for providing effective correctional programming for all offenders requiring it. Traditionally, most research on correctional interventions has not disaggregated outcomes for the various ethnic groups participating in these programs. Some critics have suggested that the current correctional model may not be appropriate for all ethnic groups. There is evidence to suggest from individual studies, however, that cognitive-behavioural approaches, which form the basis of CSC's correctional programming, are appropriate for individuals from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The present study seeks to examine the effectiveness of CSC's correctional model for offenders of diverse ethnic backgrounds by using meta-analysis. The study will also estimate the base rates of reoffending for the various groups attending programming and their comparison groups. To investigate this issue, a search was undertaken of all previous outcome research on CSC correctional programs. Studies were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis if they investigated cognitive-behavioural correctional interventions, included federal offenders from a wide range of ethnic groups, used readmission to custody as an outcome measure, and employed a control group methodological design. Participants were grouped according to four different ethnic backgrounds: Aboriginal, Black, Caucasian, and Other. Overall mean effect sizes were calculated for each group using the odds ratio. Overall, it was found that all ethnic groups showed decreased likelihood of readmission after participating in correctional programming. Odds ratios ranged from 1.36 to 1.76. For example, Aboriginal offenders who participated in correctional programming had odds of success that were 1.45 times greater than Aboriginal offenders who did not participate in programming. Base rates of readmissions to custody were also calculated. The highest rates of readmission were found for Aboriginal offenders, followed by Caucasian, Black and Other offenders. Results of this study indicate that CSC's correctional programs are effective across a broad range of ethnic groups. Offenders who participate in programming are less likely to return to custody than offenders who do not participate in programs, regardless of ethnic background. While the cognitive-behavioural treatment model appears to be effective in addressing criminal recidivism for offenders with diverse cultural backgrounds, the results do not preclude attending to responsivity issues related to culture within the treatment model. Offender ethnicity and culture remain important responsivity factors in effective correctional programming. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2011. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: 2011 No. R-246: Accessed March 31, 2014 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21448-eng.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21448-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 132033 Keywords: Aboriginals Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Ethnic Groups Inmates Offender Treatment Recidivism

Author: Harris, Andrew Title: Paraphilias: Incidence and Co-occurrence in Normative and Sex Offender Samples Summary: For sexual offenders the presence of paraphilias is associated with increased risk of sexual recidivism. However, there are no studies that compile what is known about the presence of paraphilias in noncriminal and sexual offender samples. For clinicians, it is not known how likely a sexual offender is to have additional paraphilias beyond the one that brought him to the clinician's attention. This paper is the first attempt to organize what information is known about co-occurring paraphilias based on past independent research. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2011. 1p. (Full report available upon request) Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0235-eng.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0235-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 132062 Keywords: Paraphilia Recidivism Sex Offender Sex Offenders

Author: Davis, Lois M. Title: How Effective is Correctional Education, and Where Do We Go from Here? The Results of a Comprehensive Evaluation Summary: Each year, more than 700,000 incarcerated individuals leave federal and state prisons; within three years of release, 40 percent will have committed new crimes or violated the terms of their release and be reincarcerated. Although a number of factors impede the ability of ex-offenders to successfully reintegrate into communities and, thus, affect recidivism rates, one key factor is that many ex-offenders do not have the knowledge, training, and skills to support a successful return to their communities. Research, for example, shows that ex-offenders, on average, are less educated than the general population: 37 percent of individuals in state prisons had attained less than a high school education in 2004, compared with 19 percent of the general U.S. population age 16 and over; 16.5 percent of state prisoners had just a high school diploma, compared with 26 percent of the general population; and 14.4 percent of state prison inmates had at least some postsecondary education, compared with 51 percent of the general U.S. adult population. Moreover, literacy levels for the prison population also tend to be lower than that of the general U.S. population. This lower level of educational attainment represents a significant challenge for exoffenders returning to local communities, because it impedes their ability to find employment. A lack of vocational skills and a steady history of employment also have an impact, with research showing that incarceration impacts unemployment and earnings in a number of ways, including higher unemployment rates for ex-offenders and lower hourly wages when they are employed. Also, individuals being released to the community face a very different set of job market needs than ever before, given the growing role of computer technology and the need for at least basic computer skills. Given these gaps in educational attainment and vocational skills and the impact they have on ex-offenders, one strategy is to provide education to inmates while they are incarcerated, so that they have the skills to support a successful return to their communities. Historically, support for educational programs within correctional settings has waxed and waned over time as the nation�s philosophy of punishment has shifted from rehabilitation to crime control. Although there is general consensus today that education is an important component of rehabilitation, the question remains: How effective is it in helping to reduce recidivism and improve postrelease employment outcomes? The question is especially salient as the nation as a whole and states in particular have struggled with the need to make spending cuts to all social programs due to the recession of 2008 and its long aftermath. With funding from the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199), the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded RAND a cooperative agreement in 2010 to comprehensively examine the current state of correctional education for incarcerated adults and juveniles, where it is headed, which correctional education programs are effective, and how effective programs can be implemented across different settings. The study was designed to address the following key questions of importance to the field of correctional education: 1. What is known about the effectiveness of correctional education programs for incarcerated adults? 2. What is known about the effectiveness of correctional education programs for juvenile offenders? 3. What does the current landscape of correctional education look like in the United States, and what are some emerging issues and trends to consider? 4. What recommendations emerge from the study for the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal departments to further the field of correction education, and where are there gaps in our knowledge? What promising practices, if any, emerge from this review and evaluation? To address these questions, we used a mixed-methods approach. This report first presents a summary of the prior systematic literature review and meta-analysis of adult correctional education programs (Davis et al., 2013), which included studies completed between 1980 and 2011. It then presents two new sections: a systematic literature review of primary studies of correctional education programs for juveniles and a nationwide web-based survey of state correctional education directors. We conclude with a set of recommendations for moving the field forward. For purposes of our study, we defined correctional education for incarcerated adults as including the following: - Adult basic education: basic skills instruction in arithmetic, reading, writing, and, if needed, English as a second language (ESL) - Adult secondary education: instruction to complete high school or prepare for a certificate of high school equivalency, such as the General Education Development (GED) certificate - Vocational education or career technical education (CTE): training in general employment skills and in skills for specific jobs or industries - Postsecondary education: college-level instruction that enables an individual to earn college credit that may be applied toward a two- or four-year postsecondary degree. To meet our definition of correctional education, the program had to be administered at least partly within a correctional facility. Programs that also included a postrelease transition component remained eligible as long as part of the program was administered in a correctional setting. For the juvenile program systematic review, we define incarcerated youth as individuals under age 21 who are legally assigned to correctional facilities as a result of arrest, detainment for court proceedings, adjudication by a juvenile court, or conviction in an adult criminal court (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2013). We define correctional education as any academic or vocational education/CTE program provided within the correctional facility setting, regardless of jurisdiction. As with our adult review, we permitted eligible interventions for juveniles to include an aftercare (postrelease) component, but the interventions had to be delivered primarily in the correctional facility. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2014. 156p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2014 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR500/RR564/RAND_RR564.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR500/RR564/RAND_RR564.pdf Shelf Number: 132085 Keywords: Correctional Education Employment Ex-Offenders Recidivism Reentry Rehabilitation Vocational Education and Training

Author: Baird, Chris Title: A Comparison of Risk Assessment Instruments in Juvenile Justice Summary: Juvenile justice service staff began exploring the use of actuarial risk assessments that classify offenders by the likelihood of future delinquency with earnest in the 1970s, but actuarial risk assessments have been used by public social service agencies in the United States since 1928. The value and utility of a valid, reliable, and equitable risk assessment within a broader practice reform effort was made clear to justice agencies in 1998 when the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) published the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. OJJDP's reform effort illustrated how juvenile justice agencies could better ensure the effectiveness and appropriate targeting of services by implementing both an actuarial risk assessment to accurately, reliably, and equitably classify youth by the likelihood of future delinquency and an equally effective needs assessment to identify an intervention and treatment plan tailored to an individual's needs. This approach built upon the efforts of the National Institute of Corrections' Model Probation/Parole Management Project that combined actuarial risk assessment, individual needs assessment for effective treatment planning, regular reassessments of risk and needs and risk-based supervision standards, and workload-based budgeting. Other models of risk assessment were introduced over subsequent decades, and researchers began categorizing and comparing them as generations of risk assessments. The first generation of risk assessments were not actuarial- individual workers assigned risk levels without the aid of actuarial instruments. Generation 2 instruments were statistically derived, but relied heavily on static criminal history factors to assess risk. They tended to be developed using local data for specific jurisdictions, typically consisted of fewer than a dozen factors (e.g., the California Base Expectancy Tables developed in the 1960s), and focused on identifying groups of offenders with distinctly different risks of future offending. Many of today's instruments, often referred to as generation 3 or generation 4, have expanded beyond the singular objective of risk assessment to classify individuals by risk of delinquency. These instruments often contain dozens of factors (for example, the Correctional Offender Management Profiling and Alternative Sanctions [COMPAS] Youth risk assessment instrument). They frequently divide risk factors into two groups: "static" and "dynamic" (see, for example, Schwalbe, 2008; Hoge, 2002). Static factors are generally measures of prior delinquency. Dynamic factors are commonly referred to as "criminogenic needs" and represent conditions or circumstances that can improve over time (Andrews, Bonta, & Wormith, 2006). In addition, protective factors and references to "responsivity" have been added to generation 4 instruments. Responsivity is intended to reflect an individual's readiness for change and gauge a youth's ability to respond to particular treatment methods and programs (Andrews, 1990). Generation 4 instruments contain anywhere from 42 to approximately 150 factors. These variations in methodology and philosophy raised questions about which types of instruments most accurately and effectively help jurisdictions differentiate between low-, moderate-, and high-risk youth. Many evaluations of risk assessments based validity on correlation coefficients or other measures of association. Those that examined the degree of difference in recidivism rates observed for youth identified as low, moderate, or high risk often found little differentiation; results could vary substantially by race, ethnicity, and gender. Few jurisdictions conducted local validation studies to ensure a risk assessment's validity and reliability, and now one foundation-funded reform effort is telling agencies that local validation is not required if an instrument has been validated in three agencies or for similar populations. Perhaps the most significant change in the last few decades has been the emergence of commercially available risk assessment systems. Prior to this development, risk assessment studies were generally conducted by universities, nonprofit research organizations, or research units within government agencies. Claims made about the validity and reliability of some of these tools have been challenged by other researchers (Skeem & Eno Louden, 2007; Baird, 2009). In response to concerns about the classification and predictive validity of several risk assessments voiced by juvenile justice practitioners and researchers, OJJDP funded a proposal submitted by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) to evaluate commonly used risk assessments by comparing their predictive validity, reliability, equity, and cost. NCCD is a nonprofit social research organization, and its researchers conducted the study of eight risk assessments in 10 jurisdictions in consultation with an advisory board of juvenile justice researchers and developers of commercial juvenile justice risk assessment systems included in the study. Details: Oakland, CA(?): National Council on Crime and Delinquency, 2013. 541p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/244477.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/244477.pdf Shelf Number: 132109 Keywords: Classification Juvenile Justice Systems Prediction Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment Instruments

Author: Durose, Matthew R. Title: Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States in 2005: Patterns from 2005 to 2010 Summary: This report examines the 5-year post-release offending patterns of persons released from state prisons in 2005 by offender characteristics, prior criminal history, and commitment offense. It provides estimates on the number and types of crimes former inmates commit both prior to their imprisonment and after release. The report includes different measures of recidivism, including a new arrest, court adjudication, conviction, and incarceration for either a new sentence or a technical violation. It also documents the extent to which the released prisoners committed crimes in states other than the one that released them. Data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Recidivism Study of State Prisoners Released in 2005, which tracked a sample of former inmates from 30 states for five years following release in 2005. The findings are based on prisoner records obtained from the state departments of corrections through the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) and criminal history records obtained through requests to the FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III) and state repositories via the International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets). Highlights: Among state prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 - About two-thirds (67.8%) of released prisoners were arrested for a new crime within 3 years, and three-quarters (76.6%) were arrested within 5 years. Within 5 years of release, 82.1% of property offenders were arrested for a new crime, compared to 76.9% of drug offenders, 73.6% of public order offenders, and 71.3% of violent offenders. More than a third (36.8%) of all prisoners who were arrested within 5 years of release were arrested within the first 6 months after release, with more than half (56.7%) arrested by the end of the first year. Two in five (42.3%) released prisoners were either not arrested or arrested once in the 5 years after their release. A sixth (16.1%) of released prisoners were responsible for almost half (48.4%) of the nearly 1.2 million arrests that occurred in the 5-year follow-up period. An estimated 10.9% of released prisoners were arrested in a state other than the one that released them during the 5-year follow-up period Within 5 years of release, 84.1% of inmates who were age 24 or younger at release were arrested, compared to 78.6% of inmates ages 25 to 39 and 69.2% of those age 40 or older. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Special Report: Accessed April 23, 2014 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rprts05p0510.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rprts05p0510.pdf Shelf Number: 132138 Keywords: Prisoners Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Transforming Rehabilitation: A Summary of Evidence on Reducing Reoffending (Second Edition) Summary: This evidence review has been produced to support policy makers, practitioners and others who work with offenders. It summarises key evidence on approaches to offender management and how to work effectively with offenders, and then considers the evidence on specific interventions such as drug and alcohol treatment, offender behaviour programmes, mentoring and restorative justice. The first version of this review, published in September 2013, has been updated by a second edition, published in April 2014, in order to include recently published and emerging evaluation evidence. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Analytical Series: Accessed April 23, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243718/evidence-reduce-reoffending.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243718/evidence-reduce-reoffending.pdf Shelf Number: 132150 Keywords: Crime Prevention Interventions Offender Supervision Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending

Author: McKnight, A. Scott Title: Transdermal Alcohol Monitoring: Case Studies Summary: Judges, probation officers, and parole officers sometimes require impaired-driving offenders and other offenders to abstain from alcohol and other drugs. Consequently, they need a way to determine whether offenders are complying with that requirement. This report describes the experiences of six jurisdictions using continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring - a technology that can detect the use of alcohol by offenders and report it to authorities. There are three basic ways to prevent alcohol-impaired driving by known offenders: (a) prevent driving; (b) prevent driving after drinking; and (c) prevent drinking. Preventing offenders from drinking can potentially protect the public against alcohol-impaired-driving crashes and reduce other alcohol-related problems, such as domestic violence, nontraffic injury, and alcohol addiction. Judges frequently make abstinence a requirement of an offenders' sentence for a repeat driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) violation and sometimes make it a formal probation requirement. Unless enforced by a monitoring program, however, such a requirement may not have the desired effect. The Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) device produced by Alcohol Monitoring Systems (AMS) and the Transdermal Alcohol Detection (TAD) system developed by BI Incorporated (BI) are two transdermal alcohol-monitoring devices that are increasingly being used across the country on alcohol-related criminal offenders. Both devices use ankle bracelets that sample perspiration to detect ethanol vapor and can automatically transfer the information stored on the ankle bracelet via modem to a secure Web server. The data is used to generate daily reports of offenders' drinking events, tamper attempts, and other forms of noncompliance with program requirements. The system was designed for security and remote reporting to minimize circumvention and render the data usable by supervising agencies. In the United States, the SCRAM device has been in use longer and has achieved much greater market penetration than the TAD. SCRAM reportedly is being used in 46 States. AMS reports that it works with more than 200 service providers in more than 1,800 courts and agencies around the United States. From a group of 9,100 offenders who were monitored using the SCRAM device from 2004 to 2009, 75 percent were considered compliant (no alcohol use or tampering occurred). BI currently has more than 1,700 TAD units in use at nearly 200 sites. The objectives of this project were to determine how extensively transdermal alcohol-monitoring devices are used and to document examples of strong and innovative programs through case studies that can be used by agencies at the State and local levels considering the use of these devices to monitor offenders. Six programs were selected for case study. Information from these six case studies revealed the following: (a) use of transdermal alcohol monitoring of DWI offenders is increasing; (b) transdermal alcohol monitoring appears to reliably monitor alcohol use by offenders (prior methods had not been as reliable) and thus is beneficial to officials; (c) transdermal-monitoring devices appear not to have any insurmountable problems (cost is an issue, but costs are paid mostly by the offender). Research is needed to carefully study whether transdermal alcohol-monitoring devices reduce drinking and DWI recidivism by offenders. Details: Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2012. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2014 at: www.nhtsa.gov Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: www.nhtsa.gov Shelf Number: 132176 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcohol-Monitoring Devices Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drunk Driving DWI Recidivism

Author: Mulder, E.A. Title: Unraveling Serious Juvenile Delinquency: Risk and Needs Assessment by Classification into Subgroups Summary: In the Netherlands, the top 5% most serious juvenile offenders are placed in juvenile justice institutions under a mandatory treatment order. After two to six years of treatment, the chance of recidivism is supposed to have been reduced considerably. The new offenses that do take place, are supposed to be less severe in nature than the offenses that were committed before treatment. Over the years, several interventions aimed at these serious offenders have been developed. However, the effectiveness of most interventions has not been demonstrated yet. Specialists in the field have said for years that improvement of interventions is needed. However, until now little research has been done on risk factors that predict recidivism in this group of very serious off enders. This is important because of the risk of this subgroup for society, for the victims and for the juveniles themselves. If more is known about the precursors of serious juvenile off ending and recidivism, existing interventions may be improved, new interventions may be developed and the effectiveness of interventions may be higher. However, the accuracy of current ways of predicting off ending and future recidivism is still far from perfect with effect sizes that are seldom higher than 0.70 (Hanson & Morton-Bourgon, 2009). Thus new ways to come to evidence-based decision making and the development of evidence-based interventions need to be explored. Details: Rotterdam: Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2010. 163p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: http://repub.eur.nl/pub/19506/ Year: 2010 Country: Netherlands URL: http://repub.eur.nl/pub/19506/ Shelf Number: 132205 Keywords: Interventions Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Offenders (Netherlands) Recidivism Serious Juvenile Offenders Treatment Programs

Author: Flower, Shawn M. Title: Community Mediation Maryland: Reentry Mediation Recidivism Analysis Summary: The CMM Reentry Mediation model responds to a need identified through research and through the experiences of staff and volunteers who have worked in prisons and with people returning from prison, or have family members incarcerated and experience the reentry process first-hand. Reentry Mediation supports inmates and their families or other support people to discuss their past experiences, to build understanding, and to jointly plan for reentry into the family structure and community before the inmate is released. The Abell Foundation in Baltimore City Maryland funded this analysis of the effect of prisoner reentry mediation on recidivism. This study examines 123 individuals who received mediation (the treatment group) to 497 that requested and were eligible to participate, but did not receive mediation (the comparison group) between February 2009 and June 2012. These groups are compared to discover whether there were significant differences between the groups. The method of analysis used to assess post-release outcomes is logistic regression, which provides a predicted probability of the outcomes (measured by arrest, conviction and incarceration) and is calculated based on all of the factors in the regression model. Cox Regression survival analysis was also used to compare the treatment and comparison groups in their time to failure (defined here as a post-release arrest or conviction). The survival analysis seeks to determine whether those who did not mediate "failed" (e.g., were rearrested) sooner than those who did mediate. Key findings of this study are as follows: - Demographic and criminal history differences between the treatment group and comparison group are few; those who participated in mediation are generally of the same age and gender, have similar criminal backgrounds based on both self-reported data at intake (e.g., age at first involvement in crime) and State of Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) data; while this does not obviate concerns surrounding selection bias, the similarities between the treatment and comparison group build a strong case of comparability between the two groups; - There were differences among the treatment and comparison groups on several questions concerning quality of the relationship with the person the inmate participant wishes to mediate with (referred to as the "outside participant"). Those who mediated were more likely to view the outside participant as playing a more positive role in their life, expressed a higher degree of happiness with this person, and said they confided in each other more often than those who did not mediate. However, these factors were not significant on any measures of recidivism; - One question was predictive of both participating in mediation and arrest post-release was "I feel I have no control over this relationship".Participants are asked their level of agreement with this statement on a scale of 1 to 5 (set up so that higher values indicating a more positive response) or a greater level of empowerment in their relationship with the other participant. Inside participants who felt they had greater control in the relationship were significantly more likely to go to mediation and were also more likely to be arrested post-release. Comparisons by race and gender on this measure indicate non-whites reporting higher degree of control compared to white subjects; there were no differences by gender. While we theorize this question measures positive feelings of empowerment in a relationship, perhaps this measures some another attribute (e.g., overconfidence) that may operate differentially for those who mediate versus those who do not. - Participation in reentry mediation has a significant impact on the likelihood that an individual will be arrested post-release. After controlling for key factors that may otherwise explain this finding (e.g., length of criminal career, gender, age, race, days since release), the predicted probability1 of arrest for those who participate in mediation is 21% vs. 31% for those who do not participate in mediation; - The number of sessions is also a significant factor - with each additional mediation session, the probability of arrest is reduced by 6%; - There was no impact of mediation on post-release conviction or incarceration once crucial factors were controlled in the model, which may be related to the small sample size and the low rates of conviction overall during the time period examined; and - The Cox Regression survival analysis reveals that mediation reduces the hazard (or risk of arrest) by 37% compared to those who do not mediate. Each additional mediation session reduces the risk of arrest by 23% compared to those who did not mediate. The key to understanding the saliency of these findings is that the greatest limitation of mediation may also be its greatest strength - it is a short-term "intervention". In fact, the majority of the 123 mediation participants had but one 2 hour session. The impact of mediation is believed to be indirect and akin to a critical course correction to turn an individual away from a criminal trajectory through the improved relationship with family and support persons and adherence to agreements and plans negotiated during mediation. Details: Greenbelt: MD: Choice Research Associates, 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2014 at: http://re-entrymediation.org/PDFS/CMM_Recidvism_Final_04_18_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://re-entrymediation.org/PDFS/CMM_Recidvism_Final_04_18_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 132254 Keywords: Community Mediation Families of Inmates Family Interventions Family Mediation Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Ringland, Clare Title: The Impact of Intensive Correction Orders on Re-Offending Summary: Aim: To examine the risk of re-offending of those who received an intensive correction order (ICO), relative to those who received periodic detention and suspended sentences with supervision. Method: Details of offenders' demographic and offence characteristics, prior convictions and penalties received, and re-offences were extracted from the Re-offending Database maintained by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Using propensity score modelling, offenders who received an ICO as a principal penalty in a NSW court between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2012 were matched to two comparable groups of offenders who received periodic detention between 1 October 2007 and 30 September 2009 and suspended sentences with supervision between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2012. A supplementary comparison with those who received suspended sentences with supervision included matching on Level of Service Inventory - Revised (LSI-R) assessment scores, in addition to demographic and offending characteristics. Time to first re-offence was estimated using the Nelson-Aalen estimator of the cumulative hazard rate function and compared between groups using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: An offender on an ICO had 33 per cent less risk of re-offending than an offender on periodic detention (HR=0.67, 95% confidence interval (0.55, 0.83), p<.001). There was no significant difference in re-offending between those who received ICOs and supervised suspended sentences after taking into account LSI-R assessment scores. Conclusion: There is some evidence to suggest that ICOs are more effective than periodic detention in terms of re-offending rates. However, future evaluations should include more detailed offender, treatment and program participation information in order to better understand any observed differences between comparison groups. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 176: Accessed May 7, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l2/cjb176.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l2/cjb176.pdf Shelf Number: 132261 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community-based Corrections Intensive Supervision Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Cattell, Jack Title: Implementation of Community Orders: Results from the Offender Manager Community Cohort Study Summary: This report uses the Ministry of Justice's (MoJ) Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS), a longitudinal cohort study of adult offenders who started Community Orders between October 2009 and December 2010. The report describes how Community Orders were implemented by exploring the way sentences were delivered and how this varied for different types of offender. The report also looks at offenders' compliance with their sentence. The findings from this report will be useful in the development of policy and practice of Community Orders and supervision in the community. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed May 8, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295658/implementation-of-community-orders.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295658/implementation-of-community-orders.pdf Shelf Number: 132306 Keywords: Community Orders Community Sentences Offender Management (U.K.) Probation Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Sutherland, Alex Title: A Methodology for Reconviction Studies Using Police National Computer (PNC) Data Summary: This paper gives an overview of measures commonly used in reconviction studies and outlines how to use Police National Computer [PNC] data to conduct a reconviction study. It highlights the need for standardisation in how reconviction studies are conducted and openness about limitations of working with official sources of data. The paper is written for researchers, practitioners and students alike who are interested in conducting reconviction studies and/or the use of PNC data in research more widely. Details: Cambridge, UK: University of Cambridge, 2013. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2014 at: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/alex_sutherland/how_to_work_with_pnc_data.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/people/academic_research/alex_sutherland/how_to_work_with_pnc_data.pdf Shelf Number: 132309 Keywords: Police Technology (U.K.) Recidivism Reconviction

Author: Lee, Dara N. Title: The Digital Scarlet Letter: The Effect of Online Criminal Records on Crime Summary: How does public access to criminal records affect crime? Economic theory suggests that expanding access to criminal information may increase the cost of crime to potential criminals by endangering their future work prospects and thus act as a deterrent. However, increased provision of information could also obstruct ex-convicts from finding legal employment and lead to higher recidivism rates. I exploit the state and time variation in the introduction of state-maintained online criminal databases - which represent a sharp drop in the cost and effort of gaining criminal background information on another person - to empirically investigate the trade-off between deterrence and recidivism. I find that online criminal records lead to a small net reduction in property crime rates, but also a marked increase of approximately 11 percent in recidivism among ex-offenders. Details: Unpublished paper, 2012. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2014 at: http://web.missouri.edu/~leedn/OnlineRecords_DLee.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://web.missouri.edu/~leedn/OnlineRecords_DLee.pdf Shelf Number: 132337 Keywords: Criminal Records Employment Ex-Offenders Recidivism

Author: Prince, Kort Title: Recidivism Risk Prediction and Prevention Assessment in Utah: An Implementation Evaluation of the LSI-R as a Recidivism Risk Assessment Tool in Utah Summary: This document is divided into two major sections. The first covers recidivism risk and needs assessment, while the second describes an implementation evaluation of the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R), which has been used in Utah since 2000 as a risk and needs assessment. Section one describes the need for accurate, valid risk and needs assessments, and provides a literature review of the most well-known, validated and commonly used instruments as well as a review of tools that are relatively new but show promise. In the literature, the LSI-R remains the dominant risk and needs assessment tool, but other instruments in the third- and fourth-generation of risk and needs assessment tools (see below for generation definitions) have become increasingly more common. The LSI-R has, in some cases, been replaced by its successor, the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI). Other instruments show similar validity, but also have the added benefit of being easier to use (such as self-administered assessments). The second major section was originally intended to validate the LSI-R in Utah's population and within demographic subgroups (i.e., race, ethnicity and sex). It was also intended that the research would examine whether Utah's potential adoption of the newer and broader LS/CMI, would improve, reduce or simply maintain the current tool's ability to predict recidivism. While the issue of validation within Utah will remain an important area of future research, preliminary analyses of LSI-R data provided to UCJC revealed problems that precluded a fair and accurate assessment of the validity of either instrument. Problems included both data quality issues (i.e., invalid tests due to too many missing items, total scores that did not match the sum of item-level responses, prohibited combinations of item-level responses) and administrative issues (i.e., inadequate training of administrators, inherent difficulties in using the LSI-R, and ambiguities on the LSI-R response form). Rather than using inaccurate data in attempting to validate the instrument(s) for use as recidivism risk prediction tool(s) in Utah, the present research necessarily altered focus to examine the extent of the problems. The present research also discusses evidence suggesting that the LSI-R tool, and its inherent difficulties in administration, may have contributed to some of the observed problems. Changes that have already been made and changes that could be adopted to improve the accuracy and fidelity of LSI-R assessments, are discussed. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2013. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2014 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/LSI-Implementation-Report-final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/LSI-Implementation-Report-final.pdf Shelf Number: 132356 Keywords: Recidivism Risk Assessment (Utah)

Author: Stys, Yvonne Title: Federal Offenders with a High Reintegration Potential (RP): Characteristics and Community Outcomes Summary: Correctional systems are tasked with managing a diverse population of offenders from those who could be released from custody early in their sentence, without risk of re-offence; to those who may never be safely released. The challenge is to identify those suitable for early release through an effective assessment process. In addition to individual measures of risk, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC or the Service) calculates a reintegration potential (RP) score; this RP classification forms the basis of the offender's correctional plan and paves the way for a specific correctional path. Given the potential value of effective assessment for identifying lower risk offenders, it is important to know whether the expected differences in the flow of offenders through correctional systems can actually be demonstrated. To do so, this research examined the characteristics of 21,746 offenders admitted to the CSC between 2002 and 2006 and recorded the success of their releases into the community until January 2010. Of this group, a total of 8,824 offenders identified at admission as being lower risk (high RP) were followed through the system from admission to release (and for those who were not successful, back to custody) in order to investigate the characteristics of these offenders and to determine if they are following a correctional trajectory that is consistent with what would be expected for this group. A profile of offenders with a high RP was created through the examination of admission information, institutional experiences, and community outcomes. These results were then compared against those who were designated as offenders with medium or low RPs in order to identify the distinct attributes of the high RP cohort. Analyses were conducted separately for four groups of offenders (study groups); non-Aboriginal males (n=16,815), Aboriginal males (n=3,731), non-Aboriginal women (n=876) and Aboriginal women (n=324). At the time of admission, both high RP non-Aboriginal offender groups were found to be significantly older than their medium and low RP counterparts. Generally, males with a high RP tended to be admitted for shorter sentence lengths than the medium and low RP groups, although this relationship did not always hold true for the women's groups. Offenders with a high RP were also generally less likely to be admitted with a violent offence, and more likely to be admitted for a drug-related offence than offenders with medium or low RPs. Examination of institutional experience revealed that only non-Aboriginal women offenders with a high RP differed from their medium RP counterparts in institutional program participation - they were more likely to start and complete programs - and only non-Aboriginal male offenders with a high RP were less likely than their low RP counterparts to complete programs. Where there were significant differences in institutional employment, the high RP groups were always employed for significantly fewer days than the other RP levels, even when time served in the institution was taken into account. The high RP Aboriginal groups did not differ from the medium RP groups and the high RP Aboriginal women group did not differ from the low RP group in terms of involvement in institutional incidents, however in all other instances, the high RP groups were significantly less likely than the medium and low RP groups to be involved in institutional incidents as the instigator/associate. When considering release types, results indicated that offenders with a high RP were generally more likely than offenders with medium and low RPs to participate in escorted and unescorted temporary absences (ETAs and UTAs), with limited exceptions for women offenders. Overall, offenders with a high RP were significantly more likely than the other RP levels to be granted day or full parole as their first release from custody, again with limited exceptions for women offenders - for example there was no significant difference in this regard when comparing high and medium RP Aboriginal women. All four high RP offender groups served a significantly smaller percentage of their sentence prior to their first release than offenders in the medium and low RP groups. Finally, survival analyses conducted to determine differences in the risk of failure upon release for the three RP levels found that for all four interest groups, offenders with a high RP were significantly more likely to be successful on release, and less likely to experience a revocation or a new offence upon release. Specifically, being an offender with a medium RP rather than an offender with a low RP was found to increase the hazard of return to custody by between 1.52 (Aboriginal males) and 2.39 (non-Aboriginal males), and being an offender with a low RP rather than an offender with a high RP increased the hazard of return to custody by between 1.93 (Aboriginal males) and 3.37 (non-Aboriginal males). In conclusion, based on these outcomes, it would appear that the designation of high reintegration potential is associated with better access to correctional resources and earlier release from prison to serve the balance of the sentence in the community. Offenders with a high RP are generally following a correctional trajectory appropriate for that RP level and are performing as would be expected in the community. However, it should be noted that not all offenders who are identified as having a high RP are actually released early, nor do they all succeed after release. This demonstrates the variability of risk within the high RP group and suggests that reintegration potential may require some adjustments to the scoring which serves to define the levels for the three groups. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2012. 122p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-260: Accessed May 15, 2014 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21494-eng.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn21494-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 132371 Keywords: Early Release Parole Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration Reoffending Risk Assessment (Canada)

Author: Lamb, Kathleen Title: Recovery Services Evaluation Report: An Assessment of Program Completion Rates, and the Relationship Between Program Completion Status and Recidivism. 2009-2012 Period Summary: Existing literature suggests there is a strong relationship between participation in prison-based substance abuse programming and reduced recidivism. One way in which Ohio's offender population participates in substance abuse treatment is through participation in the intensive outpatient treatment program, which is the focus of this evaluation. This is a three-phase program consisting of the Treatment Readiness Phase, the Intensive Outpatient Phase, and the Recovery Maintenance phase. All phases are grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy, aiming to change inmate thinking patterns. Prior research has demonstrated that intensive outpatient programs are a cost-effective way to reduce recidivism upon release from prison, although they are most useful when accompanied by supplemental programming (community-based aftercare). The present study has two major goals. The first is to assess completion rates (both successful completers as well as unsuccessful discharges) of offenders participating in intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment programs in Ohio prisons during the period from 2009 to 2012. The second is to establish whether there is a significant relationship between program completion status and recidivism one year after release. This work builds on prior evaluations of Recovery Services substance abuse programs by evaluating a more recent time frame, during which data quality substantially improved over prior periods, and incorporating statistical analyses at both the bivariate level and multivariate level. The multivariate findings assess the relationship between completion and recidivism while holding numerous other inmate characteristics constant. Details: Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 2013. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2014 at: http://www.drc.ohio.gov/web/Reports/RS_Evaluation_Dec2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.drc.ohio.gov/web/Reports/RS_Evaluation_Dec2013.pdf Shelf Number: 132394 Keywords: Community-Based Aftercare Correctional Programs Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Drake, Elizabeth Title: Recidivism Trends of Domestic Violence Offenders in Washington State Summary: The 2012 Washington State Legislature passed a bill directing the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to complete the following research tasks on domestic violence offenders: 1)Review the research literature on treatment for domestic violence offenders and other interventions effective at reducing recidivism; 2) Survey states' laws regarding domestic violence treatment for offenders; and 3) Analyze recidivism rates of domestic violence offenders in Washington. WSIPP published findings earlier this year on the first two tasks. In this report, we complete the legislative assignment and describe the recidivism rates of domestic violence offenders in Washington. To conduct the analyses in this report, we use WSIPP's criminal history database, which was developed to conduct criminal justice research at the request of the legislature. The database is a synthesis of data from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Department of Corrections (DOC). This report contains three sections. In the first section, we provide context on the volume of cases filed in Washington State's criminal courts and the proportion of those cases that are domestic violence. Next, we examine re-offense behavior of domestic violence offenders after entering the criminal court system. In the final section, we examine recidivism trends of domestic violence offenders over an eight year period. A technical appendix contains a detailed description of the data and data-processing for this study. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2013. 9p. Source: WSIPP Document No. 13-08-1201: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2014 at http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1541 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1541 Shelf Number: 132416 Keywords: Domestic Violence Offenders Recidivism Recidivism, Domestic Violence

Author: London Councils Title: Reducing Reoffending in London: Why investing in local solutions will deliver Summary: Reducing reoffending is critical to both protecting communities from crime and to delivering a more effective and economic justice system. This report argues that, to get the best outcomes, we need a system that puts assertive locally rooted co-ordination at its heart. Prison populations have steadily increased in England and Wales, from an average of 64,601 in 2000 to 86,634 in 2012. Reoffenders contribute to this. Reoffending is also costly to the public purse; handling an individual reconviction could cost the public as much as L65,000 followed by up to $37,500 per year in prison. The 2010 National Audit Office report, Managing Offenders on Short Custodial Sentences, estimated that in 2007/08, the total cost to the economy of crime committed by offenders who had served short term sentences (less than 12 months) was between L9.5 billion and L13 billion. Reducing crime and improving community safety are critical to London local government's role in building and sustaining safe and prosperous communities. A key element of this is the rehabilitation of offenders. We believe that this is best achieved through coordinated local services that are rooted in local democratic and accountability structures. More broadly, local government has a significant role in tackling crime and reducing offending. Details: London: London Councils, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2014 at http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/London%20Councils/Crime%20and%20Public%20Protection/LondonCouncilsReducingReoffendinginLondonreport.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/London%20Councils/Crime%20and%20Public%20Protection/LondonCouncilsReducingReoffendinginLondonreport.pdf Shelf Number: 132418 Keywords: Recidivism Recidivism, Prevention (U.K.) Rehabilitation Reoffending (U.K.)

Author: Meredith, Tammy Title: Ramsey County Proxy Tool Norming & Validation Results Summary: A Ramsey County (St. Paul, Minnesota) work team consisting of the Sheriff, City District Attorney, local pretrial services and the Center for Effective Public Policy in collaboration with Applied Research Services (ARS) conducted a Proxy assessment norming and validation study with support from the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The Proxy is three-question screening instrument used to triage community corrections populations for the purpose of moving those at low risk to minimum supervision without further assessment. The Ramsey County team identified a random sample of 200 misdemeanor cases processed through the city court in 2008 and determined who was subsequently re-arrested in a three-year follow up period. A data collection form was completed on each case by the City District Attorney staff and warrants clerks at the Sheriff's Office (see appendix). That data collection effort relied upon a file review followed by an official criminal history inquiry to answer demographic, offense and criminal history questions, to include the three Proxy assessment questions. The Proxy norming and validation followed the recommended steps of Bogue, Woodward and Joplin (2006). Results indicate that the Proxy as currently scored identifies half of the sample as low risk and does not perform better than chance at predicting re-arrest for those low risk offenders. The normed reclassification allows for more efficient distribution of resources and improved prediction of re-arrest. Details: Atlanta, GA: Applied Research Services, Inc., 2014. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 9, 2014 at https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/028095.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/028095.pdf Shelf Number: 132424 Keywords: Community Corrections Recidivism Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Instruments

Author: Pew Charitable Trusts Title: Max Out: The Rise in Prison Inmates Released Without Supervision Summary: Despite growing evidence and a broad consensus that the period immediately following release from prison is critical for preventing recidivism, a large and increasing number of offenders are maxing out-serving their entire sentences behind bars-and returning to their communities without supervision or support. These inmates do not have any legal conditions imposed on them, are not monitored by parole or probation officers, and do not receive the assistance that can help them lead crime-free lives. An analysis of this trend by The Pew Charitable Trusts found that: - Between 1990 and 2012, the number of inmates who maxed out their sentences in prison grew 119 percent, from fewer than 50,000 to more than 100,000. - The max-out rate, the proportion of prisoners released without receiving supervision, was more than 1 in 5, or 22 percent of all releases, in 2012. - Max-out rates vary widely by state: In Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, fewer than 10 percent of inmates were released without supervision in 2012. More than 40 percent of inmates maxed out their prison terms and left without supervision in Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah. - Nonviolent offenders are driving the increase. In a subset of states that had data available by offense type, 20 and 25 percent of drug and property offenders, respectively, were released without supervision in 2000, but those figures grew to 31 and 32 percent, or nearly 1 in 3, in 2011. The increase in max-outs is largely the outcome of state policy choices over the past three decades that resulted in offenders serving higher proportions of their sentences behind bars. Indeed, "truth-in-sentencing" laws, limits on release eligibility, and the outright elimination of parole in some states added nine months to the average prison time served by offenders released in 2009, compared with those released two decades earlier. Details: Washington, DC: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2014. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 16, 2014 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/PCS_Assets/2014/MaxOut_Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/PCS_Assets/2014/MaxOut_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132468 Keywords: Criminal Justice Policy Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection Title: An Inspection of Approved Premises in Northern Ireland Summary: The use of approved premises to assist offenders to resettle back into society helps reduce the risk of individuals reoffending and strengthens public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland. The importance of the APs' role cannot be underestimated, both in terms of their contribution to the public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland, and in providing support for the rehabilitation of offenders. One of the most significant findings of this inspection has been to tangibly demonstrate that offenders reduce their risk levels while living in APs. The inspection confirms that the criminal justice agencies, especially the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI), and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) give this issue significant priority. Their involvement has helped raise standards, and they support APs' staff to manage offenders more effectively. We found that the level of cooperation between the voluntary organisations which run the APs and the statutory agencies is a model of best practice, and evidence of effective partnership arrangements which are delivering significant public protection. There are several challenges - the governance standards required by funders are increasingly demanding for small charitable groups that manage APs. The larger organisations are better equipped to deal with the requirements of corporate governance, and have greater access to funds to modernise facilities, and to employ and rotate well-trained staff. It is difficult to reconcile local community concerns about the location of APs with the reality of just how difficult it is for some offenders to find suitable accommodation. The limitations imposed on offenders residing in APs through residency contracts and licence conditions are stringent, and many are returned to prison if they fail to abide by the rules. This policy is essential if public confidence in the concept of rehabilitation is to be retained. The report concludes that the APs practice have progressed since we last inspected. They continue to play a vital role in delivering public protection and providing offenders who want to change their behaviour with a new start. Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 16, 2014 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/50/500620a6-e62f-4eb8-82b3-1c686eff1368.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/50/500620a6-e62f-4eb8-82b3-1c686eff1368.pdf Shelf Number: 132472 Keywords: Offender Reentry (Northern Ireland) Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: Reducing Recidivism: States Deliver Results Summary: In Reducing Recidivism: States Deliver Results, the National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) highlights eight states that have achieved reductions in statewide recidivism in recent years: Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The report focuses on statewide recidivism data for adults released in 2007 and 2010 with a three-year follow-up period, offering a current snapshot of criminal justice outcomes in these states. The report also features examples of recidivism-reduction strategies and programs that the states have undertaken in this timeframe, as well as additional data on the state's criminal justice populations through 2013. This report follows a 2012 National Reentry Resource Center report featuring seven additional states that had lowered recidivism since 2005. Highlighting an interesting cross-section of states representing different regions of the nation, sizes in prison populations, and correctional systems, the two reports demonstrate it is possible for states to achieve significant reductions in statewide recidivism through system-level change. Details: New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ReducingRecidivism_StatesDeliverResults.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ReducingRecidivism_StatesDeliverResults.pdf Shelf Number: 132482 Keywords: Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Systems Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Pessin, Sandi R. Title: An Examination of the Effects of Race on the Assignment of Aftercare Services and the Effects of Aftercare Services on Recidivism for Juvenile Offenders Summary: About 100,000 youth return to their communities from correctional facilities each year. Among these youth, it is estimated that two-thirds have drug dependency and abuse problems. In recent years advocates have called for intensive aftercare services to better facilitate transitions back into the community and reduce the probability of the youth reoffending. Barriers to the implementation of aftercare services include the untested nature of most current programs, as well as small sample sizes available to conduct studies. In addition, the racial disproportionality within the juvenile justice system is well documented. This study attempts to examine the effects the provisions of aftercare services had on recidivism in a particular substance abuse facility in Virginia, and the effect race played in the assignment of aftercare services. This study found that the assignment rates of Black youth and White youth to aftercare varies with Black youth receiving aftercare less frequently than Whites. However, after controlling for a number of characteristics of the youths, the difference in the assignment to aftercare does not differ significantly by race. This study also found that Black youth were more likely to be declared "severely delinquent" which appears to have systematically disqualified them from receiving aftercare services. Unfortunately, results regarding the effects of aftercare services on recidivism are inconclusive, mostly due to the small sample size. Details: Washington, DC: Georgetown University, Public Policy Institute 2008. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Master's Essay: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/555950/30_etd_srp27.pdf?sequence=3 Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/555950/30_etd_srp27.pdf?sequence=3 Shelf Number: 132531 Keywords: Aftercare Juvenile Drug Offenders Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Reentry Racial Disparities Recidivism

Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: Recidivism Among Offenders Receiving Retroactive Sentence Reductions: The 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment Summary: In 2007, the United States Sentencing Commission amended the Drug Quantity Table in section 2D1. of the sentencing guidelines for offenses involving crack cocaine. The amendment, which became effective November 1, 2007, reduced by two levels the base offense levels assigned by the Drug Quantity Table for each quantity of crack cocaine (the "2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment"). Also in 2007, the Commission voted to give retroactive effect to the amendment, which allowed judges to consider motions for retroactive application of the amendment and reduce sentences for those incarcerated under the previous guidelines. The retroactive application of the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment took effect on March 3, 2008. This publication reports on recidivism of crack cocaine offenders who were released immediately before and after implementation of the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment, and followed in the community for five years. In order to study the impact of retroactive sentence reduction on recidivism rates, staff analyzed the recidivism rate for a group of crack cocaine offenders whose sentences were reduced pursuant to retroactive application of the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment. Staff then compared that rate to the recidivism rate for a comparison group of offenders who would have been eligible to seek a reduced sentence under the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment, but were released before the effective date of that amendment after serving their full prison terms less good time and other earned credits. The question addressed by this study is: "Were offenders who received a reduced sentence retroactively under the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment more likely to recidivate than similarly situated offenders who did not receive a reduced sentence?" As discussed more fully below, there is no evidence that offenders whose sentence lengths were reduced pursuant to retroactive application of the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment had higher recidivism rates than a comparison group of crack cocaine offenders who were released before the effective date of the 2007 Crack Cocaine Amendment and who served their full prison terms less earned credits. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2014. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 26, 2014 at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-projects-and-surveys/miscellaneous/20140527_Recidivism_2007_Crack_Cocaine_Amendment.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-projects-and-surveys/miscellaneous/20140527_Recidivism_2007_Crack_Cocaine_Amendment.pdf Shelf Number: 132551 Keywords: Crack Cocaine Offenders Drug Offenders Recidivism Sentencing Guidelines

Author: Cox, Stephen M. Title: Evaluation of the Court Support Services Division's Probation Transition Program and Technical Violation Unit Summary: In response to Public Act 04- 234, An Act Concerning Prison Overcrowding, the Court Support Services Division within the Judicial Branch designed and implemented two pilot probation programs that sought to decrease probation violations and subsequent incarceration. These programs are the Probation Transition Program (PTP) and the Technical Violation Unit (TVU). Description of the Probation Transition Program and Technical Violation Unit The PTP targets inmates who have terms of probation upon their discharge from the Department of Correction (e.g., those discharged at the end of sentence from a correctional facility, halfway house, parole, transitional supervision or a furlough). The goal of this program is to increase the likelihood of a successful probation period for split sentence probationers by reducing the number and intensity of technical violations during the initial period of probation. The TVU also focuses on probationers about to be violated for technical reasons (e.g., deliberate or repeated non-compliance with court ordered conditions, reporting requirements, and service treatment requirements). However, it addresses all probationers regardless of whether they have been incarcerated or not. The goal of the TVU is to reduce the number of probationers sentenced to incarceration as a result of technical violations of probation. Prior Research on Probation Best Practices These programs were created around best practices of probation. Prior probation research brings forward several important issues that were considered during the development of the PTP and the TVU. These are: (1) probation violation rates have been found to be as low as 12% and as high as 62%; (2) while probation violations have led to increased prison populations, little is known as to the extent that these increases are the result of new offenses or technical violations (although the majority of probation violators sent to prison are for technical violations); (3) substance abuse issues among probationers are highly related to probation violations; (4) probation supervision techniques that are less controlling and enforcement oriented are more effective; (5) better communication between probation officers and other court personnel result in lower incarceration rates of probation violators; (6) role clarity and comprehensive training of probation officers on rehabilitation principles increases probation officers' receptiveness to less strict control and enforcement oriented supervision. Evaluation Description and Findings To measure the effectiveness of the PTP and the TVU programs in reducing probation violations and reincarceration, the Court Support Services Division contracted with faculty from the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) to conduct a process and outcome evaluation of these programs. The evaluation used both qualitative and quantitative research methods in assessing the implementation of the two probation programs and its effects on program participants. This report presents the findings from this evaluation. Details: New Britain, CT: Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University, 2005. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/news/ProbPilot.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://www.jud.ct.gov/external/news/ProbPilot.pdf Shelf Number: 132689 Keywords: Probation Probation Supervision Probation Violations Probationers Recidivism Revocation

Author: Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: Reentry Matters: Strategies and Successes of Second Chance Act Grantees Across the United States Summary: With over 95 percent of people in the nation's state prisons expected to be released at some point, officials at all levels of government recognize the need for initiatives to support the successful reentry of these individuals to their communities. For the estimated 60,000 youth incarcerated in juvenile detention and correctional facilities on any given day, there is a particular urgency to help them avoid crime and improve their prospects for a successful future when released. In 2008, Congress responded to these needs by passing the Second Chance Act, first-of-its-kind legislation that was enacted with bipartisan support and backed by a broad spectrum of leaders in law enforcement, corrections, courts, behavioral health, and other areas. The legislation authorizes federal grants that support reentry programs for adults and juveniles, nearly 600 of which have been awarded to government agencies and nonprofit organizations in 49 states by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs. The program snapshots below illustrate the positive impact these reentry initiatives can have by focusing on areas vital to reintegration back into the community, including employment, education, mentoring, and substance abuse and mental health treatment. Also highlighted are programs that address the needs of a particular population, such as youth, women, and tribal communities. Representing a wide range of populations served, these programs also demonstrate the diversity of approaches that can address recidivism and increase public safety. Details: New York: Council of State Government Justice Center, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ReentryMatters.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ReentryMatters.pdf Shelf Number: 132690 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Second Chance Act

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus Title: Is Public Safety Realignment Reducing Recidivism in California? Summary: California has had one of the highest recidivism rates in the nation for more than a decade. This contributed to overcrowding in the state's expensive prison system and helped to motivate wide-ranging corrections reform legislation in 2011, commonly referred to as public safety realignment. Realignment essentially halted the practice of sending parole violators back to state prison and instead made counties responsible for supervising and sanctioning most released offenders. It also cut in half the maximum sentence for a supervision violation-from one year to six months. How are these changes affecting the state's recidivism rates? We find that the post-realignment period has not seen dramatic changes in arrests or convictions of released offenders. In the context of realignment's broad reforms to the corrections system, our findings suggest that offender behavior has not changed substantially. Overall arrest rates of released offenders are down slightly, with the proportion of those arrested within a year of release declining by 2 percentage points. At the same time, the proportion of those arrested multiple times has increased noticeably, by about 7 percentage points. These higher multiple arrest rates may reflect the substantial increase in the time that released offenders spend on the streets-a result of counties' limited jail capacity (Lofstrom and Raphael 2013). Convictions among released offenders have increased, but this increase does not appear to reflect changes in offender behavior so much as changes in arrest procedures and prosecutorial approaches. The likelihood that an arrest will lead to a conviction has increased by roughly 3 percentage points. Furthermore, the proportion of released offenders who are actually convicted has increased about 1.2 percentage points-a small but statistically significant rise-and nearly all of these new convictions are for felonies. Together, these findings suggest that new offenses are increasingly being processed through the courts as formal felony charges and convictions, rather than as technical violations through the Board of Parole Hearings. Finally, our analysis shows that realignment has, as intended, led to a considerable 33 percentage point drop in the proportion of released inmates who are returned to state prison. This demonstrates that realignment has made substantial progress in one of its main goals: reducing the use of prison as a sanction for parole violations and minor criminal offenses. Taken together, our findings suggest that county efforts are at least partly offsetting the effects of increased street time among released offenders. Changes in arrest and conviction rates have been modest-but these rates remain high in the post-realignment period. State and local authorities need to develop more effective, targeted policies aimed at both deterring crime and connecting released offenders to rehabilitative services. California needs such strategies to bring recidivism rates down to levels that will relieve pressure on state prison and county jails, and help the state reach the federally mandated prison population threshold. Details: Sacramento: Public Policy Institute of California, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_614MLR.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_614MLR.pdf Shelf Number: 132704 Keywords: Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Parole Supervision Parolees Prison Overcrowding Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Pew Center on the States Title: Arkansas's 2011 Public Safety Reform: Legislation to Reduce Recidivism and Curtail Prison Growth Summary: In 2011, Arkansas's prison population had more than doubled over the course of two decades, driving corrections costs up more than 800 percent. At the same time, recidivism and crime rates remained stubbornly high. Without action, the prison population would have grown by as much as 43 percent and cost Arkansas taxpayers an additional $1.1 billion over the next decade. State leaders established a bipartisan, inter-branch working group to examine the drivers of Arkansas's prison population growth. With technical assistance from the Pew Center on the States and its partners, The Arkansas Working Group on Sentencing and Corrections conducted an extensive review of state data and issued recommendations to reduce recidivism and contain corrections costs. In March of 2011, the Public Safety Improvement Act passed the Arkansas General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan majorities and was signed into law by Governor Mike Beebe. The new law will cut Arkansas's prison population growth in half, avert $875 million in new prison costs and improve public safety by investing in evidence-based community supervision practices. Details: Washington, DC: Pew Center on the States, 2011. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed July 18, 2014 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/PewArkansasbriefpdf.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/uploadedfiles/PewArkansasbriefpdf.pdf Shelf Number: 114679 Keywords: Alternative to Incarceration Community-Based Corrections Costs of Corrections Costs of Criminal Justice Prisons (Arkansas) Recidivism

Author: Goliday, Sean J. Title: Reentry in the District of Columbia: Supporting Returning Citizens' Transitions into the Community Summary: Each year an estimated 2,000 - 2,500 offenders return to the District of Columbia from prison and roughly 17,000 cycle through the D.C. Department of Corrections. These individuals face a number of challenges upon their return, not the least of which are finding and sustaining adequate housing and meaningful employment. As is known, many offenders disproportionately return to a small number of neighborhoods, which are struggling with high unemployment rates, lack of affordable housing, and strained resources. This is, perhaps, useful for understanding why roughly 2/3rds of returning citizens recidivate upon their return to the community. We find that both locally and nationally, these rates have been fairly consistent over the last several decades. Given these high rates of recidivism coupled with the knowledge that the overwhelming majority of those individuals who are incarcerated eventually get released, the idea of reentry transitional planning becomes ever so important. Details: Washington, DC: District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2014 at: http://cjcc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/cjcc/page_content/attachments/ReentryGrantReportFinalReportDecember2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://cjcc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/cjcc/page_content/attachments/ReentryGrantReportFinalReportDecember2013.pdf Shelf Number: 132787 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Clear, Todd R. Title: Predicting Crime through Incarceration: The Impact of Rates of Prison Cycling On Rates of Crime in Communities Summary: The purpose of this project has been to estimate the impact of "prison cycling" -the flow into and out of prison - on crime rates in communities, with special concern about areas that have high rates of prison cycling. In this work, we explicitly hypothesized that: (1) there would be a positive impact of neighborhood reentry rates on neighborhood crime rates, controlling for neighborhood characteristics; (2) there would be a positive effect of neighborhood removal rates (admissions) on neighborhood crime rates, controlling for neighborhood characteristics; (3) the effect of the rate of both removal and reentry on the neighborhood crime rate would depend upon the level of removal and reentry (tipping point); and (4) the effect of the rate of both removal and reentry on crime the neighborhood crime rate would depend upon the level of concentrated disadvantage in the neighborhood (interaction effect). To complete the proposed work, we compiled datasets on prison admissions and releases that would be comparable across places and geocoded and mapped those data onto crime rates across those same places. The data used were panel data. The data were quarterly or annual data, depending on the location, from a mix of urban (Boston, Newark and Trenton) and rural communities in New Jersey covering various years between 2000 and 2012. Census tract characteristics come from the 2000 Census Summary File 3. The crime, release, and admission data were individual level data that were then aggregated from the individual incident level to the census tract level by quarter (in Boston and Newark) or year (in Trenton). The analyses centered on the effects of rates of prison removals and returns on rates of crime in communities (defined as census tracts) in the cities of Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey, and Trenton, New Jersey, and across rural municipalities in New Jersey. Our analytic strategy, was one of analytic triangulation. Through the data collection associated with this project, we amassed a uniquely comprehensive crime and incarceration dataset over time - arguably one of the most comprehensive assembled to date. This dataset allowed us to model the relationship between crime and incarceration using a range of techniques (fixed effects panel models, Arrellano-Bond estimations, and vector auto-regression) taking advantage of each and being partially freed of the limitations of any one. We gave considerable attention to the problem of modeling. As might be expected, different models often provide different results. The most parsimonious models provide small standard errors with significant results, but there are sometimes sign changes when new control variables are added, suggesting instability in the modeling strategy. By contrast, the most stable results are provided by fixed effects models that, while intuitively attractive, have the disadvantage of large standard errors. When we use this analytic approach, we achieve results that, we believe, are more reliable. Overall, our work finds strong support for the impact of prison cycling on crime. It seems that such cycling has different effects in different kinds of neighborhoods, consistent with the idea of a "tipping point" but more clearly expressed as an interaction between crime policy and type of neighborhood. The results in Tallahassee, Boston, and Trenton provide consistent support for this idea. In Newark, as a result of the city's limited variability in neighborhood disadvantage, we failed to find the same pattern. Further research will investigate whether this neighborhood interaction holds in other sites. It will also enable us to think about how neighborhood change over time affects the prison cycling-crime relationship. Do neighborhoods that improve start to benefit from incarceration policy? In contrast, does current incarceration policy become a factor that inhibits neighborhood improvement? Details: Final Report submitted to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2014. 141p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/247318.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/247318.pdf Shelf Number: 132949 Keywords: Crime Modeling Crime Places Hotspots Neighborhoods and Crime Recidivism Socioeconomic Conditions and Crime

Author: Anderson, Simon Title: Evaluation of the Community Reintegration Project Summary: This is an evaluation of the Community Reintegration Project (CRP), which formed part of the Scottish Government's wider Reducing Reoffending Programme (RRP) and focused on addressing the needs of offenders serving prison sentences between six months and less than four years. Executive Summary - All four prison sites operated a process that was consistent with the broad CRP model - in that it involved structured engagement with offenders through five broad stages, referral to CJSW and relevant services - but there was considerable variation in how activities were delivered. - The number of offenders eligible for - and participating in - the project was relatively small in all prisons except HMP Perth, raising questions about whether the pilot reached 'critical mass'. - Meaningful engagement with the CRP (participation in a Comprehensive Screening) appears to have happened in around half of all eligible admissions, but there was a high degree of attrition beyond this with many scheduled meetings not taking place. - Practitioners were generally supportive of the principle of the CRP but were concerned about particular aspects of the process, such as the paperwork and training. There was also evidence that systems for monitoring progress were not always effective. - There is some evidence that the CRP facilitated progress towards short and medium-term outcomes for organisations and staff, though there remains scope for further improvements in joint working and engagement and motivation of eligible offenders. At this stage there is limited evidence about the impacts of the CRP on individual offenders, though some qualitative accounts indicate the potential to achieve the intended long-term outcomes. - Key contextual factors shaping implementation and impact included the 'crowded landscape' of overlapping (and potentially competing) service provision; broad cultural and strategic shifts within SPS; and the physical and organisational contexts within specific sites. - The CRP process could be optimised through improvements to the paperwork and training; greater clarity about inter-agency roles and communication channels; a distinctive 'brand' identity for the project; and creative responses to the constraints of individual sites. - There is evidence that the CRP's underlying theory of change remains broadly plausible, but throughput needs to be increased and attrition reduced - and community-based services adequately resourced - for it to achieve impact on a significant scale. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Social Research, 2014. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00456670.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00456670.pdf Shelf Number: 132971 Keywords: Male Offenders Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration (Scotland) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Reich, Warren A. Title: The Criminal Justice Response to 16- and 17-Year-Old Defendants in New York Summary: New York is one of two states, along with North Carolina, that defines 16- and 17-year-old defendants as criminally responsible adults. New York's policy exposes these young defendants to lasting collateral consequences, including the possibility of a criminal conviction, incarceration, and lifetime reductions in employment prospects and earnings. In the fall of 2011, New York State's Chief Judge, Jonathan Lippman, proposed legislation promoting a more age-appropriate approach to these defendants. In April 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed a Commission on Youth, Public Safety, and Justice that will study different options and submit statewide policy recommendations by the end of the year. Chief Judge Lippman also created the Adolescent Diversion Program (ADP) in 2012, an initiative put into effect in nine of New York's 62 counties, which seeks to adopt an age-appropriate approach within the legal confines of the adult criminal court system. With funding from the New York Community Trust, a previous research report described the policies of all nine ADP sites and tested the effects of ADP participation on case dispositions, sentences, and re-arrests over a six-month tracking period (Rempel, Lambson, Cadoret, and Franklin 2013). The current study extends the re-arrest tracking period for Year One ADP participants to at least one year; provides a new analysis of the impact of the ADP initiative among those enrolled in Year Two; and examines 16- and 17-year-old defendant characteristics, case dispositions, sentences, and risk factors for re-arrest across the entire state. The goal of the research is to help inform deliberations as the judicial, legislative, and executive branches seek to improve justice for adolescents in New York State. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2014. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/ADP%20Y2%20Report%20Final%20_v2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/ADP%20Y2%20Report%20Final%20_v2.pdf Shelf Number: 132985 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Justice Policy Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Offenders (New York) Recidivism Waiver (of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction)

Author: Drake, Elizabeth K. Title: Predicting Criminal Recidivism: A Systematic Review of Offender Risk Assessments in Washington State Summary: Under Washington State's sentencing laws, an adult convicted of a felony in superior court receives a sentence as prescribed within the ranges of the state's sentencing guidelines. Depending on the seriousness of the crime and a person's criminal history, some sentences may result in confinement in prison, community supervision, or both. The Department of Corrections (DOC) has jurisdiction over offenders sentenced to more than one year of confinement as well as those who receive a sentence of supervision in the community. In 1999, the Legislature enacted the Offender Accountability Act (OAA) that set state policy regarding the intensity of community supervision. The law requires DOC to classify offenders according to their future risk for re-offense and the harm they have caused society in the past. DOC must deploy more staff and rehabilitative resources to higher-risk offenders. Since the passage of the OAA, DOC has implemented two different risk assessments to assist with the classification of offenders. The 2009 Legislature required DOC to use a risk assessment "recommended to the department by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy as having the highest degree of predictive accuracy for assessing an offender's risk of re-offense." We focus our systematic review on assessments that have been tested on offender populations in Washington State. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) was approached in 2012 by DOC to determine if a new risk assessment under consideration by DOC has the highest degree of predictive accuracy of future recidivism. To fulfill this legislative requirement, WSIPP systematically reviewed the literature on risk assessments that have been statistically "validated." That is, we examined tools developed and tested on offenders in Washington to determine the degree of accuracy of predicting recidivism. Details: Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2014. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2014 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1554/Wsipp_Predicting-Criminal-Recidivism-A-Systematic-Review-of-Offender-Risk-Assessments-in-Washington-State_Final-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1554/Wsipp_Predicting-Criminal-Recidivism-A-Systematic-Review-of-Offender-Risk-Assessments-in-Washington-State_Final-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132995 Keywords: Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Armstrong, Sarah Title: A Review of the Fife Circles of Support and Accountability Project Commissioned By Sacro Summary: This report presents an independent review of the Fife Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA or Circles) project run by Sacro. Circles target people convicted of sex offences who are at high risk of reoffending and social isolation. They bring a group of volunteers from the community together with the offender, called the core member, to support and hold him to account. The aims of the research were to document and assess the operation and consider the progress of the Fife Circles project over the four years of its existence. The research gathered views of those involved in the Circles scheme, observed practices on site and reviewed the available literature and programme documents to assess whether the Fife CoSA supports overall risk management of a concerning group of offenders. A key question of this research is whether an offender's risk of reoffending is likely to have been affected by the involvement in a circle. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 04/2014: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Sacro-Fife-Circles-Final-Report-30-May-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Sacro-Fife-Circles-Final-Report-30-May-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133019 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders (Scotland) Volunteers

Author: Early, Kristin Parsons Title: Validity and Reliability of the Florida PACT Risk and Needs Assessment Instrument: A Three-Phase Evaluation Summary: The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (Department) began efforts in 2005 to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based system of assessing the risks and needs of youth referred to the juvenile justice system. A system change of this magnitude was not easily accomplished and required strong collaboration within the Department, as well as with juvenile justice stakeholders and community partners. The Department followed a long-range plan for developing and implementing its new risk and needs assessment instrument referred to as the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT). This process included pilot testing of the assessment and a Pre-Validation Study to norm the instrument to Florida's delinquency population and examine its initial validity in predicting offender risk to re-offend. The current evaluation examined the validity and reliability of the PACT in three phases: Phase I assessed the validity of the PACT risk and needs assessment in accurately predicting recidivism; Phase II involved confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of all PACT assessment data to assess the utility and parsimony of PACT scoring; and Phase III examined consistency in PACT scoring through assessment of inter-rater reliability. The Justice Research Center (JRC) performed the analyses reported here under contract (Contract P2085) with the Department following a competitive procurement process. Details: Tallahassee: Justice Research Center, 2012. 125p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2014 at: http://www.djj.state.fl.us/docs/probation-policy-memos/jrc-comprehensive-pact-validity-and-reliability-study-report-2012.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=2 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.djj.state.fl.us/docs/probation-policy-memos/jrc-comprehensive-pact-validity-and-reliability-study-report-2012.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=2 Shelf Number: 133042 Keywords: Evidence-Based Practices Juvenile Offenders (Florida) Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Ireland. Probation Service Title: Probation Service Recidivism Study 2008-2013 Summary: The Probation Service and Central Statistics Office (CSO) have established a partnership to conduct research on recidivism and related issues among offenders on supervision in the community. This second study report is based on anonymised offender and offence information on a 2008 cohort of offenders from the Probation Service supervision database. The study reports on recidivism within three years among that cohort using five years follow up of recorded crime and Court Service data held by the CSO. The study also examines variations in recidivism relating to type of original order, gender and age of the offender, category of original offence and of the subsequent offence. This recidivism study provides a clear overview of community sanctions and their outcomes; informing the Service in the development and support of effective interventions in working to make our communities safer. Key Findings - Almost 60% of offenders on Probation Service supervision had no conviction for a further offence committed within three years of the imposition of a Probation or Community Service order. - The overall recidivism rate of offenders in the study was 41% over a three year period. - There is a higher level of re-offending in the first year after the making of the supervision order in comparison with subsequent years within the 2008 cohort. The reduction between first and second year was more significant in the 2007 cohort. - The recidivism rate decreased as the offender age increased. - Male offenders represented 87% of the total population and had a higher recidivism rate than female offenders. - Public Order was the most common original offence. - The three most common offences for which offenders were reconvicted were the same as with the 2007 cohort: Public Order, Theft and Controlled Drugs Offences. Details: Dublin: The Probation Service, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Probation Service Research Report 4: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.probation.ie/website/probationservice/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013/$FILE/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.probation.ie/website/probationservice/websitepublishingdec09.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013/$FILE/Probation+Service+Recidivism+Study+2008-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 133059 Keywords: Offender Supervision Probationers (Ireland) Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Shah, Melissa Ford Title: A Profile of Housing Assistance Recipients in Washington State: History of Arrests, Employment, and Social and Health Service Use Summary: This report examines histories of social and health service use, employment, and arrests for individuals who received assistance from housing programs recorded in the Department of Commerce's Homeless Management Information System and who were also served by the Department of Social and Health Services at least once in recent years. These jointly served clients experienced increases in cash assistance, food assistance, and medical coverage over a five-year period leading up to and including SFY 2010. Their employment and arrest rates rose and then declined over the same time. People who received help from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing (HPRR) and Transitional Housing Programs tended to have similar demographic, employment, arrest, and social and health service use profiles. In addition, recipients of Emergency Shelter and Permanent Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing tended to be more similar to one another. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, 2011. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2014 at: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ms/rda/research/11/160.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ms/rda/research/11/160.pdf Shelf Number: 133062 Keywords: Ex-offender Employment Housing Assistance Prisoner Reentry (Washington State) Recidivism

Author: Grondel, Darrin T. Title: Evaluation of the Washington State Ignition Interlock Pilot Program 2009 Summary: Washington State first enacted ignition interlock laws in 1987. The laws have been modified several times over the past two decades to expand ignition interlock device (IID) use and increase compliance. In 2009, Washington State created Ignition Interlock Licenses (IIL) and modified the existing ignition interlock laws. The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) evaluated the effects of the 2009 law on recidivism and compliance. This report provides an evaluation of drivers who had an IID installed during 2009 under the new laws. Utilizing data provided by ignition interlock vendors and the Department of Licensing (DOL), WTSC evaluated installation compliance, noncompliance behaviors, and recidivism. The evaluation showed: Installation compliance has improved. - An installation compliance rate of 56 percent, higher than the 33 percent compliance rate reported in an evaluation of the 2004-2006 laws. There is a high frequency of driver noncompliant actions after the IID is installed. - Among IID drivers, 8.2 percent started their vehicles either never or rarely (0-9 starts per month). An additional 5.1 percent of drivers exhibited minimum vehicle use (10-19 starts per month). - Overall, 21 percent of interlocked drivers were found to have tampered with the IID at least once. Among drivers who tampered with their IIDs, the average number of tampering attempts was 11.6 times. - Overall, 73 percent of interlocked drivers experienced one or more start failures; the average number of start failures was 10.8. Ten percent of these drivers had 27 or more start failures. The average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reading for start failures was 0.09. - Failures in random retests occurred for 37 percent of all drivers with an average of 1.6 retest failures. The average BAC reading was 0.06 for retest failures. - Vehicle lockouts occurred among 25 percent of the drivers, with an average of 1.32 lockouts. The IID significantly lowered recidivism among second and third-plus DUI offenders. - Among first driving under the influence (DUI) offenders, no significant difference in recidivism was found between the IID drivers and non-IID drivers. Differences in age and prior driving history between IID drivers and non-IID drivers did not affect the results. - Among second DUI offenders, there was a significant difference in recidivism between the IID drivers and non-IID drivers. Second DUI offenders with an IID had a 26 percent lower recidivism rate. - Among third-plus DUI offenders, there was a significant difference in recidivism between the IID drivers and non-IID drivers. Third-plus DUI offenders with an IID had a 28 percent lower recidivism rate. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 2014. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www-stage.wtsc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/04/IIPP.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www-stage.wtsc.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2014/04/IIPP.pdf Shelf Number: 133080 Keywords: Alcohol Interlock Devices (Washington State) Alcohol Law Enforcement Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Program Recidivism

Author: Olson, Richard Title: The Safer Foundation: An In-Depth Program Evaluation and Recidivism Study Summary: The Safer Foundation is a non-profit organization in the Chicago area. Its primary mission is to reduce recidivism among formerly incarcerated persons (FIPs) by supporting, through a full spectrum of services, their efforts to be employed, law-abiding members of the community. The organization has been working toward this goal for more than forty years and regularly reshapes and reimagines their programming in order to best serve the changing needs of the community. An multi-method process and outcome evaluation of the Safer Foundation was conducted to understand the extent to which the foundation is achieving desired outcomes as well as to collect and synthesize staff and client input in order to improve client services. Under the direction of Safer administrators, this evaluation was completed with a number of aims. We have identified three primary objectives and their expected outcomes. First, it was predicted that clients enrolled in services at the Safer Foundation will have significantly lower rates of recidivism than formerly incarcerated persons not enrolled in Safer services. Second, data collected from clients and staff will contribute to the understanding of the service model and how efficacy and efficiency can be improved. Finally, we predicted that time spent in Safer Foundation programming will correlate positively with scores on two measures of work self-efficacy. Details: Chicago: Loyola University Chicago, 2013. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2468&context=luc_theses Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2468&context=luc_theses Shelf Number: 129975 Keywords: Ex-Offender Employment (Chicago) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Safer Foundation

Author: Kenne, Deric R. Title: Examination of Thinking Error and the Responsivity Principle in a Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Offenders: Implications for Criminal Justice Policy Summary: The intent of criminal justice policy is to guide offender rehabilitation efforts to include the most effective and efficient programming, while reducing recidivism and maintaining public safety. Research over the past several years indicates that the use of cognitive-behavioral approaches to offender rehabilitation tend to have the greatest efficacy in terms of lowering recidivism rates. The focus of many cognitive-behavioral programs for offenders is the identification of and reduction of thinking errors. While cognitive-behavioral programs have been found to be more effective, why some offenders appear to be more responsive to cognitive-behavioral programming is less understood. The issue of responsivity has garnered much interest in recent years. Utilizing a longitudinal design, race and gender differences in terms of thinking error were analyzed for 527 offenders prior to and following involvement in a cognitive-behavioral intervention. Differences in the degree of change from pre to post intervention were also analyzed. Further, thinking error and the responsivity variables of race and gender were analyzed to assess their ability to predict unsuccessful completion in a community-based correctional facility for 926 offenders. Results indicate that important race and gender differences exist prior to and following participation in a cognitive-behavioral intervention. The responsivity to cognitive-behavioral interventions may be influenced by gender and race. As such, cognitive-behavioral programs may need to be revised to account for these differences and provide more effective intervention, thus further reducing recidivism rates. Results are discussed in terms of their importance to correctional rehabilitation efforts and criminal justice policy. Details: Akron, OH: University of Akron, 2010. 169p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:akron1289309592 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:akron1289309592 Shelf Number: 130000 Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Programs Community-Based Corrections (U.S.) Gender Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Gobeil, Renee Title: Offenders with Long Term Supervision Orders Assigned Residency Conditions at Release Summary: Why we did this study A very small number of offenders present a high risk of re-offence even after the end of their sentence. Legislation exists to allow for these offenders to be imposed a long term supervision order (LTSO), a period of additional community supervision of up to 10 years at the end of their sentence. In addition, many offenders with LTSOs are given a residency condition at release - that is, are required to live in a halfway house. In the last decade, the number of offenders with LTSOs has increased, as has the proportion who receive residency conditions. What we did We therefore conducted a study to better understand if and how residency conditions contribute to the management of the risk presented by offenders with LTSOs. We examined all offenders with LTSOs released to the community by August 2011. The 347 with a residency condition were compared to the 120 without one in areas such as demographics, risk and need, and both suspensions and returns to custody (that is, revocation of conditional release as well as breach of LTSO and other new offences). What we found In general, offenders with and without a residency condition were very similar. This was true for demographic characteristics, victim information patterns, and mental health. However, those assigned a residency condition were judged by their parole officers to present higher levels of risk and of need, though the two groups returned to custody (due to revocations of conditional release or breaches of LTSO and other new offences) at the same rates. After statistically controlling for differences in reintegration potential, offenders with LTSOs with a residency condition may be less likely to be suspended. Nonetheless, the overall pattern of findings suggests that residency conditions are not contributing to managing the risk presented by offenders with LTSOs. Notably, two factors which were peripheral to the offender - the region where release occurred and how recently the offender was released - were both also related to whether residency was imposed. What it means Findings suggest that decisions to impose residency conditions may not be sufficiently rooted in risk. From a correctional theory perspective, imposition of restrictive conditions should be based on sound principles and research, and there may be room for improvement in this area with respect to the imposition of residency conditions on offenders with LTSOs. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has undertaken relevant initiatives in this domain (specifically, education programs) that may lead to improvements if they are expanded. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-285: Accessed August 23, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0285-eng.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0285-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 133126 Keywords: Community Supervision High-Risk Offenders Housing Restrictions Offender Supervision (Canada) Parolees Recidivism Residency Restrictions

Author: Nolan, Amanda Title: Outcomes for Offender Employment Programs: Assessment of CORCAN Participation Summary: What it means While CORCAN participation supports offender reintegration by helping offenders obtain employment after release, results of this research also highlight the importance of assisting offenders in retaining their initial employment to help decrease their likelihood of reoffending. Findings further highlight the importance of community employment in reducing the likelihood of reoffending and readmission to federal custody. What we found - 61% of offenders employed with CORCAN were granted day parole, compared to 41% of offenders employed with Correctional Service Canada (CSC) institutional employment (excluding CORCAN), and 51% of offenders who were not employed in the institution. - Offenders employed with CORCAN were 1.09 times more likely than offenders employed in non-CORCAN institutional employment and 1.37 times more likely than offenders not institutionally employed to obtain a job in the community, even after controlling for important risk factors. - Community Employment Centre (CEC) participation, as well as vocational certification in addition to CORCAN employment were both found to contribute to an increased likelihood of obtaining a job in the community. - Involvement in CORCAN employment was not found to have a significant impact on the length of time that offenders retained their first job post-release. - There was no overall association between CORCAN participation and direct reductions in recidivism (any revocation or revocation with a new offence). - Offenders who were employed in the community, regardless of institutional employment participation, were almost three times less likely to be revoked with a new offence than those who were not employed. Why we did this study Approximately 60% of offenders in the CSC have employment needs identified at intake to federal custody. CORCAN is a key rehabilitation program that focuses on providing offenders with employment and employability skills training. Offenders who participate in CORCAN are afforded the opportunity to develop employment skills though vocational certification and on-the-job skills training during their incarceration. There is a need for CSC to examine the effect of CORCAN participation on key correctional results. What we did The current research compared the outcomes of three study groups: 1) offenders who participated in CORCAN employment, 2) offenders who participated in CSC institutional employment (employment that is not part of CORCAN and involves general work around the institution), and 3) offenders who had no employment assignment during their incarceration. Analyses examined: rates of institutional charges and admissions to segregation, time to and type of first conditional release, community job attainment and retention, and recidivism (any revocation and revocation with a new offence while on conditional release). Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-283: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0283-eng.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0283-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 133127 Keywords: Employment Programs Ex-Offender Employment (Canada) Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Stewart, Lynn A. Title: Outcomes of Federal Aboriginal Offenders in Correctional Programs: Follow-up from the ICPM Evaluation Summary: What it means Past research suggests that Aboriginal offenders benefit from participation in both Aboriginal-specific, and mainstream Correctional Service Canada (CSC) correctional programs. Further research on their response to the Integrated Correctional Program Model (ICPM)Footnote 1, found that Aboriginal offenders participating in the Aboriginal Integrated Correctional Program Model (AICPM) do as well as, or better than, participants in the Aboriginal Nationally Recognized Correctional Programs (NRCP). AICPM, however, demonstrates no improvement in efficiency over the Aboriginal-specific NRCP menu in assisting offenders in the timely completion of correctional programs identified on their correctional plans. Key outcomes related to sex offending, violent offending and domestic violence offending have yet to be examined. What we found When risk factors were controlled and region was held constant, returns to custody and returns with an offence did not differ between Aboriginal offenders participating in ICPM or AICPM and matched participants in NRCPs. When the time period during which the offenders attended programs was the same between study groups, controlling for multiple risk factors, Aboriginal offenders participating in AICPM were significantly less likely to return to custody and to return with an offence than Aboriginal offenders participating in the Aboriginal-specific NRCP menu. An analysis of program efficiencies found that time from admission to start of the first correctional program was significantly longer for AICPM than Aboriginal NRCP. Time to the completion of the last correctional program prior to release did not differ between the AICPM and Aboriginal NRCP groups. Why we did this study A prior evaluation of the ICPM pointed to a trend for poorer results for offenders in the AICPM group than those in the NRCP group. Further information on the efficacy and efficiency of ICPM and AICPM for Aboriginal offenders was requested in order to inform decisions regarding full implementation of the program. What we did The following analyses were conducted: - All research reporting on outcomes for Aboriginal offenders who participated in CSC correctional programs was reviewed and summarized; - Aboriginal offenders in the ICPM (n = 24) and AICPM (n = 70) were compared on correctional outcomes; - Using a longer-term follow-up period, 137 Aboriginal participants in the ICPM/AICPM were compared to their matched NRCP pairs; and - The recent population of Aboriginal offenders in AICPM (n = 163) were compared to the recent population of Aboriginal offenders in Aboriginal NRCP programs (n = 858) on correctional outcomes and program efficiencies. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-328: Accessed August 23, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0328-eng.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0328-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 133128 Keywords: Aboriginal Offenders (Canada) Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Seigle, Elizabeth Title: Core Principles for Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System Summary: This white paper is written to guide leaders across all branches of government; juvenile justice system administrators, managers, and front-line staff; and researchers, advocates, and other stakeholders on how to better leverage existing research and resources to facilitate system improvements that reduce recidivism and improve other outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The last two decades have produced remarkable changes in state and local juvenile justice systems. An overwhelming body of research has emerged, demonstrating that using secure facilities as a primary response to youth's delinquent behavior generally produces poor outcomes at high costs. Drawing on this evidence, the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative have provided the field with models for reform, research-based guidance, and technical assistance that has transformed many state and local juvenile justice systems. In part due to these efforts, between 1997 and 2011, youth confinement rates declined by almost 50 percent. During the same time period, arrests of juveniles for violent crimes also fell by approximately 50 percent, to their lowest level in over 30 years. The importance and value of these achievements can't be overstated. At the same time, these trends alone are not sufficient for policymakers to assess the effectiveness of their state and local governments' juvenile justice systems. They must also know whether youth diverted from confinement, as well as youth who return to their communities after confinement, have subsequent contact with the justice system. In addition to recidivism data, policymakers should have information about what services, supports, and opportunities young people under system supervision need, whether these needs are being met, and to what extent these young people are succeeding as a result. Yet policymakers often lack the information they need to determine whether youth who do come in contact with the system emerge from their experience better off, worse off, or unchanged, particularly in the long term. Twenty percent of state juvenile corrections agencies don�t track recidivism data for youth at all. Of the states that do track recidivism, the majority doesn�t consider the multiple ways a youth may have subsequent contact with the justice system, which range from rearrest, readjudication, or reincarceration within the juvenile justice system to offenses that involve them with the adult corrections system. For example, most states that track recidivism are unlikely to capture as youth recidivism data an event such as a 17-year-old released from a juvenile facility who is incarcerated in an adult facility as an 18-year-old. Additionally, the vast majority of states doesn't track whether youth who came into contact with the system ultimately stay in school, earn a degree, or find sustainable employment. To the extent that state and local governments are able to measure their juvenile justice systems' impact on rearrest, readjudication, and reincarceration rates, the results have been discouraging. It�s not uncommon for rearrest rates for youth returning from confinement to be as high as 75 percent within three years of release, and arrest rates for higher-risk youth placed on probation in the community are often not much better. While there have been promising advances in the field, few juvenile justice systems can point to significant and sustained progress in reducing these recidivism rates. Details: New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2014. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2014 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Core-Principles-for-Reducing-Recidivism-and-Improving-Other-Outcomes-for-Youth-in-the-Juvenile-Justice-System.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Core-Principles-for-Reducing-Recidivism-and-Improving-Other-Outcomes-for-Youth-in-the-Juvenile-Justice-System.pdf Shelf Number: 133140 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Justice Policies Juvenile Justice Reform Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: D'Amico, Ron Title: Evaluation of the Second Chance Act (SCA) Demonstration 2009 Grantees: Interim Report Summary: This report presents the results from an implementation study of 10 grantees awarded Second Chance Act (SCA) adult demonstration grants to improve reentry services for adult offenders. The implementation study was designed to learn how the 10 grantees operated their SCA projects. During site visits to each grantee lasting two to three days each, study team members interviewed program administrators, case managers, probation and parole officers (POs), fiscal and MIS staff members, and SCA service providers, asking questions about project management and service delivery. They also conducted focus groups with program participants, observed project services, and reviewed selected case files. These site visits largely took place in the spring and summer of 2012. The grantees included state departments of corrections, county sheriff's offices, county health agencies, and other public agencies. Each SCA project targeted medium to high-risk adult offenders and enrolled participants, variously, well before release, just before release, or just after release. Case management, involving needs-based service planning and service coordination, was the focal point of project services across all 10 sites. Depending on the site, case managers were (specialized) POs or employees of municipal departments or nonprofit organizations. Other SCA services included education and training, employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, cognitive behavioral therapy, pro-social services, housing assistance, and other supportive services. These services were provided either directly by the case managers, through formal agreements with service providers (often including payment for services rendered), or through unfunded informal referrals to community agencies. The direct service model provided tailored services to participants, but required case managers to have specialized expertise and, for this reason, was used sparingly. The formal partnership model ensured priority access to services that participants needed but was costly. The informal partnership model provided participants with access to a wide array of community services but often without close coordination with the SCA project itself. Each grantee used all three of these service delivery models. The grantees faced numerous challenges in developing strong projects, stemming partly from the intrinsic difficulty in serving offenders and partly due to the challenge of designing and implementing evidence-based reentry programming. These challenges included: - needing substantial ramp-up time to operate smoothly, - needing to train case managers (especially those without a social service background) on needs-based service planning, and - coordinating partner services. The SCA projects that overcame these challenges created strong foundations for sustainable systems change. They: - gained considerable experience in needs-based service planning and in coordinating pre-release and post-release services, - strengthened partnerships between various government and community-based agencies, and - came to embrace a rehabilitative philosophy to reentry that, in some cases, represented an important cultural shift. An impact study that uses a random assignment design is separately underway, and results from it will be provided in a separate report. Details: Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates, 2013. 113p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243294.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243294.pdf Shelf Number: 129915 Keywords: Case Management Parolees Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Probationers Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Grommon, Eric Title: Understanding the Challenges Facing Offenders Upon Their Return to the Community: Final Report Summary: One of the greatest contemporary challenges for public policy is in the reintegration of offenders released from prison back into local communities. There are well over a million individuals currently incarcerated in state and federal prisons in the United States. Only 7% of prisoners are serving death or life sentences and only a small fraction of inmates die in prison, thus 93% of these individuals will be returning home. About 650,000 individuals are released from prison each year or approximately 160 per day. Perhaps even more dramatic is the fact that the current average length of prison sentence is only 2.4 years and, given that, 44% of state prisoners will be released within a year (Petersilia, 2003). In Michigan, more than 100,000 individuals are released from prison each year; 85% of whom are released under parole supervision. Further exacerbating this situation is the fact that the rate of successful returns of offenders to the community is declining. There are an increasing number of individuals sent to prison as a result of parole violations. Parole violators now account for about a third of all prison admissions (Travis, 2000). Furthermore, the rate of "failure" among released individuals is increasing. In 1984, 70% of those discharged from parole were deemed to be "successful." By 1996, less than half were determined to be successfully discharged (Petersilia, 2000). Similarly, Hughes and Wilson (2003) noted that of state parole discharges in 2000, less than half successfully completed their term of supervision. In Michigan, there is a similar situation with approximately 48% of offenders being returned to prison within a two year period. With recognition of these trends and an increased understanding of the dynamics of prisoner reentry, there has been a growing movement to better prepare offenders for the situations they will face upon returning to their communities (Nelson & Trone, 2000; Travis, 2000). Currently, almost every state and federal correctional system has some form of reentry programming designed to facilitate the prisoner's transition back to society. Reentry efforts have sought to create a more systematic preparation of offenders for their return home by addressing the critical areas that research has demonstrated are related to successful community reintegration. Among these critical areas are housing, employment, substance abuse, and family (social support) (LaVigne & Cowan, 2005). Documented reentry efforts have created extensive research on recidivism and its correlates. However, there has been relatively little research on the dynamics of the adjustment process inmates experience when they are released from prison (Petersilia, 2000, 2003; Visher & Travis, 2003). Many studies have found correlations between recidivism and factors such as finding and maintaining employment, locating stable housing, reuniting with children, family and significant social support networks and continuity of substance abuse treatment (if needed). However, there has been little research that explores the manner in which offenders personally deal with the challenges presented in each of these critical areas of reentry. To address this gap in the literature, this study involved a qualitative examination of the challenges offenders face as they make the transition from prison back to the community. The principal objective of this research was to increase our understanding of the reentry process from the perspective of offenders as they confront these challenges during their first year on parole after release from prison. It was envisioned that information from this research could produce a more comprehensive understanding of the reentry process which in turn may enable correctional agencies to better assist offenders in their adjustment to life outside of prison. Increasing this positive adjustment may produce lower recidivism rates. When recidivism rates are high, scarce economic resources that are needed elsewhere are often spent on corrections. In the United States is costs about $25,000 per year to incarcerate one person, and the total amount spent on corrections has risen to more than $50 billion annually (Petersilia, 2003; Stephan, 2004). In addition, imprisonment negatively impacts many families. More than half of all male inmates are fathers of minor children, while two-thirds of female inmates are mothers (Mumola, 2000; Petersilia, 2000). Thus obtaining a better understanding the dynamics of successful as well as unsuccessful reentry outcomes has considerable potential for creating interventions to improve these programs and reduce correctional expenditures. Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan Justice Statistics Center, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 2012. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2014 at: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/MI-SAC_Reports_Reentry-Interview-Tech-Report_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/MI-SAC_Reports_Reentry-Interview-Tech-Report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 133162 Keywords: Parole Supervision Parole Violations Parolees Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Rydberg, Jason Title: Risk of Recidivism Facing Offenders upon their Return to the Community Summary: The reintegration of released prisoners into the community and their subsequent correctional supervision remains a premier challenge for public policy and criminological research. During 2011 there were nearly 1.6 million men and women under the authority of state and federal correctional facilities in the United States (Carson & Sabol, 2012). With this staggering number of individuals incarcerated comes an equally sizable number of men and women released into the jurisdiction of community supervision authorities. During 2011 almost 700,000 individuals were released from prison, and for the third year in a row there were more releases from prison than there were admissions (Carson & Sabol, 2012). This amounts to nearly 1,900 men and women released into the community each day during the year 2011. The vast majority of these releases are in the form of a supervised release on parole. In 2011 545,800 men and women were released from correctional facilities and placed on parole supervision in the community, comprising 80 percent of all prison releases (Carson & Sabol, 2012; Maruschack & Parks, 2012). The state of Michigan is no exception to these figures. During 2011 there were 42,904 individuals incarcerated in its state prisons, with approximately 10,000 new admissions and 14,000 releases, 82 percent of which were conditional releases to parole (Carson & Sabol, 2012; Michigan Department of Corrections [MDOC], 2012). Releases to parole supervision are not uniformly successful, with a sizable proportion of those who are released from prison returning before the completion of their supervision term. Since the mid-1980s the number of parolees completing their supervision term and subsequently being discharged has decreased substantially, from 70 percent in 1984 to 52 percent in 2011 (Maruschack & Parks, 2012; Petersilia, 2000). During the past decade (2000-2011) parole violators comprised approximately one-third of all admissions to prison, including more than 200,000 men and women during 2011 (Carson & Sabol, 2012). That is, nearly a third of those individuals entering prison had violated the terms of their supervision (i.e., a technical violation) or committed a new crime while on parole, and was subsequently returned to incarceration. In Michigan approximately one-quarter (25.9%) of prison admissions in 2011 were parole violators (Carson & Sabol, 2012; Petersilia, 2000), and 3,418 parolees out of 18,134 total (18.8%) were returned to prison for either a technical violation or a new offense (MDOC, 2012). Approximately one half of the returns to prison in any given year are the result of technical violations (MDOC, 2012), which is a trend Michigan shares with other U.S. states (Pew Center on the States, 2011). When considering longer time periods, parolee returns to prison appear somewhat larger. Figure 1 displays trends in the three year return to prison rate for Michigan parolees. Of the prisoners released to the community on parole in 2008, 31.5 percent were returned to prison within three years. The three-year rate of returns to prison was largely stable between 2001 and 2005, but has decreased since then. Despite three consecutive years of decreases, recidivism among parolees remains uncomfortably high. Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan Justice Statistics Center, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 2013. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2014 at: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/MI-SAC_Reports_2013-SAC-Recid-Risk-Technical-Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://cj.msu.edu/assets/MI-SAC_Reports_2013-SAC-Recid-Risk-Technical-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 133163 Keywords: Parole Supervision Parole Violations Parolees Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Desmarais, Sarah L. Title: Risk Assessment Instruments Validated and Implemented in Correctional Settings in the United States Summary: The rates of crime, incarceration and correctional supervision are disproportionately high in the U.S. and translate into exorbitant costs to individuals, the public and the state. Though many offenders recidivate, a considerable proportion do not. Thus, there is a need to identify those offenders at greater risk of recidivism and to allocate resources and target risk management and rehabilitation efforts accordingly. Doing so necessitates accurate and reliable assessments of recidivism risk. There is overwhelming evidence to suggest that assessments of risk completed using structured approaches produce estimates that are both more accurate and more consistent across assessors compared to subjective or unstructured approaches. More and more, structured risk assessment approaches are being used in correctional agencies. In this review, we summarize the research conducted in the United States examining the performance of instruments designed to assess risk of recidivism, including committing a new crime and violating of conditions of supervision, among adult offenders. We focus specifically on performance of tools validated and currently used in correctional settings in the United States. Details: Lexington, KY: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2013. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2014 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Risk-Assessment-Instruments-Validated-and-Implemented-in-Correctional-Settings-in-the-United-States.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Risk-Assessment-Instruments-Validated-and-Implemented-in-Correctional-Settings-in-the-United-States.pdf Shelf Number: 133177 Keywords: Corrections Prisoners Recidivism Risk Assessment (U.S.)

Author: Sohoni, Tracy Title: The Effect of Collateral Consequence Laws on State Rates of Returns to Prison Summary: Formal restrictions on a person following arrest or conviction are referred to as "collateral consequence laws" and exist in all states in the US. In recent years, scholars, policy makers and advocacy groups have expressed concern that many of these laws hinder reintegration, increasing the likelihood of future crime. In addition, these laws may interfere with the ability of former offenders to meet conditions of release following incarceration, such as maintaining stable employment and housing or paying child support. In this dissertation I examine the effect of states' collateral consequence laws in the categories of voting, access to public records, employment, public housing, public assistance, and driver's licenses. I examine the impact of these laws on state rates of returns to prison, as measured by percent of prison admissions that were people on conditional release when they entered prison, the percent of exits from parole that were considered unsuccessful due returning to incarceration; the percent of exits from parole that were returned to incarceration for a new sentence, and the percent of exits from parole that were returned to incarceration for a technical violation. I also run an additional fixed effects analysis on the effect of restrictions on Temporary Assistance for Needy Children (TANF) over a seven year period. Ultimately, limitations in the data restrict the conclusions that can be drawn regarding the impact of these laws. Results from the analysis are mixed, indicating that these laws may not have a uniform impact. Surprisingly, these analyses give some indication that collateral consequences may be related to lower rates of returns to prison for technical violations, however future research is needed to confirm this relationship. Possible explanations for these relationships are discussed, as are future research possibilities that would address limitations in the data. Data from the fixed-effects analysis does indicate preliminary support that states that imposed harsh restrictions on TANF saw an increase in state rates of returns to prison, however the analysis will need to be expanded to include state-level controls in order to draw any firm conclusions. Details: College Park, MD: University of Maryland, College Park, 2013. 181p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 11, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/247569.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/247569.pdf Shelf Number: 133277 Keywords: Collateral Consequence Laws (U.S.) Ex-Offender Employment Housing Parolees Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council Title: Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council Re-Entry Policy Study Commission Report Summary: The statistics spoke loudly: data from the Indiana Department of Correction and the Marion County Jail indicate that approximately 5,000 men and women are released into Marion County from prisons and jails each year. During the last few years, approximately 51% of those released into Marion County have returned to incarceration within three years of their release date. The average annual cost for an incarcerated offender is more than $25,000. Reducing the rate of recidivism would have significant economic and public safety benefits in addition to increasing the number of productive members of our community. In response, the City-County Council decided to take action to address issues that we found. In partnership with our public safety partners, members of the Marion County Re-entry Coalition, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations, the Council's Re-Entry Policy Study Commission began its work to examine, on a local level, the number of men and women incarcerated, the number released and the number who recidivate, costs associated with offenders as they move through the prison system and to develop policies to address concerns about our county's high recidivism rate as identified by local business, policy groups, community organizations and social service agencies . These numbers, coupled with the costs to local government, challenge the Council's ability to adequately fund and address concerns raised by our public safety partners, county residents, and to realize the successful outcomes of those re-entering our community from incarceration. The Re-entry Policy Study Commission was created and amended by Council Resolutions 80, 2012 and 90, 2012, respectively. Under the authority of the Council, its purpose is to examine and investigate current policies and procedures relating to the re-entry of ex-offenders and the economic and community impact of reducing recidivism in Marion County. From November, 2012 through April of 2013, the Commission held 10 public hearings, received presentations from subject matter experts and testimony from members of the public. The information provided was both informative and enlightening to members and the public, and central to the content of this Commission Report, which includes findings and recommendations for policy improvements regarding re-entry. The powers and duties as prescribed by the enacting Council resolutions required the Commission to: 1. Review current practices surrounding offender sentencing, incarceration, release and re-integration into the county, 2. Review sentencing practices/guidelines and their role in supporting or crippling successful re-integration, 3. Review costs associated with the processing, prosecution, incarceration, release, probation, and community supervision of the offender, and determine how the funds are utilized and their efficiency and effectiveness as measured by the successful re-integration of the re-entrant population, 4. Review sources of payment of these costs and how they are utilized, 5. Create community goals/targets for successful re-integration of re-entrants into the community and study the potential impact on the city's economic development, 6. Review national best practices for successful re-integration, including use of public funds utilized in the process of prosecution, sentencing, incarceration, and release of offenders, 7. Review the service provider entities which have been most successful in lowering recidivism rates and recommending means of streamlining and possibly eliminating those which have not, 8. Analyze economic cost/benefit to the city and county of incorporating any new policies, 9. Review current barriers to re-entrant employment, housing, and other necessities, 10. Review best practices to encourage more private sector employers to review their hiring and screening policies and provide more non-discriminatory hiring opportunities, 11. Review and analyze our current supportive services (housing, workforce development, etc.) and ways to improve their role in successful re-integration; and 12. Establish a periodic review of the county's recidivism rate and create a method of measuring and tracking successful performance and re-integration of the re-entrants. Details: Indianapolis: The Council, 2013. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2014 at: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Committees/Documents/RE-ENTRY/Re-entry%20Policy%20Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.indy.gov/eGov/Council/Committees/Documents/RE-ENTRY/Re-entry%20Policy%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 129921 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration Recidivism

Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: Re-offending on Parole Summary: Aim: To measure the rate of re-offending on parole and identify the predictors of both general and violent offending on parole. To describe the types of offences committed on parole. Method: The analysis was based on 9,604 offenders released on parole in 2010 or 2011. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify demographic and criminal history characteristics independently associated with re-offending or re-imprisonment while on parole. Results: Just under 61 per cent (60.8%) of parolees neither re-offended nor were re-imprisoned during their parole period. About twenty-eight per cent (28.4%) of the sample re-offended on parole. A further 10.8 per cent were re-imprisoned on parole without having first re-offended. Approximately 7 per cent (7.1%) of the sample committed a violent offence on parole. Parolees were more likely to offend on parole if they were male; Indigenous; young; had spent less than 180 days in prison (during the current episode); had a higher Level of Service Inventory - Revised score had a non drug offence as their principal offence; had six or more prior court appearances, had been imprisoned before; or had a prior conviction for drug use and/or possession. The correlates of violent re-offending on parole were very similar but also included prior conviction for a serious violent offence. Those who re-offended on parole committed a broad spectrum of offences, including: break and enter, assault, possess illicit drugs, receive/handle proceeds of crime, drive while licence disqualified, breach apprehended violence order and property damage. Conclusion: Offending on parole is less common than previous studies have suggested. Future research should focus on three issues: whether it is possible to improve the accuracy of the parole risk assessment process; whether post release supervision/support reduces the risk of re-offending following release from prison; and whether offenders released to parole are less likely to re-offend if released to parole by the State Parole Authority than if released on parole by a court. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2014. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 178: Accessed September 17, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l2/cjb178.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l2/cjb178.pdf Shelf Number: 133330 Keywords: Parole Revocation Parolees (Australia) Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment

Author: Burgess, Cheryl Title: Women in Focus: An Evaluation Summary: Women in Focus was introduced in South West Scotland as a partnership between Criminal Justice Social Work Services and Barnardo's, aimed at supporting women on court orders to complete these orders and to avoid custody through breach. Support workers from Barnardo's were located in criminal justice social work offices, and using a mentoring-style approach, Women in Focus provided support for women to meet the requirements of court orders and to access community resources aimed at supporting them in the longer-term. The development and operation of Women in Focus resulted from the concerns that many practitioners, policy-makers and others have expressed in relation to the increasing imprisonment of women in Scotland (and internationally). The report sets out the mentoring approach introduced and examines issues arising from the implementation and operation of the service. The report also attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of the service in terms of increased community re/integration and reductions in breach and reoffending. However, innovative attempts, while making a significant difference to the individual women who are able to access them, are introduced and required to operate within, a wider social, political and economic context that can influence how services operate (i.e. short-term funding imposes its own constraints) and how 'effective' these innovative services can be seen to be. Details: Stirling: Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2011. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2014 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Women_in_Focus_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Women_in_Focus_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 133389 Keywords: Community Services Female Offenders (Scotland) Mentoring Offender Rehabilitation Offender Treatment Recidivism

Author: Easton, Helen Title: Evaluation of the 218 Service: Examining Implementation and Outcomes Summary: 1.1. The 218 Service opened in Glasgow in December 2003 in response to growing concerns about the needs and treatment of women offenders in the criminal justice system. Since this time, the service has provided holistic, women centred support for adult women offenders through a partnership between Turning Point Scotland (TPS) and Glasgow Addiction Service (GAS). This report presents a summary of the findings of a second evaluation of the service and provides an estimate of key outcomes for women offenders and the cost benefits of the service. Main Findings 1.2. The 218 Service has continued to evolve and remains a highly regarded, holistic, 'person centred' residential and day service for adult women offenders. The maximum period of engagement permitted has changed to six months for the Residential Service and 12 months for the Day Service. The programme has also been updated to focus on offending behaviour and to incorporate a recovery focussed model of change (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1982) which provides increased flexibility, improved measurement of change, and has potential to increase levels of engagement. 1.3. Police-recorded offending reduced by 21% following contact with the service among the cohort of 320 women referred to the service between 1 June 2007 and 31 May 2008. Among women engaging with the service beyond their assessment overall offending reduced by 31% and dishonesty offences by 44%. 1.4. A conservative estimate of the cost benefit established that for every $1 invested in the service there was a potential saving of $2.50 per year. Further savings are likely if longer term impacts such as the impact on women offenders' children are taken into consideration. 1.5. Most referrals to the service are made by the courts (43%) or Criminal Justice Social Work (CJSW)(16%) and are aged 25-39 years (66%). From 2007 to 2009 there was a reduction in referrals of women aged 20-34 (71% of referrals reducing to 57%) and an increase in referrals of women aged 35-44 years (21% increasing to 33%). CJSW referrals had declined slightly from 19% to 16% of the total over the same period. 1.6. The number of assessments increased slightly from 198 in 2007 to 214 in 2009. A total of 439 women were assessed 630 times by the service. Multiple assessments accounted for half (51%) of all assessments compared to two thirds (67%) of referrals. 1.7. Over half (54%) of all referrals were assessed. Referrals from the Drug Court, Social Work, CJSW, and Community Addiction Teams were more likely to be assessed than referrals from other sources. 1.8. The combination of decreasing numbers of referrals, increasing numbers of assessments and lower numbers of multiple assessments than referrals could suggest an improvement in the quality of referrals made to the service. 1.9. Over half (52%) of the women offenders assessed engaged with the service. Those aged between 25-39 years and referred by CJSW, the Sheriff Court, CATs, Social Work and the Drugs Court were more likely to engage. Details: Glasgow: Scottish Government Social Research, 2010. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2014 at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=9497&p=0 Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=9497&p=0 Shelf Number: 133390 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Services Female Offenders (Scotland) Offender Reintegration Offenders Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Rickey, Benedict Title: Unlocking Offending Data: How access to offending data could help charities improve outcomes for offenders Summary: Oak Foundation often asks charities to demonstrate the lasting change they have brought about in people's lives. Their impact might be helping someone who has been sleeping rough to secure stable housing, or supporting someone to give up a life of crime. Unfortunately, charities often struggle to capture and demonstrate this type of impact. As a funder, we often feel that charities are doing a good job, but lack the hard data to prove it. NPC is seeking to change this. In this report, NPC finds that providing better access to offending data through a 'Justice Data Lab' would have huge benefits. The government's recent introduction of payment by results contracts means charities are under renewed pressure to prove their impact on things like reoffending. But the lab would not just be about payment by results - it would have three other major benefits for charities: It would help charities to prove their impact on reoffending, by showing how their users' offending behaviour changes over time, and assessing whether reductions in offending were due to the charity's support; It would help charities to improve their impact, for instance by identifying groups that continue to reoffend in spite of support, and may need more attention; and It would help charities to identify what works, by analysing the impact different services have on offending to identify which is most effective at reducing reoffending. In an era where government cuts to services are commonplace, the potential benefits of knowing what works are significant. If the Justice Data Lab proves a success, the concept could be adopted by other government departments in the UK and abroad. This could mean providing access to data in areas such as drug use, mental health, and housing, where there is a real need to improve our knowledge of what works. Establishing a Justice Data Lab will be complex and certainly will not happen overnight. However, we are heartened by the commitment of the Ministry of Justice and the contributions of the charities that have been involved so far. We also appreciate the tenacity of NPC in supporting the Ministry of Justice to take this challenging work forward. We are optimistic that the Justice Data Lab can be turned from concept into reality, bringing us one step nearer to the long term transformation in data sharing and improving services that we all want to see.. Details: London: New Philanthropy Capital, 2012. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2014 at: http://www.oakfnd.org/secure/sites/default/files/Unlocking-offending-data-FINAL.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.oakfnd.org/secure/sites/default/files/Unlocking-offending-data-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 133403 Keywords: Charitable Foundations Ex-Offenders Homelessness (U.K.) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Menendez, Patricia Title: The effect of suspended sentences on imprisonment Summary: Aim: To see whether the introduction of suspended sentences reduced the number of offenders receiving a fulltime sentence of imprisonment Method: The number of persons receiving a prison sentence was regressed against the number receiving a suspended sentence while controlling for changes in the total number of proven offenders and the monthly variability using multiple linear regression with ARIMA errors. The data set used for the analysis consisted of the monthly number of persons imprisoned, persons given a suspended sentence and proven offenders from January 2002 to December 2013. Results: Every 10 additional offenders given suspended sentences was associated with an extra 3-4 offenders sent to prison. Conclusion: Although suspended sentences were introduced as an alternative to prison, they appear to have had the opposite effect. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2014. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 97: Accessed September 25, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb97.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb97.pdf Shelf Number: 133422 Keywords: Alternatives to Imprisonment Courts Probation Recidivism Sentencing Suspended Sentences (Australia)

Author: Rabey, Sarah Title: Outcome Evaluation of the Moderate Intensity Family Violence Prevention Program (MIFVPP) Summary: Diversion of abuse is essential in the protection of domestic abuse and assault victims. The Moderate Intensity Family Violence Prevention Program (MIFVPP) is a prison based intervention aimed at reducing subsequent violent behavior of inmates. The purpose of this evaluation is to examine the extent to which participation in MIFVPP is associated with lower rates of subsequent violent assault convictions. The data consists of offenders who exited prison or work release supervision by way of parole or sentence expiration from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Offenders who successfully completed MIFVPP and closed supervision were included in the program participant group while offenders with a prior domestic abuse conviction who closed supervision during the timeframe and did not receive MIFVPP, were included in the comparison group. Eligibility for program participation is determined by court order and/or correctional staff discretion based on prior convictions, disclosure of domestic abuse behavior, and offender attitudes reflecting a desire to reduce abusive behavior. Staff discretion influences program placement and explains why not all inmates with domestic abuse convictions receive MIFVPP. Offenders were grouped in cohorts by the year in which they completed supervision. The data set drawn from the Justice Data Warehouse (JDW) consisted of 871 inmates, including 532 program participants and 339 non‐program participants. Recidivism was tracked from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012 and defined as any new violent assault conviction (simple misdemeanor or greater) following an offender's supervision status end date. Recidivism was tracked one, two, and three years following prison exit. The summary of findings is below.  MIFVPP participants released on 2009 and 2011 had lower one‐year recidivism rates than the comparison group. o Recidivism rates for the 2011 MIFVPP participants were significantly lower than the comparison group (4.7% vs. 11.6%). o Recidivism rates for the 2009 MIFVPP participants were slightly lower than the comparison group but failed to reach statistical significance (2.3% vs. 3.7%).  The 2009 MIFVPP participants had significantly higher recidivism rates than the comparison group at two‐year recidivism (34.3% vs. 17.2%) and three‐year recidivism (43.4% vs. 22.4%).  The length of time between intervention completion and supervision closure did not influence recidivism for MIFVPP participants.  MIFVPP participants who were African American had significantly higher two‐year recidivism rates than the African American comparison group (26.2% vs. 13.2%). However, MIFVPP participants who were Caucasian and African American had similar rates of recidivism.  MIFVPP participants with the lowest two‐year rates of recidivism were between the ages of 30‐39 (25.0%) and over 50 (10.5%). Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Statistical Analysis Center, 2013. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2014 at: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/MIFVPP_Report_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/MIFVPP_Report_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 133589 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence (Iowa) Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism Violence Prevention

Author: Wen, Hefei Title: The Effect of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Use on Crime: Evidence from Public Insurance Expansions and Health Insurance Parity Mandates Summary: We examine the effect of increasing the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment rate on reducing violent and property crime rates, based on county-level panels of SUD treatment and crime data between 2001 and 2008 across the United States. To address the potential endogeneity of the SUD treatment rate with respect to crime rate, we exploit the exogenous variation in the SUD treatment rate induced by two state-level policies, namely insurance expansions under the Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability (HIFA) waivers and parity mandates for SUD treatment. Once we address the endogeneity issue, we are able to demonstrate an economically meaningful reduction in the rates of robbery, aggravated assault and larceny theft attributable to an increased SUD treatment rate. A back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that a 10 percent relative increase in the SUD treatment rate at an average cost of $1.6 billion yields a crime reduction benefit of $2.5 billion to $4.8 billion. Our findings suggest that expanding insurance coverage and benefits for SUD treatment is an effective policy lever to improve treatment use, and the improved SUD treatment use can effectively and cost-effectively promote public safety through crime reduction. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series: Working Paper 20537: Accessed October 6, 2014 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2505843 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2505843 Shelf Number: 134228 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addition Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment Drug Offenders (U.S.) Property Crimes Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment Violent Crimes

Author: Doherty, Sherri Title: An Examination of the Effectiveness of the National Substance Abuse Program Moderate Intensity (NSAP-M) on Institutional Adjustment and Post-Release Outcomes Summary: What it means The findings suggest that the National Substance Abuse Program - Moderate Intensity (NSAP-M) reduced the risks associated with substance use and criminality. The offenders with partial exposure to the program showed the poorest outcomes with respect to return to custody. The results also demonstrate the value of participating in community maintenance even with limited exposure to NSAP-M. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of offenders participated in community aftercare. What we found The occurrence of institutional misconduct was not significantly reduced by NSAP-M participation. Offenders who fully completed NSAP-M were as likely to engage in serious institutional misconduct as offenders who failed to complete all sessions of the program or offenders who had been assigned to NSAP-M but who had not enrolled in the program. Offenders who completed NSAP-M were less likely to be readmitted to prison during the 24-month follow-up period. In fact, offenders who partially completed were 25% more likely to return to prison compared to those who completed NSAP-M. The Not Enrolled group did not differ from program completers in likelihood of returning to custody. At the end of the 2 year follow-up period, 52% of both the Complete and Not Enrolled groups remained in the community, compared to 39% of the Incomplete group. When participation in the National Maintenance Substance Abuse Program delivered in the community and release type were considered, the association between NSAP-M and return to custody was no longer significant, suggesting that release type and community aftercare may be key variables in the pathway between program exposure and returning to custody. Overall, offenders who did not participate in community aftercare were 41% more likely to return to custody than those who had some exposure to the program; offenders who were released on a non-discretionary basis were 53% more likely to return to custody. Why we did this study Ensuring the safety and security of staff and offenders within the institution environment and the safe reintegration offenders into the community are key priorities of Correctional Service Canada (CSC). Correctional interventions can help address offender behavior associated with criminal activity. Given that 80% of the federal offender population has a substance use problem, it is imperative that effective substance abuse interventions are available to these offenders. The current study examined the effectiveness of NSAP-M in addressing the needs of federally incarcerated male offenders who have an identified substance abuse problem. What we did The study examined the effect of NSAP-M on institutional misconduct and return to custody. The study sample consisted of 8,121 male offenders who had accessed NSAP-M between June 2004 and December 2009. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-290: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0291-eng.shtml Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0291-eng.shtml Shelf Number: 133639 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Abuse and Addiction (Canada) Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Abuse Treatment (Canada) Drug Offenders Prisoner Aftercare Prisoner Misconduct Prisoner Reentry Prisons Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Kilmer, Beau Title: Does San Francisco's Community Justice Center Reduce Criminal Recidivism? Summary: In 2009, San Francisco opened a community court, the Community Justice Center (CJC), to serve the Tenderloin and adjacent neighborhoods, a traditionally high-crime area. Community courts are expressly oriented toward improving outcomes for offenders by addressing factors often linked to criminal behavior (by incorporating access to treatment and services within the criminal case management process); they also emphasize ties to a specific neighborhood. This report examines whether the CJC reduces the risk of rearrest when compared to more traditional approaches for addressing arrestees. Using a differences-in-differences (DD) design that exploits temporal and geographic variation in CJC eligibility, a RAND research team examined one-year rearrest rates among those arrested for eligible offenses within the four police districts that include a part of the CJC catchment area, including offenses inside and outside the catchment area both before and after the CJC opened. After controlling for a number of arrestee-level factors (including criminal history), as well as month- and police district-level fixed effects, the DD estimator from our preferred models ranges from -8.2 to -7.1 percentage points, which corresponds to an 8.9 percent to 10.3 percent reduction in the probability of being rearrested within one year. These findings support the hypothesis that the CJC reduces criminal recidivism and are robust to a number of sensitivity analyses. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2014 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR700/RR735/RAND_RR735.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR700/RR735/RAND_RR735.pdf Shelf Number: 133648 Keywords: Alternatives to Corrections Community Courts (U.S.) Community Justice Centers Recidivism

Author: Hudson, Kirsty Title: Evaluation of the 'Going Straight Contract' Pilot Project. Final Report Summary: The Going Straight Contract was first mentioned in the Social Exclusion Unit's report - Reducing Re Offending by Ex-Prisoners (2002:7). In line with recent developments in the management of offenders (NOMS 2005), the report stipulated that prisoners who engaged with the Going Straight Project should be given the opportunity to obtain direct access to services to address their needs both in and out of custody, as well as being offered continued contact with project staff after release. In response to the Social Exclusion Unit's recommendations, the Home Office produced the 'Reducing Re-Offending National Action Plan' (July 2004) setting out a clear plan for delivery, including action points for implementation of a 'Going Straight' Pilot Project. A sub-regional GSC Pilot Project was thus developed by South West Integration (SWing), in partnership with the Home Office and Her Majesties Prison and Young Offender Institution Guys Marsh (HMP & YOI Guys Marsh), in an attempt to utilise and test this 'end to end' resettlement strategy. This report presents an evaluation of the Going Straight Contract, in which a total of 168 prisoners took part. Structure of the report The report is structured as follows. The remainder of this chapter provides a descriptive overview of the organisational structure of the GSC and the arrangements that surrounded its implementation within HMP & YOI Guys Marsh. It also sets out the methodology used to evaluate the pilot project. Chapter 2 presents findings that relate to how successfully the GSC was integrated within the prison as a whole. First, attention is paid to attempts to integrate the ideals surrounding the Going Straight Contract across the prison as a whole, through changes in the induction process and the use of motivational training, and then ways in which the Pilot Project itself was integrated into the prison, for example, through the incorporation of the personal Officer Scheme. Chapter 3 then presents a profile of the type of prisoners who engaged with the GSC Pilot Project. Details presented include their age and ethnicity, offending behaviour, initial CRIME-PICS II assessment scores, and their problems and needs, as measured by the South West - Offender Management Record (SWOMR - these research tools will be discussed in more detail later in this chapter). Chapter 4 looks at the role of offender management as tasked by the project's Intensive Support Worker (ISW). This chapter also explores how successful the ISW was at linking up with other agencies working in the area of resettlement both in custody and in the community. In doing so it provides further evidence of how well the Project was integrated within the rest of the prison and within the local community. Unlike in chapter two, particular attention will be on the different agencies working relations with the pilot and their perceived advantages of the pilot for offenders. Chapter 5, by an analysis of interviews with prisoners , then focuses on the offenders' views of the pilot as a whole. Chapter 6 presents findings relating to the impact and outcomes of the pilot. This includes levels of continuity of service (as already discussed in chapter 4), as well as changes in crime related attitudes and self assessed problems as measured by the CRIME-PICS II instrument, and changes in employment and accommodation status following intervention by the GSC Pilot Project, as measured by the SW-OMR. Finally, chapter 7 draws together the main research findings from the study and offers some broad conclusions. It also provides recommendations in relation to the future delivery of the national offender management model (NOMM) that could eventually be absorbed (without major upheaval) into the NOMS system. Details: Cardiff: Cardiff University, 2007. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 17, 2014 at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/resources/GSC.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/resources/GSC.pdf Shelf Number: 133736 Keywords: Offender Management (U.K.) Offender Treatment Prisoner Reentry Probation Supervision Probationers Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: Florida TaxWatch Title: Inmate Reentry in Florida: The Impact of Reentry Programs on Florida's Recidivism Rate Summary: The corrections system in the United States is based on the understanding that when an individual is convicted of a crime, they must complete a specific punishment, adjudicated by a competent court, and upon the completion of that punishment, they are released back into the community. The assumption made by our system of justice is that when an inmate is released from prison, they will successfully reenter society. The statistics, however, refute this assumption. Among those admitted to prison in Florida in 2010 and 2011, the overwhelming majority (81 percent) of Florida's inmates serve less than five years, and only nine percent faced sentences of 10 years or more, meaning that 91 percent of criminals admitted into prison in 2010 and 2011 have already been released, or will be released within the next seven years. Current statistics show that there is a 27.6 percent chance that a released inmate will return to prison (known as "recidivating" or "recidivism") within three years of release, irrespective of the crime that initially landed them in prison. Additionally, nearly fifty percent of new admissions to prison will have previously served time. Given the volume of inmates released each year, the state must pay close attention to the transition of those inmates back into society, and this transition has become a major focus of criminal justice reform efforts in the past several years. To address this need, "reentry" programs, which help inmates develop the tools that will be necessary to assimilate back into society, are on the rise across the nation. In Florida today, there are a variety of reentry programs which provide helpful services such as substance abuse treatment, vocational/educational training, faith and character-based training, and assistance obtaining documentation necessary for post-release employment. Details: Tallahassee: Florida TaxWatch, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/Reentry2013FINAL.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/Reentry2013FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 133744 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry (Florida) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Frakes, Michael D. Title: The Effect of Statutory Rape Laws on Teen Birth Rates Summary: Statutory rape laws have sometimes been premised on the goal of reducing teenage pregnancies and live births by teenage mothers. In this paper, we explore whether expansions in such laws are indeed associated with reductions in these outcomes. In order to codify these expansions, we use a national micro-level sample of sexual encounters to simulate the degree to which such encounters generally implicate the relevant laws. This simulation approach facilitates the comparability across jurisdictions of reforms to these multi-faceted legal structures. Our results suggest that live birth rates to teenage mothers may fall by roughly 11 percent upon an increase from 0 to 100 percent in the degree to which sexual activity among a given age group triggers a felony for the elder party to the encounter. We do not find strong results, however, suggesting a further decline upon an increase in the severity of punishment associated with given violations. Details: Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 2013. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Cornell Legal Studies Research Paper No. 13-89 : Accessed October 22, 2014 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2275636 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2275636 Shelf Number: 133786 Keywords: Punishment Recidivism Sex Offenders Statutory Rape (U.S.)

Author: Larkin, Paul J., Jr. Title: The Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement Project: A Potentially Worthwhile Correctional Reform Summary: Probation is a long-standing feature of the criminal justice system and is found in every state. Unfortunately, however, probation has not been as successful as its original proponents hoped that it would be: Approximately one-third of offenders placed on probation wind up in prison or abscond. In 2004, a Hawaii state court judge developed a new way of managing probationers that has shown the promise of reforming offenders and reducing costs borne by the criminal justice system and the public. That project - known as Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement, or HOPE - uses a fundamentally different approach to traditional probation supervision. The federal and state governments should look to this program as a potentially valuable criminal justice reform. Details: Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: legal Memorandum, No. 116: Accessed October 22, 2014 at: http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/pdf/LM116.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/pdf/LM116.pdf Shelf Number: 133789 Keywords: Offender Supervision Probation (Hawaii) Probation Supervision Probationers Recidivism

Author: Willison, Janeen Buck Title: Evaluation of the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative Reentry Programs: Findings and Recommendations Summary: This study evaluates two of Allegheny County (PA)'s programs to improve the successful reintegration of jail inmates following their return to the community. Both programs were designed to reduce re-offending through the use of risk/needs assessment, coordinated reentry planning, and the use of evidence-based programs and practices. Urban researchers conducted process and outcome evaluations of these programs to answer critical questions about program performance and effectiveness. The process evaluation examined alignment with core correctional practices, while the outcome evaluation examined rearrests for reentry program participants and two comparison groups of offenders (total N=798). Analyses indicate that both reentry programs reduce rearrest and prolong time to rearrest. These findings are supported by ample evidence of strong program implementation. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2014. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2014 at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/413252-Evaluation-of-the-Allegheny-County-Jail-Collaborative-Reentry-Programs.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/413252-Evaluation-of-the-Allegheny-County-Jail-Collaborative-Reentry-Programs.pdf Shelf Number: 133821 Keywords: Evidence-Based Programs Jails Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: France. Ministry of Justice Title: Parole groups for perpetrators of domestic violence introduced in the judicial district of the Tribunal de Grande Instance [Regional Court] of Mulhouse de Summary: As part of its involvement in the STARR project, from October 2010 to June 2011 the Ministere de la Justice et des Libertes undertook a research project on a system to combat recidivism in the area of domestic violence through probation measures. This research is, therefore, in response to the objective set out by the project: to identify and to share best practices applied within the European Union in order to effectively combat recidivism in three areas: - alcohol and drug addiction - juvenile crime - domestic violence In May 2010 the service des affaires europeennes et internationales (SAEI) of the ministere de la Justice et des libertes approached the direction de l'administration penitentiaire (DAP) [Penitentiar Administration Department], for it to develop a system to combat recidivism in the area of domestic violence implemented by its services de probation et d'insertion penitentiaire (SPIP) [probation and penintentiary integration departments]. This system was conspicuous through its innovative character, particularly the methodological tools applied. Following this approach the DAP reoriented the SAEI towards a system developed from the Mulhouse SPIP initiative, in partnership with the Accord68 association, involving the development of parole groups for the perpetrators of domestic violence. These parole groups were formed within recidivism prevention programmes (RPP) developed since the end of December 2007 by the DAP which represent a procedure for 'collective responsibility in the form of parole groups, the objective of which is to work on the development of the act and the conditions for its non-reiteration'. The objective of this study is to reproduce the experience of the parole groups and to describe their operation. Its conclusions are aimed at all the STARR project's partners but also at all Member States of the European Union interested in this system. They will also allow professionals in the judicial system in France to have access to 'feedback' on a system for the combat of recidivism. From 24 to 26 November 2010 the Ministere de la Justice et des Libertes also organised an international seminar devoted to domestic violence. Magistrats, experts, universities, representatives from the associative and medical sector from different European countries were also able to exchange information about the various existing systems within this field over three days. Details: Paris: Ministry of Justice, 2013(?). 44p. Source: Internet Resource: European Project STARR: Accessed October 27, 2014 at: http://www.starr-probation.org/uploaded_files/Rep%20STARR%20DV%20E.pdf Year: 2013 Country: France URL: http://www.starr-probation.org/uploaded_files/Rep%20STARR%20DV%20E.pdf Shelf Number: 133824 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarcerations Domestic Violence (France) Parole Parolees Recidivism

Author: Hopkins, Kathryn Title: Prisoners' experience of prison and outcomes on release: Waves 2 and 3 of SPCR Summary: This report presents the findings from Wave 2 (in-custody, pre-release) and Wave 3 (post-custody) of Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR), a longitudinal cohort study of male and female adult prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in England and Wales between 2005 and 2007. Prisoners were interviewed in prison and in the community between 2005 and 2010 and re-offending was followed-up using police records for two years after release. The report describes prison routine, prisoners' expectations of life after custody and actual outcomes on release, including employment, accommodation, drugs and alcohol, and finance, benefits and debt. It is not an exhaustive account of SPCR Wave 2 and 3 data, but rather aims to summarise the key results from these waves. Results from Wave 1 of the survey (administered on reception to custody) have already been published. This report is based on self-reported survey questions from a representative sample (SPCR Sample 1) of 1,435 prisoners, most of whom (76%) were sentenced to less than 12 months. Some missing data (due to survey attrition) has been recovered, and some supplementary material from longer-sentenced (18 months to four years) prisoners (SPCR Sample 2) is also reported. Comparisons with earlier prisoner surveys are also made. Prisoners were asked about their time in custody during the Wave 2 interviews, which were conducted shortly before release, and about their outcomes on release during the Wave 3 interviews, which were conducted shortly after release. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed November 3, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368164/prisoners-experience-of-prison-and-outcomes-on-release-waves-2-and-3-spcr.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368164/prisoners-experience-of-prison-and-outcomes-on-release-waves-2-and-3-spcr.pdf Shelf Number: 133937 Keywords: Longitudinal Cohort Study (U.K.) Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration Prisoners Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: King, Ryan Title: Improving Recidivism as a Performance Measure Summary: The 13-page brief is intended to act as a blueprint, giving states guidance on how to make recidivism a meaningful performance measure so that policymakers do not have to rely on anecdotes or system-level trends when evaluating policies and programs. As a part of their blueprint, the authors provide four steps in making recidivism a meaningful performance measure. They are: 1.Definition: Use multiple measures of success. 2.Collection: Develop protocols to ensure data are consistent, accurate, and timely. 3.Analysis: Account for the underlying composition of the population. 4.Dissemination: Package the findings to maximize impact and get the results into the hands of decisionmakers. The brief elaborates on each step, suggesting that there is no "right" measure of recidivism. Instead, the authors say, "States should think of recidivism as a series of different performance indicators that must be carefully calibrated to the outcome they are intended to measure. Recidivism reduction is the responsibility of multiple agencies and many different actors, and the definition of success must allow for a range of outcome measures that are responsive to this fact." Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Justice Policy Center Brief: Accessed November 3, 2014 at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/413247-improving-recidivism.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/413247-improving-recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 133943 Keywords: Performance Indicators Performance Measurement (U.S.) Recidivism

Author: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Research Title: Female Realignment Report: An Examination of Female Offenders Released from State Prison in the First Year of Public Safety Realignment Summary: California's Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 transferred jurisdiction and funding for managing lower-level criminal offenders from the State to the counties. Under Realignment, for example, certain lower level felons now serve their felony sentences in jail rather than prison. Realignment also changed California's system of community corrections. Prior to Realignment, State parole agents supervised every female inmate released from prison, and parole violators could be revoked to State prison for up to one year. Since October 1, 2011, probation departments have administered a system of post-release community supervision (PRCS) to complement State parole. State parole agents continue to supervise high-risk sex offenders, lifers, and any other female offenders who are released from prison after having been incarcerated for a current/prior serious or violent crime. All other female inmates released from prison are placed on PRCS. No offenders received an early release from prison under Realignment. If offenders violate the terms of PRCS or State parole supervision, a range of sanctions may be used by counties, including a revocation term in jail. Only certain offenders are eligible for revocation to State prison. Prior Realignment research conducted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) evaluated all offenders. This report examines arrest, convictions, and returns to prison for female offenders pre- and post-Realignment. Female offenders have "distinct rehabilitative and health care needs, and are more likely to have suffered trauma and abuse prior to incarceration" (California Association of Drug Court Professionals, 2012). As such, CDCR is committed to providing gender-responsive programs and services to meet those needs and, ultimately, increase successful return to society for our female population. CDCR now has one year of releases and one full year of follow-up data to evaluate how female offenders released from prison during the first year after implementation have fared. Note that a more complete examination of Realignment's impact on female offenders would require a three-year follow-up period. Methodology For this study, we identified two cohorts of female offenders: 1) the Pre-Realignment cohort of female offenders released between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011; and, 2) the Post-Realignment cohort of female offenders released between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012. One-year post-release recidivism rates were tracked for both cohorts to see if they were re-arrested, convicted of a new crime, or returned to State prison. Sound methodology and procedures were followed for this study; however, the study focuses on only one year of releases, representing an early stage of post-Realignment activity and implementation. Therefore, caution should be used when interpreting the findings. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2014 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/Female%20One%20Yr%20Pre-Post-Realignment%20Recidivism%20Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/adult_research_branch/Research_Documents/Female%20One%20Yr%20Pre-Post-Realignment%20Recidivism%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 134014 Keywords: California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 Community Supervision Female Offenders Gender Specific Responses Probation Recidivism Revocation

Author: Victoria. Sentencing Advisory Council Title: Exploring the Relationship between Community-Based Order Conditions and Reoffending Summary: 1.1 This report examines the relationship between conditions imposed on offenders as part of a community-based sentence and subsequent reoffending. Specifically, the report considers community-based orders (CBOs) imposed by the Magistrates' Court of Victoria between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2009, with a focus on (a) how magistrates used different combinations of conditions and (b) how offender and offence characteristics, including reoffending rates, differed between offenders who did and did not receive 'supervision' as a condition of their order. The analysis provides an insight into the interaction between decisions made by sentencers in relation to community-based sentencing and subsequent reoffending within the Victorian criminal justice system. 1.2 Although the CBO was abolished in January 2012, this report is highly relevant to the CBO's replacement: the community correction order (CCO). Despite an increased range of conditions available under the latter order, recent research suggests that magistrates are using CCOs in a very similar manner to how they were using CBOs. Thus, the report is still likely to provide an insight into the expected reoffending patterns for CCOs. 1.3 The Council defines reoffending as any offending that followed the imposition of the index sentence and was sentenced in any Victorian court to 30 June 2012. Defined this way, the overall reoffending rate for offenders who received a CBO is 42.6%. 1.4 There are multiple methods for examining reoffending. The methodology used in this report is consistent with the approach taken by the New South Wales (NSW) Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) in their analysis of reoffending in NSW. This method differs from the Productivity Commission's analysis in a number of significant ways, including: - focusing on reoffending that follows the imposition (as opposed to completion) of a community order; - counting reoffending that results in fines; and - including reoffending that occurs between three and five years post-sentence (as opposed to two years). 1.5 Unpaid community work, assessment/treatment, and supervision were the main conditions attached to CBOs. At least one of these three conditions was included in 97.2% (n = 6,177) of the CBOs imposed during the index period. The focus of this report is on the supervision condition. Of the sample of 6,177 offenders, 45% (n = 2,791) received supervision as at least one of the conditions of a CBO (the 'Supervision CBO' group) while the remaining 55% (n = 3,386) did not (the 'No Supervision CBO' group). The Supervision CBO group had a significantly higher reoffending rate than the No Supervision CBO group (49.5% compared with 36.9%). Details: Melbourne: Sentencing Advisory Council, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Exploring%20the%20Relationship%20between%20Community-Based%20Order%20Conditions%20and%20Reoffending.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Exploring%20the%20Relationship%20between%20Community-Based%20Order%20Conditions%20and%20Reoffending.pdf Shelf Number: 134174 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Supervision Community-Based Corrections (Australia) Recidivism Reoffending Sentencing

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Peterborough social impact bond: HMP Doncaster: payment by results pilots: final re-conviction results for cohorts 1 Summary: This statistics bulletin presents the final outcomes for cohorts 1 of the Payment by Results (PbR) pilots for both the Social Impact Bond (SIB) at HMP Peterborough and the PbR pilot at HMP Doncaster. The frequency of re-conviction events for the Peterborough SIB cohort 1 is 8.4% lower compared to a matched national control group (142 re-conviction events per 100 offenders in Peterborough's cohort 1 compared to 155 re-conviction events per 100 offenders nationally). This means that the provider is on track to achieve the 7.5% reduction target for the final payment based on an aggregate of both cohorts, but that the pilot did not achieve the 10% reduction target for cohort 1. The cohort 1 re-conviction rate for offenders released from HMP Doncaster was 5.7 percentage points lower than the 2009 baseline year (from 58.0% in the 2009 baseline year to 52.2% in cohort 13). This is a successful outcome for the provider, Serco, because the 5.0 percentage point threshold has been achieved, and they therefore retain the full core contract value for this pilot year. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Statistics Bulletin: Accessed November 26, 2014 at: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/ministryofjustice/166708pbr-pilots-cohort-1-results.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/ministryofjustice/166708pbr-pilots-cohort-1-results.pdf Shelf Number: 134258 Keywords: Adult Offenders (U.K.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reconviction Social Services

Author: Millsteed, Melanie Title: Ten Years of the South Australian Police Drug Diversion Initiative: Data Analysis Report Summary: The beginning of September 2011 marked ten years of PDDI operation, and presents a timely opportunity to analyse the data collected by the Drug Diversion Line over the whole ten year period. This briefing paper provides a summary of this data analysis. Its objectives are to determine: - The number and profile of individuals diverted under the PDDI; - Whether the number and/or profile of those diverted has changed over time, and if so, how it has changed; - The proportion of diverted individuals that comply with their diversion, and the profile of individuals that are less likely to comply; and, - The level of recidivism, time between first and subsequent diversions, and the profile of those that are more likely to re-offend within the context of the PDDI. In order to analyse trends over time, the data analysis sometimes splits the data into the following three equal time periods: - 1 September 2001 to 31 December 2004 - 1 January 2005 to 30 April 2008 - 1 May 2008 to 31 August 2011 Details: Adelaide: South Australian Attorney-General's Department, Office of Crime Statistics and Research, 2012. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 8, 2014 at: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/TenYears-PDDI.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ocsar.sa.gov.au/docs/evaluation_reports/TenYears-PDDI.pdf Shelf Number: 134265 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Diversion Programs Drug Offenders (South Australia) Recidivism

Author: Williams, Kim Title: Accommodation, homelessness and reoffending of prisoners: Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) survey Summary: This report summarises the accommodation backgrounds and needs of newly sentenced prisoners, and the links between these and reoffending on release. Data for this report come from Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) (a longitudinal cohort study of 1,435 adult prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in prison in 2005 and 2006), the Police National Computer (PNC), and the 2003 general population survey - the Offending, Crime, and Justice Survey (OCJS). Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Summary 3/12: Accessed December 9, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278806/homelessness-reoffending-prisoners.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278806/homelessness-reoffending-prisoners.pdf Shelf Number: 130130 Keywords: Homelessness Housing Prisoner Reentry (U.K.) Recidivism

Author: Social Innovation Partnership Title: Unlocking Offending Data (Women's Information and Resettlement for Ex-offenders): Evaluation Report Summary: The evaluation, carried out by The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP), in conjunction with academics at the University of Cambridge and London Metropolitan University, tracked the reconviction rates of 104 women who engaged with the service and for whom offending history data was available. The results indicated that the women's offending rate halved in the 12 month period after engagement with WIRE. It has also highlighted: - The high levels of demand for WIRE - A highly flexible, needs-led approach - Intensive work with clients in the early stages from the moment of release - A possible need to resource a longer term service for the clients to aid long-term resettlement The researchers also gathered the perspectives of clients and partner agencies as a part of their research. These concluded that clients regarded WIRE as playing a vital role in helping them resettle into the community. Partner agencies valued WIRE's ability to relieve some of their pressures and work effectively with some of their most chaotic clients. The service was perceived as being particularly successful in sourcing accommodation for women who are generally difficult to house. Details: London: St. Giles Trust, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2014 at: http://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/stats-and-info/p192682-support-for-female-prison-leavers-reduces-re-offending.html Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/stats-and-info/p192682-support-for-female-prison-leavers-reduces-re-offending.html Shelf Number: 134302 Keywords: Female Offenders (U.K.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: Justice Reinvestment in Nebraska: Analysis and Policy Framework Summary: This report summarizes comprehensive analyses of sentencing, corrections, probation, and parole data presented to Nebraska's Justice Reinvestment Working Group. It outlines strategies and policy options to avert prison population growth and reduce recidivism in the state by holding people convicted of the lowest-level felonies accountable with probation and treatment, reducing the number of people leaving prison unsupervised, and strengthening parole supervision. The report also offers strategies for supporting victims of crime through improved restitution collection. If implemented, the report's suggested policies would reinvest $32.8 million in recidivism reduction strategies and avert $306.4 million in prison costs Details: New York: Council of State Government, Justice Center, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2015 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JusticeReinvestmentinNebraska.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 134445 Keywords: Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Systems Justice Reinvestment (Nebraska) Parole Probation Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Hamilton, Melissa Title: Back to the Future: The Influence of Criminal History on Risk Assessment Summary: Evidence-based practices providing an empirical basis for predicting recidivism risk have become a primary focus across criminal justice decision points. Criminal history measures are the most common and heavily weighted factors in risk assessment tools, yet is such substantial reliance fully justified? The empirical and normative values placed on criminal history enjoy such commendation by criminal justice officials, practitioners, and the public that these practices are rarely questioned. This paper fills the gap by introducing and exploring various issues from legal, scientific, and pragmatic perspectives. As a general rule, a common assumption is that past behavior dictates an individual's likely future conduct. This axiom is often applied to criminal behavior, more specifically, in that prior offending is considered a primary driver to predict future recidivism. Criminal justice officials have a long history of formally and informally incorporating risk judgments into a variety of criminal justice decisions, ranging from bail, sentencing, parole, supervisory conditions, and programming. A more contemporary addendum represents empirically informed risk assessment practices that integrate actuarial tools and/or structured professional judgments. Various criminal history measures pervade these newer evidence-based practices as well. Instead of presuming the value and significance of prior crimes in judging future recidivism risk, this Article raises and critically analyzes certain unexpected consequences resulting from the significant reliance upon criminal history in risk assessment judgments. Among the more novel issues addressed include: (1) creating a ratchet effect whereby the same criminal history event can be counted numerous times; (2) resulting in informal, three-strikes types of penalties; (3) counting nonadjudicated criminal behaviors and acquitted conduct; (4) proportionality of punishment; (5) disciplining hypothetical future crime; (6) punishing status; and (7) inadequately accounting for the age-crime curve. In the end, criminal history has a role to play in future risk judgments, but these issues represent unanticipated outcomes that deserve attention. Details: Unpublished Paper, 2015. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: U of Houston Law Center No. 2015-A-1 : Accessed January 28, 2015 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2555878 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2555878 Shelf Number: 134484 Keywords: Criminal History Records Evidence-Based Practices (U.S.) Juvenile Records Preventive Detention Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Mews, Aidan Title: The impact of short custodial sentences, community orders and suspended sentence orders on re-offending Summary: Community orders and suspended sentence orders represent a substantial proportion of sentences given in England and Wales - about 13 per cent of all adult sentences imposed in 2013. This study examined the impact on adult re-offending outcomes of these court orders and requirements imposed as part of those orders. It also looked at the effects over different follow-up periods to explore the impact over time. The study builds on previous analyses of community requirements, using more data, a more thorough matching process, and examining more combinations of requirements. Approach Offender data from 2008 to 2011 (inclusive) were used. A propensity score matching approach was followed, matching offenders given particular sentences with other, similar ones given other sentences. This method used data from Offender Assessment System (OASys) assessments, probation and re-offending, and tax and benefits systems. This is a well-tested approach to looking at impact, but one that cannot decisively discount the potential for an unmeasured factor to influence results. Key findings - - Short-term custody (less than 12 months in prison, without supervision on release) was consistently associated with higher rates of proven re-offending than community orders and suspended sentence orders ('court orders'). Over a 1 year follow-up period, a higher proportion of people re-offended having been sentenced to short term custody than other, similar people given a community order (around 3 percentage points higher) or a suspended sentence order (7 percentage points higher). In addition, short term custody was associated with up to 1 more re-offence per person on average than both community and suspended sentence orders. - However, the impact appeared to vary over different follow-up periods. Over a three year period, while it was still the case that more people re-offended having been sentenced to short term custody rather than a 'court order', this difference decreased. The benefits of the 'court orders' on reducing re-offending were felt predominately in the first year of follow-up. - The benefit of 'court orders' over short term custody was seemingly increased when OASys variables were not used in the matching method, suggesting that these variables include influential factors associated with re-offending and/or the likelihood of being given a particular sentence. The analysis indicates that it is important to include OASys scores in the matching process, and that their omission leads to an upward bias in the estimate of impact. They should therefore be used routinely in similar analyses, even though that entails limiting the analysis to the subset of cases for which an OASys assessment is available. - There was evidence of particular requirements and groups of requirements having greater benefits in terms of reducing re-offending compared to short term custody. - Supervision requirements were generally associated with reduced proven re-offending where they were used. - There were examples where activity requirements and accredited programme requirements were associated with reductions in re-offending, but overall the impact was uncertain. However, these requirements were examined collectively, and particular activities / programmes may have had a more positive impact on re-offending. In addition, using proven re-offending as a sole outcome measure may not pick up all potential benefits of these requirements. - The impact of using combinations of requirements together was difficult to predict. Sometimes, the impact of requirements changed when used with certain others. For example, activity requirements had an uncertain impact when used with a curfew on community orders. When supervision was added to the activity as well, a significant reduction in re-offending was found. However, when a programme requirement was added to this, the impact returned to being uncertain. - There may be differences in impacts associated with suspended sentence orders and community orders, with outcomes mostly non-significant for suspended sentence orders. Some characteristic of either or both of these orders may make particular requirements more / less effective (the data used in this study do not allow a full explanation of what precisely is driving the effects). Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2015. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed January 29, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399389/impact-of-short-custodial-sentences-on-reoffending.PDF Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399389/impact-of-short-custodial-sentences-on-reoffending.PDF Shelf Number: 134491 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Recidivism Reoffending Sentencing (U.K.)

Author: Wood, Martin Title: Re-offending by offenders on Community Orders: Results from the Offender Management Community Cohort Study Summary: This report is one of a series summarising findings from the Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS), a longitudinal cohort study of offenders aged 18 and over, who started Community Orders between October 2009 and December 2010. The report focuses on re-offending by these offenders, using a measure of proven re-offending. Proven re-offending is defined as any offence committed in the 12 months following the start of the Community Order that received a court conviction or caution in that 12 months or within a further six month waiting period. It examines the factors associated with re-offending, such as offenders' needs, attitudes and their relationship with their Offender Manager. The report will help inform policy makers and providers about the key characteristics of this group of offenders and will be useful in the development of practice in the delivery of Community Orders and supervision in the community. Preliminary findings on re-offending levels among offenders on Community Orders from the OMCCS were published in July 2013 (Wood et al., 2013a) using incomplete re-offending data. This report presents updated analysis on levels of re-offending and therefore findings may vary from those previously published. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2015. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed January 29, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399388/reoffending-by-offenders-on-community-orders.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399388/reoffending-by-offenders-on-community-orders.pdf Shelf Number: 134492 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Sentences Offender Supervision (U.K.) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Beardslee, Jordan Bechtold Title: Under the Radar or Under Arrest: How Does Contact with the Juvenile Justice System Affect Delinquency and Academic Outcomes? Summary: Although many studies have found that arrested youth are more likely than non-arrested youth to experience later maladjustment, methodological limitations restrict the generalizations of prior work. Perhaps the most noteworthy limitation in prior work is the possibility of selection effects, with arrested youth likely to have very different psychological and behavioral profiles pre-justice system contact than non-arrested youth. This leaves us wondering whether the observed maladjustment is due to the type of adolescent who comes to the attention of law enforcement or due the type of justice system interventions that arrested youth experience. This study overcomes these limitations by comparing the outcomes of demographically similar male adolescents who have committed the same crimes but who differ with regard to whether they were "caught" for their crimes. Using propensity score matching to compare arrested and non-arrested youth, I investigated whether contact with the justice system does, in fact, contribute to school-related outcomes, substance use, and delinquency and whether these relations vary based on whether arrested youth are formally processed or diverted from the system. When selection effects are taken into consideration, results indicate that contact with the juvenile justice system does not have a universally harmful effect on development. Diversion (informally processing youth) actually deters future offending, school misconduct, school truancy, and school suspensions. However, both diverted and formally processed youth, regardless of their actual antisocial and illegal behavior, are more likely than no-contact youth to be arrested during the study period, according to official court records. The risk of re-arrest is highest for formally processed youth. Formally processed youth are also more likely than no-contact and diverted youth to be transferred to an alternative or continuation school. Taken together, results suggest that increased justice system surveillance might improve school performance and deter offending, but it also might lead to more contact with the system. Although an adolescent's first arrest might lead to positive outcomes in the immediate future, the effects of subsequent contacts are unknown. As such, the data suggest that the default policy should be to divert low-level first-time offenders and keep the justice system's involvement to a minimum. Details: Irvine, CA: University of California, Irvine, 2014. 201p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed January 31, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248533.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248533.pdf Shelf Number: 134511 Keywords: Juvenile Arrests Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Offenders (U.S.) Recidivism

Author: Gilbert, Jarrod Title: Reintegration Services in the Canterbury Region Summary: The idea for a study of reintegration services came from the work of the Howard League in Canterbury prisons. In particular, prisoners often worried that there were inadequate programmes and services to help them leave prison and prevent them from returning. We began with a focus on the relationship between prisons and NGO services, and this focus was maintained throughout the study. Further themes emerged, especially the broad philosophical, targeted service reorganisation taking place within the Department of Corrections. We found ourselves researching within a maelstrom of changing systems and relationships, which were often imperfectly articulated and imperfectly understood by various participants in the prison and community sectors. Key findings arising from the study include: - There is a consensus in the Department of Corrections management in Canterbury that cooperation between the Department and NGOs is desirable to assist in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, with the ultimate goals of reducing prisoner numbers and creating fewer victims of crime. - This cooperation between state and independent agencies is mirrored in certain jurisdictions around the world, and from these we can gain certain insights, namely: the importance of mutual 'buy-in' to end goals and the means to achieve them; the necessity for clear and honest lines of communication; and a need for NGO professionalism to be balanced against the risk of NGOs losing their unique and important points of difference that make them effective. - Corrections management have embraced a culture of change and their thinking is sophisticated, though the process is ongoing. - Much of this culture change can generally be understood as moving away from a system with a focus on confinement and toward one with a greater focus on rehabilitation and reintegration. The latter is captured by use of the term 'transitioning' to describe the move from prison to the community. - Acknowledging financial constraints, there was a desire among management to offer more services to prisoners and to 'front load' services rather than waiting until the end of the sentence is nearing, and to engage with prisoners on short sentences. - Management realised that there was a need for better engagement with NGOs. - Prisoners interviewed for this project included men and women with a range of sentences and risk profiles. - The vast majority of prisoners reported a willingness to change away from criminality, with 80 percent of the prisoner sample reporting that they wanted to change 'a lot' about their lives. Recidivism rates, however, show that most will fail. - These prisoners said offending occurred for a number of psychological and practical reasons, many of which can be targeted by programmes and interventions. - The three most prominent types of assistance required were: support and counselling, employment, and alcohol and drug support. - Among prisoners, there was a low level of understanding about what support was available and often there was conflict reported between what prisoners thought they needed and what Corrections was offering them. - The majority of prisoners reported that they heard about programmes or courses mainly from other prisoners, and only a third through Corrections or Probation. - Relationships with Case Officers were largely good, but relationships with Case Managers were mixed, and included a number of very negative experiences. Details: Canterbury, NZ: Howard League for Penal Reform, Canterbury Branch, 2014. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2015 at: http://www.howardleague.org.nz/uploads/1/1/6/3/11633778/final_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.howardleague.org.nz/uploads/1/1/6/3/11633778/final_report.pdf Shelf Number: 134518 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Rehabilitation Prisoner Reintegration (New Zealand) Recidivism Reoffending

Author: McGuinness, Paul Title: The use and impact of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974): Final Report Summary: 1. This research arises from a current Government review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). It considers how recent changes to it may affect offender rehabilitation and employment opportunities, and how employers and ex-offenders perceive and are affected by the law. 2. Criminal convictions are an issue for a considerable portion of the Scottish population. Scottish Government analysts have analysed data from the Scottish Offenders Index to produce actual and estimated numbers of persons within the Scottish population having a criminal conviction. This analysis showed that over 38% of men and 9% of women born in 1973 are known to have at least one criminal conviction. Extrapolating to the population as a whole, at least one-third of the adult male population and nearly one in ten of the adult female population is likely to have a criminal record. 3. Criminal records checks are now a regular experience for many people. Currently over one million applications for basic disclosure of criminal convictions are processed every year by Disclosure Scotland. Recent changes have included the creation of a heightened checking scheme for people working with vulnerable groups. 4. Research and review have increasingly raised questions about the ability of the Act to support the smooth integration of people with historical criminal convictions. Rehabilitation periods set out in law have been criticised as too long in light of research on the declining risks of recidivism over time as well as research on the stigmatising effect of waiting for a criminal record to expire. Amendments to the Act have increased the range of professions and situations that are exempted from the Act. 5. Employment is one of the most strongly correlated predictors of reduced reoffending. Not only does it help establish financial stability, but also roots a range of positive social relationships and bases of identity. However, amendments to the ROA which increasingly exempt professions in health and social welfare sectors may be exacerbating barriers to employment for ex-offenders in a labour market where such professions are expanding relative to industrial and manufacturing jobs. 6. Surveys of employers regularly show a lack of knowledge about the ROA and a bias against recruitment of ex-offenders, although there are important exceptions to this particularly where an employer has had prior experience of interviewing or hiring ex-offenders. Most employers who have taken the time to interview or have employed ex-offenders reported positive experiences and a willingness to further recruit from this group. 7. Ex-offenders report experiences of feeling discouraged, stigmatised and being wrongly questioned about their backgrounds when attempting to gain access to employment and education. These perspectives show how legislative frameworks and employer attitudes which affect recruitment of ex-offenders have an effect not only on the employment rates of people trying to reintegrate into society but also on their long-term psychological and general well-being. 8. This report sets out three possible approaches to reform, graduating in the degree to which they would alter existing practices and presumptions. The most minimal modification of the Act's rehabilitation periods would reduce the passive waiting time. Providing a certificate of rehabilitation would create a more active mode of acknowledging restoration of a person's status as a welcomed member of society. Judicial imposition of occupational disqualification shift focus onto the specific exclusion from certain jobs where a case by case analysis determines this is appropriate. Details: Glasgow: Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, 2013. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 02/2013: Accessed February 7, 2015 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SCCJR-ROA-Final-Report-26-June-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/SCCJR-ROA-Final-Report-26-June-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 134557 Keywords: Ex-Offender Employment Offender Rehabilitation Offenders (U.K.) Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Drake, Elizabeth K. Title: Washington's Residential Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative: Recidivism & Cost Analysis Summary: The 2014 Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to examine the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA) for offenders sentenced to residential treatment in the community. Residential DOSA was created by the 2005 Legislature as an alternative to prison for offenders with substance abuse problems. When ordered by a court, an offender's sentence is reduced in exchange for completing chemical dependency treatment. When possible, WSIPP conducts benefit-cost analysis to understand the long-term impacts of policies. In addition to residential DOSA's effect on recidivism, research indicates that crime is avoided through confinement, known as "incapacitation." We cannot empirically estimate the extent to which a residential treatment facility itself incapacitates offenders. Thus, we are unable to determine the degree to which the benefits from the favorable recidivism reduction of residential DOSA would be offset by the increased costs of non-confinement. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2014. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: DOC.No. 14-12-1901: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1577/Wsipp_Washingtons-Residential-Drug-Offender-Sentencing-Alternative-Recidivism-Cost-Analysis_Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1577/Wsipp_Washingtons-Residential-Drug-Offender-Sentencing-Alternative-Recidivism-Cost-Analysis_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 134598 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Cost-Benefit Analysis Drug Offender Treatment Drug Offenders (Washington State). Recidivism Residential Treatment

Author: Myrstol, Brad A. Title: Recidivism in Alaska: A Longitudinal Perspective Summary: Study Objectives The primary objective of this study was to examine patterns of delinquent and criminal offending among youth who were admitted to, and subsequently released from, McLaughlin Youth Center's Transitional Service Unit (TSU), located in Anchorage, Alaska, between January 2003 and May 2013. More specifically, the study sought to assess variability in the frequency and intensity of offending among youth released from TSU, including patterns of offending following release from institutional custody, of those youth who: Had completed their treatment program while in residence at McLaughlin Youth Center; Had completed the transitional services program while in residence at McLaughlin Youth Center; and, Were released from institutional custody and had begun the process of reentry into their communities. Group-based trajectory models (GTM) were used to test for previously unrecognized developmental patterns in youth offending prior to institutional release, as well as patterns of reoffending following institutional release. Underlying the developmental approach adopted were two fundamental assumptions. First, it was assumed that youth offending, like other behavioral processes, evolves over time and follows a developmental trajectory. Second, it was also assumed that as with other behavioral phenomena, it was likely that there would be meaningful subgroups within the population, groups that followed distinct developmental trajectories. More precisely, the project's specific empirical aims were to: 1. Determine whether or not TSU youth exhibited distinct offending trajectories; 2. Identify such number of distinct trajectories if multiple trajectories were found to exist; 3. Specify the shape (functional form) of such trajectories; 4. Estimate the probability of membership in the distinct trajectory groups identified; 5. Determine the specific demographic composition and offending characteristics of each trajectory group; 6. Estimate the influence of demographic characteristics on trajectory group membership; and, 7. Assess the effect of participation in TSU on the offending trajectories of youth released from TSU. Details: Anchorage: Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center, University of Alaska Anchorage, 2014. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/documents/ak_ajsac_tsu_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/documents/ak_ajsac_tsu_report.pdf Shelf Number: 134620 Keywords: Criminal Careers Juvenile Offenders Juvenile to Adult Criminal Careers Recidivism

Author: Appenzeller, George W. Title: Report of an Outcome Based Statistical Analysis of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Programs of the South Carolina Department of Corrections Summary: On October 1, 2013, System Wide Solutions, Inc. (SWS) of Columbia SC was awarded a contract by the SC Department of Public Safety (SCDPS). The purpose of the contract was to conduct an outcome based statistical analysis of the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) programs of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC). The analysis is a quasi- experimental design. Individuals who participated in the RSAT program who were released from custody during State FY's 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 are the study population while a matched group of individuals in three other circumstances released at the same time are the comparison groups. A comprehensive literature review was conducted prior to the analysis taking place. A Data Collection Plan was agreed to by SWS, SCDC and the SCDPS during the early fall of 2013. The dataset was provided by SCDC in November of 2013. Additional questions regarding data and program operations were answered by SCDC in early March of 2014. The analysis was conducted during March and early April of 2014. There are a number of limitations to the study, centering around two issues. These are the use of a database intended for administrative purposes for research purposes and potential selection bias for inmates chosen for the RSAT programs. There are eleven findings of the study. These findings are: 1. For women, participation in the SCDC RSAT and ATU programs greatly reduces the likelihood of being re-incarcerated at 12, 24 or 36 months after release. 2. For men, there appears to be little difference in re-incarceration rates at 24 or 36 months after release except in comparison to similar inmates from the same institutions at which the treatment programs are located. 3. The RSAT and other ATU programs have similar results. 4. Certain demographic and program variables may have a significant influence on reincarceration and these influences have a greater effect on the rate of re-incarceration than does program participation. 5. Any participation, successful or not, has a positive influence on re-incarceration for women who participated in the SCDC RSAT or ATU and has a lesser positive influence on re-incarceration for men who participated in the SCDC RSAT or ATU. 6. The use of administrative data systems such as that used for this study limits the reliability of evaluation and analysis for RSAT and other programs. 7. Qualitative data such as interviews with staff and program participants would greatly aid in assuring a more reliable set of data. 8. A quasi-experimental design using a matched comparison group may not be the appropriate methodology to determine the efficacy of addiction treatment programs in correctional institutions. 9. Recidivism studies of the success of addiction treatment programs in correctional institutions should take into account post-release factors as well as pre-release factors. 10. Hazard ratios can be determined using existing SCDC data and these ratios could be helpful in determining individualized planning for inmates. 11. The SCDC potentially can utilize previous studies to improve the performance of the RSAT programs it operates. Details: Columbia, SC: System Wide Solutions, Inc., 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.scdps.gov/ohsjp/stats/IllegalDrugs/Corrections%20Report%20Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.scdps.gov/ohsjp/stats/IllegalDrugs/Corrections%20Report%20Final.pdf Shelf Number: 134621 Keywords: Correctional Treatment Programs Drug Offenders (South Carolina) Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: James, Nathan Title: Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism Summary: The number of people incarcerated in the United States grew steadily for nearly 30 years. That number has been slowly decreasing since 2008, but as of 2012 there were still over 2 million people incarcerated in prisons and jails across the country. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports that since 1990 an average of 590,400 inmates have been released annually from state and federal prisons and almost 5 million ex-offenders are under some form of community-based supervision. Nearly all prisoners will return to their communities as some point. Offender reentry can include all the activities and programming conducted to prepare prisoners to return safely to the community and to live as law-abiding citizens. Some ex-offenders, however, eventually end up back in prison. The BJS's most recent study on recidivism showed that within five years of release nearly three-quarters of ex-offenders released in 2005 came back into contact with the criminal justice system, and more than half returned to prison after either being convicted for a new crime or for violating the conditions of their release. Compared with the average American, ex-offenders are less educated, less likely to be gainfully employed, and more likely to have a history of mental illness or substance abuse - all of which have been shown to be risk factors for recidivism. Three phases are associated with offender reentry programs: programs that take place during incarceration, which aim to prepare offenders for their eventual release; programs that take place during offenders' release period, which seek to connect ex-offenders with the various services they may require; and long-term programs that take place as ex-offenders permanently reintegrate into their communities, which attempt to provide offenders with support and supervision. There is a wide array of offender reentry program designs, and these programs can differ significantly in range, scope, and methodology. Researchers in the offender reentry field have suggested that the best programs begin during incarceration and extend throughout the release and reintegration process. Despite the relative lack of highly rigorous research on the effectiveness of some reentry programs, an emerging "what works" literature suggests that programs focusing on work training and placement, drug and mental health treatment, and housing assistance have proven to be effective. The federal government's involvement in offender reentry programs typically occurs through grant funding, which is available through a wide array of federal programs at the Departments of Justice, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. However, only a handful of grant programs in the federal government are designed explicitly for offender reentry purposes. The Department of Justice has started an interagency Reentry Council to coordinate federal reentry efforts and advance effective reentry policies. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Services, 2015. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report RL34287: Accessed February 16, 2015 at: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf Shelf Number: 134627 Keywords: Ex-Offenders Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Bryant, Stephanie Title: Reoffending analysis of MAPPA eligible offenders Summary: Established in 2001, as an initiative to improve and strengthen monitoring of convicted sexual and violent offenders, Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) primary focus is public protection and the prevention of serious harm through reductions in serious reoffending. This report details research that builds on a 2011 comparison study of reconviction rates of MAPPA eligible offenders between 1998 and 2004, and updates the findings using rates of proven reoffending as a more accurate indicator of offending behavior. The analysis used data from the Police National Computer (PNC) held by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Prison Discharge Statistics to form cohorts of offenders from the calendar years 2000 to 2010. Findings suggest that MAPPA may be making a positive contribution to managing offenders convicted of serious offences - with reduction in serious further offences indicated. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2015. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/407139/reoffending-analysis-of-mappa-eligible-offenders.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/407139/reoffending-analysis-of-mappa-eligible-offenders.pdf Shelf Number: 134672 Keywords: Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Recidivism Reoffending (U.K.) Sex Offenders Violent Offenders

Author: Nolan, Amanda Title: Community Employment Characteristics and Conditional Release Outcome among Federal Offenders Summary: What it means Results revealed that maintenance of a community job, but not skill level of the job, was related to a reduced likelihood of recidivism. This demonstrates the importance of a focus on assisting offenders in obtaining employment they can maintain. Furthermore, offenders identified as having the potential for difficulties with maintaining stable employment should be targeted for additional employment intervention to further help them with their reintegration efforts. What we found After controlling for other factors related to recidivism, offenders who were not employed with a stable job were 3.6 times more likely to return to custody for any reason and 2.5 times more likely to return to custody with a new offence than offenders who were employed with a stable job. Skill level of community employment, however, was not found to be significantly related to conditional release outcomes. In examining characteristics that best predicted an offender's likelihood of job stability, results revealed that being of Aboriginal ancestry, having a medium or high level of risk, a low level of motivation, and a moderate or high level of need in the areas of substance abuse and community functioning were meaningfully associated with a lower likelihood of having stable employment in the community. Why we did this study The role employment plays in reintegration and in reducing recidivism has been widely acknowledged. Much remains to be known, however, regarding what underlies this relationship and what variables are most likely to affect success. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between characteristics of jobs obtained by recently released federal offenders and conditional release outcomes. What we did Participants were taken from all federal offenders released into the community on conditional release between April 1st, 2010 and March 31st, 2011. To be included, offenders had to be on the first term of their current sentence, have a follow-up time in the community of a minimum of 180 days, and be employed at least once during the follow-up period. Two community employment characteristics were examined: job stability (maintained at least one job in the community for 90 days or more) and employment skill level (had at least one job in the community that was rated as high-skilled). The total number of participants was 1,741; 94% were men and 13% were of Aboriginal ancestry. In terms of employment characteristics, 81% had at least one job that was considered stable, while 55% had at least one job that was considered high-skilled. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 1p., (Full report available upon request) Source: Internet Resource: 2014 No. R-316: Accessed March 4, 2015 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0316-eng.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-0316-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 134752 Keywords: Community Corrections (Canada) Conditional Release Ex-offender Employment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation Title: The Contribution of Youth Offending Teams to the Work of the Troubled Families Programme in England Summary: Youth offending teams were playing an important part in the Troubled Families (TF) programme in their work to reduce reoffending by young people, but needed to address some practical issues, according to independent inspectors. The report, The Contribution of Youth Offending Teams to the Work of the Troubled Families Programme in England reflects the findings of HM Inspectorate of Probation, the Care Quality Commission, Ofsted and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. The inspection focused on the part played by Youth Offending Teams on preventing and reducing offending and tackling antisocial behaviour by children and young people. Inspectors found many examples where the work had the potential to bear fruit and the interim reoffending patterns were positive, despite the relatively short period of time the local services had been running. However, the limited evaluation which had taken place meant it was not easy to track outcomes from the work. Inspectors also found some partner agencies, such as YOTs, children's social care services and educational services, had made a considerable investment in partnership working, and there were some innovative approaches from police and health care staff. Details: London: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, 2015. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2015 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/01/Troubled-Families1.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 134930 Keywords: Antisocial Behavior Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation (U.K.) Recidivism Youth Offending Teams

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice. Justice Data Lab Title: Re-offending Analysis: Warwickshire Youth Justice Service Summary: This analysis assessed the impact on re-offending of an intervention targeted at young offenders who had committed a violent offence, provided by Warwickshire Youth Justice Service (WYJS). The one year proven re-offending rate for 82 offenders who received the service was 38%, compared with 51% for a matched control group of similar offenders. Statistical significance testing has shown that this difference in the re-offending rates is statistically significant; meaning that we can be confident that there is a real difference in the re-offending rate for the group who received the intervention. The offenders included in this analysis all had index offences of violence against the person, and were all between 14 and 18 years of age at the time of this offence. The individuals in this analysis were receiving a statutory programme of provision, which is statutory for all young offenders who commit and are subsequently convicted of violent offences. This analysis therefore presents a comparison of the provision from WYJS against the statutory provision outside the Warwickshire area. What you can say: This analysis shows that participating in an intervention provided by Warwickshire Youth Justice Service led to a reduction in re-offending of between 2 and 24 percentage points. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279366/warwickshire-youth-justice-service-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279366/warwickshire-youth-justice-service-report.pdf Shelf Number: 135011 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Based Corrections Re-offending Recidivism Violent Juvenile Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Boulger, Jordan Title: Performance incentive funding for prison diversion: An implementation study of the DuPage County Adult Redeploy Illinois Program. Summary: Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) was designed as a response to the high numbers of non-violent offenders incarcerated in Illinois' prisons at great cost to the state. Participating ARI counties divert non-violent offenders from prison and into community corrections programs. These programs are less expensive than prison and designed to be more effective at reducing recidivism. They are required to reduce the number of individuals sent to IDOC from an eligible target population during the grant period - typically 12 months - by at least 25 percent. This evaluation of DuPage County ARI explored both planning and implementation of ARI programming during its pilot phase starting January 1, 2011 and concluding in June 30, 2012. Data collection had four main components: interviews with ARI program staff and stakeholders, interviews with ARI clients, analysis of ARI administrative data, and analysis of clients' criminal history record information. Key findings from the evaluation of the DuPage County ARI drug court program include: Program outcomes - DuPage County's ARI program exceeded its 25 percent prison admission reduction goal. The program successfully diverted 127 non-violent individuals from IDOC, far surpassing its goal of 35. - Of the 37 clients who were closed (or terminated) from the ARI program, 46 percent successfully completed the program (n=17), while 27 percent had been re-sentenced to IDOC (n=10). - Of the 106 ARI clients in the sample, 18 percent were arrested while participating in the program (n=19). Of them, 8 percent were arrested for a felony arrest and 3 percent were arrested for a violent crime. - Program administrators implemented with fidelity eight of 10 Intensive Probation Supervision (IPS) components, but could work toward more fully implementing two components - (1) creating minimum and maximum length of participation and (2) setting contact levels with higher levels initially to lower levels in final stages. Client characteristics - ARI clients in DuPage County were mostly male, white, unmarried, and unemployed with a high school diploma, and living with friends or family. - Based on criminal histories, risk assessment instruments, and previous probation non-compliance, DuPage County targeted individuals at high risk for recidivism for participation in the program. - Almost half of the ARI clients were sentenced for a Class 4 felony. Many clients (40 percent) were convicted of a drug offense and 24 percent were convicted of a property offense. - Slightly more than half of ARI clients were determined to be at high risk for recidivism based on the Level of Service Inventory Revised (LSI-R), a validated instrument that assesses the risk (53 percent). - DuPage County ARI clients averaged six prior arrests, with 86 percent of clients arrested for a felony offense and 14 percent previously incarcerated. - According to nine interviewed clients, they met with their probation officer face-to-face an average of two times each month lasting an average of 38 minutes per client. - Of five interviewed clients who received rewards for following the rules of the program, all found them to be good motivators to do well in the program. The average number of rewards each person received was six. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2015. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2015 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/ARI_DUPAGE_030315.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/ARI_DUPAGE_030315.pdf Shelf Number: 135014 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Based Correction Diversion Programs Recidivism

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation Title: Full Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Work in Trafford Summary: Reducing reoffending Overall work to reduce reoffending was satisfactory. A strong focus and priority was given to reducing reoffending. Assessment and planning were, for the most part done well, and children and young people were particularly well supported in meeting health and education needs. However, in a small number of cases, assessments and elements of plans were not satisfactory and these had not been identified through management oversight systems. Protecting the public Overall work to protect the public and actual or potential victims was good. Assessment and planning work to reduce the risk of harm was completed well in a large majority of cases. There were systems in place to ensure oversight of, and partner contributions to, the management of risk of harm. Delivery of victim work, restorative justice and reparation was well structured although evidence for the uptake of direct work with victims was lacking. Barriers to information sharing between the police and YOS, as a result of the recently reduced capacity of the seconded police officer, inhibited the use of intelligence as part of case management. Protecting children and young people Overall work to protect children and young people and reduce their vulnerability was satisfactory. Although the majority of work to protect children and young people was completed sufficiently well, we saw a small number of cases in which the assessment and planning of vulnerability was weak, and which, on further investigation, revealed a number of systemic problems. Work was child-centred and there was a positive working relationship between the YOS and children's social care in many cases. Interventions to reduce unnecessary use of custody were good. However, more complex safeguarding cases revealed deficits in the YOS's collective knowledge, levels of staff training, management oversight and governance arrangements. Ensuring the sentence is served Overall work to ensure that the sentence was served was good. Practitioners across the YOS demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment and knowledge of their cases. There was evidence of good working relationships with children and young people and their parents/carers, who were largely positive in their comments about their contact with the YOS. Diversity needs were met well and where barriers to engagement were encountered, these were generally dealt with constructively. The use of self-assessment tools was inconsistent and some children and young people felt their views were not fully taken into account. Governance and partnerships Overall, the effectiveness of governance and partnership arrangements was satisfactory. The governance arrangements for the YOS were complex, with separate board arrangements in place for oversight of performance and safeguarding. Performance against youth justice key indicators was good, although membership and attendance at the YOS Performance and Governance Board had been inconsistent from some partners. More use could have been made of available data to understand trends, drive performance improvement and provide challenge. Governance and oversight of YOS safeguarding work was not sufficiently robust, lacked prominence on key agendas and did not feature in the local Youth Justice Plan. There was, however, some strong partnership work, particularly around health, education, training and employment. Interventions Overall the management and delivery of interventions to reduce reoffending were good. We found that the YOS had a good range of appropriate and accessible interventions available to children and young people. Where provision was external to the YOS, referral systems and pathways were in place. Most offence targeted work was undertaken on a one-to-one basis, although a number of group based interventions were also available. Materials used were focused on the reduction of reoffending. In a small number of cases, required interventions were not delivered. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Probation, 2015. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 1, 2015 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/Trafford-FJI-250215.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/Trafford-FJI-250215.pdf Shelf Number: 135081 Keywords: Interventions Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Reoffending

Author: Villettaz, Patrice Title: The Effects on Re-offending of Custodial vs. Non-custodial Sanctions: An Updated Systematic Review of the State of Knowledge Summary: As part of a broad initiative of systematic reviews of experimental or quasi-experimental evaluations of interventions in the field of crime prevention and the treatment of offenders, our work consisted in searching through all available databases for evidence concerning the effects of custodial and non-custodial sanctions on re-offending. For this purpose, we examined, in 2006, more than 3,000 abstracts, and identified more than 300 possibly eligible studies. For the update, nearly 100 additional potentially eligible studies published or completed between 2003 and 2013 have been identified. For the update, 10 matched-pair design studies and one RCT have been abstracted. One study (Bergman 1976) that, in 2006, had been classified as an RCT turned out, after closer examination, to have been quasi-experimental with respect to the comparison of the custodial and the non-custodial groups. As a result, it has been "downgraded" and included among the quasi-experimental studies in this update. The findings of the update confirm one of the major results of the first report, namely that the rate of re-offending after a non-custodial sanction is lower than after a custodial sanction in most comparisons. However, this is true mostly for quasi-experimental studies using weaker designs, whereas experimental evaluations and natural experiments yield results that are less favourable to non-custodial sanctions. It can be concluded that results in favour of non-custodial sanctions in the majority of quasi-experimental studies may reflect insufficient control of pre-intervention differences between prisoners and those serving "alternative" sanctions. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2015. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Reviews, 2015:1: Accessed April 1, 2015 at: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/?go=monograph&year=2015 Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/?go=monograph&year=2015 Shelf Number: 135108 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Crime Prevention Custodial Sentences Re-Offending Recidivism

Author: New Zealand. Ministry of Social Development Title: Evaluation Report for the Military-style Activity Camp (MAC) Programme Summary: This report outlines the findings from an evaluation of the Military-style Activity Camp (MAC) programme. The MAC programme, introduced in October 2010 as part of the Government's Fresh Start reforms, targets 40 of the most serious and persistent youth offenders in New Zealand each year. MACs are delivered in partnership by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The evaluation, carried out between February and June 2013, identifies parts of the MAC programme that are working well or not so well and examines early evidence regarding the overall effectiveness of the MAC programme. The evaluation uses several methods of data collection, including qualitative interviews with residential and community-based staff and a small number of young people; an analysis of CYF administrative data; in-depth case studies of four young people; and a reoffending outcomes analysis for MAC participants taking place six months and 12 months after completion of their Supervision with Residence (SwR) orders. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2013. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2015 at: www.msd.govt.nz Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: www.msd.govt.nz Shelf Number: 135140 Keywords: Juvenile Delinquents Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Treatment Programs Wilderness Treatment Programs

Author: Bohmert, Miriam Northcutt Title: Access to Transportation and Outcomes for Women on Probation and Parole Summary: The current study focuses attention on a previously understudied topic - transportation deprivation in women offenders. This is a timely and important endeavor given the scale of mass incarceration, number of women on probation and parole, and the numerous barriers women with a criminal record face. The study utilizes a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design of transportation access and its causes and effects on recidivism for 402 women on probation and parole. The study has two phases. The quantitative, first phase, of this project combines multiple indicators of transportation access (e.g., time, cost, stress related to travel) into one composite access score; tests hypotheses linking resources to transportation access; and tests for direct and moderating effects of transportation access on probation/parole violations and recidivism. Quantitative analyses are able to identify associations between transportation resources, transportation access, criminogenic needs, and recidivism; however, the analyses raised questions about why or why not associations were present. To address these questions, a second phase, a qualitative component, undertook analyses to increase understanding of (1) women's experiences and feelings (e.g., any stress, ease) about getting around while under supervision, (2) their strategies for increasing transportation resources and access, (3)the role of transportation access in attending, or missing, required/needed programming and supervision appointments, and (4) whether and how supervision violations or new offenses resulted from lack of transportation access. The follow-up sample included 75 women. The findings of the quantitative analysis found, first, the scope of transportation deprivation was found to be quite extensive; women reported low levels of individual and community level resources. Second, an instrument (a composite score) was found to adequately capture women's level of transportation access. Third, several resources were found to predict transportation access: owning or leasing a vehicle, having a valid driver's license, having difficulty walking, having poor vision, having friends who could help with transportation needs, and living in an area with a low community accessibility score. Fourth, transportation access was found to lower the odds of experiencing recidivism events and the time until these events occurred. Fifth, the findings indicate that transportation access is especially important for women with certain criminogenic needs - those with antisocial friends, histories of child maltreatment, greater family support and greater self-efficacy. The findings of the qualitative analysis found that, first, women experience one to ten types of transportation problems such as difficulty arranging rides, using inadequate bus services and relying on unreliable people for transportation help. Second, women were found to utilize several resources not previously known such as using agency-provided bus tokens or benefitting from having an understanding and non-punitive supervision agent. Third, nine previously unrecognized strategies were identified such as planning in advance for appointments, building extensive support networks and making use of several modes of transportation. Fourth, the relationship between transportation access and recidivism was found to be moderately strong. Overall, the findings indicate that training parole and probation agents to recognize and respond to women's transportation needs will be beneficial. Similarly, transit authorities can benefit from understanding the limitations of their services for women offenders. Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2014. 117p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 8, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248641.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248641.pdf Shelf Number: 135181 Keywords: Female Parolees (U.S.) Female Probationers Recidivism Transportation

Author: KPMG Title: Evaluation of the Drug Court of Victoria: Final Report Summary: The Drug Court of Victoria (DCV, 'the Court') was established in May 2002 to further improve the safety of the community by focusing on the rehabilitation of offenders with a drug and/or alcohol dependency, and by providing assistance in reintegrating them into the community. It was designed using international best practice principles on the basis of the 10 key principles defined by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and U.S. Department of Justice in 1997. Since 2005, the DCV has received ongoing funding, including additional national drug strategy funding, and has had an operating budget of approximately $1.6 million per annum. The Court has not been evaluated since 2005, however in 2010, the Victorian Auditor General released a report finding that problem solving approaches to justice in Victoria had reduced recidivism. In response to this, the government at the time confirmed that problem solving courts would remain in operation, and the then Attorney-General stated 'we are looking to identify successful elements which can be taken up and implemented more widely'. To this end, it is understood that the Magistrates' Court of Victoria (MCV) is considering how the DCV may deliver its services to the wider community, including a proposal for expansion to additional locations. KPMG has been engaged by the MCV to undertake an evaluation of the DCV over the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013. The objectives of the evaluation are to: - assess the performance of the DCV against its specified activities and anticipated outcomes; - document key lessons learnt from the Court; and - provide an evidence base to inform government decision-making. Key evaluation questions have been drawn from the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) evaluation policy and standards for evaluating lapsing programs, to facilitate the use of the evaluation in any potential future funding bid. These include consideration of: - What is the evidence of a continued need for the DCV and the role for government in delivering it? - Has the DCV been effective, considering progress made towards its stated objectives and outcomes and the alignment between the Court, its outputs, MCV's objectives and government priorities? - Has the DCV been delivered within its scope, budget, expected timeframes and in line with appropriate governance and risk management practices? - Has MCV demonstrated efficiency and economy in delivering the DCV? The evaluation has sought to collect both quantitative and qualitative evidence to support key findings and recommendations, and this has included analysis of DCV participant related data, finance data, a recidivism study undertaken by the Department of Justice (DoJ) for the purposes of this evaluation, a review of publicly available literature and data, and widespread consultation with key stakeholders, including program participants. Details: Melbourne: Magistrates' Court of Victoria, 2015. 138p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 8, 2015 at: http://www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/141218%20Evaluation%20of%20the%20Drug%20Court%20of%20Victoria.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/141218%20Evaluation%20of%20the%20Drug%20Court%20of%20Victoria.pdf Shelf Number: 135191 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Courts (Australia) Drug Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Elwick, Alex Title: Improving outcomes for young offenders: An international perspective Summary: This review of international approaches to education and interventions for young people in custody identifies differences between judicial systems, and in particular youth justice systems, across the world. It focuses on reoffending behaviour in these different systems and the methods these administrations employ to address the issue. The review draws upon a series of case studies from a range of high-performing jurisdictions in order to exemplify institutions, interventions and programmes which have either been shown to have a positive impact on reoffending or indirectly contribute towards these acknowledged or proven high-performing systems. Based upon these case studies, a number of key features of provision for young offenders in custody emerge which, within their own contexts, contribute to a successful approach. These include: - Education is placed at the heart of an institution's focus. - Interventions are personalised and targeted. - Staff are given multidisciplinary training, often to graduate level, and custodial staff are also involved in the education of offenders. - Institutions are relatively small, and are split into units which are even smaller. - There are high ratios of staff to offenders. - Offenders are assigned mentors who work with them up to 12 months after their release. - Activities within the community are a key aspect of provision. - Residential facilities are locally distributed, situated reasonably close to the homes of young offenders. Building on this analysis, a number of recommendations are made in terms of the future of youth custody in England and Wales: Details: Reading, Berkshire, UK: CfBT Education Trust, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://cdn.cfbt.com/~/media/cfbtcorporate/files/research/2013/r-improving-outcomes-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://cdn.cfbt.com/~/media/cfbtcorporate/files/research/2013/r-improving-outcomes-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 135268 Keywords: Educational Programs Evidence-Based Programs Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Reoffending

Author: Munyo, Ignacio Title: First-Day Criminal Recidivism Summary: We find that on any given day the number of inmates released from incarceration significantly affects the number of offenses committed that day, and we name this "first-day recidivism." Our estimates are robust to a variety of alternative specifications. We run a series of placebo experiments that further support our causal interpretation of the results. We also find evidence that an increase in the amount of money received by prisoners at the time of their release significantly decreases first-day recidivism, and that first-day recidivism is restricted to crimes with a direct financial motivation. These findings suggest that our results are driven by liquidity constraints. Details: Buenos Aires: Universidad de SanAndres, 2014. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2015 at: ftp://webacademicos.udesa.edu.ar/pub/econ/doc113.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Uruguay URL: ftp://webacademicos.udesa.edu.ar/pub/econ/doc113.pdf Shelf Number: 135334 Keywords: Economics and Crime Property Crime Recidivism

Author: Disley, Emma Title: Phase 2 report from the payment by results Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough Summary: At a time when government finances are stretched there is growing interest in finding new ways to fund public services. One new funding model currently being tested is a Social Impact Bond (SIB). A SIB is a form of payment by results in which funding is obtained from private investors to pay for interventions to improve social outcomes. If these interventions are effective, this should result in savings to government and wider benefits to society. As part of a SIB, the government agrees to pay a proportion of these savings back to the investors. If outcomes do not improve, investors do not receive a return on their investment. In September 2010 the first ever SIB was launched in the UK. Approximately L5 million was invested by private individuals and charities is being used to pay for interventions for offenders discharged after serving short prison sentences (less than 12 months) at HMP Peterborough, a prison in eastern England. RAND Europe has been commissioned to evaluate the development, implementation and operation of this first ever SIB. This report is the second from the independent evaluation. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 62p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed April 23, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phase-2-report-from-the-payment-by-results-social-impact-bond-pilot-at-hmp-peterborough Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phase-2-report-from-the-payment-by-results-social-impact-bond-pilot-at-hmp-peterborough Shelf Number: 135370 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice (U.K.) Interventions Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Social Impact Bonds

Author: Moore, Simon Title: A brief evaluation of Cardiff Triage Summary: Triage takes an holistic approach in addressing multiple aspects of clients' lives in order to reduce the incidence of First Time Entrants to the Criminal Justice System with a view to preventing their reoffending. Actions are taken by Triage through referring youth to appropriate services in order to address and support youngsters' problems that may relate to (but are not limited to) matters concerned with their family, substance use and education. Cardiff Triage is managed by Media Academy Cardiff (MAC). MAC is a private limited company founded in May 2010 that works to engage vulnerable young people in South East Wales. In August 2010 MAC won the tender to deliver Triage in conjunction with Cardiff and Vale Youth Offending Services (YOS). Triage is primarily delivered in Cardiff Bay Police Station, the central arrest point for the city of Cardiff. The aims of Triage are to reduce First Time Entrants and reoffending among 10-17 year olds and to provide provision to support and meet the needs of young people and their families, helping them to address those risk factors that are associated with reoffending. Triage is a multiagency approach and, in its current form in South Wales, has (within two years) attracted national recognition (e.g.Cardiff Triage was nominated for the national award in the Times Educational FE awards in the "Outstanding Contribution to the Community" category and received a Careers Wales Award). Triage is delivered by the MAC Director, three case workers (all youth workers who are employed by MAC), one victim worker (who also supervises Triage staff), two volunteer family workers, a sessional worker and a half-time seconded drug and alcohol worker. Volunteers also contribute to delivery of the project. The implementation of Cardiff Triage is associated with a reduction in First Time Entrants of 65%. Having Triage Case-Workers located in the Cardiff Bay Custody Suite means referrals can be immediate and therefore saves police time and resources. Triage has been in place for just over two years and therefore data relating to long-term outcome is unavailable. Efforts should be made to capture these data, including data from clients as they transition into adulthood, so that the long-term effectiveness and likely cost-savings of Triage might be captured. Triage provides a service to vulnerable youngsters that most likely mitigate long-term risk to themselves, their families and their community's well-being. Triage successfully integrates a range of services and provides an important focus at which the community and service providers can work together towards reducing crime and the impact of crime in both the short and in the long-term. Though involving victims, offenders, the police service and service providers Triage demonstrates early opportunities for realigning resources towards a robust proactive and preventative model and away from a reactive punitive approach. The veracity of the services provided through Triage are undermined by funding uncertainties; uncertainties that diminish long-term strategic planning, training opportunities, and the further development of expertise required for closer collaboration with partner agencies and the retention of valued staff. While a reduction in reoffending in the client group is a key outcome for Triage, activity spills over into more intangible measures, including a reduction in fear of crime, improving the relationship between partner agencies, including the police and the local community, and facilitating cross agency networking and engagement. Details: Cardiff, Wales: Violence & Society Research Group Cardiff University, 2012. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2015 at: https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/youth-justice/effective-practice-library/cardiff-triage-evaluation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/youth-justice/effective-practice-library/cardiff-triage-evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 135397 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders (Wales) Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Treatment Programs Young Adult Offenders

Author: Borden, Barbara Ann Title: Summary: This study examined the impact of risk factors and existing federal sentencing policies and practices on the likelihood of recidivism for female white collar offenders. The research combined and expanded prior literature on female offending, white collar crime, and recidivism, by creating a "profile" of the female white collar offender, identifying risk factors of recidivism from female offending and feminist pathways literature present in the population of federal female white collar offenders, and informing revision of current federal sentencing policies that result in the imposition of unnecessarily harsh sanctions for this group of low-risk, first-time (and likely one-time), female offenders. No prior studies have applied theories of feminist pathways offending to recidivism by female white collar offenders. Data from a recent national data set of offenders who began a term of federal probation or supervised release between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2007 were used to provide a fresh look at female white collar offenders sentenced after implementation of the mandatory United States Sentencing Guidelines, but before judicial discretion was returned to federal sentencing courts by the United States Supreme Court. Overall, the study found that female white collar offenders are plagued by risks of recidivism common to all types of female offenders, including those recognized in pathways literature, and their profile more closely resembles the female offender than the public's image of a "white collar" offender. Details: Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma, 2014. 164p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/13389/2014_Borden_Barbara_A_Dissertation.pdf?sequence=2 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/13389/2014_Borden_Barbara_A_Dissertation.pdf?sequence=2 Shelf Number: 135501 Keywords: Female Offenders Punishment Recidivism Sentencing White Collar Offenders (U.S.)

Author: Schaefer, Lacey Title: Environmental Corrections: Making Offender Supervision Work Summary: With nearly five million offenders under community correctional supervision, the time has come to seriously question the efficacy of probation and parole. In terms of resource expenditures, public safety, recidivism reduction, and offender outcomes, there is ample room for improvement. Unfortunately, most current offender supervision practices are of limited value. The balance of treatment and control espoused by most community corrections agencies is ineffective, often resulting in nothing more than bureaucratic case management. Moreover, both of these models of probation and parole as practiced are largely defunct. In the first instance, efforts to reduce offender propensity often fail to adopt the principles of effective correctional intervention. In the second, efforts to deter offenders from misbehaving have produced little more than an increase in technical violations of supervision conditions. Accordingly, a new framework for probation and parole supervision is sorely needed. Determining how to reduce recidivism among community-supervised offenders leads us to consider why criminal acts occur. The answer is that two conditions must be present: An individual must have the propensity to offend and must also have the opportunity to offend. A considerable amount of research has been dedicated to discovering the criminogenic needs that must be targeted for change in order to reduce criminal propensity. By contrast, relatively little is known about what offender supervisors might do to reduce the crime opportunities of probationers and parolees. Notably, Cullen, Eck, and Lowenkamp (2002) propose that environmental criminology can help guide the development of innovative strategies that limit supervisees' chances to offend. They reconceptualize probation and parole supervision as "environmental corrections," a model in which officers would work to enhance the informal social control offenders are subject to, reduce offenders' access to crime opportunities, and restructure offenders' routine activities with prosocial influences. The aim of this dissertation is to elaborate on these ideas, developing a new strategy for offender supervision that is based on opportunity reduction. In so doing, the following roadmap is taken. Chapter 1 outlines the drawbacks of current probation and parole practices, demonstrating the limited effectiveness of existing treatment and control orientations to offender supervision. Chapter 2 introduces the components of environmental criminology, discussing how the advances of crime science have produced practical programs that reduce crime opportunities. Chapter 3 applies these theories to offender supervision, discussing strategies for preventing probationers and parolees from encountering situations where there are high-risk chances to commit crime. Chapter 4 presents assessment technologies for community corrections officers to use in discerning where, when, why, and with whom offenders commit crimes, developing methods for using this information to reduce the actual crime opportunities of supervisees. Chapter 5 demonstrates how cognitive-behavioral techniques can be used to help probationers and parolees recognize, avoid, and resist available chances to offend. Chapter 6 identifies how community corrections authorities can partner with the police to further limit supervisees' crime opportunities. In closing, Chapter 7 features eight lessons learned from the current elaboration of environmental corrections supervision that can help to make probation and parole work Details: Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati, 2013. 293p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 6, 2015 at: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:ucin1377875062 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:ucin1377875062 Shelf Number: 135528 Keywords: Community Corrections Offender Supervision Parole Parolees (U.S.) Probation Probationers (U.S.) Recidivism

Author: Hiller, Matthew Title: Waukesha Alcohol Treatment Court (WATC): Process and Outcomes Summary: This report presents findings from a process and outcome evaluation of the Waukesha Alcohol Treatment Court (WATC), a program initiated by a group of local stakeholders to address the Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) problem endemic to the county and to Wisconsin as a whole. With 3 years of implementation funding provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the program has been in operation since April 2006. Specifically, this report examines an exhaustive sample of participants admitted to the WATC between May 1, 2006 and May 15, 2009. Process data summarized below compared the implementation of the program to both the plan laid out in the narrative of the grant funded by BJA as well as the 10 Key Components, a commonly accepted guideline that details the program theory underlying these types of programs. In addition to this, the outcome evaluation portion of this study compared WATC participants with a "waiting list" comparison group of 3rd OWI offenders who were precluded from participation because they served out their jail time before a program slot became available. In general, findings showed that the program continues to be implemented well, adhering closely to the plan laid out in the grant proposal and to the 10 Key Components. Analysis of outcome data showed a measurable impact on 2-year recidivism rates, with 29% of the WATC group being rearrested for a new offense compared to 45% of the comparison group. More specifically, the process evaluation shows a number of program strengths, including a team of dedicated professionals (with limited turnover evident), intensive supervision of convicted 3rd OWI offenders (a niche that historically has received limited local attention), a much greater than anticipated retention rate, and a high degree of on-going program fidelity. Suggested improvements include more fully integrating substance abuse treatment into the program, engaging the District Attorney's office more actively in the program, and careful study of why OAR rates do not drop significantly while the participants are in the program (possibly suggesting the need for a specialized intervention focused around transportation issues faced by those in the program). With respect to the outcome evaluation, reductions in overall recidivism (combining new OWI, OAR and other criminal offenses) were observed. However, because OWI reoffending was infrequently observed in both the comparison and WATC groups, additional study using larger samples and longer follow-up intervals is needed to determine whether the WATC substantially reduces the risk for OWI recidivism (i.e., small differences were observed, but statistical power was too low to determine whether these differences were statistically meaningful). In conclusion, the WATC is a well-implemented program that is measurably impacting recidivism among individuals convicted for their 3rd OWI offense. It fulfills an important niche in the post-conviction supervision of these individuals (who are typically not under probation supervision after release from jail or Huber). Future examinations should determine the extent to which costs offset by the program (related to new offense and to the number of days participants do not serve on their original jail/Huber sentence because they are being supervised in the community) relate to costs incurred by the program. Details: Philadelphia, PA: Temple University, Department of Criminal Justice, 2009. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://www.dwicourts.org/sites/default/files/nadcp/WATC_Outcome_Evaluation-final%20draft.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.dwicourts.org/sites/default/files/nadcp/WATC_Outcome_Evaluation-final%20draft.pdf Shelf Number: 135617 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Courts Alternatives to Incarceration Driving Under the Influence Drug Treatment Courts Drunk Driving Problem Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Cissner, Amanda B. Title: The Drug Court Model and Persistent DWI: An Evaluation of the Erie and Niagara DWI/Drug Courts Summary: In June 2007, the New York State Unified Court System launched hybrid DWI/drug courts in Erie and Niagara Counties to address the issue of persistent driving while intoxicated (DWI). The courts, based on the proven drug court model, target nonviolent felony DWI offenders who have at least one prior DWI conviction and who are identified as having an alcohol abuse problem. An earlier process evaluation describes the DWI court model, documenting court policies, implementation challenges, and participant characteristics (Washousky 2008). The current report evaluates the impact of the Erie and Niagara courts on re-arrest and case processing. Outcomes were compared between 90 DWI court participants and 259 similar defendants sentenced by judges in Erie and Niagara. Weighting techniques were implemented to adjust for baseline differences in current charges, prior criminal history, and key demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race). In addition, the report examines DWI court compliance and alcohol use outcomes among the participant sample. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2009. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/dwi_court_evaluation.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/dwi_court_evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 135618 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Courts Alternatives to Incarceration Driving While Intoxicated Drug Courts Drug Offenders Drunk Driving Problem Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Sapouna, Maria Title: What Works to Reduce Reoffending: A Summary of the Evidence Summary: This evidence review was undertaken to support strategic thinking regarding what works to reduce reoffending. The aim of the review was to examine the research into reducing reoffending, the process(es) by which individuals stop offending, and the impact of the criminal justice system in these processes. It does not consider strategies to reduce the risk of crime more generally, such as through early interventions, increasing the costs of offending or reducing opportunities to offend, as these areas are the focus of a separate Scottish Government published review of the literature on what works to reduce crime[1]. The review draws on published journal articles, books and reports from academics, government bodies and independent researchers. It is important to note that the review does not provide an all-inclusive overview of research into what works to reduce reoffending, but rather constitutes a collation of the material which could be identified and accessed within a relatively short space of time. This is the second version of the What Works to Reduce Reoffending review, and it is hoped that this paper will remain a work in progress that will be updated as additional evidence becomes available. Details: Edinburgh: Justice Analytical Services Scottish Government, 2015. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2015 at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00476574.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00476574.pdf Shelf Number: 135654 Keywords: Desistance from Crime Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending (Scotland)

Author: Ja, Davis Y. Title: The Repeat Offenders Prevention Project (ROPP) of the City/County of San Francisco: A final evaluation report Summary: In the late 1980�s and early 1990�s, Orange County conducted exploratory studies that resulted in the identification of characteristics or �risk factors� associated with serious, chronic offending by juveniles (Schumacher and Kurz, 2000). Over a three-year period, first-time offenders with these risk factors were found to account for 55% of all repeat offenses. Commonly referred to as the �8% Problem� or �8% Population,� these juveniles constituted only 8% of all first time offenders. The �8% Population� risk factors identified in the Orange County research were:  Being a first-time ward of the juvenile court at age 15 � years or younger  Displaying at least three of the following:  School behavior and performance problems (attendance problems, suspension/expulsion, failure of two or more classes);  Family problems (poor supervision/control, history of domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, family members with criminal backgrounds);  Substance abuse problems (regular use of alcohol or drugs); and/or  High-risk pre-delinquent behaviors (e.g., stealing, chronic runaway, gang membership or association). In 1994, the California Legislature established a three-year pilot project, contingent upon the appropriation of funds, to be called the Repeat Offender Prevention Project (ROPP). The legislation called for the counties of Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Mateo and Solano to design, establish, implement, and evaluate a model program to meet the needs of the �8% Population� as identified in the Orange County research. The enabling legislation (Welfare and Institution Code Sections 743-749), further specified that:  Programs involve a collaborative team approach to case assessment and management  Both the participating youth and their families receive services developed by a multi-disciplinary team  Each program be evaluated by randomly assigning all eligible juveniles to ROPP (treatment group) or to standard probation (comparison group), and then comparing the groups on the following outcomes at 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month intervals:  Number, subject matter and disposition of subsequent petitions to declare the minor a ward of the juvenile court;  Number of days served in any local or state correctional facilities;  Number of days of school attendance during the current or most recent semester; and  Grade point average for the most recently completed school semester  Each county submit written progress reports and evaluation reports to the Board of Corrections (Board)  Based on the county reports, the Board provide annual reports to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the programs in achieving the demonstration project and program goals The 1996/97 Budget Act (Chapter 162) appropriated $3.5 million for ROPP. The 1997/98 Budget Act (Chapter 282) augmented the initial funding by $3.5 million and extended the grant expiration date from June 30, 1999 to June 30, 2000. In 1998, the Legislature passed AB 2594 (Chapter 327), which made the City/County of San Francisco eligible for ROPP funds. In addition, the 1998/99 Budget Act (Chapter 324) appropriated another $3.8 million to ROPP and extended the grant to June 30, 2001. To give counties the opportunity to increase the number of participants in their projects as well as the time needed to thoroughly assess the impact of interventions, the Legislature subsequently extended the grant period until June 30, 2002 and provided $3.8 million to fund this extension in the 2000/01 Budget Act (Chapter 52). San Francisco County received a total of $981,254 in State funds to implement ROPP, and contributed an additional $1,637,642 in local funds. This report describes San Francisco County�s ROPP program and the results of the program evaluation. Details: San Francisco: Davis Y. Ja and Associates, Inc., 2003. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2015 at: http://www.dyja.com/sites/default/files/u20/ROPP_Final_Report.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://www.dyja.com/sites/default/files/u20/ROPP_Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135705 Keywords: Chronic Offenders Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending Repeat Offenders

Author: Duncan, L. Title: Youth Reoffending in Northern Ireland (2010/11 Cohort) Summary: This bulletin provides information on the one year proven reoffending rate for a cohort of youths who received a non-custodial disposal at court, a diversionary disposal or were released from custody during 2010/11. A youth is defined as anyone aged 17 and under at this point. Of the 3,248 young offenders included in the 2010/11 youth cohort, 772 (24%) committed a proven reoffence within a year following being released from custody, given a non-custodial disposal at court or receiving a diversionary disposal. Almost half (47%) of the 772 who reoffended committed their first reoffence within the first three months following being given a non-custodial disposal, receiving a diversionary disposal or release from custody. The number of reoffences within the year ranged from one to 55. In terms of offending history, 47% had committed previous offences ranging from one to 72 distinct offences. Reoffending rates largely increased as the number of previous offences increases. Overall, 14% of females and 27% of males had reoffended. Of the 32 youths released from custody, 25 committed a proven reoffence. The one year proven reoffending rate for youths who received a community disposal at court requiring supervision was 54%. The one year proven reoffending rate for youths who received a community disposal at court not requiring supervision was 43%. The one year proven reoffending rate for youths who received a diversionary disposal was 19%. The highest reoffending rates were found amongst those who had committed a baseline offence in the "Burglary" category (36%), followed by "Public Order" (33%). Details: Belfast: Analytical Services Group, Department of Justice, 2014. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 21, 2015 at: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/stats-research-publications/reoffending-stats-and-research/6-2014-youth-reoffending-in-ni-2010-11-cohort.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/stats-research-publications/reoffending-stats-and-research/6-2014-youth-reoffending-in-ni-2010-11-cohort.pdf Shelf Number: 135740 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending Young Adult Offenders

Author: Denman, Kristine Title: Prison Program Utilization and Recidivism among Female Inmates in New Mexico Summary: Successful reintegration into the community after prison is of great import for both offenders and the public as nearly all prisoners will eventually return to the community. Current estimates indicate that the number of individuals incarcerated nationally in 2013 was 1,574,700, up slightly from 2012 (Glaze and Kaeble, 2014). While females consistently comprised approximately 7% of the total number of individuals incarcerated in state facilities nationally between 2000 and 2013, the rate at which the population of females in state custody grew exceeded that of males (21% between 2000 and 2010 versus 15% of males during the same time period) (ibid). Unfortunately, the majority of former prisoners recidivate. Among a national sample of prisoners released in 2005, over two-thirds were re-arrested within three years of release and nearly 77% were re-arrested within five years; recidivism was highest for property offenders (Durose, Cooper, and Snyder, 2014). While females were re-arrested at lower rates than males, 68% of females were re-arrested five years post-release (ibid). New Mexico has consistently experienced an increase in its female prison population over the past several years. In 2011, the female prison population exceeded the prison capacity, forcing the women to temporarily use a segregated pod at the nearby men's prison. Since fiscal year 2010, the women's prison population jumped by nearly 14% (NMSC, 2014). In response, the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility (NMWCF) increased its bed capacity to 744 to accommodate the additional inmates. This is not the first time, though, that New Mexico experienced such increases in its female population. Indeed, in response to a burgeoning population, in 2003 the NMCD initiated a gender-responsive model aimed at promoting successful female reentry through appropriate programming (Carr, 2007). Prison programming is important for inmates. Many enter prison with deficiencies in their education, job histories, and in other aspects of their personal lives. Indeed, appropriate in-prison programming can help prisoners successfully reintegrate into society. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, 2015. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2015 at: http://isr.unm.edu/reports/2015/prison-program-utilization-and-recidivism-among-female-inmates-in-new-mexico.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://isr.unm.edu/reports/2015/prison-program-utilization-and-recidivism-among-female-inmates-in-new-mexico.pdf Shelf Number: 135768 Keywords: Correctional Programs Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners Gender-Specific Programs Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Davis, Lois M. Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education: A Meta-Analysis of Programs That Provide Education to Incarcerated Adults Summary: After conducting a comprehensive literature search, the authors undertook a meta-analysis to examine the association between correctional education and reductions in recidivism, improvements in employment after release from prison, and learning in math and in reading. Their findings support the premise that receiving correctional education while incarcerated reduces an individual's risk of recidivating. They also found that those receiving correctional education had improved odds of obtaining employment after release. The authors also examined the benefits of computer-assisted learning and compared the costs of prison education programs with the costs of reincarceration. Key Findings Correctional Education Improves Inmates' Outcomes after Release - Correctional education improves inmates' chances of not returning to prison. - Inmates who participate in correctional education programs had a 43 percent lower odds of recidivating than those who did not. This translates to a reduction in the risk of recidivating of 13 percentage points. - It may improve their chances of obtaining employment after release. The odds of obtaining employment post-release among inmates who participated in correctional education was 13 percent higher than the odds for those who did not participate in correctional education. - Inmates exposed to computer-assisted instruction learned slightly more in reading and substantially more in math in the same amount of instructional time. - Providing correctional education can be cost-effective when it comes to reducing recidivism. Recommendations - Further studies should be undertaken to identify the characteristics of effective programs in terms of curriculum, dosage, and quality. - Future studies should incorporate stronger research designs. - Funding grants would be useful in helping further the field, by enabling correctional educators to partner with researchers and evaluators to evaluate their programs. - A study registry of correctional education evaluations would help develop the evidence base in the field, to inform policy and programmatic decisionmaking. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2013. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 26, 2015 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR266.html Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR266.html Shelf Number: 129781 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Prince, Kort Title: Minors in the Utah Adult Criminal Justice System. Retrospective Characteristic Study Summary: America's youth are facing an ever changing set of problems and barriers to successful lives. Many youth are imperiled by poverty, abuse, neglect, violence, lack of education, substance abuse and poor community resources. And with these barriers comes more crimes committed by juveniles along with more juveniles sentenced as adults for heinous crimes (Thigpen, Beauclair, Innes, & Halley, 2011). Approximately a quarter-million juveniles end up in the adult criminal justice system each year and they are more likely to have a higher recidivism rate than those juveniles who are kept in the juvenile justice system (Griffin, 2008). Youth who are transferred from the juvenile justice system to the adult criminal justice system are approximately 34% more likely than youth retained in the juvenile justice system to be re-arrested for violent or other crimes (Center for Disease Control Morbidity and Mortality Report, 2007). Before 1970, juvenile offenders transferred to the adult criminal justice system in most states were court-ordered on a case-by case basis. In the 1970s and 1980s, states began to gradually adopt direct file laws1 and mandatory waiver2 laws. In the late 1980s youth violence began to rise, and in 1994 hit an all-time high, resulting in states modifying their statutes. During this time, nearly every state lowered age and offense thresholds to facilitate transfers to the adult system. The number of states with mandatory laws during this time went from 20 states to 38. Prosecutorial discretion laws3 went from being present in 7 states to 15. Transfer law changes since 2000 have been less common by comparison. Rather, states have kept the modified laws in place despite significant decreases in juvenile violence since 1994. Instead, the trend of the states is generally a refusal to review the policies (Griffin, Addie, Adams, & Firestine, 2011). In spite of the fact that states made it easier to remove juvenile cases to the adult criminal justice system, judicial waiver4 rates decreased by 35% between 1994 and 2007 (Griffin, et al., 2011). The decline in the number of cases judicially waived after 1994 may be attributable to the large increase in the number of states that passed legislation excluding certain serious offenses from juvenile court jurisdiction and legislation permitting the prosecutor to file certain cases directly in criminal court (Puzzanchera, Adams, & Sickmund, 2010). There is a concern that the lack of individualized review and lack of recourse for the juvenile, which is inherent in these types of laws, may actually increase recidivism or at the very least not decrease it. Additionally, the harmful effects on a juvenile in the adult system may counteract the deterrence effect these statutes are supposed to achieve (Mulvey & Schubert, 2012). Juvenile justice systems were created to better meet the needs of juvenile offenders; understanding that, developmentally, juvenile offenders were much different than adult criminal offenders and services should to be tailored to meet those needs. The establishments of transfer laws, however, are contrary to this notion that juvenile offenders need different services than adult offenders if recidivism is going to be reduced. Numerous research studies have shown that adult criminal justice systems are not equipped to meet both the cognitive (e.g. ability to problem solve) and environmental (e.g. family dynamics) needs that youth offenders possess, and, furthermore, were never designed to serve juvenile offenders (Redding, 2008; Washburn, 2008; Steiner, & Wright, 2006; Woorland, 2005). Understanding that juveniles do in fact commit crimes that would normally be associated with adults (e.g. murder, rape) and may require more punitive punishments, it is equally important to understand that, to be successful in rehabilitating juveniles offenders, both justice systems need to be cognizant of the characteristics of their populations, what services have and have not been provided to juvenile offenders and what the impact transferring juveniles to the adult criminal justice system is having on recidivism. To gain a better understanding of the juvenile offender population in Utah, the Utah Division of Juvenile Justice (UDJJS) partnered with the University of Utah's Criminal Justice Center (UCJC) in FY13 to embark upon a retrospective study examining the characteristics (e.g. criminal history, gender, race, and recidivism) of juvenile offenders that enter the adult criminal justice system through either the Serious Youth Offender (SYO) or Certified Youth to the Adult System (CYAS). The purpose of this study is twofold: 1) to identify and examine any unique characteristics of this population and 2) to determine the type of UDJJS interventions these youth received before entering the adult criminal justice system as a minor. It has been understood from the onset of this study that courts and juvenile justice systems cannot eliminate all criminal behaviors; nonetheless, a retrospective look at the juvenile offenses, recidivism outcomes, and placement history variables might prove useful to guide future decision-making and reduce the number of youth entering the adult system. Details: Salt Lake City: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2013. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/MIAS-Report9_5_2-13_forUCJC-Site.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/MIAS-Report9_5_2-13_forUCJC-Site.pdf Shelf Number: 129966 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Waiver (of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction)

Author: Sarver, Christian M. Title: Prisoner Reentry Initiatives: Review of the Literature and Reentry in Utah. Summary: Nearly seven million adult offenders were under some form of correctional supervision in the United States (U.S.) in 2011, compared to less than two million in 1980 (Glaze & Parks, 2012). More than 1.5 million of those were incarcerated in state or federal prison, which represents a fivefold increase in just three decades (Travis, 2008). Dramatic growth in the prison population is largely a function of criminal justice reforms that started in the mid-1970s as states moved away from indeterminate sentencing models, which were flexible, individualized, and operated under the discretion of judges and parole boards. Indeterminate models were replaced with policies intended to standardize criminal justice processes, including "truth-in-sentencing," three-strikes, and mandatory minimum sentencing legislation (Campbell, 2008). Simultaneously, in an attempt to "get tough" on crime, many jurisdictions reduced, or entirely eliminated, the practice of discretionary parole release. As a result of these changes, offenders now receive comparatively longer sentences, serve more of that sentence in prison, and are less frequently under parole supervision when they are released (Burke & Tonry, 2006; Petersilia, 2011). Sentencing reform has been identified as the primary force behind rising prison expenditures, which averaged more than $30,000 per inmate annually in 2010 (Henrichson & Delaney, 2012). Efforts to lower prison costs include reducing the number of people who are incarcerated, a strategy that is complicated by the high re-incarceration rates of released offenders (Petersilia, 2004; Taxman, 2009; Travis, 2005). Recommitment rates are fueled by use of "get tough" approaches in parole, which result in offenders being returned to prisons not only for new crimes but, more frequently, for violating the conditions of supervision (Burke & Tonry, 2006). In 2011, more than 600,000 inmates were released from state and federal facilities (Carson & Sabol, 2012). Anywhere from one-half to two-thirds of those individuals will be returned to prison within three years of release (Langan & Levin, 2002; The Pew Center for the States (PCS), 2011). Of the more than 500,000 inmates who exited parole supervision in 2011, one-third of inmates were re-incarcerated within twelve months and 65% of those were for a technical violation (Maruschak & Parks, 2012). There are a number of explanations for the frequency with which offenders are recommitted to institutions, including the collateral impacts of cycling between prison and parole. The majority of offenders enter prison with significant deficits in terms of social and financial capital (Petersilia, 2004; Raphael, 2011; Seiter & Kadela, 2003) and lengthy or repeated episodes of incarceration further disrupt community ties, social relationships, and employment (Wolff, Schi, & Schumann, 2012). When compared to the non-prison population, offenders have lower levels of education, less stable employment and housing histories, less social support, and higher levels of substance abuse (Lynch & Sabol, 2001; Visher, Yahner, & La Vigne, 2010). While the majority of prisons operate programs to address these deficits, budget constraints have limited inmates' access to services (Crayton & Neustetter, 2008; Mumola & Karberg, 2006; National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (NCASA), 2010; Petersilia, 2003). Griffiths, Dandurand, and Murdoch (2007) argue that most offenders had never fully entered society prior to incarceration and conclude that, for many, the risk of recidivism will remain elevated until they "acquire the attitudes and behaviors that result in most people functioning productively in society" (p. 3). Rehabilitative approaches to crime prevention have been viewed with suspicion since Martinson's (1974) study, which appeared to demonstrate that corrections-based treatment programs did not work. And yet, the evidence clearly shows that criminal sanctions alone do not produce long-term behavioral change (Andrews & Bonta, 2010; Cullen & Gendreau, 2000; Stemen, 2007). In contrast, treatment-oriented interventions can have a significant, positive impact on recidivism (Andrews, Bonta, & Hoge, 1990; Aos, Phipps, Barnoski, & Lieb, 2001; MacKenzie, 2006). For example, substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, correctional education, and treatment-oriented intensive supervision are all associated with reduced rates of recidivism and overall cost savings (Aos et al., 2011; Aos, Miller, & Drake, 2006; Drake, Aos, & Miller, 2009; Lipsey, Landenberger, &Wilson, 2007). The combination of longer sentences and relatively limited rehabilitation services means that inmates exit prison with a risk of offending that is similar to, or even higher than, the risk when they were admitted (Petersilia, 2011). Ex-offenders have difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment and housing; they lack positive social support and community ties; and they struggle with substance abuse and mental illness (Gaynes, 2005; Visher et al., 2010). Compounding this situation are state and federal policies that restrict ex-offenders from certain types of employment and benefits programs, including public housing and welfare assistance (Visher, Palmer, & Roman, 2007). As a result, many offenders leave prison without the skills to lead a crime-free life and without access to resources and support to develop or maintain those skills. Details: Salt Lake City: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2013. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/PrisonerReentry_final_090913.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/PrisonerReentry_final_090913.pdf Shelf Number: 129964 Keywords: Parolees Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus Title: Realignment, Incarceration, and Crime Trends in California Summary: When California's historic public safety realignment was implemented in October 2011, many were concerned about the impact it would have on crime rates. In a 2013 report, we found that realignment did not increase violent crime in its first year, but that it did lead to an increase in auto thefts. In this report, we assess whether these trends continued beyond realignment's first year. We find that both the prison and jail populations increased slightly since 2012, which means that the number of offenders on the street did not rise from the 18,000 during realignment's first year. This is likely to change with the implementation of Proposition 47, which further reduces California's reliance on incarceration. Our analysis of updated state-level crime data from the FBI confirms our previous findings. Violent crime rates remain unaffected by realignment, and although California's property crime rate decreased in 2013, it did not drop more than in comparable states-so the auto theft gap that opened up in 2012 has not closed. Research indicates that further reductions in incarceration may have a greater effect on crime trends; the state needs to implement effective crime prevention strategies-and it can learn about alternatives to incarceration successfully implemented by the counties as well as other states. Details: Sacramento: Public Policy Institute of California, 2015. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_515MLR.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_515MLR.pdf Shelf Number: 135791 Keywords: Crime Rates Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Parole Supervision Parolees Prison Overcrowding Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: New Mexico Corrections Department Title: Reducing Recidivism, Cutting Costs and Improving Public Safety in the Incarceration and Supervision of Adult Offenders Summary: New Mexico is facing a growing prison population projected to exceed current capacity within the next decade. In FY11, New Mexico spent almost $300 million to house an average of 6,700 offenders and supervise another 18 thousand offenders each day. The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) released 3,440 offenders from prison into the community that same year and if current trends continue, over half of these inmates will return to prison within five years. Although NMCD takes up a lesser amount of general fund compared with public education, the average cost per inmate in New Mexico was $34 thousand in FY10, whereas the average cost per public school student the same year was $7,300. Costs of offenders who recidivate are substantial and result in general expenses to taxpayers and specific expenses to victims. The average offender will have three trips to a NMCD facility. Therefore the citizens of New Mexico pay costs of arresting, prosecuting, housing, rehabilitating and supervising offenders many times over. Investments in programs for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation and treatment, in addition to security, are vital in improving public safety and reducing costs. The state continues to make significant investments in such programs. The NMCD provides more than 40 programs within facilities and more than 30 providers conduct programs outside of NMCD facilities designed to facilitate reentry and reduce recidivism. According to the Pew Center on the States' Public Safety Performance Project, states that strategically improve release preparation and community supervision will see falling recidivism rates. Instead of falling, New Mexico's recidivism is on the rise. The NMCD has potential to reduce costs and improve public safety. However, the NMCD currently suffers from gaps in program oversight, ineffective use of resources, and patterns of inefficient spending. Programming is inadequately targeted or tracked, resulting in expansion of unproven programs and reductions in evidence-based programming. Programs available in the community for offenders on supervision lack adequate accountability, have limited resources for high-risk offenders, and are not measured for performance by the NMCD, the Behavioral Health Collaborative (BHC), or OptumHealth. As a result, contract funds are left unspent at OptumHealth for years at a time. Reduced programming, in turn, is partially responsible for the fact that 278 inmates are serving parole inside prison. Significant opportunities exist to improve the incarceration and supervision of offenders in New Mexico. The NMCD has recognized many of these and have started working on improving reentry and use of evidence based programs before this report was issued. As a part of this evaluation, the LFC has partnered with Results First, a project of the Pew Center on the States and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to implement a cost-benefit model that has the potential to be a key tool in strategic budget development. This report includes initial results from that model along with recommendations to improve assessment, management, and allocation of NMCD resources with a focus on development and expansion of evidence-based programs. If implemented, these recommendations will provide the tools needed to properly assess programs, result in cost-savings for the NMCD, and result in improved public safety outcomes. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Corrections Department, 2012. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Report #12-07: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/handouts/BHS%20101812%20NM%20Corrections%20Department%20LFC%20Program%20Evaluation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/handouts/BHS%20101812%20NM%20Corrections%20Department%20LFC%20Program%20Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 128720 Keywords: Correctional Institutions Correctional Programs Costs of Corrections Costs of Criminal Justice Inmates Prisoners Prisons Recidivism

Author: Simpson, Stewart Title: The use of Safer Lives in Scotland with young people displaying sexually harmful behaviours Summary: This report, written by the CYCJ's Stewart Simpson (Practice Development Advisor) and Nina Vaswani (Research Fellow) considers the research literature as well as the extent and nature of the implementation of Safer Lives in Scotland, by drawing on practitioners' experiences and a small sample of cases in one Local Authority area. The Safer Lives programme was introduced in 2008 in Scotland to support individual work with children and young people under the age of 18 who are involved with harmful sexual behaviour or sexual offending behaviour. This paper set out to consider the impact of Safer Lives in Scotland in two phases. Firstly, it aimed to consider the impact of the model's delivery by practitioners across Scotland: including examining the quality of training for practitioners and their opportunities to deliver the work with young people; and where they had been involved as trainers, their opportunities to deliver the training. This was achieved through a series of surveys. Phase two, initially, aimed to examine the impact of the model on recidivism in young people with the original aim being to consider twenty cases from across Scotland's thirty-two local authority areas. Whilst it was not possible to collate data as planned, it has been possible to raise some examples of practice through analysis of the data available and compare it with the practice experience of one of the authors. The findings of the first phase concluded that practitioners tended towards the view that Safer Lives had had a positive impact on their practice, most often by adding to their available 'tool kit', but at times in a more transformative way. Practitioners also believed that to embed and further roll out Safer Lives nationally in a consistent way, it was necessary to establish a stronger evidence base and a better understanding of the outcomes achieved in using the model. Additionally, those who had experience of delivering the model and training staff were of the view that to be able to offer continuity in delivery of training and interventions, additional resources were required. This could be, for example, a dedicated pool of staff who could develop more expertise in delivering the training, offering quality assurance. Considering the data available in phase two of the evaluation, no conclusions on outcomes and recidivism could be drawn. However, examples of different methods of delivery of the model were identified and through undertaking a brief literature search, these offered theoretical perspectives that assimilate with the methods used in the assessment and intervention of young people. This work proposes that further research would be required to consider the merits of wider roll out of the model and offers a potential structure for a future study. However, the challenges of undertaking such a study in a small country with high levels of Safer Lives saturation are outlined. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice, 2015. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2015 at: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-use-of-safer-lives-in-Scotland-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-use-of-safer-lives-in-Scotland-report.pdf Shelf Number: 135792 Keywords: Child Sex Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Sex Offenders Treatment Programs

Author: Sarver, Christian M. Title: Parole, Re-incarceration, and Desistance: Utah Parolees Summary: The current study complements the earlier literature review and survey of Utah reentry practices and is comprised of two parts. Part I provides a quantitative description for a cohort of Utah parolees, describing their demographic backgrounds, criminal history, and programmatic factors that predict parole violations and new criminal offenses. Part II, based on interviews with 50 Utah parolees, is a qualitative analysis of offenders' experience returning to the community after release from prison. In particular, the qualitative portion of the study explores parolees' perceptions of those things that foster and inhibit reintegration after incarceration. Details: Salt Lake City: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2014. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2015 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/Reentry_Yr2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/Reentry_Yr2.pdf Shelf Number: 135793 Keywords: Desistance Parole Parolees Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Duncan, L. Title: Adult Reoffending in Northern Ireland (2011/12 Cohort) Summary: This bulletin provides information on the one year proven reoffending rate for the cohort of adults who received a non-custodial disposal at court, a diversionary disposal or were released from custody during 2011/12. An adult is defined as anyone aged 18 or over at the time of disposal or release from custody. Of the 28,751 adult offenders included in the 2011/12 cohort, 5,116 (18%) committed a proven reoffence within a year following being released from custody, receiving a non-custodial disposal at court or receiving a diversionary disposal. Overall, 41% of the 5,116 who reoffended committed their first reoffence within the first three months following court sentencing, receiving a diversionary disposal or release from custody. The number of reoffences within the year ranged from one to 30 per person. In terms of offending history, 60% had committed previous offences, ranging from 1 to 576 distinct offences. Reoffending rates largely increased with the number of previous offences. Overall, 11% of females and 19% of males or other genders had reoffended. The one year proven reoffending rate for adults released from custody was 48%. The one year proven reoffending rate for adults who received a community disposal at court requiring supervision was 33%. The one year proven reoffending rate for adults who received a community disposal at court not requiring supervision was 18%. The one year proven reoffending rate for adults who received a diversionary disposal was 14%. The highest reoffending rates were found amongst those who had committed a baseline offence in the "Robbery" category (44%), followed by "Burglary" (37%). Details: Belfast: Department of Justice, Analytical Services Group, 2014. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Research and Statistical Bulletin 18/2014: Accessed May 29, 2015 at: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/stats-research-publications/reoffending-stats-and-research/18-2014-adult-reoffending-in-northern-ireland-_2011-12-cohort_.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/statistics-research/stats-research-publications/reoffending-stats-and-research/18-2014-adult-reoffending-in-northern-ireland-_2011-12-cohort_.pdf Shelf Number: 135804 Keywords: Adult Offenders Crime Statistics Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Bueche, James K., Jr. Title: Adult Offender Recidivism Rates: How effective in Pre-Release and Vocational Educational Programming and What Demographic Factors Contribute to an Offenders Return to Prison Summary: The primary purpose of this study was to determine if the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections' 100 hour pre-release program and vocational education had a significant impact on offender recidivism. Additionally, a model of predicating offender recidivism using demographic data was another aspect of the study. Offenders in the study were 404 offenders who completed the pre-release program, 404 offenders who completed vocational education and 808 offenders who composed the control group. All offenders were released from prison in the year of 2010, and if they returned to prison between their release and December 31, 2013, they were considered to have been a recidivist for the purpose of the study. The effectiveness of the 100 hour pre-release and vocational education was conducted using SPSS with the chi-square test for program significance. Based on the test, neither program was found to have a significant impact on recidivism. However, when examining percentages of return to prison between the three groups, vocational education offenders performed the best and offenders who completed the 100 hour pre-release program had the highest percentage of offenders returning to prison. The ability to develop a predictive model for recidivism utilizing select demographic factors was attempted using SPSS with the Binary Logistical Regression analysis. The demographic factors used were age, sex, race, marital status and education. A predictive model was unable to be established with this population. However, when looking at the population, being a male or a young offender was found to be predictors that were significantly tied with offender recidivism as individual characteristics. Based on the body of research and the findings of the study, recommendations concerning the 100 hour pre-release program and vocational education suggest these programs need additional components of cognitive development training and community supports to show a greater impact on recidivism. Also, the creation of a reliable and valid risk model based on the total offender population is necessary. By implementing effective programs and having the correct offenders entering these programs, a reduction in recidivism may be more significant. Details: Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University, 2014. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07022014-161114/unrestricted/Bueche_diss.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07022014-161114/unrestricted/Bueche_diss.pdf Shelf Number: 135809 Keywords: Correctional Programs Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: McGibbon, Karen Anne Patricia Title: Rehabilitation as Reformation: Pastoral Counselling for Criminal Offenders - Confronting Jamaica's Crime Dilemma Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of Pastoral Counselling as a fitting approach in rehabilitating criminal offenders in Jamaica with the aim of reducing recidivism rates among the prison population. Qualitative methods (interviewing, case studies, and focus groups) were utilised. Three basic aims were examined: the effectiveness of current rehabilitative methods, receptiveness of male criminal offenders to Pastoral Counselling and the effectiveness of Pastoral Counselling to rehabilitate criminal offenders. Findings suggest that a desire to serve and please God significantly influences inmates to obey the laws. The combination of spiritual mentoring, discipleship and opportunities to earn an honest living may lead to a productive lifestyle and community service. Findings confirm the literature on Christianity based rehabilitation of criminal offenders that faith-based rehabilitation significantly reduces recidivism rates. Additionally, recommendations are offered for corrections and Christian prison ministries. Details: Edmonton, Alberta: St. Stephen's College, 2010. 117p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235908825_Rehabilitation_as_Reformation_Pastoral_Counseling_for_Criminal_Offenders_-_Confronting_Jamaica%27s_Crime_Dilemma Year: 2010 Country: Jamaica URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235908825_Rehabilitation_as_Reformation_Pastoral_Counseling_for_Criminal_Offenders_-_Confronting_Jamaica%27s_Crime_Dilemma Shelf Number: 135811 Keywords: Criminal Offenders Faith-Based Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Religion

Author: Hyatt, Jordan Title: The Impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on the Recidivism of High Risk Probationers: Results from a Randomized Trial Summary: Community corrections are being used with increasing regularity for the supervision and management of serious and violent offenders. Attempts to increase the frequency and severity of conditions of supervision have not resulted in meaningful decreases in crime rates among this population. Some encouraging results, however, have been observed when a treatment component is integrated into supervision protocols. This dissertation first examines the theories and current research that inform this shift in strategies. Secondly, we evaluate for the first time, a cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention developed to reduce recidivism within a high-risk, male probation population. This dissertation begins with a review and synthesis of the literature, both in criminology and psychology, regarding the development of cognitive-behavioral techniques designed to reduce recidivism. Next, the unique characteristic of the intervention being evaluated are set out in Chapter 3. The logistics and characteristics of the randomized trial itself are discussed in Chapter 4. This section includes an overview of the risk forecasting procedures used to identify the experimental sample and the randomization scheme employed. In the following section, the impact of the cognitive-behavioral intervention delivered in Philadelphia is evaluated. Using techniques standard within experimental research, a significant reduction in the prevalence of non-violent offending and some forms of drug use are identified. An instrumental variable analysis is then used to better specify effect sizes in light of relatively high treatment dilution. Finally, implications for future research and public policy are discussed in Chapter 6. After 12 months, there were some significant and meaningful differences within the measures of prevalence of offending. Fewer offenders assigned to the treatment group (33.9%) than control (40.5%) were charged with an offense of any kind (p=.041). Therefore, assignment to the Life Skills program caused a 7.5% decrease in the number of offenders committing non-violent crimes. Significant reductions were also noted in the proportion of urinalysis screenings that were positive for PCP and time-to-failure for non-violent offending. Using randomization as an instrumental variable to compensate for treatment dilution, the reduction in the prevalence of non-violent offending was estimated at 18.8%. This research contributes to the broader literature by reinforcing the hypothesis that an integrated treatment-control supervision strategy is a viable approach for probation agencies seeking to both increase levels of control and reduce recidivism. Specifically, the results reported here represent the first, randomized outcome evaluations of an innovative form of cognitive-behavioral therapy with that specific goal. Secondly, the integration of these findings into the literature using meta-analytic techniques may better inform our understanding of the actual effects and promises of community-based recidivism-reduction programming. Finally, the innovations in experimental design and implementation developed during this project may serve as both an inspiration and a caution for other experimental criminologists. Details: Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2013. 246p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1802&context=edissertations Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1802&context=edissertations Shelf Number: 135811 Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Community Corrections Community Supervision Probationers Recidivism Recidivism

Author: Gallagher, Brittany E. Title: Science and Sustainability Programs in Prisons: Assessing the Effects of Participation on Inmates Summary: This paper examines the effects of participating in prison-based science and sustainability programs on inmates. Washington's Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP) hosts environmental and conservation work programs that incorporate elements shown by previous research to inspire positive changes in inmate attitudes. Many of these changes are associated with reductions in recidivism, including educational and vocational training, therapeutic benefits, and opportunities to contribute to the outside community. Participants in a statewide survey of inmates (n=293) included those with nine sustainability-related job types and a control group with non-sustainability-related jobs. Dunlap et al.'s (2000) New Ecological Paradigm Scale was used to assess environmental attitudes. An original "Life & Work" questionnaire assessed attitudes on pursuing education, work satisfaction, skill development, interpersonal relationships, outlook for the future, and health. Results from the Washington Department of Corrections (WDOC) Offender Needs Assessment were also examined for changes over time by participant job type. Questionnaire results show that offenders whose jobs involved more education/training, work with living things, and opportunities to contribute to the community tended to score higher on the NEP, indicating that these elements are associated with more pro-environmental attitudes. As pro-environmental attitudes are correlated with pro-social attitudes (Bamberg & Moser 2007; Hines et al. 1987), SPP and WDOC might consider incorporating more of these elements into other work programs. Details: Olympia, WA: Evergreen State College, 2013. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed June 2, 2015 at: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/gallagher_bmesthesis2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/gallagher_bmesthesis2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129972 Keywords: Correctional Programs Inmate Work Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Vocational Education and Training

Author: Rotter, Merrill Title: Reducing Criminal Recidivism for Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness: Risk/Needs/Responsivity and Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions Summary: Decreased criminal recidivism, particularly resulting from new crimes with new victims, is the measure most consistently desired by programs, policymakers, and funding agencies for justice-involved individuals with mental illness. This one measure captures both improved client stability and public safety, while providing support for the promised decreased jail-day cost savings required to sustain continued financial resources (Almquist, 2009; Milkman, 2007). Evidence-based practices (EBP) with track records of effectiveness in treating serious mental illness, co-occurring substance abuse, trauma, and motivational challenges have been utilized with some success in forensic populations (CMHS National GAINS Center, n.d.). However, recent reviews of offender-focused and jail diversion programs found that many EBPs, such as Assertive Community Treatment, may achieve symptom reduction but not decrease criminal recidivism (Morrissey, 2007; Case, 2009; Skeem, 2009). In fact, studies indicate that offenders with mental illness share diagnoses and treatment needs similar to those of individuals with mental illness who do not commit crimes. However, with reference to recurrent criminal behavior, offenders with mental illness share the same risk factors for offending as their non-mentally ill counterparts (Epperson, 2011). In this document, we review the leading offender recidivism - targeted intervention paradigm: Risk/Needs/Responsivity (RNR). RNR proposes that to address the community behavior of offenders: the intensity of treatment and supervision should match the "Risk" level for re-offense; the treatment provided should match the individual "Needs" most clearly associated with criminality; and the intervention modalities should match those to which the individual is most "Responsive" (Andrews, 2010). In particular, we focus on criminal thinking, one of the identified "needs," and structured cognitive-behavioral interventions from the worlds of criminal justice and mental health that were created or adapted to specifically target the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with criminal recidivism. Details: Rockville, MD: SAMHSA's GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, 2013. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed June 3, 2015 at: http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/cms-assets/documents/141805-776469.cbt-fact-sheet---merrill-rotter.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/cms-assets/documents/141805-776469.cbt-fact-sheet---merrill-rotter.pdf Shelf Number: 135866 Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Evidence-Based Practices Mentally Ill Offenders Mentally Ill Persons Recidivism

Author: Vander Hart, Scott J. Title: Does Prison Substance Abuse Treatment Reduce Recidivism? Summary: The Iowa Department of Corrections faces a growing prison population expected to quickly exceed current capacities. Additionally, nine out of every ten offenders have a history of alcohol or drug problems - often both. Research suggests that alcohol and drugs lead to criminal behavior, which lead offenders right back to prison creating a vicious circle and placing a financial and societal burden on the state. However, research also shows that substance abuse treatment can minimize criminal behavior, and offers a way to shut the revolving prison door. Substance abuse programming attempts to change offender thinking patterns and behavior in order to facilitate re-entry back into the community, lessen substance abuse relapse and reduce recidivism. Yet nearly 60% of offenders with identified needs are not treated, and many lacking treatment are high risk. Additionally, the percentage of offenders returning to prison varies significantly from program to program and some programs can not show they have reduced recidivism when compared to offender groups with substance abuse problems and receiving no treatment at all. All of which minimize the effect substance abuse programming has in curbing prison population growth and reducing crime. The Department of Corrections intends to reduce recidivism through evaluation of program fidelity and implementation of evidence-based practices. Many of the programs are already structured to accommodate continuous improvement centered on desired outcomes. Population characteristics and the type and level of community support can also significantly influence recidivism. All of which call for the department to: - Enhance community support and other re-entry initiatives to reinforce desired behaviors in the community where offenders face situations that can lead to relapse and criminal behavior; and - Develop planning, evaluation and service delivery approaches that support integrated substance abuse programming across the prison and correctional system, and enable internal benchmarking of "best practices." Details: Des Moines: Iowa Department of Management, Performance Audit Program, 2007. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://publications.iowa.gov/5092/1/DOC_Substance_Abuse_Report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://publications.iowa.gov/5092/1/DOC_Substance_Abuse_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135895 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Substance Abuse Treatment Treatment Programs

Author: ICF GHK Title: 'London Reducing Reoffending Programme' Evaluation Summary: The 'London Reducing Reoffending Programme' (LRRP) was an innovative Payment by Results (PbR) programme that aimed to reduce youth reoffending in London. The evaluation involved extensive qualitative fieldwork with stakeholders from across the programme, including young offenders themselves. In total 185 interviews were conducted including 93 with young offenders participating in the programme. A proven re-offending study was conducted to explore whether a cohort of young people supported by LRRP had a conviction recorded in the twelve months since joining the programme. It compares the twelve months before the cohort of young people joined the programme with the twelve months after they joined, whether or not these participants were in custody or in the community at the time of registration. 'DIESEL'3 is the database developed for performance management of the ESF programme by the LDA and provides information about the young people engaged by LRRP; Police National Computer (PNC) data provides data about the number and type of convictions recorded for those young people. The cohort of young people for this study is all of those registered with LRRP from the inception of the programme in April 2010 to the end of October 2010. This is so a period of twelve months, plus six months for any convictions to be processed within the criminal justice system, can be analysed. This is the standard approach to the period of time to consider in studies of re-conviction carried out by the MoJ and Home Office. But we have not been able to take account of when any participants were released from custody when we know they served a custodial sentence, due to limitations of the data available to the evaluation. This is an important caveat in the analysis that means it does not meet the other elements of what would be expected in a standard approach. Although the analysis provides the strongest approach possible with the available data, in addition to the caveat relating to missing custody release data the approach also means that no young offenders who engaged with LRRP from October 2010 - and as the programme matured - are included. To include all programme participants would require an analysis beginning in 2014 (to enable the twelve plus six months for all). Thus there are two very important caveats to consider when drawing conclusions from the analysis. There is also no counterfactual or comparison group for the evaluation. This is because LRRP was pan-London in approach and therefore there was not geographical targeting to enable within London comparisons to be identified. It was not feasible to seek the engagement of areas outside of London within the resources available to the evaluation (with time and commitment required from other authorities) and the initial timescale for analysis and reporting. The evaluation also includes: the analysis of DEISEL data; a self-assessment survey; and data from the assessment tools used with young offenders (ASSET for those aged up to 17 years and OASys for those aged 18 years and over). These latter two elements are not included in this summary due to low numbers of cases. The evaluation was structured using a programme theory, or 'theory of change' approach. It was peer reviewed by academic experts. Details: Birmingham, UK: ICF GHK, 2013. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2015 at: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Specs%202-4%20Evaluation%20Final%20Report%20-%20Full%20report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Specs%202-4%20Evaluation%20Final%20Report%20-%20Full%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 135917 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Young Adult Offenders

Author: Victoria. Sentencing Advisory Council Title: Reoffending Following Sentence in Victoria: A Statistical Overview Summary: Reducing reoffending following the imposition of a sentence is one of the primary aims of sentencing and of the criminal justice system generally. However, widely used measures of reoffending in Victoria are of limited value in assessing the effectiveness of sentencing because they: - focus on a group of people that represents a small proportion of all people sentenced; - limit the type of event that counts as reoffending; and - use a relatively short follow-up period. This study proposes a measure of reoffending that overcomes some of these limitations. The measure used here focuses on offenders who receive any sentence type on multiple occasions over a nine-year period. Using this measure, the present study provides an overview of reoffending following sentence in Victoria. Using an alternative measure of reoffending to commonly quoted measures, Reoffending Following Sentence examines reoffending patterns for 63,366 people sentenced in Victorian criminal courts between July 2004 and June 2014. Details: Melbourne: Sentencing Advisory Council, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2015 at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Reoffending%20Following%20Sentence%20in%20Victoria_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Reoffending%20Following%20Sentence%20in%20Victoria_0.pdf Shelf Number: 135978 Keywords: Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Boxall, Hayley Title: Prior offending among family violence perpetrators: A Tasmanian sample Summary: It is common practice to assess the risk of family violence recidivism and the efficacy of perpetrator treatment outcomes by taking into account the offending histories of offenders. However, the relationship between the frequency of family violence offending and other types of offending has not been fully explored. This study provides a snapshot of the six year offending histories of a cohort of Tasmanian family violence perpetrators. What emerges is a clear association between the frequency of family violence incidents and a history of other offending. That is, a group of family violence perpetrators engaged in high levels of family violence offending were identified as committing a range of other types of violence, traffic offences and the breach of violence orders. The findings from this study have implications for policy and practice, including the treatment and identification of family violence perpetrators. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 493: Accessed July 9, 2015 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi493.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi493.pdf Shelf Number: 135990 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Recidivism

Author: Keaton, Sandy Title: Workforce Partnership Inc.: Youthful Offender Evaluation Summary: Approximately 200,000 juveniles and young adults reenter society from juvenile correctional facilities or state and federal prisons each year, many lacking the skills or resources to successfully transition back to the community. Recognizing the unique needs of youthful offenders, the San Diego Workforce Partnership (Workforce Partnership), at the guidance of the Youth Council directed federal Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I Youth funds to serve youthful offenders re-entering local communities after incarceration The Workforce Partnership, in turn contracted with three non-profits to implement the Youthful Offender program throughout the San Diego region. The Workforce Partnership also contracted with the Criminal Justice Research Division of SANDAG, to conduct a process and impact evaluation on all 402 youth who entered the Youthful Offender program between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009, and exited by June 30, 2010. Seventy percent of the 307 youth who exited as of June 30, 2010, successfully completed the program as measured by achieving at least one of their major goals (e.g., educational or employment). At six-month follow-up about one in five (22%) of the 206 youth who completed the entire follow-up period were arrested and only 13 percent had a new conviction. Multivariate analysis revealed that successful completion of the program or being employed at exit significantly reduced the likelihood of being arrested six months postexit. Overall, both staff and youth were pleased with the effectiveness of the program. The information garnered from this report will inform both program staff and the Workforce Partnership as they continued to hone the implementation of the Youthful Offender program. Details: San Diego, CA: SANDAG, Criminal Justice Research Division, 2011. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2015 at: http://sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1934_18980.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1934_18980.pdf Shelf Number: 136074 Keywords: Employment Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Vocational Education and Training Youthful Offenders

Author: Baglivio, Michael Title: The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Disposition Matrix: A Validation Study Summary: As part of the Juvenile Justice System Improvement Project (JJSIP), the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) has developed and implemented a Disposition Matrix to guide Juvenile Probation Officers in their recommendations to the court. This report is the first assessment as to whether dispositions/placements made according to the Disposition Matrix suggestions have more successful outcomes than those made which deviate from the Disposition Matrix recommendations. Highlighted Results: 92% of the dispositions fell within the Disposition Matrix suggested range. Female youth were more likely to receive an optimum placement than male youth. White and Hispanic youth were more likely to receive an optimum placement than Black youth; Youth receiving placements within the Disposition Matrix suggested range had significantly lower subsequent recidivism than those placed outside of the suggested range. This result held true for males, females, across race/ethnicity, and for all risk levels of youth. Overall, the 12 month recidivism rate of those placed outside of the Disposition Matrix suggestions is two times higher than that of those placed within the suggested range; The recidivism rate of low risk to re-offend youth placed outside of the Disposition Matrix suggestions is 114% higher than the rate for low risk youth placed within the suggestions. The recidivism rate for high risk to re-offend youth placed outside of suggestions is 39% higher than the rate for high risk to re-offend youth placed within suggestions. Similar results hold true for moderate and moderate-high risk to re-offend youth, though not as pronounced; For males, a disposition/placement above guidelines is associated with a 67% increase in recidivism from the optimum placement rate, and a below guidelines disposition/placement is associated with a 148% increase in recidivism from the optimum placement rate; For females, a disposition/placement above guidelines is associated with a 43% increase in recidivism from the optimum placement rate, and a below guidelines disposition/placement is associated with a 304% increase in recidivism rate from the optimum placement rate; Youth who receive optimum placements have the highest success rates both during and after placement. Youth who receive placements below suggestions, meaning not restrictive enough according to the Disposition Matrix, have the worst performance. The recidivism rate for all race/ethnic subgroups was over 50% for below guidelines dispositions/placements; Dispositions/placements made outside of the Disposition Matrix suggestions lead to over 1.5 times more failures in terms of a comprehensive measure that includes both adjudications during placement and within 12 months of release; The failure rates on a comprehensive measure including both offenses and violations during service and 12 month recidivism for above guidelines placements was 59% higher than those of optimum placements and the failure rates for below guidelines placements was 108% higher than those of optimum placements; Regardless of the outcome measure examined (recidivism, offenses during service, or a combined metric of both) dispositions/placements within the Disposition Matrix performed significantly better than those outside of the suggested range. Details: Tallahassee: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Bureau of Research and Planning, 2014. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2015 at: http://www.djj.state.fl.us/docs/research2/the-fdjj-disposition-matrix-validation-study.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.djj.state.fl.us/docs/research2/the-fdjj-disposition-matrix-validation-study.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Shelf Number: 136078 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Reform Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism

Author: Prince, Kort Title: 2013 Outcome Evaluation of Salt Lake County's Felony Drug Court Program Summary: Background Salt Lake County's Adult Felony Drug Court (FDC) program began in 1996. Three previous evaluations of the efficacy of the Salt Lake County FDC were conducted in 2000, 2001, and 2005. These studies generally showed a positive effect of drug court participation with lower recidivism rates for drug court participants compared to other offenders (Harrison & Parsons, 2000; Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ), 2001). However, the 2005 study (Van Vleet, Hickert, & Becker) indicated that the lower recidivism rates associated with drug court participation were not significant when other covariates were included. Pre-intervention arrests were the only significant predictor of rearrest. Purpose The purpose of the present study is to provide a current outcome evaluation of the Salt Lake County FDC program. FDC participants who exited in the years 2009-2011 (referred to as participants for the remainder of the report) were selected in order to allow for a sufficient post-exit follow-up period (approximately two years) for the majority of the cohort. Because the identification of a comparison group was outside the scope of this study, the analyses focus on pre- to post-exit changes in recidivism (new charges and convictions), examining the influence of length of program participation, exit status (positive, negative, neutral) and demographic factors. Participant Characteristics The 2009-2011 cohort of participants was primarily White (85%) and male (59%), with an average age of 30 years. The graduation rate for this group was 82% (positive exits; compared to 5% neutral exits and 13% negative exits). Average length of participation was 18-21 months (Mn = 84 weeks; Md = 71 weeks). Recidivism Regardless of exit status, participants had fewer new charge arrests, including drug and property crime charges, in the 18 months after program completion when compared to the 18 months before. This decline cannot be confidently attributed to FDC participation, however, because successful program completion and program duration were not associated with significant reductions in recidivism for any crime except person crimes (though other marginally significant results were found). When comparing pre- and post-program recidivism for person offenses, participants who spent comparatively more time in drug court had fewer new charge arrests in the 18-month post-program follow-up period. Similarly, participants with positive and neutral exits showed significant pre-post decline in person offenses, and participants with negative exits did not. Regardless of exit status, participants had fewer new convictions for any crime, including drug crimes, in the 24 months after program completion when compared to the 24 months before. Longer time in the program was a marginally significant predictor of reductions in convictions for any crime from pre- to post-program. Client Factors Related to Outcomes After controlling for pre-program convictions, there were no differences between males and females or whites and minorities in terms of the number of post-program convictions for either drugs or any crime. When compared to younger clients, clients who were older at the time of intake had less post-program recidivism. An increase in client age of one year was associated with a 1% decrease in the likelihood of post-program convictions. Similarly, neither sex nor minority status was a significant predictor of successful program exit (graduating), but age was. Each one-year increase in age increased the likelihood of successful program completion by 1%. Discussion The most consistent finding of this report is the considerable reduction in criminal recidivism for all FDC groups (positive, neutral or negative exit statuses) from pre- to post-program. It is important to note that pre-program new charge arrests and convictions include the episode that led to their placement in the FDC program if the timing of the offense(s) fell within the time window (e.g., 12 months, 18 months). Longer program duration was occasionally (though often only marginally) associated with less recidivism. This outcome suggests that the FDC program, with respect to some criminal behavior, may (with respect to some criminal behavior) reduce recidivism as a function of exposure to the program and its procedures (e.g., treatment, continual monitoring). Regardless of exit status, the program may have some positive benefits on participants simply as a result of their length of program participation (i.e., whether the participant graduates or not). This interpretation should be regarded with caution, however, as the finding was not robust across all variables and timeframes, and program duration was not associated with lower drug related recidivism (which one might assume would be the area most affected by the FDC program and its procedures). Although all recidivism variables showed remarkable pre to post-program reductions, results should be interpreted with caution until a comparison group can be included in a research design. If a statistically matched comparison group were included in a future analysis (even with retrospective data), and the FDC group showed greater reductions in recidivism compared to the comparison group, it could be more confidently asserted that the FDC program was the cause of the differential improvement. Details: Salt Lake City, UK: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2013. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 20, 2015 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/FDC-Outcome-Evaluation-Final-2013-Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/FDC-Outcome-Evaluation-Final-2013-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 136115 Keywords: Drug Courts Drug Offenders Felony Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Waters, Kevin Title: The Tattooed Inmate and Recidivism Summary: The empirical relationship between inmates with and without tattoos upon post-release recidivism has been virtually ignored in modern criminological research. Only one published study has directly examined the relationship between inmate tattoos and recidivism (Putnins, 2002). This study tracked 898 released Australian juvenile offenders for a brief period and found support for a link between tattoos and violent recidivism. The purpose of the current study is to provide a rigorous empirical assessment of the consequence of inmate tattoos on the likelihood of recidivism among a large cohort of offenders released from prison. The study examines a cohort of 79,749 released inmates from Florida prisons from 1995 through 2001 and tracks them over a three year follow-up to assess the impact of several tattoo variables on recidivism. Findings reveal that released inmates with tattoos, particularly numerous and highly visible ones, are more likely to be reconvicted during the follow-up period. Further, the findings indicate that there are two distinct inmate profiles namely the younger novice to the corrections system and the older, longer-term prisoner that are distinguishable by the number of tattoos possessed that increase the odds of recidivism. The implications of the findings are discussed in terms of policy, theory, and future research. Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University, 2012. 188p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 20, 2015 at: http://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6782&context=etd Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6782&context=etd Shelf Number: 136119 Keywords: Recidivism Tattoos

Author: Fontaine, Jocelyn Title: Safer Return Demonstration: Impact Findings from a Research-Based Community Reentry Initiative Summary: The Safer Return demonstration, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, intended to promote successful reentry by addressing key individual needs, introducing system reforms, and improving local conditions in Chicago's Garfield Park neighborhood. To understand whether the demonstration met its intended goals, Urban designed a quasi-experimental impact evaluation that included: multiple waves of survey data from community residents, former prisoners, and their family members; program and cost data from Safer Return service providers; and administrative corrections and employment records. Safer Return participation was associated with significant reductions in returns to prison (chiefly due to technical violation reductions) and significant increases in employment/wages. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2015. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2015 at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/2000276-Safer-Return-Demonstration-Impact-Findings-from-the-Research-Based-Community-Reentry-Initiative.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/2000276-Safer-Return-Demonstration-Impact-Findings-from-the-Research-Based-Community-Reentry-Initiative.pdf Shelf Number: 136131 Keywords: Community-Based Programs Families of Ex-Offenders Family-Based Case Management Prisoner Reentry (U.S.) Recidivism Safer Return Demonstration

Author: Roman, Caterina G. Title: Child Support, Debt, and Prisoner Reentry: Examining the Influences of Prisoners' Legal and Financial Obligations on Reentry Summary: Former prisoners are increasingly facing the burden of financial debt associated with legal and criminal justice obligations in the U.S., yet little research has pursued how - theoretically or empirically - the burden of debt might affect key outcomes in prisoner reentry. To address the limited research, we examine the impact that having legal child support (CS) obligations has on employment and recidivism using data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI). In this report we describe the characteristics of adult male returning prisoners with child support orders and debt, and examine whether participation in SVORI was associated with greater services receipt than those in the comparison groups (for relevant services such as child-support services, employment preparation, and financial and legal assistance). We also examine the lagged impacts that child support obligations, legal employment and rearrest have on each other. Results from the crossed lagged panel model using GSEM in STATA indicate that while having child support debt does not appear to influence employment significantly, it does show a marginally significant protective effect - former prisoners who have child support obligations are less likely to be arrested after release from prison than those who do not have obligations. We discuss the findings within the framework of past and emerging theoretical work on desistance from crime. We also discuss the implications for prisoner reentry policy and practice. Details: Philadelphia: Temple University, Department of Criminal Justice, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248906.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248906.pdf Shelf Number: 136134 Keywords: Child Support Children of Prisoners (U.S.) Criminal Justice Debt Desistance Ex-Offender Employment Inmates Families Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: Young people returning to sentenced youth justice supervision 2015 Summary: The rate of return to sentenced youth justice supervision is an indicator of the effectiveness of the services provided to young people serving supervised sentences. Around 20% of those aged 10-16 when released from sentenced community-based supervision in 2012-13 returned to sentenced supervision in 6 months, and 44% returned within 12 months. The rate of return was higher for those released from sentenced detention: 50% returned to sentenced supervision within 6 months and 76% returned within 12 months Details: Canberra: AIHW, 2015. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Juvenile Justice Series No. 18: Accessed July 29, 2015 at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129551648 Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129551648 Shelf Number: 136243 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Sentences Community-Based Corrections Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: McGuire, James Title: What works in reducing reoffending in young adults? A Rapid Evidence Assessment Summary: This Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) examined 'what works' in reducing the reoffending of young adult offenders, defined here as those aged between 18 and 25 years. Ten relevant and sufficiently rigorous studies were identified. The quality and robustness of these studies varied, and the interventions they tested ranged from Restorative Justice (RJ) schemes, to re-entry systems and structured offence-focused programmes. Several of these studies reported positive effects in changes in risk factors, and in reductions in recidivism. The strongest evidence emerged from structured parole re-entry schemes, and from offending behaviour programmes. There was more limited evidence in support of RJ interventions. Key findings - The REA identified 10 studies that evaluated interventions with young adults (aged 18-25). Six of these studies observed an impact on recidivism. - The strongest evidence of sizeable reductions in recidivism among young adults comes from two studies of structured parole re-entry systems. - There is evidence of reductions in criminal recidivism of several types following prison-based offending behaviour programmes and from a structured high-intensity detention regime. - There is some evidence that following victim-offender conferences, applying an RJ model, there are reductions in reoffending, at least when focused on property crimes. - A seventh study examining whether treatment for mental health problems had an effect in reducing criminal charges also yielded positive findings but its findings are not wholly conclusive and are difficult to interpret. - The more military-style (Military Corrective Training Centre, MCTC) detention regime, in common with other studies of this type of intervention, produced no positive outcomes. Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449347/reducing-reoffending-in-adults.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449347/reducing-reoffending-in-adults.pdf Shelf Number: 136259 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Youth Adult Offenders

Author: Stewart, Lynn Title: Effective interventions for Women offenders: A Rapid Evidence Assessment Summary: This summary presents the findings of a review of the evidence of what interventions, and targets for intervention, reduce women's reoffending. The review also examines evidence of factors that promote desistance from crime. The review was commissioned to assist the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in designing an evidence-based commissioning strategy by summarising the evidence base into "what works" to address key areas. Key findings - Evidence suggests that the following reduces women's offending: (1) substance abuse treatment, in particular in-custody or hierarchical therapeutic community programmes that apply a cognitive-behavioural intervention focusing on skill development; (2) a gender-responsive cognitive-behavioural programme that emphasises existing strengths and competencies, as well as skills acquisition; (3) community opioid maintenance, which may reduce offending rates while the women are in treatment; (4) booster programmes that assist in maintaining treatment effects through community follow-up, which appear to contribute to improved outcomes; (5) gender-responsive approaches, which show promise relative to gender-neutral programmes. - Appropriate treatment targets for women offenders overlap with those of male offenders. Factors found to be consistently related to women's recidivism are: antisocial personality (problems with impulse control, emotion regulation and hostility), antisocial peers, antisocial attitudes and substance abuse. Targeting offenders with the most serious levels of substance abuse for treatment should be part of any strategy to reduce women's criminality. - Women's violent crime, including partner assault, is associated with alcohol abuse; acquisitive crime and soliciting are related to serious drug abuse. Very little research examines the effectiveness of programmes in reducing women's violence. - Serious mental health issues are associated with violent offending among some women offender samples. For these women, mental health needs must be stabilised prior to participation in programmes that address criminogenic need. - A prosocial personal identity may permit women to take advantage of potential opportunities to establish desistance from crime. This suggests that interventions that use motivational, solution-focused techniques, encouraging women to seek their own meaningful "hooks" for lifestyle change, could promote desistance. - Programmes for women offenders may be particularly effective if they focus on higher-risk offenders. - Single-target programmes focusing only on reducing the effects of trauma do not appear to contribute to reductions in women's reoffending. Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448859/effective-interventions-for-women-offenders.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448859/effective-interventions-for-women-offenders.pdf Shelf Number: 136260 Keywords: Desistance Female Offenders Gender-Specific Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: Brooks, Andrew Title: An Investigation into the Effectiveness of the Focus on Resettlement (FOR) Programme: A Reoffending Study Summary: The FOR programme is a short cognitive-behavioural intervention attended by offenders in prison just prior to release and which aims to increase their motivation to engage with services providing assistance with resettlement. Initial contact is made with these agencies before release with follow up post release thus providing a bridge from custody back into the community. This study used propensity score matching (PSM) to measure the effectiveness of the programme in reducing one-year proven reoffending for the participants from 2004 when it was first implemented to June 2009. Treated and control groups of equal size were used: a male sample of 473 and a female sample of 266. The study aims to assess whether the resettlement programme can contribute to reducing reoffending. This is a historic look at data that had accumulated before significant changes to the content of the FOR programme were made, including an independent quality assurance process replacing peer audit, further training in writing objectives and a more robust framework for continuity between custody and community. Key findings There was no significant change in reoffending rates for males who attended FOR (59.5%) compared to a matched control sample (56.5%). There was no significant change in reoffending rates for females who attended FOR (40.6%) compared to a matched control sample (44.0%). There was no significant difference in the time to first offence between the FOR group and the matched control sample for either the male or female analyses. Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449631/investigation-into-the-FOR-programme.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449631/investigation-into-the-FOR-programme.pdf Shelf Number: 136264 Keywords: Cognitive Skills Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Treatment Programs

Author: Moore, Robin, ed. Title: A compendium of research and analysis on the Offender Assessment System (OASys): 2009-2013 Summary: The compendium presents the OASys studies completed between 2009 and 2013, including a systematic review of the underlying evidence base, a survey of assessors' views and experiences, and analyses of various aspects of reliability and validity. Updated versions of the operational risk of reoffending predictors are presented. The findings support the continuing development of offender assessment. Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 367p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Series: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449357/research-analysis-offender-assessment-system.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449357/research-analysis-offender-assessment-system.pdf Shelf Number: 136266 Keywords: Offenders Prediction Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment

Author: Travers, Rosie Title: Who benefits from cognitive skills training? Summary: The Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme was a cognitive skills training programme commissioned by NOMS for both prison and community settings with the aim of reducing reoffending. Cognitive skills training programmes teach offenders skills such as problem solving, consequential thinking, decision making, moral reasoning, perspective taking and emotional control. They have been extensively evaluated in the UK and elsewhere and have repeatedly been found to have a positive impact on reconviction rates (e.g. Sadlier, 2010; Travers et al., 2013). One previous study in Canada suggested that cognitive skills programmes may have more impact with some offenders than others. The aim of this research was to explore whether more nuanced targeting of cognitive skills programmes could improve their overall impact and thus make better use of resources. Key findings - Examining recidivism rates for around 21,000 men released from custody between 1997 and 2005 who had attended cognitive skills training while in prison showed that overall the programme was associated with significantly less reconviction than was predicted. The reconviction rate for the whole sample was 47.2%, which was 8.4 percentage points lower than predicted. - Some types of offender seem to benefit more than others, in terms of reduced recidivism rates, from cognitive skills training. The people who appeared to benefit most were violent offenders (reconviction rate 17 percentage points lower than predicted) and sexual offenders (reconviction rate 13 percentage points lower than predicted). - Prisoners with index convictions for robbery and burglary who attended cognitive skills training did not have lower reconviction rates than predicted. - Recidivism rates were lower than predicted for prisoners in all risk bands except the very lowest (where only 10% were predicted to reoffend) and the highest (where over 80% were predicted to reoffend). - These findings are consistent with a previous study of a different cognitive skills programme in Canada and therefore point to the conclusion that offence type appears to have an important influence on programme impact. It seems likely that for offenders convicted of burglary and robbery, other factors are more important to address than thinking skills. More relevant factors might be, for example, financial motivation, substance misuse, or pro-criminal attitudes. - To be sure that this is the right conclusion, further work is needed to check whether the risk predictor OGRS works equally well for different types of offenders. A control group design would also be a better way to test for any differential impact of cognitive skills training. Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448751/who-benefits-from-cognitive-skills.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448751/who-benefits-from-cognitive-skills.pdf Shelf Number: 136271 Keywords: Cognitive Skills Training Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: Pearce, Simon Title: HMP Doncaster Payment by Results pilot: Final process evaluation report Summary: The Payment by Results (PbR) pilot provided 'through the gate' support to offenders released from Doncaster prison; the overall aim being to test the impact of a PbR model on reducing reconviction levels. This is the final report from the process evaluation examining the implementation of the pilot. The research explored how the introduction of PbR changed service delivery; stakeholder views on the strengths and weaknesses of the model; and areas of innovation and efficiency. Findings are based on qualitative interviews conducted in 4 phases between November 2011 and September 2014 with: -senior stakeholders -delivery staff -partner agencies -volunteers -offenders Lessons learnt have informed the delivery of the government's Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) programme, as well as future PbR projects and the commissioning of offender management services more generally. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2015. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449494/hmp-doncaster-pbr-final-evaluation.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449494/hmp-doncaster-pbr-final-evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 136273 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reconviction Rehabilitation

Author: Fisher, Deborah A. Title: Intensive DWI supervision in urban areas - feasibility study Summary: Drivers with prior convictions for driving while impaired (DWI) carry a higher risk of future DWI arrests and crash involvement. In response, communities have developed various strategies to address the drinking-driving problems of DWI offenders by assisting them in making positive behavioral changes to reduce their likelihood of recidivism. One program model developed to monitor offender drinking involves having an offender report twice daily to a law enforcement office for alcohol breath testing at 12-hour intervals. To date, these 24/7 sobriety programs have been used in rural States and communities; however, the program model is being considered for implementation in additional locales. The purpose of this project was to conduct a feasibility study to gather data on whether the 24/7 program model can be applied in urban locales, and if so, what changes might be necessary. In Phase 1 of the study, structured discussions were held with State and local officials in Montana; North Dakota; South Dakota; and Fremont County, Wyoming, to develop a complete description of the history of 24/7 programs in rural areas. In Phase 2, information from Phase 1 was used to conduct discussions with local officials in two urban areas - Washington, DC, and Fairfax County, Virginia - to obtain their impressions about whether and how a 24/7 program could be operated in their jurisdictions. Urban officials reserved judgment about whether such a program would affect offender drinking, impaired driving, and crashes, though most believed it would help identify those who are alcohol-dependent and assist in connecting them with needed resources. Despite potential benefits, officials were generally cautious but somewhat open to the prospects regarding program feasibility. This tempered reaction was a function of concerns about practical issues of implementation and broader concerns about the value of and need for twice-daily testing programs in urban locations. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2013. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2015 at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/169903.aspx Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/169903.aspx Shelf Number: 136335 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Breath Tests Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drunk Driving Intensive Supervision Probation Recidivism

Author: Loughran, Thomas Title: Studying Deterrence Among High-Risk Adolescents Summary: The Pathways to Desistance study followed more than 1,300 serious juvenile offenders for 7 years after their conviction. In this bulletin, the authors present some key findings on the link between perceptions of the threat of sanctions and deterrence from crime among serious adolescent offenders. Selected findings are as follows: - There was no meaningful reduction in offending or arrests in response to more severe punishment (e.g., correctional placement, longer stays). - Policies targeting specific types of offending may be more effective at deterring youth from engaging in these specific offenses as opposed to general policies aimed at overall crime reduction. - In response to an arrest, youth slightly increased their risk perceptions, which is a necessary condition for deterrence. - Creating ambiguity about detection probabilities in certain areas or for certain types of crime may have a deterrent effect by enhancing the perceived risk of getting caught. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: OJJDP Juvenile Justice Bulletin: Accessed August 10, 2015 at: http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/248617.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/248617.pdf Shelf Number: 136383 Keywords: Deterrence Juvenile Offenders Pathways to Desistance Recidivism Serious Juvenile Offenders

Author: Ipsos MORI Scotland Title: Evaluation of Shine Women's Mentoring Service Summary: Shine is a Public Social Partnership which provides a one-to-one mentoring service for women who are serving short-term prison sentences, on remand, or subject to Community Payback Orders and at a high risk of custody. The service is designed to empower women to identify and achieve their goals - and to engage with other services which can help them do that. The ultimate aim is to help reintegrate women who offend back into the community and reduce reoffending. The Scottish Government Reducing Reoffending Change Fund provided funding for the design and development of the service (in 2012) and for the running of the service from April 2013 to March 2017. Evaluation objectives Shine commissioned Ipsos MORI Scotland to evaluate: - levels of participation in the service - whether the activities in the service logic model had been undertaken as planned - whether mentors felt equipped to deliver the activities to a high standard - progress against short and medium term outcomes. In addition, the evaluation explored 'what is mentoring?' and what might increase engagement. Evaluation Methods The evaluation was based on: - quantitative data on outcomes - qualitative depth interviews with mentees; mentors; prison champions; and Criminal Justice Social Workers who were referrers/potential referrers to the service. The fieldwork was conducted between July 2014 and January 2015. Key findings Over the first 20 months, there has been an average of 727 referrals to Shine per year. There is evidence that a considerable proportion of mentees made progress on short and medium term outcomes. This should contribute in the long term to reduced reoffending and increased integration. Shine's targets of 60% of those who engage with the service achieving improved motivation to change behaviour and 60% achieving increased engagement with other services have been met. One of the main strengths of the service is that it is personalised and tailored to the needs and goals of the individual mentee. Because of this personalisation, activities vary considerably from case to case but the following qualities, skills and behaviours were key to building relationships and were consistently demonstrated by mentors: regular contact; being non-judgmental; being easy-going; being a relaxing, calming influence; listening; encouraging the mentee to set goals; encouraging mentees to think through consequences; praising and building self-esteem; challenging; being persistent; caring; encouraging engagement with other services. The evaluation also identified a number of areas for improvement. These included better preparation of mentees for exit and, in some areas, better communication with local Criminal Justice Social Work teams. The Shine partnership is currently developing an improvement plan to address these issues. Details: Edinburgh: Ipsos MORI Scotland, 2015. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 14, 2015 at: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/119386c3f41e3eabc47e67d04/files/Evaluation_of_the_Shine_Women_s_Mentoring_Service_FV_050215_WWW_version.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/119386c3f41e3eabc47e67d04/files/Evaluation_of_the_Shine_Women_s_Mentoring_Service_FV_050215_WWW_version.pdf Shelf Number: 136429 Keywords: Female Offenders Mentoring Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Gentles, Peggy Title: Non-Felony Driving While Intoxicated: Case Processing in Wright County Minnesota Summary: Driving while impaired incidents in Minnesota have significant public safety and criminal justice impacts. This project studied 2013 non-felony impaired driving (DWI) dispositions in Wright County, Minnesota. The Minnesota Judicial Branch has timing objectives for the disposition of cases, including non-felony criminal cases. The project sought to analyze the disposed cases to identify changes in case processing that could positively impact time to disposition in non-felony DWI cases. Additionally, the possibility of triaging first-time offenders' cases to both improve performance on the timing objectives as well as to reduce recidivism of those offenders is investigated. The source data for the project were large data extracts from the Court's case management system. Case-level and hearing level data on non-felony DWI disposed cases were examined. The data sets were analyzed using descriptive statistics and variance analysis to identify any independent variable's impact on time to disposition. The level of offense, defendant's representation status (private counsel, public defender, and self-represented), and number of hearings were found to significantly impact time to disposition. Prosecuting agency and blood alcohol content were not found to impact time to disposition. A random sample of first-time offender cases was evaluated based on factors identified in research as predictive of recidivism. At the beginning of the project, the author assumed that triaging cases could identify cases requiring less judicial intervention, freeing up court calendar time, without increasing recidivism. The analysis revealed that cases identified through triage for less judicial intervention already were disposing quickly and with few hearings. Therefore, the hope that formal triage could be adopted to further reduce time to disposition was not borne out by the data. The project concludes that Wright County District Court's non-felony 2013 DWI dispositions did not meet state timing objectives. The Court's time to disposition compared favorably neither to the statewide averages nor to similarly sized counties. The Court should establish a more active case management strategy for non-felony DWI cases. A committee of stakeholders should be formed to look specifically at the variables that were found to impact time to disposition and evaluate the necessity of their impact. The project also identified limitations in data quality and availability of data to court managers and therefore recommends improvements both for local court administration and the state court administrator's offices. Finally, the proposal to use the concept of triage based on anticipated outcomes rather than case characteristics should be investigated further. While the sample data in this project did not prompt a recommendation for further consideration in this project's context, additional scholarship may develop the efficacy, as well as potential ethical concerns, of such an approach. Details: Williamsburg, VA: Institute for Court Management, 2015. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 17, 2015 at: http://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/spcts/id/291/rec/1 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://ncsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/spcts/id/291/rec/1 Shelf Number: 136438 Keywords: Case Processing Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Pew Charitable Trusts Title: Re-Examining Juvenile Incarceration : High cost, poor outcomes spark shift to alternatives Summary: A growing body of research demonstrates that for many juvenile offenders, lengthy out-of-home placements in secure corrections or other residential facilities fail to produce better outcomes than alternative sanctions. In certain instances, they can be counterproductive. Seeking to reduce recidivism and achieve better returns on their juvenile justice spending, several states have recently enacted laws that limit which youth can be committed to these facilities and moderates the length of time they can spend there. These changes prioritize the use of costly facilities and intensive programming for serious offenders who present a higher risk of reoffending, while supporting effective community-based programs for others. In general, research has found that juvenile incarceration fails to reduce recidivism: - Meta-analyses - studies that combine the results of multiple evaluations - suggest that placement in correctional facilities does not lower the likelihood of juvenile reoffending and may, in fact, increase it in some cases. One longitudinal study of serious adolescent offenders in Maricopa County, Arizona, and Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, found that after matching youth offenders on 66 factors, including demographics and criminal history, those in placement fared no better in terms of recidivism than those on probation. - A separate analysis of the same data found that youth who reported the lowest levels of offending before being placed were more likely to reoffend following institutional stays. - In Texas, a recent study found that youth in community-based treatment, activity, and surveillance programs had lower rearrest rates than those with similar criminal histories and demographic characteristics who were released from state facilities. - An examination of long-term recidivism and education outcomes in Cook County, Illinois, found that juveniles who experienced confinement were more likely to drop out of high school and to be incarcerated as adults than youth offenders who were not incarcerated. Details: Philadelphia: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2015. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed August 19, 2015 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/Assets/2015/04/Reexamining_Juvenile_Incarceration.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/Assets/2015/04/Reexamining_Juvenile_Incarceration.pdf Shelf Number: 136492 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Wiegand, Andrew Title: Evaluation of the Re-Integration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) Program: Two-Year Impact Report Summary: The Reintegration of Ex-Offenders (RExO) project began in 2005 as a joint initiative of the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and several other federal agencies. RExO aimed to capitalize on the strengths of faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) and their ability to serve prisoners seeking to reenter their communities following the completion of their sentences. In June 2009, ETA contracted with Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) and its subcontractors MDRC and NORC at the University of Chicago to conduct an impact evaluation of 24 RExO grantees. The programs funded under RExO primarily provided three main types of services: mentoring, which most often took the form of group mentoring, but also included one-on-one mentoring and other activities; employment services, including work readiness training, job training, job placement, job clubs, transitional employment, and post-placement follow-up; and case management and supportive services. This report summarizes the impacts of the RExO program on offender outcomes in four areas: service receipt, labor market success, recidivism, and other outcomes. Using a random assignment (RA) design, the evaluation created two essentially equivalent groups: a program group that was eligible to enroll in RExO and a control group that was prevented from enrolling in RExO but could enroll in other services. Key findings can be summarized as follows: - RExO significantly increased the number and types of services received. Program group members reported having received, on average, a wider array of services than control group members. Program group members were more likely to participate in job clubs or job readiness classes and to receive vocational training, job search assistance, referrals to job openings, and help with resume development and filling out job applications. Program group members were also more likely to report participating in mentoring sessions and to declare that there was someone from a program who went out of their way to help them and to whom they could turn for advice on personal or family issues. Despite these differences, it is important to note that the program primarily provided work readiness training and support services; fewer than one in five RExO participants (and one in seven control group members) received any form of vocational or other forms of training designed to enhance their skills in in-demand industries. - The economic downturn placed additional pressures on ex-offenders. Unemployment rates in grantee communities were high. Data gathered as part of the evaluation's implementation study indicated that employers that previously hired ex-offenders subsequently had an abundant and overqualified pool of candidates vying for fewer jobs and were less willing to hire individuals with criminal backgrounds, potentially affecting study participants' ability to find and retain employment. In addition, cuts to state and local budgets as a result of the economic downturn reduced other services that could help ex-offenders smoothly re-enter society. - RExO significantly increased self-reported employment, within both the first and second years after RA. These increases were small (between 2.6 and 3.5 percentage points), but statistically significant. In addition, RExO significantly reduced the length of time between RA and self-reported first employment. At any given point following random assignment, program group members who had not yet found work were about 11 percent more likely to do so in the next time period than were control group members who had also not yet found work. However, there were no differences between the study groups in the total number of days employed in the two-year period following RA. - RExO had no effect on reported hourly wages, but did increase total reported income from all sources. There were no differences between the study groups in their reported hourly wages at either the first job obtained after RA or at their current or most recent job, but program group members reported higher average total income from all sources. It is not clear whether this higher average income is due to program group members working more total hours than control group members, obtaining more non-wage income, or some other reason, but program group members reported receiving approximately eight percent more income than control group members. - RExO had no effect on recidivism. Using both administrative data and survey data, program group members were no less likely to have been convicted of a crime or incarcerated than control group members. While results from the survey indicate that RExO reduced the arrest rate (in the first and second years after RA) among program group members, the administrative data found no such effect. Analyses of this discrepancy suggest this difference is driven by either recall bias or otherwise inaccurate reporting on the part of program group members. There was little evidence that RExO affected an array of other outcomes. RExO had no effect on self-reported mental health, substance abuse, housing, and child support. There was some evidence that RExO may have affected health outcomes, as program group members were less likely to report having made any visits to the emergency room (a difference of 4.2 percentage points) or that their physical health limited their work or activities in the most recent month (a difference of 4.7 percentages points). Given that RExO grantees only rarely provided services directly to address these issues, it is perhaps not surprising that there are no clear effects in these areas. Taken together, these findings present a mixed picture of the impact of RExO. On the one hand, it is clear that RExO increased the number and types of services received by program group members, and that it improved the self-reported labor market outcomes of participants as well. But there is little evidence this translated into any impacts on recidivism. Further, the impacts on employment, while statistically significant, are quite small in practical terms. Details: Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates, 2015. 163p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/ETAOP_2015-04.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/ETAOP_2015-04.pdf Shelf Number: 136625 Keywords: Case Management Ex-Offender Employment Ex-Offenders Job Training Mentoring Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: MacDonald, Shanna Farrell Title: Profile of Aboriginal Men Offenders: Custody and Supervision Snapshots Summary: What it means Although Aboriginal offenders are often examined as one ethnic group, First Nations, Metis and Inuit offenders have distinct traditions, cultures and world views. In addition, they have unique characteristics that need to be understood and taken into account by decision and policy makers. Correctional staff could also benefit from a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by each of these groups. What we found Aboriginal offenders accounted for 22% of the in-custody offender population and 15% of the community population. First Nations were the largest Aboriginal group followed by Metis and Inuit offenders (in-custody: 70% First Nations, 25% Metis and 5% Inuit; supervision: 66% First Nations, 30% Metis, and 4% Inuit). First Nations and Metis offenders were more likely to be incarcerated and supervised in the Prairie Region compared to the Ontario and Quebec Regions for Inuit offenders. Both First Nations and Metis offenders had lengthy criminal histories. A large majority of Aboriginal offenders had committed violent offences, but Inuit offenders were most likely to commit a sex-related offence. First Nations offenders were more likely to participate in Aboriginal-Centred interventions and to be referred to Aboriginal-Centred programming. Regardless of Aboriginal group, however, a similar proportion of referred offenders participated and completed Aboriginal-Centred programming. Inuit offenders had the most stable institutional behaviour of the three Aboriginal groups, while First Nations experienced the most difficulties. Metis and Non-Aboriginal offenders had similar institutional behaviour patterns. Post-release outcomes were examined for the sample. Metis offenders were more likely to be released on discretionary release, while Inuit offenders had a greater number of supervision conditions imposed. About one-third of Aboriginal offenders in the sample returned to custody compared to 16% of Non-Aboriginal offenders. However, the overall return to custody rate for the general offender population in 2012 was 29%. Details: Ottawa: Correctional S3rvice of Canada, 2014. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-321: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/r321-eng.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/r321-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 136627 Keywords: Aboriginal Offenders Aboriginals Male Offenders Prisoners Recidivism

Author: Duran, Le'Ann Title: Integrated Reentry and Employment Strategies: Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Job Readiness Summary: THIS WHITE PAPER is written for policymakers and practitioners engaged in the corrections and workforce development fields who recognize the need for the two systems to collaborate more closely to improve public safety and employment outcomes for people who have been incarcerated or are on probation or parole. It promotes close collaborations with reentry service providers and provides guidance on prioritizing scarce resources to more effectively reduce rates of reincarceration and joblessness. The paper also outlines principles that should drive both supervision and service decisions - decisions that can help ensure that front-line personnel's efforts are having the greatest positive effect. Employment providers are already serving large numbers of individuals released from correctional facilities or who are required to find jobs as conditions of their probation or parole. Yet the corrections, reentry, and workforce development fields have lacked an integrated tool that draws on the best thinking about reducing recidivism and improving job placement and retention to guide correctional supervision and the provision of community-based services. To address this gap, this white paper presents a tool that draws on evidence-based criminal justice practices and promising strategies for connecting hard-to-employ people to work. It calls for program design and practices to be tailored for adults with criminal histories based on their level of risk for future criminal activity. Some people question why limited resources should be focused on employing men and women who have been in prison, jail, or are on probation or parole when unemployment rates remain high across the nation for law-abiding individuals. With mounting research, it is clear there are significant benefits for our communities in working with this population. Successful reintegration into the workforce can make neighborhoods and families safer and more stable. Linking individuals who have been involved with the corrections system to jobs and helping them succeed can reduce the staggering costs to taxpayers for reincarceration and increases contributions to the tax base for community services. If releasees and supervisees are working, their time is being spent in constructive ways and they are then less likely to engage in crime and disorder in their neighborhoods. They also are more likely to develop prosocial relationships when their time is structured with work and they are able to help care and provide for their families. Employment is a point at which the goals of the criminal justice, workforce development, family services, health and human services, and social services systems can converge. With budget cuts to all these systems, resources must be focused on the right individuals (i.e., people who would benefit the most from interventions), using the right strategies that are delivered at the right time. Improved outcomes for individuals returning to their communities, for their families, and for each system's investments can be realized by better coordinating the correctional supervision, treatment, supports, and other services being delivered at that point of intersection to individuals who have been incarcerated or are on probation or parole. This white paper is meant to facilitate discussions across systems by introducing a tool that can help put such a framework for coordination in place. Details: New York: Council of State Governments, Justice Center, 2013. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2015 at: https://www.bja.gov/Publications/CSG-Reentry-and-Employment.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.bja.gov/Publications/CSG-Reentry-and-Employment.pdf Shelf Number: 130032 Keywords: Employment Evidence-Based Practices Ex-Offender Employment Jobs Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reintegration

Author: Nash, Jeffrey E. Title: Final Report of Outcomes for the Ozark Correctional Center Drug Treatment Program: Summary: The study used a specific redefinition of the design of a 1996 evaluation. The interviews took place at least 12 months after the men were released from the program. Outcome indicators for all comparisons included relapse, recidivism, employment status, participation in educational activities, and risk for AIDS and technical violations while on parole. It was difficult to assess the effect of participation in the program on the severity of relapse, because psychosocial data collected at entry probably did not accurately reflect their degree of drug dependency and because the number of men who admitted to a severe relapse was small. However, men who relapsed to drug use were probably the same men who had been heavy drug abusers before treatment. In addition, results relating to recidivism and employment were encouraging. Program completers managed to stay out of prison to a degree that distinguished them from both the dropouts and the comparison group. They also had the best results with respect to the months employed and the number of jobs held. Findings suggested that although the contrasts among the groups were not marked, the program was at least minimally effective in reducing recidivism and drug use and encouraging work-related behaviors. Findings of this study and the process evaluation imply that a much more successful program with better outcomes is both possible and likely as the program gains experience Details: Springfield, MO: Center for Social Sciences Public Policy Research, Southwest Missouri State University, 2000. 37po. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2015 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/181649.pdf Year: 2000 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/181649.pdf Shelf Number: 136717 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Treatment Programs Recidivism Substance Abuse Programs

Author: Pew Charitable Trusts Title: Federal Drug Sentencing Laws Bring High Cost, Low Return. Penalty increases enacted in 1980s and 1990s have not reduced drug use or recidivism Summary: More than 95,000 federal prisoners are serving time for drug-related offenses - up from fewer than 5,000 in 1980. Changes in drug crime patterns and law enforcement practices played a role in this growth, but federal sentencing laws enacted during the 1980s and 1990s also have required more drug offenders to go to prison- and stay there much longer - than three decades ago. These policies have contributed to ballooning costs: The federal prison system now consumes more than $6.7 billion a year, or roughly 1 in 4 dollars spent by the U.S. Justice Department. Despite substantial expenditures on longer prison terms for drug offenders, taxpayers have not realized a strong public safety return. The self-reported use of illegal drugs has increased over the long term as drug prices have fallen and purity has risen. Federal sentencing laws that were designed with serious traffickers in mind have resulted in lengthy imprisonment of offenders who played relatively minor roles. These laws also have failed to reduce recidivism. Nearly a third of the drug offenders who leave federal prison and are placed on community supervision commit new crimes or violate the conditions of their release - a rate that has not changed substantially in decades. Details: Philadelphia: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2015. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed September 14, 2015 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/Assets/2015/08/PSPP_FedDrug_brief.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/Assets/2015/08/PSPP_FedDrug_brief.pdf Shelf Number: 136745 Keywords: Costs of Corrections Costs of Criminal Justice Drug Offenders Drug Trafficking Recidivism Sentencing

Author: Poynton, Suzanne Title: Rates of Recidivism among Offenders Referred to Forum Sentencing Summary: Aim: To determine whether the NSW Forum Sentencing program is more effective than the conventional sentencing process in reducing recidivism. Method: Offenders referred to Forum Sentencing in 2011 were matched with offenders who were 'eligible' for Forum Sentencing but who were sentenced in a NSW Local Court where Forum Sentencing was not operating. These two groups were matched on a large number of covariates using propensity score techniques and were then compared on the time to first new proven offence using Cox regression. All offenders in both groups were followed up for a minimum of 6 months after finalisation of their index offence. The analysis was conducted using an intention-to-treat research design. Results: Of the 575 offenders referred to Forum Sentencing, 552 could be matched with an 'equivalent' offender in the control group based on the covariates measured at the index court appearance. Cox regression analyses showed that there was no significant difference between the matched groups in the time to first new offence. This lack of an effect remained even after controlling for other relevant covariates. Conclusion: This study finds no evidence that offenders who are referred to the NSW Forum Sentencing program are less likely to re-offend than similar offenders who are dealt with through the normal sentencing process. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 172: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb172.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb172.pdf Shelf Number: 129776 Keywords: Conferencing Forum Sentencing Recidivism Restorative Justice Sentencing

Author: Ryan, Liz Title: Notorious to Notable: The Criminal Role of the Philanthropic Community in Transforming the Juvenile Justice System in Washington, D.C. Summary: In 2000, then D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams appointed a Blue Ribbon Commission to rethink how the District of Columbia treated some of its most vulnerable residents, youth in the juvenile justice system. The Blue Ribbon Commission recommended the closure of the District's long-term youth incarceration facility, the Oak Hill Youth Center; its replacement with a smaller, homelike facility; the redirection of resources from incarceration to community- based alternatives; and a reduction in the prosecution of youth in adult criminal court. Between the years 2000 and 2011, the District's juvenile justice system went from one of the worst - with a notorious and inhumane juvenile prison, an over-reliance on incarceration, and a dearth of community programs - to one of the most notable, receiving recognition from Harvard University. The purpose of this report is to highlight the ways that the philanthropic community aided this effort. It is a story of collaboration and collective effort by local D.C. foundations and national funders that contributed to tremendous change in the treatment and outcomes for youth in D.C.'s juvenile justice system. The reforms ultimately reduced youth re-offending rates by decreasing the District's over-reliance on incarceration; closing and replacing Oak Hill with a smaller, homelike facility and an innovative and acclaimed school; and redirecting funding from incarceration to community- based alternatives. Starting with the Blue Ribbon Commission, funders supported the policy development of the Commission and subsequent policy and advocacy work of the community to ensure their recommendations became law.. Details: Washington, DC: 2011. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2015 at: https://giving.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/notorious-to-notable-final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://giving.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/notorious-to-notable-final.pdf Shelf Number: 136796 Keywords: Community-Based Corrections Juvenile Justice Reform Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Glasheen, Cristie Title: Past Year Arrest among Adults in the United States: Characteristics of and Association with Mental Illness and Substance Use Summary: Objectives. The objectives of this study are to (1) examine the characteristics of adults with a past year arrest by their mental illness and substance use status and (2) investigate the prevalence and correlates of arrests among adults with mental illness in the general U.S. population. Previous studies suggesting that the prevalence of arrest may be higher among individuals with mental illness have typically been conducted among persons in the criminal justice setting or among individuals receiving mental health treatment and may not be representative of all adults with mental illness. Also, little is known about the prevalence and correlates of arrest among adults with mental illness in the general U.S. population. Information on this link in the general population is critical for targeting programs to those most at risk for arrest. Methods. Data are from the 2008 and 2009 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). Past year arrest was defined as being arrested and booked in the past 12 months, not counting arrests for minor traffic violations. It should be noted that being arrested and booked does not necessarily translate to convictions or incarcerations. In addition to mental illness (none, low/mild, moderate, or a serious mental illness [SMI]), other hypothesized correlates of arrest included past year substance use and demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of arrest and examine the characteristics of adults with a past year arrest. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between mental illness and arrests after controlling for substance use and demographics among all adults and among adults with any mental illness (AMI). Results. Descriptive analyses indicated that the prevalence of past year arrests was higher among adults with AMI than among adults without AMI (5.4 vs. 1.8 percent). The prevalence of past year arrest was also higher among adults with a substance use disorder (SUD) than among adults without an SUD (13.0 vs 1.5 percent). The demographic characteristics of arrestees were similar between those with and without AMI; the majority of adults who had been arrested in the past year were younger than the age of 35, male, non-Hispanic white, never married, living at or above the Federal poverty level, and had no further education beyond high school. Adult arrestees with AMI, compared with adult arrestees without AMI, were less likely to be female or non-Hispanic black and more likely to be out of the labor force. Among all adults, logistic regression models indicated that having mental illness - particularly SMI (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.36) - was significantly associated with the odds of arrest, even when models controlled for demographic factors and substance use status. Among adults with AMI, the odds of arrest were higher among adults with SMI (adjusted OR = 1.48) than among adults with low/mild mental illness, but the odds of arrests among adults with moderate mental illness were not significantly different from the odds for those with low/mild mental illness. Among all adults, having an SUD was the strongest correlate of arrest (adjusted OR = 6.44), followed by not completing high school (adjusted OR = 3.53), past year illicit drug use without an SUD (adjusted OR = 2.81), and male gender (adjusted OR = 2.70). No characteristics were associated with arrest among adults with AMI that were not also associated with arrest among all adults. Conclusions. The presence of mental illness was a significant predictor of past year arrests in the U.S. general population, even in models that controlled for substance use and other correlates. However, the presence of an SUD was the strongest correlate of past year arrest among all adults and among adults with AMI or SMI. This suggests that programs may reduce arrest and recidivism by focusing on addressing the needs of people with co-occurring mental illness and SUDs. Diversion programs and mental health and drug courts may be one way to address the needs of people with mental illness and SUDs who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Introduction Studies have consistently documented high rates of mental illness among persons involved with the criminal justice system, including jail1,2,3,4,5,6 and prison populations,2,6,7,8 suggesting that the risk of arrest may be higher for individuals with a mental illness. Some research has pointed to the "criminalization of mentally disordered behavior," whereby the limited availability of mental health services has often resulted in jails becoming the placement of last resort for persons with mental illness.9,10,11,12,13 Multiple local studies have found high rates of criminal justice contact among people receiving mental health treatment in the public mental health system.14,15 In one large study linking Los Angeles County mental health treatment records to court records, 24 percent of those who received public- or Medicaid-funded mental health treatment had at least one arrest in the 10-year period covered by the study.16 The majority of these arrests (62 percent) were for nonviolent crimes, and less than half led to convictions. Similarly, a recent study found that individuals receiving mental health treatment in the Massachusetts public mental health system had 60 percent greater odds of being arrested over the 9.5 years of follow-up than did age-matched individuals in the general population.17 The rate of arrest was greater in the treatment sample than in the general population sample (32.8 vs. 23.2 percent). Studies comparing the odds of arrest among adults with a mental illness (regardless of treatment status) and adults without a mental illness in a nationally representative household sample are lacking at this time. Additionally, few nationally representative studies have looked at the sociodemographic characteristics associated with arrest among adults with mental illness. In the aforementioned studies of arrest among persons receiving mental health treatment, the factors associated with criminal justice contact included homelessness,14 younger age,16,18 male gender,16,19 African American race,16 higher levels of impairment,14,18 and type of mental illness.16 However, these studies all focused on criminal justice contact among people receiving mental health treatment in the public mental health system. This subgroup does not represent the overall population of people with mental illness because not everyone with a mental illness receives treatment,20,21,22,23 or receives it in the public sector. To our knowledge, no study has examined the characteristics associated with arrest among those with mental illness in a national, population-based sample. One of the most consistently identified risk factors for arrest in people with mental illness is having co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs).14,15,16 Some studies have found that the overlap between mental illness and contacts with the criminal justice system is largely due to the high co-occurrence of SUDs among those with mental illness.5,24,25,26 Thus, it is important to consider the risk of arrest associated with mental illness independent of the risk associated with SUDs. Studies using data from nationally representative samples to examine these issues are lacking. This report uses data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a nationally representative sample of persons in the civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population, to examine the prevalence and characteristics of past year arrest among adults with mental illness as a benchmark for evaluating future change. Thus, this report helps fill the previously described gaps in the literature on arrests among persons with mental illness in the general population. This report works toward meeting a goal within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative for 2011 to 2014 to "address the needs of people with mental and substance use disorders and with histories of trauma within the criminal and juvenile justice systems." Details: Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: CBHSQ State Review: Accessed September 17, 2015 at: http://archive.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/DataReview/DR008/CBHSQ-datareview-008-arrests-2012.htm Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://archive.samhsa.gov/data/2k12/DataReview/DR008/CBHSQ-datareview-008-arrests-2012.htm Shelf Number: 136803 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Mentally Ill Offenders Recidivism Substance Abuse

Author: Andersen, Signe Hald Title: Serving time or serving the community? Exploiting a policy reform to assess the causal effects of community service on income, social benefit dependency and recidivism Summary: There is a widespread belief among criminologists, judges and the like that criminals are better off serving non-custodial sentences instead of going to prison. However, empirical evidence of the effects of community service is scarce. This paper exploits a policy reform that implemented the use of community service as punishment among specific groups of criminals in order to assess the causal effect of community service on post-sentence income, dependency on social benefits, and crime. Details: Copenhagen, Denmark: Rockwool Foundation Research Unit and University Press of Southern Denmark, 2012. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Study Paper No. 37: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/publications/law+of+the+land/publication?id=1603 Year: 2012 Country: Denmark URL: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/publications/law+of+the+land/publication?id=1603 Shelf Number: 124696 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Community Service Community-Based Corrections Recidivism

Author: Andersen, Lars Hojsgaard Title: Losing the stigma of incarceration: Does serving a sentence with electronic monitoring causally improve post-release labor market outcomes? Summary: Many Western countries now use electronic monitoring (EM) of some offenders as an alternative to more traditional forms of punishments such as imprisonment. While the main reason for introducing EM is the growing prison population, politicians and administrators also believe that this type of punishment achieves a positive effect by reducing recidivism and the probability of post-release marginalization. The small existing empirical literature on the effect of EM finds mixed support for this belief, but is, however, based on very small sample sizes. We expand this literature by studying the causal effect of EM on social benefit dependency after the sentence has been served. We use administrative data from Statistics Denmark that include information on all Danish offenders who have served their sentence under EM rather than in prison. We compare post-release dependency rates for this group with outcomes for a historical control group of convicted offenders who would have served their sentences with EM had the option been available - i.e. who are identical to the EM group on all observed and unobserved characteristics. We find that serving a sentence with EM significantly decreases the dependency rates after release. Details: Copenhagen, Denmark: The Rockwool Foundation Research Unit and University Press of Southern Denmark, 2012. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Study paper No. 40: Accessed September 21, 2015 at: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/files/RFF-site/Publikations%20upload/Arbejdspapirer/Losing%20the%20stigma%20of%20incarceration_40.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Denmark URL: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/files/RFF-site/Publikations%20upload/Arbejdspapirer/Losing%20the%20stigma%20of%20incarceration_40.pdf Shelf Number: 124697 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Electronic Monitoring Ex-offender Employment Offender Supervision Recidivism

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus Title: Public Safety Realignment: Impacts So Far Summary: Prompted by a federal court order to reduce prison overcrowding, California's 2011 historic public safety realignment shifted many correctional responsibilities for lower-level felons from the state to counties. The reform was premised on the idea that locals can do a better job, and it was hoped that incarceration rates and corrections costs would fall. At the same time, critics predicted crime would rise. Four years since its implementation, realignment has made several important impacts: Realignment significantly reduced the prison population, but the state did not reach the court-mandated population target until after the passage of Proposition 47 in November 2014, which reduced penalties for many property and drug offenses. The reform challenged county jails and probation departments by making them responsible for a greater number of offenders with a broader range of backgrounds and needs. The county jail population did not rise nearly as much as the prison population fell, reducing the total number of people incarcerated in California. Realignment did not increase violent crime, but auto thefts rose. Research so far shows no dramatic change in recidivism rates. State corrections spending remains high, but there is reason to believe expenditures could drop in the future. Realignment has largely been successful, but the state and county correctional systems face significant challenges. The state needs to regain control of prison medical care, which is now in the hands of a federal receiver. And the state and counties together must make progress in reducing stubbornly high recidivism rates. Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2015. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2015 at: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_915MLR.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_915MLR.pdf Shelf Number: 136925 Keywords: Costs of Corrections Crime Rates Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Jails Prison Overcrowding Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Fumia, Danielle Title: Washington's Coordination of Services Program for Juvenile Offenders: Outcome Evaluation and Benefit-Cost Analysis Summary: Coordination of Services (COS) is an educational program for low-risk juvenile offenders that provides information about services available in the community. The program is designed to help juvenile offenders avoid further involvement with the criminal justice system. COS currently serves about 600 youth per year in Washington State. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) first evaluated COS in 2004 following its first year of implementation. As part of ongoing work to identify research- and evidence-based programming in juvenile justice, WSIPP re-evaluated COS to determine its current impact on recidivism. Based on the results from both of WSIPP's evaluations of COS, we estimate that the program reduces recidivism by about 3.5 percentage points (from 20% to 16.5%). Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public policy, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 29, 2015 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1617/Wsipp_Washingtons-Coordination-of-Services-Program-for-Juvenile-Offenders-Outcome-Evaluation-and-Benefit-Cost-Analysis_Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1617/Wsipp_Washingtons-Coordination-of-Services-Program-for-Juvenile-Offenders-Outcome-Evaluation-and-Benefit-Cost-Analysis_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 137005 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Community-Based Programs Cost-Benefit Analysis Educational Programs Evidence-Based Programs Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Brennan, Iain Title: An experimental evaluation of an adult female triage pilot project Summary: Executive Summary: - The evaluation found a 46% reduction in the rearrest rate over a 12 month follow-up period when compared to a control group of similar female offenders. - The rearrest rate was 13.64% for women referred on to the intervention compared to 25.44% for women who were processed through the criminal justice system as usual. - Those women who were referred to the intervention and attended their appointment with TWP where less likely to be rearrested and went longer without rearrest than those women who were referred but did not attend their appointments. - The pilot project is unique insofar as it provides an early-diversion scheme for adult female offenders. - The pilot project used a modified version a youth triage assessment tool to screen low-severity adult female offenders detained in the custody suite for suitability to an early-diversion intervention. - The primary goal of the pilot project was to reduce reoffending rates amongst low-severity female offenders by offering a 'one-chance-only' opportunity to receive empowerment support work with Together Women's Project (TWP) rather than the more usual charge or caution. - The evaluation employed a natural experiment methodology and included eligible arrestees from December 2012 to July 2013 with a reoffending follow-up period of 12 months. - The evaluation used a combination of interviews, observations and documentary analysis to support and inform the statistical analysis of reoffending rates. - For the small number of women referred to the intervention who were subsequently rearrested they were rearrested more frequently than those women in the control group. The reasons for this are unknown but could be due to either assessment errors early in the project's lifespan or unknown risk factors in the women's history. - This suggests the intervention may not be suitable for a sub-group of female offenders and a further follow-up study should be undertaken to investigate this further. - A further evaluation with a larger sample who could be randomly assigned the intervention would be required to conclusively demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention. Details: Hull, Yorkshire, UK: University of Hull, Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2015 at: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/Police-Female-Triage-Report-Hull-University-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/Police-Female-Triage-Report-Hull-University-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137149 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Diversion Program Female Offenders Interventions Re-arrest Recidivism

Author: Harrison, Paige M. Title: Borderland Substance Abuse Court, Lake of the Woods County, MN: Process and Outcome Evaluation Report Summary: There are two key policy questions of interest to policymakers about DWI courts. The evaluation of Borderland Substance Abuse Court (BSAC) provided answers to these questions. This study included participants who entered the program between 2008 and 2012, and a matched comparison group of DWI offenders who were eligible but were not referred to the program. Just over half of the participants were assessed as high-need (54%) and two-thirds were assessed as high risk (69%). Participants had an average of 2.4 DWI arrests in the ten years before DWI court entry. DWI Recidivism. Out of 33 DWI court participants, there were only two new DWI arrests in the two years after DWI court entry, an indicator of reduced driving while using alcohol, and increased public safety. Compared to DWI offenders who experienced traditional court processes, the BSAC participants (regardless of whether they graduated from the program): - Had 24% fewer rearrests two years after program entry; - Were 32% less likely to be rearrested for any charges - Had no rearrests for person crimes - Had a longer time to the first rearrest for any charge (20 months versus 18 months) - Had a substantially higher graduation rate than the national average (77% versus 57%) Research indicates that drug and DWI courts should target high-risk/high-need individuals, as lower risk participants require different intervention methods and may not benefit (or may actually be harmed) from the intense supervision provided by the full drug court model (NADCP, 2013). These positive results indicate that the BSAC is targeting the correct population and should continue or increase its focus on high risk individuals. In general, these outcomes provide some evidence that the BSAC is implementing its program with good fidelity to the DWI court model and is having the intended impact on its participants. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2014. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2015 at: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/Lake-of-the-Woods-MN-DWI-Process-and-Outcome-Report_FINAL-FOR-OTS.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/Lake-of-the-Woods-MN-DWI-Process-and-Outcome-Report_FINAL-FOR-OTS.pdf Shelf Number: 137165 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Driving While Intoxicated Drug Courts Drug Offenders Drugged Driving Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Ayoub, Lama Hassoun Title: Coming Home to Harlem: A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Harlem Parole Reentry Court Summary: This study of the Harlem Parole Reentry Court compares participants in a neighborhood-based reentry program to similar parolees on traditional parole. Results indicate that the reentry court, which implemented a validated and reliable tool for assessing the risks and needs of individuals returning from prison, produced a 22% reduction in the reconviction rate and a 60% reduction in the felony reconviction rate over an 18-month follow-up period. The reentry court also produced a 45% reduction in revocations. Interview findings indicate that reentry court parolees were significantly more likely to be in school or employed and to have positive perceptions of their parole officer. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2015. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2015 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Harlem%20Final%20Report%20-%20June.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Harlem%20Final%20Report%20-%20June.pdf Shelf Number: 137170 Keywords: Parole Parolees Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Zil, Charlene E. Title: South St. Louis County DWI Court, St. Louis County, MN: Process, Outcome, and Cost Evaluation Summary: WI courts are complex programs designed to deal with some of the most challenging problems that communities face. These courts bring together multiple and traditionally adversarial roles plus stakeholders from different systems with different training, professional language, and approaches. They take on groups of clients that frequently have serious substance abuse treatment needs. Adults with substance abuse issues involved in the criminal justice system must be seen within an ecological context; that is, within the environment that has contributed to their attitudes and behaviors. This environment includes their neighborhoods, families, friends, and formal or informal economies through which they support themselves. The DWI court must understand the various social, economic, mental health, and cultural factors that affect their participants. In late 2011, NPC Research was contracted by the State of Minnesota's Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to conduct an assessment of Minnesota's DWI courts and to determine the work necessary and the feasibility of performing process, outcome, and cost evaluations in these programs. The overall goal of the DWI court project is to have a credible and rigorous evaluation of Minnesota's DWI courts. In June 2012, it was decided to move forward with a full evaluation including a detailed process evaluation and outcome evaluation in all nine of Minnesota's DWI court programs and a cost benefit evaluation in seven of these pro-grams. This is the site-specific report for the South St. Louis County DWI Court (SSLC). The SSLC was implemented in February 2008. The program is designed to take 12 to 24 months to complete and takes pre-plea, post-plea/pre-conviction, and post-conviction participants. All offenders must be in the post-adjudication stage upon phase advancement and cannot graduate if not in that stage. The general program population consists of repeat DWI offenders, with gross misdemeanors and felonies accepted into the program. Process Evaluation Summary. The SSLC has been responsive to the community needs and strives to meet the challenges presented by substance-dependant individuals. This program is demonstrating exemplary practices within each of the 10 Key Components of Drug Courts and the 10 DWI Court Guiding Principles including having a dedicated, collaborative, team with members from all key agencies (a law enforcement representative, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation, treatment, coordinator, and judge); a focus on regular training on the drug court model and other relevant topics for the team; a swift referral process; the use of evidence-based treat-ment models, rapid results from drug testing; a random and fully observed drug testing process; a judge who has been with the program long term (well over 2 years); and good communication among the team with a coordinated response to participant behavior. Although this program is functioning well, NPC's review of program operations resulted in some recommendations for program enhancements, which the program has already begun work on implementing. These recommendations included: Modify the current team member Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to include language about the use and disclosure of protected health information at staffing sessions. Protected health information, particularly around the topic of participant re-lapse, may need to be disclosed by treatment providers at staffing sessions so that the team can make an appropriate and informed decision regarding incentives and sanctions for the participant. - Continue to assess transportation needs of participants and look for resources to provide transportation to those participants who need it. Team members noted significant challenges in providing transportation to participants. - Reevaluate the required length of sobriety to help make program completion a more realistic goal for participants. The SSLC requires that all participants complete 300 days of sobriety in order to graduate. Although there is a clear relationship that indicates the longer a person remains clean (as shown through negative drug tests) the less likely he/she will be to relapse, there are diminishing returns to the participant remaining in the program for an extended length of time (Carey et al., 2005). - Increase the focus on rewards for participants who are doing well. The SSLC has identified the need to provide more meaningful incentives to their DWI court participants. The SSLC currently provides a wide range of intangible rewards, such as praise from the judge and applause for participants, but only occasionally provides tangible re-wards, such as gift cards or tickets to sports games. Focus group participants mentioned the value of overnight passes. The team might consider raffling off or awarding overnight stays or similarly valued rewards for positive behaviors or advancement in the program. - Consider holding graduation ceremonies separate from the drug court hearing or implementing practices that would make them more distinct from regular drug court hearings. Graduations provide an opportunity for community partners to witness DWI court program successes. Inviting community partners to observe and participate in graduations is a low-cost way to highlight the effectiveness of the program and garner interest for continued and future involvement with the program. - Apply to be a DWI Academy Court. Based on the success of its operations, its commitment to best practices, and its strong team, we recommend that the SSLC apply to the National Center for DWI Courts in the next round of applications to be a NCDC DWI Academy Court. Outcome Evaluation Summary. The outcome analyses were primarily performed on SSLC participants who entered the DWI court program from February 1, 2008, to August 23, 2012, and a matched comparison group of offenders eligible for DWI court but who received the traditional court process rather than SSLC. The study groups were tracked for 2 years from program entry. Outcomes measured included graduation rate, rearrests with associated charges (including new DWI charges), crashes, and license reinstatements. The results of the outcome analysis for the SSLC were positive. Figure A illustrates the rearrest rates over a 3-year period for graduates, all participants and the comparison group. (Graduates should not be compared directly to the comparison group as the two groups are not equivalent.) Compared to offenders who experienced traditional court processes, the SSLC participants (re-gardless of whether they graduated from the program) had: - 3 times fewer rearrests for any charge in Year 1 - 66% fewer rearrests, and 66% fewer new DWI arrests 3 years after program entry - Half as many victimizations (person and property arrests) 2 years after entry - 60% fewer felony arrests 2 years after entry Overall the data showed that DWI court participants were rearrested less often than the comparison group, despite the fact that the DWI court group had more offenders with felony DWI arrests than the comparison group. Moreover, and of particular interest, high-risk participants (individuals with three or more prior arrests) had the highest reductions in recidivism (showing the greatest benefit from this program), while lower risk participants (those with two or fewer prior arrests) show little reductions in recidivism. Details: Portland, OR: NPC Research, 2014. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2015 at: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/St-Louis-County-DWI-Court-Process-Outcome-and-Cost-Report-FINAL-FOR-OTS1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/St-Louis-County-DWI-Court-Process-Outcome-and-Cost-Report-FINAL-FOR-OTS1.pdf Shelf Number: 137176 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Driving Under the Influence Drugged Driving Drunk Driving DWI Courts Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts Title: Judicial Council Report to the Legislature: California Parolee Reentry Court Evaluation Report Summary: Judicial Council staff recommend that the Judicial Council receive the California Parolee Reentry Court Evaluation Report and direct the Administrative Director to submit this report to the California Legislature and Governor, as mandated by Penal Code section 3015. Under the statute, the Judicial Council is required to submit a final evaluation report that assesses the pilot reentry court program's effectiveness in reducing recidivism no later than three years after the establishment of a reentry court. The report was developed in consultation with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Details: San Francisco: Judicial Council of California, 2014. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/CA-Parolee-Reentry-Court-Evaluation-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://npcresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/CA-Parolee-Reentry-Court-Evaluation-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 137177 Keywords: Drug Courts Parolees Prisoner Reentry Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Lovell, Rachel Title: Do John Schools Really Decrease Recidivism? A methodological critique of an evaluation of the San Francisco First Offender Prostitution Program Summary: A growing number of governments are creating "john schools" in the belief that providing men with information about prostitution will stop them from buying sex, which will in turn stop prostitution and trafficking. John schools typically offer men arrested for soliciting paid sex the opportunity (for a fee) to attend lectures by health experts, law enforcement and former sex workers in exchange for cleared arrest records if they are not re-arrested within a certain period of time. A 2008 examination of the San Francisco john school, "Final Report on the Evaluation of the First Offender Prostitution Program," claims to be the first study to prove that attending a john school leads to a lower rate of recidivism or re-arrest (Shively et al.). Despite its claims, the report offers no reliable evidence that the john school classes reduce the rate of re-arrests. This paper analyzes the methodology and data used in the San Francisco study and concludes that serious flaws in the research design led the researchers to claim a large drop in re-arrest rates that, in fact, occurred before the john school was implemented. Details: Washington, DC: American University Washington College of Law; Chicago: DePaul University, Social Science Research Center, 2012. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 11, 2015 at: https://maggiemcneill.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/john-schools-and-recidivism.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://maggiemcneill.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/john-schools-and-recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 137233 Keywords: Prostitution Recidivism Sex Offenders Sex Offenses

Author: Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: Reducing Recidivism and Improving Other Outcomes for Young Adults in the Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice Systems Summary: When someone between the ages of 18 and 24 commits a crime, neither the juvenile nor the adult criminal justice system is exclusively responsible for providing services and supervision to this individual. In every state, a person who commits a crime after age 18 is referred to the adult criminal justice system, and in some states that age can be 17 or even 16. Yet, some states are considering raising the upper age limit of juvenile court jurisdiction beyond the age of 18. At the same time, when a young person is adjudicated delinquents in the juvenile justice system, two-thirds of states allow them to remain under the supervision of the juvenile system through age 20 and, in some other states, up to age 24. Even if a young person commits a new crime while under community supervision within the juvenile justice system, it is possible that he or she may still remain in that system. Because young adults can be involved in either the juvenile or adult criminal justice systems, policymakers and administrators in both systems should be focusing their attention on this important population and developing strategies to reduce recidivism and improve other outcomes for young adults. Details: New York: Council of State Government Justice Center, 2015. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2015 at: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Transitional-Age-Brief.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Transitional-Age-Brief.pdf Shelf Number: 137291 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Justice Policy Juvenile Justice System Recidivism Young Adult Offenders

Author: New Mexico Sentencing Commission Title: Updated Exploratory Sex Offender Recidivism Study: 2004-2006 Probation Sentence & Prison Release Cohorts Summary: This analysis builds on a report that was published by NMSC in 2012. Additional release and probation cohorts were added. The analysis includes offenders who were released from NMCD facilities or began probation for a sex offense that requires registration for calendar years 2004 - 2006. Additionally, in this analysis, NMSC staff were given access to Offender Watch by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to confirm registration and NMCD probation data to confirm that offenders in the probation cohort received sentences that did not include prison time. Details: Albuquerque: New Mexico Sentencing Commission, 2014. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2015 at: http://nmsc.unm.edu/reports/2014/updated-exploratory-sex-offender-recidivism-study-2004-2006-probation-sentence--prison-release-cohorts.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://nmsc.unm.edu/reports/2014/updated-exploratory-sex-offender-recidivism-study-2004-2006-probation-sentence--prison-release-cohorts.pdf Shelf Number: 137467 Keywords: Probationers Recidivism Sex Offender Registration Sex Offenders

Author: Shelter Scotland Title: Preventing Homelessness and Reducing Reoffending - Insights from service users of the Supporting Prisoners; Advice Network, Scotland Summary: This reports details the findings of in-depth interviews with 16 service users of the Supporting Prisoners; Advice Network about their experience of housing, homelessness and the strong link with re-offending. Key themes include: -The importance of house as home - Belongings being at risk -The importance of friends and family in helping to maintain a tenancy -The right home prevents reoffending -Fear of hostels -Stress and depression -Lack of knowledge -Communication with professionals The report makes strategic and operational recommendations based on the insights form our service users and Shelter Scotland's 15 year history of delivering specialist services to this group. Details: Edinburgh: Shelter Scotland, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1185787/Preventing_Homelessness_and_Reducing_Reoffending_092015_FINAL.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1185787/Preventing_Homelessness_and_Reducing_Reoffending_092015_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 137329 Keywords: Homelessness Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Gewirtz, Marian Title: Recidivism Among Juvenile Offenders in New York City, 2007-2012: A Comparison by Case Outcome Summary: New York State's Juvenile Offender (JO) Law was passed as part of the Omnibus Crime Control Bill of 1978 in response to concerns about serious crime committed by young offenders. The JO Law lowered the age of criminal responsibility for juveniles in New York State from age 16, already among the lowest in the country, to age 14 for selected serious felony offenses1 and to age 13 when the charge was second degree murder. In accordance with the provisions of this law, cases are brought directly to the adult rather than the juvenile court for prosecution. Previous CJA research on recidivism among juveniles processed in the adult courts in New York City focused solely on juveniles processed in the Supreme Court (upper court), excluding the many juveniles whose cases were dismissed in the Criminal Court (lower court) or transferred to the Family Court. Furthermore, the previous research did not directly consider re-arrest during pretrial case processing. That is, that research tracked re-arrest regardless of whether the re-arrest occurred before the initial case reached disposition, between disposition and sentencing, after sentencing, or even after the juvenile served any sentence. However, the research showed very high rates of recidivism. Most of the juveniles were re-arrested at some point (three quarters were re-arrested within four years at risk and half were re-arrested for a violent felony offense within that time), though only 16 percent of the re-arrests in that study were prior to disposition. The current research focuses on the relationship between recidivism and case outcome. Re-arrest rates are compared across juveniles whose cases reached disposition in the Criminal Court, by dismissal or by transfer to the Family Court, or in the Supreme Court, by conviction3 or by dismissal or transfer to the Family Court. We begin with a description of the research dataset and of the juveniles that are in the two groups used in this research. The second section presents case outcome and release status in the full research file to provide context for the two research groups. The third section discusses the relationship between case outcome and the demographic and court-related characteristics of the juveniles. The re-arrests are the focus in the fourth section which includes discussion of the first re-arrest, re-arrest rates by demographic, CJA interview and court-related factors, as well as re-arrest rates by time at risk to re-arrest. We then report the results of multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards regression to explore the factors associated with elapsed time to first pretrial re-arrest and first pretrial felony re-arrest for both research groups to determine if re-arrest varies by case outcome. Details: New York: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, 2015. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 25, 2015 at: http://www.nycja.org/library.php Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.nycja.org/library.php Shelf Number: 137337 Keywords: Case Processing Juvenile Court Transfer Juvenile Offenders Re-Arrest Recidivism Waiver (of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction)

Author: Broadus, Joseph Title: A Successful Prisoner Reentry Program Expands: Lessons from the Replication of the Center for Employment Opportunities Summary: This report presents results from a fidelity assessment and implementation analysis of five Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) replication programs in New York, California, and Oklahoma. Between 2004 and 2010, MDRC conducted a rigorous random assignment evaluation of the original CEO program as part of the Enhanced Services for the Hard-to-Employ Demonstration and Evaluation funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The evaluation found that CEO was effective at reducing recidivism rates - the rates at which participants committed new crimes or were reincarcerated - among important subgroups of its participant population. Based in part on these findings, the CEO program was selected by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation in 2011 to be part of its Social Innovation Fund and receive funding and technical assistance to expand and replicate the model in various locations across the United States. Based in New York City, CEO is one of the nation's largest transitional jobs programs for former prisoners. The program offers participants temporary, paid jobs, along with employment counseling and other services, all aimed at making them more employable and preventing their return to prison. The current study describes how the model was replicated in other locations, assesses its implementation in various contexts, and reports on findings from a qualitative study of participants' perceptions of and experiences in the CEO program. The findings presented in this report focus on the implementation of CEO's core elements at the replication sites and provide a description of participants' experience with the program. One additional goal of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of which aspects of the CEO model may have contributed to the reductions in recidivism found in the initial evaluation of the New York City program. This report's findings include the following: - Overall, the replication programs operated with high fidelity to the original program model. - Participants in replication programs engaged in CEO activities at similar rates as did participants in New York City, although replication programs did a better job of moving participants through the model's early stages and into working with the staff to obtain unsubsidized employment. - Participants said that the program's most essential and distinctive elements were its structure and the support of its staff members. - While CEO work crews offered some opportunities for skills training, they functioned primarily as jobs, with the habits and competencies that make for a good employee emphasized through the routine of reporting for work each day, cooperating with colleagues, and following supervisors' directions. Details: New York: MDRC, 2016. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 22, 2016 at: http://mdrc.org/sites/default/files/CEO-PrisonerReentryReport.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://mdrc.org/sites/default/files/CEO-PrisonerReentryReport.pdf Shelf Number: 137586 Keywords: Employment Programs Ex-offender Employment Jobs Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Ringland, Clare Title: Can child protection data improve the prediction of re-offending in young persons? Summary: Aim: To determine whether the inclusion of child protection data improves the ability to predict re-offending in young persons with few prior formal contacts with the criminal justice system. Method: A cohort of young persons who had their first, second or third formal contact with the criminal justice system (i.e., police caution, youth justice conference, or court appearance) in 2011 or 2012 were identified in the Re-offending Database maintained by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. For these young persons, NSW Department of Family and Community Services provided data relating to risk of significant harm (ROSH) reports and out-of-home-care (OOHC). Models predicting re-offending using demographic and criminal history variables were developed and compared with models that also included child protection information. Separate models were developed for males and females, as well as for the subgroup of young persons having their first contact with the criminal justice system. Results: While some variables relating to ROSH reports and OOHC data were significant predictors of re-offending, the inclusion of child protection data did little to improve the ability to predict re-offending within 12 months in young persons with few prior formal contacts. Models with and without child protection data were similarly poor at predicting those who would go on to re-offend. Conclusion: Early identification of young persons at risk of re-offending using administrative data sources remains a challenge Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2015. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, no. 188: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bocsar_canchildprotectiondataimprovethepredictionofreoffendinginyoungpersons_jan_2016.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bocsar_canchildprotectiondataimprovethepredictionofreoffendinginyoungpersons_jan_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 137662 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Re-offending Recidivism

Author: Disley, Emma Title: The payment by results Social Impact Bond pilot at HMP Peterborough: final process evaluation report Summary: Between 2010 and 2015, an intervention called the One Service operated at Peterborough Prison. This service provided 'through-the-gate' and post-release support to adult male offenders released from HMP Peterborough who had served prison sentences of less than 12 months, with an aim of reducing reoffending. The through-the-gate support provided by the One Service involved contacting offenders before release in order to introduce case workers, assess needs, and plan resettlement activities. The One Service then implemented these plans by working with offenders for up to 12 months following their release. If an offender returned to prison within this period, the One Service aimed to ensure that support services continued back in prison. The One Service was funded through a financing mechanism known as a Social Impact Bond (SIB), a form of payment by results. This is where private, non-government investors pay for an intervention, and if certain results are achieved, are paid back their initial investment plus an additional return on that investment.1 In the Peterborough SIB, the Ministry of Justice, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, entered into an agreement to pay a return to investors if targets for reducing reconvictions were achieved. This pilot was the first SIB to be established worldwide. The Peterborough SIB pilot was originally intended to operate until 2017, funding the delivery of the One Service to three cohorts of around 1,000 prisoners released from the prison. Support from the One Service was available to cohort members for a period of up to 12 months post-release, and engagement was on a voluntary basis. While the pilot operated on a payment by results basis under the SIB model for the first two cohorts of released prisoners, a third cohort received One Service support under a 'fee-for-service' arrangement, rather than under the original SIB funded payment by results model. This change to the model was due to the roll-out of Transforming Rehabilitation reforms to probation, which introduced mandatory statutory supervision for short-sentenced offenders - the target group for the Peterborough pilot - and also included a payment by results funding mechanism to incentivise providers to reduce reoffending. This meant that while the pilot was concluded early in order to avoid any duplication in services to the same population, the alternative fee-for-service funding arrangement for the third cohort enabled the pilot to continue operating until the new Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) providers implemented their approach to rehabilitation. This report presents findings from a process evaluation of the Peterborough pilot, commissioned by the Ministry of Justice in 2010. It is the third and final output from the process evaluation, and addresses the following five research questions: 1. How, if at all, did the pilot lead to better outcomes of reduced reoffending (including the role played by voluntary and community sector organisations and partner agencies)? 2. What wider costs and benefits, if any, do stakeholders feel were incurred through the implementation of the SIB? 3. To what extent did stakeholders feel that the SIB led to greater innovation and/or efficiency? 4. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the SIB contractual model as implemented? 5. What key messages can be taken from the Peterborough pilot that offer useful learning points for future payment by results models and SIBs? Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2015. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486512/social-impact-bond-pilot-peterborough-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486512/social-impact-bond-pilot-peterborough-report.pdf Shelf Number: 137742 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice (U.K.) Interventions Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Social Impact Bonds

Author: Spence, Douglas H. Title: Recidivism by Direct Sentence Clients Released from Day Report Centers in 2011: Predictors and Patterns over Time Summary: This study investigates the factors that predict the likelihood that DRC clients will be arrested, booked into jail, or incarcerated within 2 years of release. It also examines the timing of recidivism events during the period after release. The strong relationship between successful program completion, risk scores, and recidivism provides evidence of the impact of DRC programming and the predictive validity of the LS/CMI risk assessment tool. Analysis of LS/CMI subcomponent scores reveals important areas of criminogenic need for the DRC client population in WV, and suggest means for further improving the quality of service delivery in DRCs. Findings related to the timing of recidivism point to additional opportunities for reducing recidivism rates through the use of targeted post-release supervision strategies. Implications for quality assurance, effective treatment dosage, and adherence to evidence-based practices are also discussed. Details: Charleston, WV: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Office of Research and Strategic Planning, 2016. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2016 at: http://jrsa.org/sac-spotlight/wv-recidivism/wv-drc-recidivism.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://jrsa.org/sac-spotlight/wv-recidivism/wv-drc-recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 137750 Keywords: Alternative to Incarcerations Day Reporting Day Reporting Centers Offender Risk Assessment Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Davidson, Leighann J. Title: Evidence-Based Offender Assessment: A Comparative Analysis of West Virginia and U.S. Risk Scores Summary: This study describes the results of more than 8,000 LS/CMI risk assessments provided to West Virginia offenders in 2013 and 2014. West Virginia normative data is compared to U.S. offender population norms derived from assessment data gathered from nine states across the country. Results indicate West Virginia has a lower risk offender population compared to other states - this is true regardless of correctional setting (i.e., community or institutional confinement). Approximately 74-76% of West Virginia offenders under correctional supervision have risk scores that are below the U.S. average. The low risk population under supervision, in part, explains the comparatively low recidivism rates observed in West Virginia. Compared to other states, West Virginia offenders have lower levels of need in most areas, especially the Procriminal Attitude/Orientation and Antisocial Pattern domains. The study results suggest there may be substantive differences in the risk and needs of male and female offenders in West Virginia. Consideration of LS/CMI risk scores may enhance the state's efforts to manage its correctional population, protect the public, and save resources. Details: Charleston, WV: West Virginia Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Office of Research and Strategic Planning, 2015. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2016 at: http://www.djcs.wv.gov/ORSP/SAC/Documents/Davidson%20et%20al%202015_EBP%20Offender%20Assessment%20Comparative%20Analysis.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.djcs.wv.gov/ORSP/SAC/Documents/Davidson%20et%20al%202015_EBP%20Offender%20Assessment%20Comparative%20Analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 137752 Keywords: Offender Risk Assessment Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Spence, Douglas H. Title: The Predictive Utility of Risk and Needs Assessment Summary: Risk and needs assessment plays a crucial role in determining the services offenders receive while in correctional custody and their level of supervision after release. According to the principles of effective correctional intervention, clients assessed as having a higher risk of recidivism should receive both a greater treatment dosage and a higher level of case supervision. This strategy of providing more services to higher risk individuals is frequently described as adhering to the "risk principle" (Andrews and Dowden, 2006). In order to adhere to the risk principle, however, correctional programs must first ensure that they are accurately assessing offenders' risk and needs. The Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI), and its predecessor the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R), are two of the most prominent and widely-used tools for assessing offenders. Both have been subjected to extensive empirical research and have been shown to accurately predict the likelihood of recidivism for a variety of offender populations (Vose, Cullen and Smith, 2008). The LS/CMI is currently used by all correctional agencies in West Virginia to assess risk for recidivism. The tool is completed through a process that involves an offender interview combined with the use of official records. The collective information is used to calculate risk scores that indicate an overall risk for recidivism as well as identify specific criminogenic needs (i.e., dynamic risk factors shown to be empirically related to recidivism). These factors include: education/employment, family/marital relationships, substance abuse, procriminal attitudes, antisocial peers, leisure/recreation activities, antisocial personality, and past criminal behavior. LS/CMI scores are utilized to make a variety of decisions including level of supervision and services to be provided to protect public safety. Several recent and forthcoming studies conducted by researchers from the Office of Research and Strategic Planning (ORSP) assess the effectiveness of the LS/CMI for predicting recidivism by offenders in WV. These studies investigate the statistical relationships between various offender characteristics (including LS/CMI scores) and the likelihood of committing a new offenses during a 24 month follow-up period. Details: Charleston, WV: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center, Office of Research and Strategic Planning, 2015. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief; Evidence-Based Practice Series, No. 1: Accessed February 3, 2016 at: http://www.djcs.wv.gov/ORSP/SAC/Documents/JCEBP%20Research%20Brief%201_final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.djcs.wv.gov/ORSP/SAC/Documents/JCEBP%20Research%20Brief%201_final.pdf Shelf Number: 137753 Keywords: Alternative to Incarcerations Day Reporting Day Reporting Centers Offender Risk Assessment Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Broadhurst, Roderic Title: The Recidivism of Homicide Offenders in Western Australia Summary: Popular perceptions concerning the recidivism of extremely violent offenders - in particular, homicide offenders - are contradictory. Perceptions vary from one extreme - that such offenders rarely commit further violent offences - to the opposite end of the spectrum, where it is thought that they remain high risks on release from custody. The present study, the first of its kind in Australia, draws on the records of persons arrested in Western Australia over the period 1984-2005 to provide accurate measures of the recidivism of this small but potentially dangerous group, and to make rigorous comparisons between specific types of homicide offenders. Using survival analysis techniques, we accurately estimate and analyse the long-term rate of recidivism of 1,088 individuals arrested and charged for homicide in Western Australia between 1st January 1984 and 31st December 2005. The cases involve individuals arrested for domestic murders and other types of homicides (robbery and sexual murder), including attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, manslaughter (unintentional homicide) and driving causing death offences. Most arrests for homicide result in conviction and lengthy prison sentences; therefore, very long follow-up time is required to study the recidivism of such cases. Our database provides up to 22 years follow up time (for those arrested in 1984) and accounts critically for the first and any subsequent arrests, if they occur. Recidivism is defined herein as re-arrest following release from prison for the signal homicide offence within the period of follow-up, and is considered in three separate ways: as re-arrest for another homicide, for another violent offence, or for any offence. Using both nonparametric and parametric analyses we estimate probabilities of recidivism and the speed with which it occurs. Risks of recidivism are compared across types of homicide, and we explore the role of covariate information such as gender, age, Aboriginality, and prior record. Of the 1088 individuals, only 3 (all male non-Aboriginals) were subsequently arrested and charged with a distinct homicide offence relating to a single event in the follow-up period. But 40.3% were re-arrested for another offence (any offence) and 21.9% were re-arrested for another grave offence (robbery, blackmail and extortion, assault, sexual assault, abduction and other offences against the person, burglary, arson, child pornography and homicide) by the cutoff date. Accounting for censoring, among those committing a murder and subsequently released, we estimate a probability of 0.66 of being rearrested for another offence of any type. The corresponding probabilities for those convicted of manslaughter or for driving causing death were both 0.43. Having a prior record increased the risk of re-arrest substantially; for example, male non-Aboriginals arrested for murder with at least one prior arrest have an estimated probability of 0.72 of being rearrested for another offence of any type. Their estimated probability of being rearrested for another grave offence was 0.33. The results show that while homologous homicide re-offending is rare, homicide offenders, especially those who are charged with murder, have substantial risks of re-offending, and those who have prior arrest records have higher risks of re-offending for a grave offense. These findings should be of interest to courts and correctional agencies in assessing risk at various stages of the administration of criminal justice, and especially risk assessment for parole deliberations. Details: Canberra: Australian National University, 2016. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2712091 Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2712091 Shelf Number: 137770 Keywords: Homicides Murders Recidivism Violent Offenders

Author: Siegel, Jonah Aaron Title: Prisoner Reentry, Parole Violations, and the Persistence of the Surveillance State Summary: The revolving door of the state and federal prison system may be the most persistent challenge faced by criminological practitioners and scholars. Following release from custody, the majority of former prisoners end up back in the system within three years, suggesting that correctional involvement is not an isolated incident for most offenders. Through its analysis of parole violations and sanctions, the current dissertation project offers important new insights on this "revolving door" between prisons and high-risk communities. To do so, each of three empirical chapters looks at a different phase in the cycle of recidivism: offending behavior, institutional responses to offending behavior, and the consequences of institutional sanctions for offenders' well-being. The first analytic chapter examines how geographical proximity to social service providers is related to the risk of recidivism. The findings suggest that the observed impact of contextual conditions on recidivism depends on how expansively one defines the "community" in which parolees are embedded and further demonstrates the importance of capturing the effect of service accessibility on offending behavior within the larger ecological context of where parolees live. The second analytic chapter explores how "supervision regimes," the legal, political, and cultural factors that shape the way supervision is practiced across jurisdictions, influence the risk of recidivism. The analysis demonstrates that regional and county-level attributes shape local templates for decision-making among parole officers in ways that affect not only whether parolees are revoked to prison, but also the use of alternative sanctions, such as stricter community supervision and incarceration in short-term correctional facilities such as jails or detention centers. The final analytic chapter offers a rigorous assessment of the causal impact of incarceration on labor market outcomes through an examination of whether return to short-term custody interferes with the ability of parolees to find and maintain work. Findings indicate that the experience of short-term re-incarceration dramatically increases the risk of unemployment among parolees in the months during and following their incarceration. Taken as a whole, the analyses shed light on how offending behavior, institutional decision-making, and the experience of incarceration combine to perpetuate the cycle of recidivism. Details: Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan, 2014. 147p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 9, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248412.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/248412.pdf Shelf Number: 137815 Keywords: Decision-Making Ex-Offender Employment Offender Supervision Parole Officers Parole Violations Parolee Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: New York State Bar Association. Special Committee on Re-entry Title: Special Committee on Re-enetry: Report Summary: Increasingly, policy makers and the media have urged reconsideration of the size of our prison population and examination of alternatives to incarceration, particularly for those convicted of less serious offenses. Many, including Governor Cuomo, have urged or taken actions designed to address issues facing individuals re-entering the community after incarceration. Thus, it is a particularly appropriate time to examine the re-entry into society of adults and young people post-arrest or post-incarceration. The underlying rationales for this report's recommendations are: (1) confinement often increases the likelihood of recidivism by leaving unaddressed or exacerbating a person's identifiable problem areas; whereas (2) a coordinated, systematic and quickly undertaken effort to identify and focus on these problem areas is likely to diminish recidivism considerably. Assessments of programs discussed herein generally find that successful programs "pay for themselves." The cost of re-incarceration and the cost to victims of recidivism are far greater than the cost of providing the programs described in this report. To put this in perspective, in New York State about 54,000 individuals are currently incarcerated. New York's average annual cost of incarceration is $60,000 per individual. Every year, about 24,000 individuals are released from state prisons and more than 100,000 are released from local jails back into the community, but within years thereafter, two-thirds of them are rearrested, and over 40 percent are again incarcerated (most often for economically driven crimes). Details: Albany: New York State Bar Association, 2016. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2016: http://www.nysba.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=61806 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nysba.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=61806 Shelf Number: 137936 Keywords: Employment Programs Ex-offender Employment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Adler, Joanna R. Title: What Works in Managing Young People who Offend? A Summary of the International Evidence Summary: This review was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and considers international literature concerning the management of young people who have offended. It was produced to inform youth justice policy and practice. The review focuses on the impact and delivery of youth justice supervision, programmes and interventions within the community, secure settings, and during transition into adult justice settings or into mainstream society. Approach A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was conducted to assess the international evidence systematically. In line with English and Welsh youth justice sentencing, young people were taken to be 10-17 years old when considering initial intervention, programmes and supervision, and up to 21 years old when considering transitions into the adult criminal justice system and resettlement post release from custody. Evidence was considered from any country where studies were reported in English, and published between 1st January 1990 and 28th February 2014. The majority of these findings are from evaluations conducted in the United States of America and their transferability to an English and Welsh context should be considered given the different legal and sentencing frameworks, as well as economic and social contexts. Key findings Key elements of effective programmes to reduce reoffending In line with most previous reviews, effective interventions in reducing youth reoffending considered the factors set out below. - The individual's risk of reoffending: assessing the likelihood of further offending and importantly, matching services to that level of risk with a focus on those people who are assessed as having a higher risk. - The needs of the individual: focusing attention on those attributes that are predictive of reoffending and targeting them in rehabilitation and service provision. An individual's ability to respond to an intervention: maximising the young person's ability to learn from a rehabilitative programme by tailoring approaches to their learning styles, motivation, abilities and strengths. The type of programme: therapeutic programmes tend to be more effective than those that are primarily focused on punitive and control approaches. Therapeutic approaches include: skills building (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; social skills); restorative (e.g. restitution; victim-offender mediation); counselling (e.g. for individuals, groups and families) and mentoring in some contexts. The use of multiple services: addressing a range of offending related risks and needs rather than a single factor. Case management and service brokerage can also be important. Programme implementation: quality and amount of service provided and fidelity to programme design. The wider offending context: considering family, peers and community issues. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2016. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series, 2016: Accessed February 23, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498493/what-works-in-managing-young-people-who-offend.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498493/what-works-in-managing-young-people-who-offend.pdf Shelf Number: 137942 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Young Adult Offenders

Author: RMIT University Title: Evaluation of the Redevelopment of Community Correctional Services: Final Report Summary: Community corrections in Victoria instigated the Corrections Long Term Management Strategy (CLTMS) in 2001.The Reducing Re-offending Strategy was a component of CLTMS and was designed to guide correctional policy and practice over the next decade. A major feature of the Reducing Re-offending Strategy was the Redevelopment of Community Correctional Services (CCS). Within the available funding, 42.3 million dollars was allocated to the Redevelopment of Community Correctional Services. The Redevelopment was initiated to strengthen the capacity of Community Correctional Services to manage offenders and to reduce the number of prison beds. There were three compelling reasons that this was necessary: - The prison system was under enormous pressure due to a dramatic rise in prison numbers; - There was a financial imperative to expand community corrections as a more cost effective alternative to prison and there was a need for a greater range of sentencing options; - There was a growing evidence base that community correctional services had more potential to assist offender rehabilitation and reduce re-offending than a custodial sentence. A key indicator of success was an increase in substitution from prison to community based correctional services with an anticipated reduction of 350 prison beds over the four year period of implementation. The intended longer term outcome of the implementation of Redevelopment was a reduction in re-offending. Details: Melbourne: RMIT University, 2005. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 25, 2016 at: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/19ef8778-54fe-4660-b203-6dfa1ec7d33e/evaluation_redevelopment_community_correctional_services_final_report.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Australia URL: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/19ef8778-54fe-4660-b203-6dfa1ec7d33e/evaluation_redevelopment_community_correctional_services_final_report.pdf Shelf Number: 137974 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Community-Based Corrections Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Corrections Victoria. Strategy and Forecasting Branch Title: Consolidated response to reviews of offenders charged with murder Summary: On 19 April 2011 The Herald Sun published a front-page article entitled "Free to kill" which, based on a Victoria Police memo, claimed that seven offenders subject to parole orders had committed murder despite having been previously subject to parole intervention. In response to concerns raised in the media, three separate formal reviews were initiated into the management of parolees and other offenders, with particular focus on offenders who were alleged to have committed during the period between 1 July 2008 and 17 December 2010. This report consolidates information relating to the background and context of each of the reviews. Details: Melbourne: Department of Justice, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2016 at: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/831d9685-bfb2-41ac-85a5-38ab54b6c838/consolidated+responsetoreviewsofoffenderschargedwithmurder.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: https://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/resources/831d9685-bfb2-41ac-85a5-38ab54b6c838/consolidated+responsetoreviewsofoffenderschargedwithmurder.pdf Shelf Number: 138011 Keywords: Homicides Murder Murderers Recidivism

Author: Deal, Teri Title: Measuring Subsequent Offending in Juvenile Probation Summary: NCJJ has released a new StateScan publication that summarizes the results of a review of publicly available recidivism reports that include measures of recidivism for youth adjudicated to probation. This StateScan is the 6th in a series that distills important knowledge from NCJJ's Juvenile Justice Geography, Policy, Practice & Statistics website (www.JJGPS.org). The authors organize results from an online search for available state-level recidivism reports. Most reports located focused on juvenile correction populations, but 14 reports included measures of reoffending for youth under probation supervision. This publication explores the different ways reoffending is measured for this population, including the various marker events and follow-up periods used. This original analysis also emphasizes the need to measure reoffending among probationers given that most court involved youth are supervised by probation departments Details: Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2015. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: STATESCAN: Accessed March 7, 2016 at: http://www.ncjj.org/pdf/JJGPS%20StateScan/JJGPS%20Measuring%20Subsequent%20Offending%20in%20Juvenile%20Probation%202015_6.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjj.org/pdf/JJGPS%20StateScan/JJGPS%20Measuring%20Subsequent%20Offending%20in%20Juvenile%20Probation%202015_6.pdf Shelf Number: 138122 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community-Based Corrections Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism

Author: Brunton-Smith, Ian Title: The impact of experience in prison on the employment status of longer-sentenced prisoners after release. Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal cohort study of prisoners Summary: According to survey data, around two-thirds of prisoners are unemployed both before and after custody. The importance of employment in supporting reducing re-offending has long been recognised. There is less understanding of why some prisoners are able to secure work, whilst others do not. Improving our understanding is a key priority for those involved in the management and rehabilitation of offenders. Between 2005 and 2010 a longitudinal cohort study (Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction - SPCR) was conducted, involving face to face interviews with prisoners during and after custody, as well as matching individuals to administrative data such as criminal records. During the SPCR interviews, prisoners were asked about events and circumstances in childhood and early life and before coming into custody as well as their experiences in prison and after release. Previous reports from the SPCR study have focused on the background characteristics of 1,435 prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in prison (SPCR Sample 1), including childhood experiences, education, employment, drug and alcohol use, health and mental health, needs and attitudes, accommodation before custody, and criminal history (MoJ, 2010a; Boorman & Hopkins, 2012; Hopkins, 2012; Williams, Poyser & Hopkins, 2012; Williams, Papadopoulou & Booth, 2012; Light, Grant & Hopkins, 2013) These reports were based on bivariate analysis and explored prevalence of these pre-custody factors and whether they were associated with higher rates of re-offending on release. In addition, a longitudinal report (Brunton-Smith & Hopkins, 2013) demonstrated which factors identified in the bivariate analyses remained independently associated with re-offending after release from prison, once all other factors were taken into account. SPCR respondents were asked about their employment status during the Wave 3 interviews, conducted a few months2 post-release from prison. The current report presents findings about the factors that are associated with employment after release, for 2,171 prisoners serving sentences of between 18 months and four years (SPCR Sample 2). These sentence lengths are not typical, as on average, most prisoners are sentenced to less than one year in prison.3 However, longer-sentenced prisoners are more likely to access programmes and interventions in prison, and this focus on longer-sentenced prisoners may allow analysis of the effects of these programmes on outcomes such as employment after release. The research first uses bivariate analysis to describe a range of factors before, during custody and after release, exploring how post-custody employment rates vary according to these factors. The analysis then focuses more specifically on identifying the factors that were most strongly associated with higher likelihood of reporting employment after release. To do so the analysis used logistic regression, developing a multivariate model to allow several factors to be tested for their association with post-custody employment at the same time. This allows us to demonstrate which factors were independently associated with employment, when all factors were considered together. Logistic regression analysis does not establish causal links between events, circumstances and re-offending. Nevertheless, the approach allows us to identify a range of factors directly associated with employment after release from prison, and to consider the relative importance of different factors to support policy makers and practitioners working with prisoners and ex-prisoners. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed March 9, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296320/impact-of-experience-in-prison-on-employment-status-of-longer-sentenced-prisoners.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296320/impact-of-experience-in-prison-on-employment-status-of-longer-sentenced-prisoners.pdf Shelf Number: 138146 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offender Employment Prisoner Rehabilitation Re-offending Recidivism

Author: Hunt, Kim Steven Title: Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview Summary: This report provides a broad overview of key findings from the United States Sentencing Commission's study of recidivism of federal offenders. The Commission studied offenders who were either released from federal prison after serving a sentence of imprisonment or placed on a term of probation in 2005. Nearly half (49.3%) of such offenders were rearrested within eight years for either a new crime or for some other violation of the condition of their probation or release conditions. This report discusses the Commission's recidivism research project and provides many additional findings from that project. In the future, the Commission will release additional publications discussing specific topics concerning recidivism of federal offenders. (March 2016) The offenders studied in this project are 25,431 federal offenders who: are citizens; re-entered the community during 2005 after discharging their sentence of incarceration or by commencing a term of probation in 2005; have valid FBI numbers which could be located in criminal history repositories (in at least one state, the District of Columbia, or federal records); are not reported dead, escaped, or detained, and have a pre-sentence investigation report that was submitted to the Commission with a federal sentence that was not vacated. The key findings of the Commission's study are: - Over an eight year follow-up period, almost one-half of federal offenders released in 2005 (49.3%) were rearrested for a new crime or rearrested for a violation of supervision conditions. - Almost one-third (31.7%) of the offenders were also reconvicted, and one-quarter (24.6%) of the offenders were reincarcerated over the same study period. - Offenders released from incarceration in 2005 had a rearrest rate of 52.5 percent, while offenders released directly to a probationary sentence had a rearrest rate of 35.1 percent. - Of those offenders who recidivated, most did so within the first two years of the eight year follow-up period. The median time to rearrest was 21 months. - About one-fourth of those rearrested had an assault rearrest as their most serious charge over the study period. Other common most serious offenses were drug trafficking, larceny, and public order offenses. - A federal offender's criminal history was closely correlated with recidivism rates. Rearrest rates range from 30.2 percent for offenders with zero total criminal history points to 80.1 percent of offenders in the highest Criminal History Category, VI. Each additional criminal history point was generally associated with a greater likelihood of recidivism. - A federal offender's age at time of release into the community was also closely associated with differences in recidivism rates. Offenders released prior to age 21 had the highest rearrest rate, 67.6 percent, while offenders over sixty years old at the time of release had a recidivism rate of 16.0 percent - Other factors, including offense type and educational level, were associated with differing rates of recidivism but less so than age and criminal history. Details: Washington, DC: United States Sentencing Commission, 2016. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2016 at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2016/recidivism_overview.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2016/recidivism_overview.pdf Shelf Number: 138162 Keywords: Federal Offenders Offenders Re-offending Recidivism Repeat Offenders

Author: Care After Prison Title: Care After Prison: Three Year Impact Report, 2011-2014 Summary: Over 60% of ex-prisoners reoffend within 3 years of their release. This poses a real challenge for those providing services to people leaving prison. In 2011, Care After Prison (CAP) was founded to help break this cycle. CAP takes a completely new approach: peer-led and non-judgmental. It meets ex-prisoners in the middle by providing credible support built through experience and education. It is this unique perspective that distinguishes CAP from other services and makes it the effective intervention that it is. The benefits of CAP's success in rehabilitating ex-prisoners are three-fold: ex-prisoners have benefited by reintegrating into society, crime by ex-prisoners has been reduced and, as a result, tax payers have saved money. In 2014, CAP staged 439 interventions in the community alone. Of those, the majority were related to prison-in reach visits, peer advice and homeless or accommodation issues. In addition, through the Community Support Scheme (CSS), CAP worked with 211 offenders on structured Release and referred 134 to additional services. The top referrals were for addiction services, education and training and employment. As CAP service users' average recidivism rate is significantly lower than the national average, CAP delivers a considerable saving to the Exchequer. Details: Dublin: Care After Prison, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 14, 2016 at: http://careafterprison.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Care-after-prison-report-web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Ireland URL: http://careafterprison.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Care-after-prison-report-web.pdf Shelf Number: 138212 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Terry, Diane J. Title: Social Supports and Criminal Desistance among Formerly Incarcerated Youth in the Transition to Adulthood Summary: Nearly 100,000 youth exit correctional facilities each year and reenter the community. As they attempt to resituate themselves in their former environments, many will encounter emotional, social and logistical challenges that may deter them from achieving success. Further, many will reoffend shortly after their release. In order to break cycles of crime and recidivism among youth offenders, it is necessary to explore the pathways that lead them away from crime, particularly as they transition into adulthood. Theory asserts that criminal desistance is a process that entails individual behavioral changes, changing life circumstances, and environmental context. Little is known however, about how young people perceive and navigate the challenges they encounter in this process. Moreover, scholars have not fully explored the relationships between social supports and desistance, including how formerly incarcerated youth perceive, utilize, and access support to help them stay out of trouble. This study used a narrative, life history approach to explore the relationship between criminal desistance, perceptions, and use of social supports among formerly incarcerated, transition-age youth. The researcher conducted 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 formerly incarcerated young men, ages 19-24. Coding and memoing were used to identify major themes related to the participants' desistance journeys and to develop a set of findings concerning the relationship between social support and criminal desistance in the transition to adulthood. This study located three offender typologies, each holding different ideas of desistance ranging from complete abstinence from crime to committing crimes while avoiding police contact. These definitions shaped how they approached the desistance barriers they faced: appearance, feeling marked, and relationships with people and places in the environment. Three important findings emerged with regards to the study variables. First, micro-level decision making helped the participants to navigate desistance barriers. Second, successful desisters latched onto "hooks" that enabled them to transition into adulthood and away from their criminal pasts. Last, social supports served as both a barrier and a coping strategy in the desistance process. Key implications are identified regarding how to better understand the construct of desistance, and how social supports can help young men in the desistance process. Details: Los Angeles: University of California at Los Angeles, 2012. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 18, 2016 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1s1455vg Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1s1455vg Shelf Number: 138329 Keywords: Desistance Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Rehabilitation Social Services Youthful Offenders

Author: Keohane, Nigel Title: Breaking Bad Habits: Reforming rehabilitation services Summary: Reducing this rate of reoffending is central to the Government's Transforming Rehabilitation proposals. This report analyses the Government's reforms and makes three principal points. First, it calculates the costs of reoffending to the public purse and to society and it argues that the Government should seek to be much more ambitious in the level of investment. Second, it recommends that other government schemes - such as the Work Programme and prison services - should be rolled into the rehabilitation reforms. Finally, the report provides new analysis showing that a principal rationale for the reforms - that expertise from charities and social enterprises can be brought in to help turn around the lives of offenders - is in danger of misfiring if additional safeguards are not put in place. Details: London: Social Market Foundation, 2014. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2016 at: http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Publication-Breaking-Bad-Habits-Reforming-rehabilitation-services.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Publication-Breaking-Bad-Habits-Reforming-rehabilitation-services.pdf Shelf Number: 138336 Keywords: Recidivism Rehabilitation Reoffending Repeat Offenders

Author: Clark, Valerie A. Title: An Evaluation of Minnesota's Second Chance Act Adult Demonstration Grant: The High-Risk Revocation Reduction Reentry Program Summary: This research assessed whether a reentry program targeted towards high-risk short-term prison inmates significantly reduced recidivism. Adult male release violators serving incarceration periods of two to six months in two Minnesota state prisons were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 77) or the High-Risk Revocation Reduction (HRRR) program (n = 162). The latter group was provided with enhanced case planning, housing assistance, employment assistance, mentoring services, cognitive-behavioral programming, and transportation assistance, while the former group was given standard case management services. After one to two years of post-release follow-up time, event history analysis was used to predict the following four measures of recidivism: supervised release revocation, rearrest, reconviction, and new offense reincarceration. The Cox regression analyses revealed that participation in the HRRR program significantly lowered the risk of supervised release revocations and reconvictions by 28 and 43 percent, respectively. Regardless of treatment or control group membership, receiving more reentry assistance significantly reduced supervision revocations as well as rearrests. Analyses also revealed that employment assistance, including subsidized employment, was especially effective at reducing recidivism. Targeting resources towards this previously under-served population may be useful for lowering recidivism as well as promoting public safety. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2016 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/8214/1340/4401/Evaluation_of_HRRR_Program_-_October_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/8214/1340/4401/Evaluation_of_HRRR_Program_-_October_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 138362 Keywords: Parole Revocations Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Second Chance Act Supervised Release

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: What Works with Minnesota Prisoners: A Summary of the Effects of Correctional Programming on Recidivism, Employment, and Cost Avoidance Summary: Since 2006, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) has completed more than 20 major research studies and program evaluations. Of these reports, 13 have evaluated programs that have operated within Minnesota DOC facilities. This report summarizes the impact of these programs on recidivism, post-release employment, and cost avoidance. Program Characteristics The characteristics of the 13 programs that have been evaluated are shown in Table 1. Three of the programs (MCORP, PRI, and SOAR) were prisoner reentry pilot projects that are no longer operating. As noted in Table 1, however, five other programs currently operating in the DOC focus on prisoner reentry. Five of the programs evaluated provide participants with educational/ employment programming. Two of the programs offer cognitive-behavioral programming (chemical dependency and sex offender treatment), while another two are early release programs (CIP and work release). The length of the programs ranges from a minimum of two months (work release and power of People) to a maximum of thirty (IFI). Seven of the programs deliver services in both prison and the community, while five offer programming only in prison. Work release was the only one evaluated that provides programming strictly in the community. Offenders placed on supervised release were the target populations for all three of the prisoner reentry programs that were evaluated. Of the remaining 10 programs, five include recidivism risk in the offender selection process, while the remaining five tend to target offenders in general. Of the five that incorporate risk into the selection process, two focus on lower-risk offenders because they are early release programs. Each of the 13 programs evaluated was designed to focus on one or more criminogenic needs (i.e., factors associated with recidivism). The most commonly addressed needs areas are anti-social cognition and education/employment (each of these needs areas is addressed by eight programs). Five of the programs target substance abuse, while three focus on anti-social associates. Program Evaluation Characteristics The descriptive characteristics for each program evaluation are provided in Table 2. With 3,570 offenders, the work release program evaluation has the largest sample size to date. The MnCOSA sample, on the other hand, is the smallest with 62 offenders. All but the chemical dependency (CD) treatment evaluation examined offenders released over a period of multiple years. At 9.3 years, the sex offender treatment evaluation had the longest average follow-up period. In contrast, the PRI evaluation had the shortest follow-up period (one year average). Three of the 13 evaluations used a randomized controlled trial (RCT), whereas the remaining ten used a retrospective quasi-experimental design (RQED). Propensity score matching has been used in eight of the ten RQED evaluations to match offenders from the treatment and comparison groups. Of the 13 evaluations, 9 have been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Recidivism Recidivism is often considered the "gold standard" by which to measure the effectiveness of correctional programming. All 13 program evaluations included at least two measures of recidivism. Nine of the evaluations contained four separate recidivism measures. Because the education programming evaluation separately assessed the effects of earning secondary and post-secondary degrees in prison on several outcomes, two discrete program effects were included in Table 3. Of the 14 program effects examined, 9 were found to significantly decrease at least one measure of recidivism. For example, the results suggest that, relative to a comparison group of untreated offenders, participating in chemical dependency treatment significantly reduced the risk of rearrest for a new offense by 17 percent. Each program was ranked by the magnitude of its impact on each recidivism measure. In developing program rankings for each measure of recidivism, statistically significant results were given priority over those that were not statistically significant. At 55 percent, EMPLOY had the largest effect size for new offense reincarceration. MnCOSA had the largest effect sizes for rearrest and revocation, while IFI had the greatest impact on reconviction. Overall, EMPLOY was the only program to significantly reduce all four recidivism measures. Post-Release Employment Given that not all correctional programs are geared towards improving post-release employment outcomes for offenders, a little more than half (seven) of the evaluations have assessed program effects on at least one measure of employment. Of these seven, six evaluations utilized multiple measures of employment data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The results in Table 4 show that EMPLOY, work release, educational degrees, MCORP and IFI have each produced significant, positive findings regarding post-release employment. AHP and PRI did not yield significant, positive employment outcomes. Overall, work release and EMPLOY produced the best employment outcomes. For example, work release participants were roughly eight times more likely than a comparison group of offenders to find employment. EMPLOY participants, meanwhile, were 72 percent more likely to obtain post-release employment than a comparison group of offenders. Compared to their counterparts in the comparison groups, EMPLOY and work release participants worked, on average, 211 and 497 more hours, respectively, during the follow-up period. EMPLOY participants earned roughly $5,400 more, on average, than offenders in the comparison group. Work release participants earned about $4,800 more than those in the comparison group. Cost Avoidance Correctional programs can reduce costs in several ways. Most notably, programs that lower recidivism can generate costs avoided by decreasing victim costs, criminal justice costs (including police, courts, and prisons), and lost productivity of incarcerated offenders. Those that improve employment incomes can create a benefit by increasing income taxes that employed offenders pay to the state. And programs can also reduce costs by providing graduates with early release from prison to correctional supervision. The cost avoidance estimates for each of the 13 programs are shown in Table 5. Five of the programs (CIP, AHP, MnCOSA, work release, and MCORP) contain estimates that were developed at the time the program was evaluated. For the remaining eight program evaluations, cost avoidance estimates were calculated specifically for this report. The results indicate that 10 of the 13 programs evaluated have produced a cost avoidance to the state. The total costs avoided, however, are based, to some extent, on the total size of the sample. Costs avoided per participant, on the other hand, provides a standardized metric in which comparisons can be made across programs. The results show that AHP produced the largest costs avoided per participant. As noted in that evaluation, however, the vast majority of the costs avoided came from employers paying lower wages to AHP participants. EMPLOY had the next highest benefit per participant, followed by sex offender treatment, CD treatment and MnCOSA. Each of these programs generated an excess of $10,000 in costs avoided for every participant in the program. Table 5 also estimates the costs avoided that each program produces on an annual basis. Annual cost avoidance estimates were calculated by multiplying each programs' costs avoided per participant by the number of offenders who participate in the program each year. Given the large number of participants, coupled with the relatively high amount of costs avoided per participant, CD treatment produces more than $22 million in estimated costs avoided each year. Although education programming yields one of the lower costs avoided per participant (ninth out of 13), it can be delivered relatively inexpensively ($874 per participant) to a large number of offenders (approximately 1,350 earn a secondary or post-secondary degree in prison each year). As a result, education programming produces the second-highest annual costs avoided with an estimate of $3.18 million. At $2.86 million, sex offender treatment generates the third-highest annual costs avoided, followed closely by EMPLOY with $2.84 million. CIP yields nearly $2 million in estimated costs avoided each year, as does AHP. Overall, the ten programs producing costs avoided to the state combine for more than $36 million each year. CD treatment thus accounts for more than 60 percent of the total estimated annual amount. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2013. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2016 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6213/9206/2384/What_Works_with_MN_Prisoners_July_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6213/9206/2384/What_Works_with_MN_Prisoners_July_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 138364 Keywords: Correctional Programs Cost-Benefit Analysis Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism Rehabilitation Treatment Programs

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: Does Release Planning for Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) Offenders Reduce Recidivism? Results from an Outcome Evaluation Summary: Since 2002, the Minnesota Department of Corrections has provided release planning services to serious and persistent mentally ill (SPMI) offenders. This study assesses the effectiveness of SPMI release planning by examining recidivism outcomes among 796 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2004 and 2011. Propensity score matching was used to individually match 398 SPMI offenders who received release planning with a comparison group of 398 SPMI offenders who did not receive these services. The results from the Cox regression analyses showed that SPMI release planning did not have a significant impact on any of the four recidivism measures that were analyzed. Release planning's failure to reduce recidivism may be due to the fact that these services were designed to treat mental illness rather than address the criminogenic needs of offenders. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2015. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2016 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6214/1840/9767/MnDOC_SPMI_RP_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/PAGES/files/6214/1840/9767/MnDOC_SPMI_RP_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 138365 Keywords: Mentally Ill Offenders Recidivism

Author: Rios, Nestor Title: Reducing Recidivism: A Review of Effective State Initiatives Summary: The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition commissioned this report that documents how retraining staff in behavioral intervention methods, implementing system-wide organizational improvements, and restructuring probation and parole supervision around the crime related behaviors allowed Maryland's PCS program to achieve an amazing 42 percent lower rate of re-arrests for people under supervision. Crime related behaviors were described under Maryland's PCS program as violence, drug entrepreneurship, drug abuse, domestic abuse, etc. In addition, the report introduces the concept of Justice Reinvestment to Colorado policymakers, profiling efforts in Arizona, Connecticut and Kansas to improve parole and probation supervision outcomes while reducing state correctional costs. Details: New York: Justice Strategies, 2009. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/publications/CO_Reducing_Recidivism_Report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/publications/CO_Reducing_Recidivism_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 130061 Keywords: Community Supervision Costs of Corrections Justice Reinvestment Parole Supervision Probation Supervision Recidivism

Author: Baird, Janette Title: Victim Impact: Listen and Learn. An Evaluation of the Effects of the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn Program on Prisoner Recidivism and Prisoner Behavior Summary: This is a report of the evaluation study conducted to examine the effects of the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn program on the behaviors of the prisoners who attended this program. The focus of the data we collected and reported on was on the participants' behaviors after attending the program but while still in prison, and upon release from prison. Main findings 1. From the available data on 333 prisoners who had attended the Victim Impact: Listen and Learn program prior to their release back into the community, 118 or 35% re-offended and were re-committed back into prison within the state of Delaware within a three-year period following release. Comparable data provided by a 2013 DELJIS report on prisoner recidivism reported that within three-years of release 67% of prisoners re-offended and were re-committed back into Delaware prisons. 2. Prisoners who attended the program and remained in prisons after attending the program showed a reduction by a third in the frequency of disciplinary charges for the period of imprisonment after attending the program. Details: Providence, RI: Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2016 at: https://www.victimsvoicesheard.org/images/pdf/delaware-evaluation-report-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.victimsvoicesheard.org/images/pdf/delaware-evaluation-report-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 138480 Keywords: Correctional Programs Inmate Discipline Prisoner Misconduct Recidivism

Author: Youth Justice Board for England and Wales Title: Youth Justice Statistics 2014/15: England and Wales Summary: general statistics areas covered include: - offences which have resulted in a disposal - court remands - disposals - intensive supervision and surveillance programmes - custody - key performance indicators - resources The YJS in England and Wales works to prevent offending and reoffending by young people under the age of 18. The system is different to the adult system and is structured to address the needs of young people. The YJS is far smaller than the adult system (see Chapter 11 for more details). The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the YJS in England and Wales. The overall number of young people in the YJS continued to reduce in the year ending March 2015. Reductions have been seen in the number entering the system for the first time (First Time Entrants, FTEs), as well as reductions in those receiving disposals1, including those receiving custodial sentences. Compared to the year ending March 2010, there are now 67% fewer young people who were FTEs, 65% fewer young people who received a youth caution or court disposal and 57% fewer young people (under 18) in custody in the youth secure estate. The reoffending rate has increased (by 5.6 percentage points since the year ending March 2008, to 38.0% in the year ending March 2014), but there were significant falls in the number of young people in the cohort, the number of reoffenders and the number of reoffences. Details: London: Youth Justice Board and Ministry of Justice, 2016. 106p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-annual-statistics-2014-to-2015 Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-justice-annual-statistics-2014-to-2015 Shelf Number: 139089 Keywords: Criminal Justice Statistics Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Great Britain. National Audit Office Title: Transforming Rehabilitation Summary: The Ministry of Justice (the Ministry) is responsible for protecting the public, reducing reoffending and providing a more effective criminal justice system. It is supported by 37 agencies and public bodies, including the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). NOMS is an executive agency of the Ministry, responsible for making sure that people serve the sentences and orders handed out by courts, both in prisons and through probation in the community. Probation is the means through which offenders are supervised and their rehabilitation is pursued. Probation services exist to: protect the public; reduce reoffending and rehabilitate offenders; carry out the proper punishment of offenders; and ensure offenders are aware of the impact of crime on victims and the public. Previously, probation services were delivered by 35 self-governing probation trusts working under the direction of NOMS. From late 2013, arrangements for delivering probation and rehabilitation services to offenders underwent concurrent changes, including: - in June 2014 probation services were divided into a National Probation Service (NPS) across seven regions and 21 new community rehabilitation companies (CRCs): - The public sector NPS advises courts on sentencing all offenders and manages those offenders presenting higher risks of serious harm or with prior history of domestic violence and sexual offences. Around 20% of all cases are allocated to the NPS. - CRCs supervise offenders presenting low- and medium-risk of harm. CRCs operated as companies in public ownership until 1 February 2015 when they transferred to eight, mainly private sector, providers. Around 80% of cases are allocated to the CRCs. - As at July 2015, some 243,000 offenders were supervised by the NPS and CRCs; - supervision was extended to offenders released from prison sentences of under 12 months, as part of the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014; and - reorganisation of the prison system to provide 'Through the Gate' services. Since May 2015 CRCs have provided offenders with resettlement services while imprisoned. Our report This report builds on our 2014 Probation: landscape review and our reports on commercial and contracting issues, particularly Transforming contract management in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. It explores ongoing probation reforms and the extent to which changes are being managed in a way likely to promote value for money. We recognise that these changes have barely started and that it will take two years before prospects for success are clearer. In particular, success depends on achieving economic benefits to society estimated at more than L12 billion of economic benefits from reduced reoffending over the next seven years. This report has four parts: - Part One provides an overview of probation reforms and assesses the procurement for the CRC contracts. - Part Two focuses on the performance management of the 21 CRCs and the NPS. - Part Three identifies important operational issues in CRCs and the NPS. ' Part Four examines progress by CRCs and the NPS in transforming probation services, and the main challenges they face in achieving the necessary transformation. Details: London: NAO, 2016. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: HC 951 SESSION 2015-16 28 APRIL 2016: Accessed April 29, 2016 at: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Transforming-rehabilitation.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Transforming-rehabilitation.pdf Shelf Number: 138842 Keywords: Offender Supervision Probation Probationers Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Giles, Margaret Title: Study in prison reduces recidivism and welfare dependence: A case study from Western Australia 2005-2010 Summary: Using a longitudinal dataset of prisoners in Western Australia, this paper describes the effectiveness of correctional education in improving post-release outcomes. The report shows that the more classes completed by prisoners the lower the rate of re-incarceration and the less likely they are to increase the seriousness of their offending. These, and other personal and societal benefits such as a reduction in welfare dependence, were positively associated with the number of classes prisoners successfully completed - that is, the more classes the inmate successfully completes, the less likely they are to reoffend and to access unemployment benefits. Much has been written about how correctional education contributes to post-release outcomes for ex-prisoners. In their systematic review of 50 studies of the effectiveness of correctional education, Davis et al. (2013) found that study in prison unequivocally reduces post-release recidivism and, on average, increases post-release employment. Unlike most earlier studies of the impact of correctional education on recidivism and employment, including the primary studies included in the Davis et al. (2013) meta-analysis, this study uses five years of linked prison history, correctional education and income support payments data. Improved employment and offending outcomes may better enable offenders to successfully reintegrate into their communities, and could produce cost savings into the future for justice authorities and social welfare services. This paper reports on the contribution of correctional education to reducing recidivism and welfare dependence (as a proxy for unemployment) for ex-prisoners in Western Australia. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 514: Accessed May 3, 2016 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi514.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi514.pdf Shelf Number: 138896 Keywords: Correctional Education Ex-offender Employment Recidivism Rehabilitation Unemployment Vocational Education and Training

Author: KPMG Title: Final Report for the Evaluation of Queensland's Youth Boot Camps Summary: In early 2013, we began a trial of 2 types of boot camps that aimed to keep young people out of trouble and detention. They were: - early intervention youth boot camps, for teenagers at risk of long-term offending - sentenced youth boot camp, for teenagers who ◦had a history of offending and were facing detention ◦were from Townsville and had 3 or more motor vehicle offences. In August 2015, we received an evaluation of the youth boot camp trial. We decided we would end the trial because of the report's findings. Our youth boot camp trial ended in October 2015 Details: Brisbane: Department of Justice and Attorney-General, 2015. 251p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2016 at: https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/ac40e5a2-e3e6-4a2a-a7bd-c616116c3a5e/resource/a654be83-cd7f-43b3-b6cd-cdf2c9c8b48d/download/finalreportfortheevaluationofqueenslandsyouthbootcamps.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/ac40e5a2-e3e6-4a2a-a7bd-c616116c3a5e/resource/a654be83-cd7f-43b3-b6cd-cdf2c9c8b48d/download/finalreportfortheevaluationofqueenslandsyouthbootcamps.pdf Shelf Number: 138901 Keywords: Alternatives to Detention At-Risk Youth Boot Camps Delinquency Prevention Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services Title: Recidivism rates and the impact of treatment programs Summary: Crime costs Australia approximately $36 billion dollars per year. Government spending on the criminal justice system accounts for approximately one quarter of these costs, distributed between the police, the courts, and corrective services. National trends show an increasing expenditure on the criminal justice system and Western Australia reflects this. Over the past five years, the yearly cost of Corrective Services has increased by nearly $200 million (34%), with an additional $655 million used on capital expenditure. This review has found that the Department is missing opportunities in reducing reoffending among those most likely to return to prison. Many factors that increase the likelihood of returning to prison are beyond the Department's control but some can be addressed by treatment in prison, education, or by support and assistance on release. It was found that prisoners released from prisons where there were identified deficiencies in service provision were more likely to reoffend. One area that has seen significant investment with the explicit aim of reducing re-offending is the provision of psychologically-based 'offender treatment programs'. These programs are also an influential factor in Prisoners Review Board decisions. Despite their importance there are inequities in their provision and individual programs are rarely subject to long term evaluation. In order to improve outcomes and reduce the rate at which people return to prison, the Department needs to adopt a holistic but carefully targeted approach. This will require clear goals, well-funded strategies for improvement, and continuous measuring of effectiveness so that alterations can be made where needed. Cost increases in the Western Australian correctives services system coincide with an unprecedented increase in prisoner population. The number of prisoners in adult prisons has increased from approximately 3000 in 2004 to over 5000 in 2014. Not only has the population risen but the cost per prisoner is also rising. In Western Australia, five years ago the cost per prisoner each day was $303.62. Now it is $341.64. For 5000 prisoners that is a rise of over $190,000 per day. These cost and population pressures underline the importance of an effective corrective services system. In an effective system, imprisonment will positively influence a prisoner's life by making them less likely to reoffend in the future. Every 10 less prisoners in the system represents an annual saving of one million dollars. Research has shown that a prison sentence increases the likelihood of reoffending; however, reoffending is less likely if a person undertakes a relevant treatment program (e.g. drug treatment, sexual offender treatment). Other effectively proven rehabilitative measures for reducing reoffending include: - Prison-based educational and vocational training programs; - Prison-based employment programs; - Post-release services that aid community re-integration; - Drug courts; and - Mental health diversionary programs. Recently, the Commissioner for Corrective Services announced an intention to reduce reoffending by five to six per cent per year Details: Perth: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2014. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2016 at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3912295a35b28230ed9c541e48257d730008d551/$file/2295.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3912295a35b28230ed9c541e48257d730008d551/$file/2295.pdf Shelf Number: 138937 Keywords: Correctional Programs Costs of Corrections Prisoner Rehabilitation Re-offending Recidivism

Author: Andersen, Lars Hojsgaard Title: Decomposing Recidivism Variance into Probation and Parole Officers and their Clients Summary: Existing empirical literature on probation and parole shows that individual client characteristics matter for recidivism, but also characteristics of their assigned probation or parole officer have been shown to matter. And although theoretical accounts of probation and parole debate the relative importance of these client and officer characteristics, no study has provided an empirical benchmark of the total effects of officers and clients (i.e., their characteristics) on recidivism. In this paper I decompose the total variance in recidivism into components attributable to probationers and parolees and their assigned probation or parole officers, respectively, using register data that merges all probationers and parolees in 2002-2009 in Denmark with their assigned officer. Results show that although substantial variance components are attributable to both officers and clients, the component attributable to clients is around twice the size of the component attributable to officers. These estimates provide new evidence on the most common types of noncustodial alternatives to imprisonment, probation and parole, which affect millions of people each day. Details: Copenhagen: Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, 2015. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Study Paper No. 92: Accessed May 18, 2016 at: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/app/uploads/2015/12/Study-paper-92_WEB.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Denmark URL: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/app/uploads/2015/12/Study-paper-92_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 139276 Keywords: Community Supervision Parole Officers Parolees Probation Officers Probationers Recidivism

Author: Falegan, Oluwatominsin O. Title: Risk Factors for Sex Work Recidivism in Commercial Sexual Exploitation Victims Summary: INTRODUCTION: An estimated 4.9 million individuals worldwide are currently victims of some form of commercial sexual exploitation. Although there are differing opinions on what can be classified as commercial sexual exploitation, study findings demonstrate that the risk factors and health outcomes for individuals forced or who opt to enter sex work include mental illness, lack of social support, physical injuries and substance abuse. Although studies note that sex work recidivism may be an issue for victims who have exited the commercial sexual exploitation industry, literature addressing the cause and incidence of the phenomenon is very limited. AIM: The purpose of this study was to identify and explore possible risk factors for sex work recidivism by using factors noted in criminal recidivism that align with outcomes for commercial sexual exploitation. The author hypothesizes that individual level factors, such as mental health, substance abuse, and history of abuse, and relationship level factors, such as social support or the lack there of, will be discussed the most in the literature analyzed. METHODS: The researcher did a systematic search of terms related to commercial sexual exploitation (namely: prostitution and sex trafficking) in Georgia State University's online library database and PubMed. Inclusion criteria for this project was the use of terms in an abstract or title and content addressing health outcomes of commercial sexual exploitation. Using an adaptation of the socio-ecological model, the researcher completed a content analysis on articles that met inclusion criteria and extracted and counted the most prevalent themes. Ultimately, the themes were categorized by the four levels of the socio-ecological model. RESULTS: Out of the 47 articles initially retrieved, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria. Individual and Societal level factors were mentioned in 20 of the 21 articles. Relationship level factors were mentioned in 17 of the 21 articles, and Community level factors were mentioned in 16 of the 21 articles. DISCUSSION: The findings supported the researcher's hypothesis that individual level factors such as mental illness and substance abuse would be most prevalent in the studies analyzed. However, the findings demonstrating the equal prevalence of societal factors such as inequalities and economic instabilities was a deviation from the author's predictions. Details: Atlanta: Georgia State University, School of Public Health, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Capstone Project: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=iph_capstone Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=iph_capstone Shelf Number: 139253 Keywords: Prostitutes Prostitution Recidivism Sex Trafficking Sex Workers Sexual Exploitation

Author: Scaggs, Samuel Title: An Assessment of Substance Abuse Treatment Programs in Florida's Prisons Using a Random Assignment Experimental Design Summary: Prior drug involvement and dependence among incarcerated offenders is a critical issue for correctional administrators and policy makers given the financial impact of treatment costs and recidivism. While substance-addicted inmates can cause financial burdens on correctional institutions, they are also at a high risk of recidivism following their release from incarceration. Targeting inmates' substance addiction needs while in prison is intended to reduce reoffending and relapse following prison release. The exact nature of substance abuse treatment within prison systems has yet to be fully examined within the criminological literature. Specifically, while there has been extensive research on the use and effectiveness of therapeutic communities with inmates, other treatment modalities such as outpatient services have received less inquiry. This study provides an important contribution to the understanding of the role substance abuse treatment plays for inmates' in several key ways. First, we evaluate the results of a randomized experimental design study conducted by the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) from January 2006 through December 2008 in which all inmates admitted to a Florida prison were given the opportunity to consent to participate in a study of the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment programming in prison. Second, the study assesses the impact of multiple modalities of prison−based substance abuse treatment, as well as the role that duration and recency of treatment play in the recidivism and post−prison employment outcomes of over 11,000 released inmates. Third, we use multiple statistical techniques, including logistic regression, survival analysis, Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and precision matching, to assess whether, and to what extent, evaluation outcome studies of correctional-based substance abuse treatment are impacted by the type of research design and statistical methods used. Among the major findings are that aftercare and transitional substance abuse programming has some of the largest effects of increasing employment and reducing recidivism. In addition, among inmates who complete substance abuse treatment, those who do so closer to their release from prison are less likely to recidivate. Another important finding is that some research methods produce similarities in the direction of the effect while others produce different directions in the effect of the same treatment on recidivism. Notably, the strongest design - random assignment - showed the most support for prison-based treatment's effectiveness in reducing recidivism. Due to the non-significance of the majority of results across methods, it was difficult to draw conclusions about similarities across statistical methods in this study. We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications and directions for future research on the effectiveness of prison−based substance abuse treatment. Details: Tallahassee: Florida Department of Correction; Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2015. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249843.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249843.pdf Shelf Number: 139265 Keywords: Correctional Programs Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Programs Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Bales, William D. Title: As Assessment of the Effectiveness of Prison Work Release Programs on Post-Release Recidivism and Employment Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness of prison-based work release centers in terms of reducing post-prison recidivism and employment and determines whether privately operated work release centers produce different outcomes compared to state operated programs under the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC). Work release is a community transition program in which prison inmates are housed in community-based facilities and work in the community during normal business hours. While the FDC originally implemented work release programs four decades ago, there has been little empirical research on its effectiveness in promoting post-release employment and reducing recidivism. While there are a few exceptions, the existing literature reporting research conducted to determine the effectiveness of work release can be summarized as largely outdated, lacking methodological rigor, and has failing to examine differences in outcomes across publicly versus privately operated work release facilities. Through support from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), this study uses data from the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) through a researcher-practitioner partnership funded project to assess the impact of work release programs on the post-release outcomes of employment and various indicators of recidivism, and to determine if there are differential outcomes across privately operated versus state run programs. First, we examine the differences in post-prison recidivism outcomes using several different measures as well as employment of 27,463 inmates released from Florida's prison between 2004 and 2011 who completed a work release program with 15,911 non-participants who met the criterion for placement in a work release program but were not exposed during their incarceration. Second, we examine comparisons of these same outcomes between inmates who completed work release in FDC-operated work release facilities versus privately contracted facilities. Third, we examine whether the impact of work release programs on post-prison outcomes varies across inmates with different characteristics, including gender, race, age at prison release, offense types, and post-prison release supervision. Findings indicate that inmates released from work release facilities compared to the control group of non-participants have significantly lower levels of recidivism as measured by arrest for any new crime, arrest for a new felony offense, and conviction for a new felony offense, however, they have higher rates of returning to prison. Additionally, work release is a highly significant influence on the likelihood of obtaining employment within the first quarter after release. When considering the type of work release facility inmates are exposed to, i.e., public versus private, we find no meaningful differences in terms of recidivism; however, inmates who completed a work release program in a privately operated facility are significantly more likely to find employment when returning to their communities. Finally, we examined whether differences existed in the relative effect of work release on the reentry outcomes of recidivism and employment across several characteristics of inmates. The results indicate there are meaningful variations in the outcomes across various demographic groups, offense types, and post-prison supervision status. The policy implications of this research are that the expansion of the use of prison-based work release programs can have a positive impact on reducing the overall recidivism rates of released prisoners and can significantly improve their post-prison employment potential. Details: Tallahassee: Florida Department of Corrections and Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2015. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249845.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249845.pdf Shelf Number: 139268 Keywords: Correctional Programs Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism Rehabilitation Work Release

Author: Caudill, Jonathan W. Title: Breaking Ground: Preliminary Report of Butte County Sheriff's Alternative Custody Supervision Program Summary: In January 2012, Sally Parker organized, at the request of Jon Caudill, a meeting between them, Undersheriff Kory Honea, Captain Andy Duch, Lt. Brian Flicker, and Ryan Patten. Recent AB 109 developments, including creation of the Butte County Sheriff's Office Alternative Custody Supervision (ACS) Program, led the legislated shift of prisoners from the state prison system to the county jail systems to the center stage across the state. From the meeting originated a research agreement between the Principle Investigator, Jonathan Caudill, and the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) including three specific projects: a) identify county prisoner inmate needs, b) establish a recidivism measure, and c) evaluate implementation of the ACS Program. These specific projects, however, also relate to a general philosophy of managing the jail population and improving public safety, while providing offenders with appropriate tools for success. The balance between public safety, managing jail resources, and offender treatment has been the focus of many discussions and the focal point of the BCSO Executive Command. The key to balancing these foci is understanding their interconnectedness. The overarching goals of these projects have been to understand this interconnectedness and identify specific adjustments. As explained in the findings section, we found some anticipated and some unexpected results. First and as expected, we found that many of the surveyed inmates expressed a desire for services while incarcerated and continued assistance during reentry. Several theoretical frameworks may explain these findings; however, the underlying desire for a continuum of services remains. While these are preliminary findings and should be interpreted as such, these findings are commonsensical as we know that approximately two-thirds of inmates were unemployed when arrested. If an individual is unemployed prior to a new felony conviction and incarceration, they are even less employable afterwards. Given these findings, we recommend the BCSO staff conduct a supervision and treatment plan for all potential ACS eligible inmates. Implemented correctly, this strategy will increase treatment accuracy and gauge supervision needs. Our second expected finding was the limitations of the current data collection strategy and offender management system. We knew at the onset that intensive community supervision was a new concept for the BCSO and, therefore, they lacked appropriate software. The BCSO, at the time of this report, has an active jail information management system request for proposal and requested that this study's PI consult in the proposal scoring process. We recommend that the BCSO continue their search for an appropriate offender management system that has the capacity to store historical data and network with other county systems. Third, we discovered that the BCSO implemented the ACS Program in an efficient manner and is now prepared to proceed to the formalization phase. In fact, the projected one-year recidivism estimation suggested the ACS program has a lower recidivism rate than the most recent California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) one-year recidivism rate. Our analyses revealed the current ACS six-month recidivism rate just below 20 percent (0.19). Based on this number and previous time-to-recidivism research, we estimated the ACS program one-year recidivism rate at 0.327, while the most recent CDCR recidivism estimate for property and drug offenders was 0.492. Additionally, the data suggest that officers are maintaining a service orientation (67 percent of all officer-participant encounters were service, as opposed to enforcement). This trend, however, has the potential to wane once the program newness expires. New programs produce excitement and enthusiasm, but the natural conflict accompanying offender management can generate "burnout" and depersonalization. Depersonalization can hinder service provision and supervision strategies. To protect ACS officers from unnecessary occupational stress, we recommend that the BCSO further formalize the ACS program, to include additional officer training and a comprehensive, evidence-based supervision strategy. Beyond the anticipated preliminary findings, we also discovered two unanticipated findings. First, both the logistic regression model and survival analysis revealed an opportunity to make the ACS risk assessment tool more efficient. Although the estimated coefficients were in the appropriate direction (positive correlation between risk scores and recidivism), the unadjusted risk scores lacked consistency across time (see Graph 1 for a visual representation of risk scores regressed on time to failure). These findings suggest that the BCSO can use proper data, a comprehensive understanding of crime and its correlates, and advanced statistics to improve public safety through recidivism reduction and resource management. To improve the risk assessment tool, we recommend that the BCSO explore a population-validated risk assessment tool. Our last two findings are of methodological concerns. We discovered during the preliminary analysis that the inmate needs survey design and delivery required adjustment. Specifically, the results suggest two previous treatment questions produced poor response rates and at least one current needs question confused interview sessions. The research team is considering both of these issues and they anticipate a new version of the inmate needs survey. Related to survey delivery, there remains confusion among jail staff and inmates as to the project goals, thereby making this process somewhat inefficient. The research team implemented an alternative survey strategy and, after evaluation of the response rates, they may recommend further data collection adjustments. The second methodological concern focuses mainly on evaluation resources. The preliminary results provide several interesting outcomes and important corollary projects. The additional pressures of county prison on the BCSO jail have generated further interest in resource management strategies and efficient alternative custody programs. For example, the BCSO administrative staff approved an experimental research design assessing the efficiencies of flash incarceration as an intermediate sanction. Unfortunately, the research team lacks resources beyond the current evaluation plan to conduct this study given their other professional demands. Based on the gravity and complexity of AB 109 legislation and the innovative strategy spearheaded by the BCSO in response to resource re-alignment, we recommend the BCSO work proactively to prioritize research projects promoting public safety and resource management. Related, the BCSO has the potential to move from a state best-practices model6 to a national model of best practices, but this may require additional evaluation resources. Based on this logic, the BCSO should continue external funding activities that include evaluation resources. Collectively, the preliminary findings are positive for BCSO's goal of balancing public safety, jail resources, and offender treatment. The American Civil Liberties Union of California recently released a county-level analysis of best practices, Public Safety Realignment: California at a Crossroads. The terminology "at a crossroads" suggests what occurs now will have a profound influence on the future of offender management. We find value in this idea, but also assert that offender management is dynamic and requires recursive evidence-based program models. The BCSO is breaking ground with an unparalleled, innovative approach to public safety, jail resource management, and offender treatment. For the BCSO, the next logical step is to utilize these preliminary findings as a guidepost for program development. Details: Chico, CA: California State University, Chico, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2016 at: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/breaking-ground-final-report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/breaking-ground-final-report.pdf Shelf Number: 139275 Keywords: Corrections Officers Criminal Justice Reform Jail Inmates Jails Offender Supervision Public Safety Realignment Recidivism Unemployment and Crime

Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation Title: Desistance and Young People Summary: Desistance is the process of abstaining from crime amongst those who previously had engaged in a sustained pattern of offending. Desistance theories have had a growing influence on probation policy and practice with adult offenders. By contrast, there is more limited research and evidence about youth desistance and no unified, accepted definition. To add to the evidence base, we have assessed the effectiveness of practice in Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) across the main themes which desistance research has identified as being important in supporting children and young people's routes away from offending. In recent years, YOTs statutory workloads have reduced significantly, as has their funding and often their continuity of staff. Alongside the paucity of research, those changes may well have affected the extent to which some YOTs are able to apply themselves to youth desistance, and do so skillfully. In this inspection we found that a small number of case managers clearly had an excellent grounding and understanding of desistance theory. They were able to reference relevant research and identify some of the key ideas and implications for practice. The majority of staff, however, were not schooled in desistance theory and were unclear about how key concepts and approaches could be applied. In this report we confirm that as with adults, personalised approaches work best - those that take into account gender and ethnicity, for example. In this inspection we found that effective methods for children and young people are age-appropriate, and based on a good understanding of the individual's needs, history and circumstances, for example Looked After status. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Probation, 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Desistance_and_young_people.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/05/Desistance_and_young_people.pdf Shelf Number: 139282 Keywords: Desistance Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation Title: Full Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Work in Staffordshire Summary: Reducing reoffending Overall work to reduce reoffending was satisfactory. Good quality reports were produced for the courts and initial assessments were of a high standard. A new planning format had been adopted and further work was required to make sure that plans captured the issues identified in the assessment as well as reflecting the views of children and young people. Strategies for dealing with children and young people with low levels of motivation to change needed further development. Protecting the public Overall work to protect the public and actual or potential victims was good. Reports and initial assessments contained a thorough analysis of the risk of serious harm posed by children and young people. Multi-agency arrangements were good and there was a strong partnership approach to work to protect the public. Victims were well served by the YOS. Protecting children and young people Overall work to protect children and young people and reduce their vulnerability was good. Assessments were thorough and the YOS had appropriate multi-agency arrangements in place to manage vulnerability. Work to manage and reduce vulnerability was generally good, however, the reduction in health secondees to the service may reduce the ability of the service to respond to vulnerable children and young people in the future. Making sure the sentence is served Overall work to make sure the sentence was served was good. The YOS and its partners worked well to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people. Compliance was managed effectively. Barriers to engagement were identified and responded to, and children and young people together with their parents/carers were engaged meaningfully in the order. Governance and partnerships Overall, the effectiveness of governance and partnership arrangements was satisfactory. Operational management of the service was effective, there was a well trained, competent workforce and there were examples of strong partnership working. The YOS Management Board had met regularly but there had been a number of significant gaps in representation, notably health and education. Reoffending rates had risen and the Board's response was unclear. Interventions to reduce reoffending Overall the management and delivery of interventions to reduce reoffending was good. Staff had access to a wide range of resources. Outcomes achieved as a result of interventions had not yet been fully identified and evaluated. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Probation, 2016. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/06/Staffordshire-FJI-report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/06/Staffordshire-FJI-report.pdf Shelf Number: 139299 Keywords: Detention Facilities Juvenile Detention Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending Youthful Offenders

Author: Caudill, Jonathan W. Title: Navigating the Storm: An Empirical Assessment of the Local Effects of California's Criminal Justice Realignment Summary: October 1st of 2014 marked the third-year implementation anniversary of California's Criminal Justice Realignment (AB 109) legislation. California's AB 109 realigned sentencing options for certain non-violent, non-sexual, and non-serious felony offenses, precluding incarceration in state prison. This less punishment, more rehabilitation sentencing structure shifted correctional supervision to county criminal justice systems (namely, county jails and probation departments) across the State. Along with this widespread jurisdictional decentralization, came many concerns regarding the impact of such a dramatic shift in correctional supervision. Reported here are the results of a three-year evaluation that uniquely included both quantitative and qualitative research methods to assess the impact of AB 109 on Butte County criminal justice organizations. First examined is the change in workload for the District Attorney's Office, focusing on outcomes such as the number of case filings by specific offense categories, failure to appear charge accumulation, and total number of charges over time. Second, this report demonstrates through comparison of recidivism outcomes of pre-AB 109 offenders to recidivism outcomes of post-AB 109 offenders a continuity of supervision during the implementation of Realignment. Results here also highlight factors that increased the likelihood of new arrests and/or probation violations for probation offenders. The empirical work then turns to a small cohort of Post-Release Community Supervision (PCS) offenders. These PCS offenders were tracked for three years to better understand their recidivism outcomes and impact on the local criminal justice system. Their cumulative impact on the jail and overall recidivism was assessed through exploring their total number of times entering the county jail, the proportion of those bookings that turned into formalized charges, and the proportion of those charges that ultimately became convictions. Finally, the report presents findings from two qualitative studies: the level of service orientation across supervision organizations and offenders' perceptions of the utility of home visits' Details: Chico, CA: California State University, Chico, 2015. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 8, 2016 at: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/Navigating%20the%20storm%20three%20years%20after%20109.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.csuchico.edu/pols/documents/Navigating%20the%20storm%20three%20years%20after%20109.pdf Shelf Number: 139318 Keywords: Community Supervision Community-Based Corrections Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Probationers Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Evaluation of St. Leonard's Ministries: Case studies of former residents of St. Leonard's House and Grace House Summary: This report, the first in the series for the St. Leonard's Ministries' evaluation, focuses on five case studies. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with three men who were former residents of St. Leonard's House and two women who were former residents of Grace House. The goal was to learn about the life experiences of program participants before, during, and after the program. The following are some key findings: - At the time of the interview, the five research subjects were 34 to 70 years old - the average age was 46 years old. Three research subjects reported their race as African American, one as Caucasian, and one as Hispanic. - All of those interviewed had been incarcerated in Illinois prisons - the average number of prior incarcerations was three. - The length of stay in the residential programs ranged from six months to eighteen months. - Of those interviewed, the range of time since leaving the residential program was five months to two years; the average was 11 months. - At the time of the interview, all of the research subjects were living in Chicago in rental apartments. Three of those interviewed were unemployed, and two were employed. - At the time of the interview, four of the research subjects were never married, and one was married. Four of the five research subjects had children. - Four of the five research subjects were former addicts of cocaine, heroin, alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy. - Overall, the men and women interviewed for this study thought the program facilities were adequate. In general, all interviewed thought that staff were supportive. - The women recommended more consistency in enforcement of program rules at Grace House. In addition, one of the men reported staff did not always enforce program rules at St. Leonard's House. - In general, the women liked all the services and activities of Grace House, in particular, the psychological services. - Two research subjects recommended having more consistency with counselors because the psychology interns often changed. - In general, interviewees would recommend St. Leonard's House and Grace House to others. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2015. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2016 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/pdf/ResearchReports/SLM_Case_Study_Report_051115.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/pdf/ResearchReports/SLM_Case_Study_Report_051115.pdf Shelf Number: 139371 Keywords: Halfway House Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Residential Programs

Author: Hawken, Angela Title: HOPE II: A Follow-up to Hawaii's HOPE Evaluation Summary: Hawai'i's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) Hawai'i's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement probation relies on a regimen of regular, random drug testing tied to swift and certain, but modest, sanctions to motivate probationer compliance. In two 2007 studies in Hawai'i, a comparison-group quasi-experiment and a randomized controlled trial, HOPE was demonstrated to improve compliance with terms of probation at 12-month follow-up, with large reductions in drug use, recidivism, and overall incarceration for offenders assigned to the program. Following the original evaluations, HOPE expanded from 34 participants in 2004 to approximately 2200 participants in Hawai'i in 2014, with many replications on the mainland. Several important questions remained. The primary impact of drug treatment is felt during exposure to the treatment program; over half of treatment subjects relapse within a year of ending treatment. The original evaluations of HOPE relied on a relatively short follow-up period, and it is not clear whether its effects would persist over a longer period. And it is not clear whether implementation would maintain fidelity to the model when no longer being evaluated. This study extends the original HOPE evaluations to an almost ten-year follow-up, addressing whether the improvements in criminal-justice outcomes observed during the active HOPE intervention persist after the term of probation. The study also documents changes in HOPE practices and ongoing implementation fidelity to the model. Administrative data from several sources were collected on HOPE and probation-as-usual (PAU) subjects. These records data were supplemented with in-person surveys with probationers, a probation-officer survey, and interviews with key officials. Interpretations of outcomes data reported here should take changes in implementation practices into consideration. Tracking and contacting subjects after nearly a decade proved more challenging than anticipated. Consequently, this study relies more heavily on administrative data, and less on in-person surveys and bio-specimen collection, than initially planned. The principal findings were: 1. HOPE probationers performed better than those supervised under routine supervision. They were less likely to be revoked and returned to prison. They were more likely to be free in the community and therefore at higher risk of committing new offenses; even so, they were less likely to commit new crimes during the follow-up period, although the difference in reoffending rate was smaller at long-term follow-up than at 12-month, and the reductions in drug crimes accounted for most of the difference (differences in property crimes were smaller than anticipated). HOPE was also found to economize on supervision resources, as HOPE probationers were more likely to receive successful early terminations from probation. 2. Probationers' perception of risk of punishment given a violation (estimated from the probationer survey) was higher than probation officers' estimates, which in turn were higher than our estimates of the true risk. As the deterrent value depends on perceived risk rather than actual risk, HOPE appears to benefit from a reputation effect that exceeds the certainty delivered in practice. 3. Probation-officer surveys suggest that POs support HOPE: It makes them more effective at their job and their probationers are more likely to succeed on HOPE. POs reported deviation from how HOPE is implemented compared with how it is described in policies and procedures. They agree that positive drug tests are referred to the court, but believe that their colleagues exercise discretion in deciding how to respond to missed appointments (including missed random drug tests). As HOPE relies on swift and certain sanctions, this argues for closer monitoring of implementation fidelity. Details: Malibu, CA: School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University, 2016. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249912.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249912.pdf Shelf Number: 139508 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Courts Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Programs Offender Supervision Probation Probationers Recidivism

Author: Yamatani, Hide Title: Overview Report of Allegheny County Jail Collaborative Evaluation Findings Summary: Allegheny County is a national leader in formulating and implementing a collaboration-based jail inmate reintegration program called the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative. This unique human service system is co-chaired by the Director of the Department of Human Services, the Warden of the Allegheny County Jail (ACJ), and Director of the Department of Health. Researchers from the Center on Race and Social Problems, housed in the School of Social Work University of Pittsburgh, evaluated the ACJ Collaborative. The major purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the Collaborative achieved successful community reentry goals among released male jail inmates. On a typical day, over 700,000 individuals are incarcerated in US jails. Yet potential benefits of the investment in best practice reintegration and crime reduction interventions are relatively unknown. Evaluation Findings. The three-year evaluation study findings reflect the ACJ Collaborative's capacity to generate impressive positive results including: (a) a significantly lower recidivism rate among inmate participants; (b) similar service benefits across racial groups; and (c) successful reintegration into community life among a high majority of participants. More specifically, major outcome findings are as follows: 1. Allegheny County is saving over $5.3 million annually by the ACJ Collaborative serving 300 inmates per year; 2. The greatest cost-savings generated by ACJ Collaborative is in areas of public safety and reduced victimization among county residents; 3. Cost-savings ratio is approximately 6 to 1 (i.e., for a dollar investment to the ACJ Collaborative, the cost-savings return is approximately $6); 4. At 12 months post-release the Collaborative inmates are achieving a 50% lower recidivism rate compared to matched comparison group (i.e., 16.5% vs. 33.1%, respectively); 5. In contrast to historical trends nationally, there were no statistically significant differences in the recidivism rate between Black and White Collaborative inmate participants. The findings shown above were derived using a cost-savings analysis strategy selected by the Urban Institute (Roman & Chalfin, 2006). This strategy includes estimates of (1) cost of jail stay; (2) cost of processing offenders in the criminal justice system; (3) costs of crime victimization; (4) cost of providing services at the jail; and (5) cost savings associated with Collaborative participants' recidivism reduction. The differential recidivism rate was derived based on a stratified and matched sample group comparison method. During the 12 months after release from ACJ, intermediary process outcomes among Collaborative consumer inmates showed positive transitions to community life including: (a) higher enrollment in various community-based service organizations; (b) improved housing obtainment for both racial groups; and (c) increased employment rates among former White offenders. Other areas that remained relatively unchanged (but did not significantly deteriorate) included drug and alcohol usage rate, Black employment rates, and mental and physical health treatment needs. Details: Pittsburgh: Center on Race and Social Problems, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, 2008. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 29, 2016 at: http://www.crsp.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/ACJ_Report.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.crsp.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/ACJ_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 139535 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Costs of Corrections Jail Inmates Jails Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Hanby, Laura J. Title: A Longitudinal Study of Dynamic Risk, Protective Factors, and Criminal Recidivism: Change Over Time and the Impact of Assessment Timing Summary: Risk assessment and risk management are central to most decisions made about offenders, particularly when considering community release after a period of incarceration. Although the field of risk assessment has progressed considerably, there remain limitations within current practices. The present research uses a variety of sophisticated statistical techniques to examine the systematic assessment and reassessments of risk in a large sample (N = 3498) of New Zealand parolees. The validity of the Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Re-entry (DRAOR), a measure of dynamic risk and protective factors, was assessed across time in all offenders released on parole. The measure demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, although future research should seek to refine the subscales as suggested by its factor structure. Beyond validating the DRAOR, this study showed that reconvictions and criminal reconvictions during a two-year follow-up period can be accurately predicted from dynamic risk factors and protective factors (as measured by the DRAOR). Stable and acute dynamic risk scores decreased over time while protective factor scores increased, suggesting that the DRAOR is sensitive to change. Recidivists differed from non-recidivists in stable dynamic risk and protective factors in the month prior to follow-up end and in acute dynamic risk in the second month prior to follow-up end. Reconvictions were accurately predicted from monthly average Stable Risk beginning at parole start and continuing for 12 months of assessments, while Protective Factors were predictive for the first 4 months only. These results indicate that the DRAOR has promise as a valid tool for risk assessment and risk management. The findings of this study highlight the mechanisms by which risk changes over time and provides support for a transitional model of offender re-entry focusing on dynamic risk and protective factors. Details: Ottawa: Carleton University, 2013. 225p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/b6aa7d5d-f44b-48d6-9ea9-5d0f92b8f7a7/etd_pdf/a7fc1a78dfe694530e8937c422d4851e/hanby-alongitudinalstudyofdynamicriskprotective.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/b6aa7d5d-f44b-48d6-9ea9-5d0f92b8f7a7/etd_pdf/a7fc1a78dfe694530e8937c422d4851e/hanby-alongitudinalstudyofdynamicriskprotective.pdf Shelf Number: 139593 Keywords: Offender Risk Assessment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reconvictions Risk Management

Author: Heaton, Paul Title: The Downstream Consequences of Misdemeanor Pretrial Detention Summary: In misdemeanor cases, pretrial detention poses a particular problem because it may induce otherwise innocent defendants to plead guilty in order to exit jail, potentially creating widespread error in case adjudication. While practitioners have long recognized this possibility, empirical evidence on the downstream impacts of pretrial detention on misdemeanor defendants and their cases remains limited. This Article uses detailed data on hundreds of thousands of misdemeanor cases resolved in Harris County, Texas - the third largest county in the U.S. - to measure the effects of pretrial detention on case outcomes and future crime. We find that detained defendants are 25% more likely than similarly situated releases to plead guilty, 43% more likely to be sentenced to jail, and receive jail sentences that are more than twice as long on average. Furthermore, those detained pretrial are more likely to commit future crime, suggesting that detention may have a criminogenic effect. These differences persist even after fully controlling for the initial bail amount as well as detailed offense, demographic, and criminal history characteristics. Use of more limited sets of controls, as in prior research, overstates the adverse impacts of detention. A quasi-experimental analysis based upon case timing confirms that these differences likely reflect the casual effect of detention. These results raise important constitutional questions, and suggest that Harris County could save millions of dollars a year, increase public safety, and reduce wrongful convictions with better pretrial release policy. Details: Philadelphia: Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 22, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2809840 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2809840 Shelf Number: 139791 Keywords: Bail Guilty Pleas Pretrial Detention Recidivism Wrongful Convictions

Author: Troshynski, Emily Title: Prisoner Reentry in Nevada: Final Report on the Hope for Prisoners Program Summary: This document examines Hope for Prisoners - a prisoner reentry program in Nevada. Specifically, the research focuses on the impact of the program on participant employment and recidivism outcomes. The research procedures involved both quantitative and qualitative methods; data were gathered from case files and interviews with program participants and program mentors. The sample consisted of 1,186 individuals who completed intake interviews at Hope during an 18- month period (January 2014 - June 2015). The sample was ethnically diverse (approximately 30% White) with an average age of 37. 78% were male and 84% were single. For those who self-reported their most recent offense, 43% indicated violence, 28% reported property crime, 20% reported drug offenses, and 9% indicated a sex crime. Of the 522 individuals who completed the job readiness training course, 64% found stable employment. Of those employed, 25% found employment within 17 days of the training course. Only 6% of these 522 individuals were reincarcerated during the 18-month study period. For participants, Hope for Prisoner's mentor program appears to be a key component of the reentry initiative. Analyses demonstrate that participants with mentors were more likely to find employment. Interview data confirm the importance of mentors in terms of finding employment and also suggest the value of mentors in terms of preventing recidivism. Details: Las Vegas, NV: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Center for Crime and Justice Policy, 2016. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: CCJP 2016-01: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/27/PrisonerReentry.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/27/PrisonerReentry.pdf Shelf Number: 139803 Keywords: Ex-Offender Employment Mentoring Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Forman, Benjamin Title: Viewing Justice Reinvestment Through a Developmental Lens: New approaches to reducing young adult recidivism in Massachusetts Summary: Residents ages 18 to 24 are the most likely demographic to find their way into Massachusetts prisons and the quickest to return to them upon release. Innovative models to serve justice-involved young adults have enormous potential to reduce recidivism. These new approaches are also central to increasing public safety in high-crime neighborhoods, where young adults are generally responsible for the most destructive violence. The second installment in our Justice Reinvestment Policy Brief Series, this paper contrasts the sharp drop in juvenile offending in Massachusetts- driven in part by the adoption of an intervention model informed by the latest developmental science - with the more moderate decline in young adult offending over the past decade. The brief concludes with a series of recommendations to reduce recidivism among justice-involved young adults through evidence-based policy and practice. Details: Boston: MassINC, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: http://massinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/young.offenders.brief_.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://massinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/young.offenders.brief_.pdf Shelf Number: 139832 Keywords: Evidence-Based Policies Justice Reinvestment Recidivism Young Adult Offenders

Author: Stubbs, Claire Title: Resilience to Re-offending: mechanisms supporting young men to oversome adversity Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms supporting young men's resilience to reoffending. Resilience was defined as "the outcome from negotiations between individuals and their environments for the resources to define themselves as healthy amidst conditions collectively viewed as adverse" (Ungar, 2004a, p.32). The philosophical approach was critical realist (Bhaskar, 1978) and the methodology used was narrative enquiry, employing content analysis (Lieblich et al., 1998) to elicit mechanisms from the data. Eight young men with previous involvement in the criminal justice system were recruited from organisations in Hastings, East Sussex. They participated in a narrative interview which explored their life stories and the mechanisms utilised to change their offending trajectory. The study used Hart and Blincow's Resilient Therapy (RT) Framework (2007), to categorise the data. Mechanisms within the framework, located within categories such as Basics, Belonging, Learning, Core Self and Coping, were applied to the young men's experience, to understand the application of RT in promoting resilience to reoffending. All categories of RT were pertinent in nurturing their pathways to resilience. Further analysis of the data elicited additional resilient mechanisms absent within RT. Proposed additions included Clothes within the Basics compartment, and Humour, an important mechanism facilitating coping and affiliation, included within the Belonging and Coping compartments. Social capital was instrumental to the young men's resilience, providing them with essential coping resources; a further recommendation was to rename the Belonging compartment "social capital". This research challenges common discourses of risk. The young men demonstrated how the experiences and environments where they encountered risk were important in cultivating their resilience to reoffending. Within counselling psychology, this reinforces the notion of focusing on the subjective experience of the individual, embracing uncertainty, bracketing assumptions and extending traditional boundaries when promoting resilience with vulnerable young men. This study corroborated existing research demonstrating resilience as the outcome of both individual and social processes (Luthar and Cicchetti, 2000; Prilleltensky, 2005; Hart and Blincow, 2007). With respect to counselling psychology practice it presents a challenge to individualised therapeutic interventions, encouraging counselling psychologists to become active participants in changing the social systems that impact on an individual's resilience, reconciling their roles as healers with their role as change agents. RT (Hart and Blincow, 2007) provides a systemic application of mechanisms targeting both micro- and macro-level processes, offering an extension to counselling psychology practice necessary to promote resilience to reoffending. Details: Middlesex, UK: Middlesex University and Metanoia Institute, 2014. 234p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 29, 2016 at: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13802/1/CStubbs_thesis.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13802/1/CStubbs_thesis.pdf Shelf Number: 139896 Keywords: Behavioral Counseling Male Offenders Re-offending Recidivism Social Capital

Author: Sweeney, Josh Title: Young people returning to sentenced youth justice supervision 2014-15 Summary: Summary In Australia, young people who have been found guilty of an offence may be given an unsupervised community- based sentence , a supervised community -based sentence or a sentence of detention. The latter two types of sentences are known as ' supervised sentences'. Youth justice departments are responsible for providing young people serving supervised sentences with services designed to reduce the frequency and seriousness of any future offending. The rate of return to sentenced supervision is an indicator of the effectiveness of these services, although factors beyond the control of these departments will also have an impact on levels of returns to sentenced supervision. This report is based on the 2014-15 Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set - a longitudinal data set, containing data from 2000-01 to 2014- 15. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Juvenile Justice Series no. 20: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129555842 Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129555842 Shelf Number: 139919 Keywords: Juvenile Detention Juvenile Justice Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Huggins, Veronica Clarease Title: A study of perceived preparation and self-efficacy among offenders in the department of correction and rehabilitation who are incarcerated at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and participants of the reentry program Summary: This study examines the perceived preparation and self-efficacy among offenders in the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation who are incarcerated at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Montgomery County, Maryland and are participants of the reentry program. Eighty-nine (89) participants were selected for the probability sampling. The 89 survey participants were sentenced inmates who were within the last 90 to 120 days of incarceration. The respondents were males and females over the age of 18. Findings of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between perceived preparation and successful release of the offenders in the reentry program. Details: Atlanta, GA: Clark Atlanta University, 2015. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 6, 2016 at: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/2444/ Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/2444/ Shelf Number: 140026 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Self-Efficacy

Author: U.S. Department of Justice Title: The Federal Interagency Reentry Council: A Record of Progress and a Roadmap for the Future Summary: The report of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council (Reentry Council) that provides an overview of the Council's accomplishments to date and lays out a path forward. Originally an informal collaboration among federal agencies, President Barack Obama formally established the Reentry Council in 2016 with a mission to make communities safer by reducing recidivism and victimization; help those who return from prison and jail to become productive citizens; and save taxpayer dollars by lowering the direct and collateral costs of incarceration. The report charts a course for implementing policy changes and ensuring the council's efforts continue to serve as a guide to the reentry field. "All too often, returning citizens face enormous barriers that persist long after they have paid their debts to society - and with over 600,000 people released from federal and state prisons every year, how we treat reentering individuals is a question with far-reaching implications for all of us," said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. "That's why the Reentry Council is dedicated to expanding access to the foundations of a stable life - employment, education, housing, healthcare, and civic participation - so that formerly incarcerated individuals can receive a true second chance, and so that every American can enjoy stronger and safer communities." Comprised of more than 20 federal agencies, the Reentry Council works to improve outcomes related to employment, education, housing, health and child welfare. Reentry Council agencies coordinate and leverage existing federal resources; dispel myths and clarify policies; elevate programs and policies that work; and reduce the policy barriers to successful reentry. The Justice Department first convened the Reentry Council in 2011, in an effort to engage a wide range of federal agencies in developing and advancing innovative and comprehensive approaches to reentry. Over the last five years the Reentry Council has continued to meet in order to expand the range of tools that the government uses to ensure that individuals returning to the community from prison or jail have a meaningful chance to rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures. On April 29, 2016, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum formally establishing the Reentry Council, recognizing the work that the council has achieved thus far, and enabling the council to continue its work going forward. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2016. 208p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2016 at: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/FIRC-Reentry-Report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/FIRC-Reentry-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 140057 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Oregon. Criminal Justice Commission Title: Oregon Juvenile Justice System Recidivism Analysis Summary: Historically, the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) has tracked recidivism using the same definition as the adult system- a felony adjudication from juvenile court, or a felony conviction from adult court, within three years of release from a youth correctional facility or imposition of probation. OYA has published reports tracking this recidivism measure for youth released from a youth correctional facility or on OYA probation1. In addition, the juvenile justice system has also tracked recidivism for referred youth by tracking a new referral within 12 months2. The new definition tracks all youth that were previously adjudicated regardless of if they were served by a county or a state. The recidivism analysis in this report is the first comprehensive statewide analysis of youth recidivism using the newer adult definition found in ORS 423.557 as the guide3. There are limitations with the current available data, as well as challenges due to the differences in terminology, processes, and population across the adult and juvenile justice systems. There are also differences in the data used in the adult report compared to this report. This analysis starts from all youth previously adjudicated, and includes arrest, juvenile referral, misdemeanor and felony conviction, misdemeanor and felony adjudication, and incarceration and other sentence type data in a single recidivism analysis. This analysis shows the current statewide rates of recidivism for all youth previously adjudicated: For youth released from a youth correctional facility or on probation, either at the state or county level, between July 2010 and June 2011: 51% were referred or arrested for a new crime within three years, 38% were adjudicated or convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime within three years, and 7% were incarcerated for a new crime within three years. Details: Salem, OR: Criminal Justice Commission, 2016. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2016 at: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/SAC/Documents/Juvenile%20System%20Recidivism%20Analysis%20Final%20Draft%2072816.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/SAC/Documents/Juvenile%20System%20Recidivism%20Analysis%20Final%20Draft%2072816.pdf Shelf Number: 140072 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Halstead, Imogen Title: Does the Custody-based Intensive Treatment (CUBIT) program for sex offenders reduce re-offending? Summary: Aim: To investigate whether completing the Custody-based Intensive Treatment (CUBIT) program for moderate to high risk/needs sex offenders reduces re-offending. Method: The study sample includes 386 male offenders identified by custodial staff as suitable for participation in CUBIT who were released from NSW custody during the period 2000 to 2010. An Instrumental Variables (IV) approach is adopted to control for potential unobservable selection bias in treatment outcomes (a key concern in the treatment effects literature), with the CUBIT completion rate amongst commencements around the time of an offender's own potential participation in CUBIT employed as the preferred IV. This method is statistically inefficient, and has limited power to assess the impact of treatment on sex re-offending (which is relatively rare) specifically. As such, three separate two-stage least squares models (including a range of control variables) are used to estimate the impact of completing CUBIT on whether or not an offender will re-offend with a sex, violent, or general offence, respectively, within five years of free time following their release from custody. Results: Within five years free time following release from custody 12 per cent of offenders who completed CUBIT committed a proven sex offence, 27 per cent re-offended with a new violent offence and 41 per cent committed a proven offence of any type. Multivariate models controlling for a range of important observable risk factors found that CUBIT completers had, on average, a 5-year general recidivism risk that was 13 percentage points lower than a similar cohort of offenders suitable for CUBIT but who did not participate. No significant differences between the treated and untreated groups were found for violent or sex re-offending. Conclusion: There is some evidence to suggest that completing CUBIT results in a considerable reduction in general recidivism risk. No evidence is found to suggest that CUBIT completion reduces sexual or violent re-offending. However, it is difficult to draw any conclusion from the null results, since the power of the statistical methods employed to detect a treatment impact in this study is limited given the relatively small sample size. Details: Sydney, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 24p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 193: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Custody-based-Intensive-Treatment-%28CUBIT%29-program-cjb193.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Custody-based-Intensive-Treatment-%28CUBIT%29-program-cjb193.pdf Shelf Number: 140087 Keywords: Offender Treatment Re-offending Recidivism Sex Offenders

Author: Yang, Crystal S. Title: Local Labor Markets and Criminal Recidivism Summary: This paper estimates the impact of local labor market conditions on criminal recidivism using rich administrative prison records on over four million offenders released from 43 states between 2000 and 2013. Exploiting each offender's exact date of release, I find that being released to a county with higher low-skilled employment and higher average low-skilled wages significantly decreases the risk of recidivism. The impact of higher wages on recidivism is larger for both black offenders and first-time offenders, and in sectors that report being more willing to hire ex-offenders. These results are robust to individual and county-level controls, policing and corrections activity, and do not appear to be driven by changes in the composition of released offenders during good or bad economic times. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, John M. Olin Center for law, Economics, and Business, 2016. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper no. 861: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/olin_center/papers/pdf/Yang_861.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/olin_center/papers/pdf/Yang_861.pdf Shelf Number: 140104 Keywords: Economics and Crime Employment and Crime Ex-Offenders and Employment Recidivism

Author: Mungan, Murat C. Title: Gateway Crimes Summary: Many who argue against the legalization of marijuana suggest that while its consumption may not be very harmful, marijuana indirectly causes significant social harm by acting as a "gateway drug," a drug whose consumption facilitates the use of other, more harmful, drugs. This article presents a theory of "gateway crimes", which, perhaps counter-intuitively, implies that there are social gains to decriminalizing offenses that cause minor harms, including marijuana-related offenses. A typical gateway crime is an act which is punished lightly, but, because it is designated as a crime, being convicted for committing it leads one to be severely stigmatized. People who are stigmatized have less to lose by committing more serious crimes, and, therefore, the criminalization of these acts increases recidivism. Thus, punishing "gateway crimes" may generate greater costs than benefits, and this possibility must be kept in mind when discussing potential criminal justice reforms. This "gateway effect" does not require that, but, is strongest when, people underestimate, or ignore, either the likelihood or magnitude of the consequences associated with being convicted for a minor crime. Therefore, - if potential offenders in fact underestimate expected conviction costs - this theory not only implies previously unidentified benefits associated with decriminalizing acts that cause questionable or minor harms, but also benefits associated with making the costs associated with convictions more transparent. Details: Arlington, VA: George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School, 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: George Mason Law & Economics Research Paper No. 16-36 : Accessed September 2, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2827880 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2827880 Shelf Number: 140113 Keywords: Criminal Careers Drug Abuse Gateway Effects Marijuana recidivism

Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division Title: Review of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Release Preparation Program Summary: During the past 3 years, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) released nearly 125,000 inmates from its custody into Residential Reentry Centers (RRC), into home confinement, or directly into communities in the United States. While not all of these inmates will re-offend, analyses of historical data have shown that many of them will. For example, the U.S. Sentencing Commission recently evaluated recidivism rates for federal offenders released in 2005 and found that nearly half of them were re-arrested within 8 years of their release for committing a new crime or for violating their supervision conditions. To help inmates successfully transition back into the community and to help reduce the likelihood that they will re-offend, the BOP operates, among various reentry efforts, the Release Preparation Program (RPP), which was the focus of this review. The BOP requires every institution to provide an RPP, and most sentenced inmates at BOP-operated institutions are required to participate in the RPP. The RPP consists of classes, instruction, and assistance in six broad categories: (1) Health and Nutrition, (2) Employment, (3) Personal Finance and Consumer Skills, (4) Information and Community Resources, (5) Release Requirements and Procedures, and (6) Personal Growth and Development. The RPP has two segments: the Institution RPP, developed by each institution's RPP committee based on the general release needs of the institution's inmate population, and the Unit RPP, developed by the institution's unit teams based on the needs of the individual inmate. Inmates must complete both segments for the BOP to consider them to have completed the RPP and to be better prepared for their eventual transition back into society. This review examines the BOP's effectiveness in fulfilling the RPP's established program objectives. These objectives are to enhance inmates' successful reintegration into the community through RPP participation; to enter into partnerships with various groups to provide information, programs, and services to releasing inmates; and to reduce inmate recidivism. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Evaluation and Inspections Division 16-07: Accessed September 2, 2016 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/e1607.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2016/e1607.pdf Shelf Number: 140124 Keywords: Federal Bureau of Prisons Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration Prisoner Release Recidivism

Author: Victoria. Sentencing Advisory Council Title: Contravention of Family Violence Intervention Orders and Safety Notices: Prior Offences and Reoffending Summary: Building on the Council's previous work, this study examines factors associated with reoffending by, and the prior offences of, the 1,898 offenders sentenced for breaching a family violence intervention order or family violence safety notice in Victoria in the financial year 2009-10. The study examines offending by this group in the five years before, and the five years after, 2009-10. Details: Melbourne: Sentencing Advisory Council, 2016. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2016 at: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Contravention%20of%20FVIOs%20and%20FVSNs%20Prior%20Offences%20and%20Reoffending.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Contravention%20of%20FVIOs%20and%20FVSNs%20Prior%20Offences%20and%20Reoffending.pdf Shelf Number: 140128 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protection Orders Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Holsinger, Alexander M. Title: Exploring the Relationship Between Time in Pretrial Detention and Four Outcomes Summary: An increasing amount of attention has been paid to the pretrial phase of justice case processing both in research and policy. In particular, the issue of if, when, and how to use pretrial detention (jail time before a case is resolved with guilt or innocence) has been under a great deal of scrutiny. While the study of pretrial detention and its potential effects on case processing and outcome is not new (see for example Rankin, 1964; Tribe, 1971), emerging research has undertaken a more granular analysis of what effect pretrial detention - even short amounts - may have on other outcomes besides findings of guilt or innocence, and/or sentences to incarceration (as opposed to a community-based sanction) and for how long someone is sentenced to incarceration in some form. Shortly after arrest (and in turn shortly after being booked into a jail, most commonly at the county administrative level) several justice decisions are made. Most jurisdictions have some form of a standardized information collection procedure that gathers basic yet relevant data such as demographic factors and criminal history factors (most often involving the check of an automated database of some form). Likewise, at some point shortly after case initiation, the decision whether or not to assign bail is made and, if bail is assigned, how much. In recent years the use of some form of an actuarial (objective, research- based) risk assessment that determines the relative likelihood of various things like failure to appear is applied as well that will inform several decisions, both immediately and potentially later on. And all these broad factors - criminal history, bail, actuarial risk to flee - and others work toward influencing the decision regarding whether or not someone should remain in jail until their case is resolved (which in some instances can take several weeks if not months), or, if they should be allowed to remain in the community (Abrams & Rohlfs, 2011; Demuth, 2003; Myers, 2009). As noted above some of the original research examined pretrial detention through the lens of the effect that it may have on case outcome (Rankin, 1964). Consider, for example, the fact that someone who is detained pretrial is unable to have easy access to defense counsel, is unable to discuss their situation with witnesses and other potential social support, and is, by definition, cut off from the vast majority of their lives. These effects of pretrial detention and others may increase the likelihood that someone is unable to mount an adequate defense, thereby increasing the likelihood of conviction, and in turn a sentence to a secure facility. These effects may hold regardless of whether a person is actually guilty or innocent, in fact (Williams, 2003; Wald, 1964; Spohn, 2009). While the cumulative disadvantage of pretrial detention (Spohn, 2009; Schlesinger, 2007) has been well documented regarding the potential effect on case outcome, there is value in taking a closer look at other ways in which that disadvantage may accumulate. Put another way, aside from the negative effects noted above (increase likelihood of conviction, increase likelihood of sentencing to a secure as opposed to a community- based sanction upon a finding of guilt), how might the potentially negative effects of pretrial detention manifest themselves in other ways? As mentioned above, through the denial of liberty and freedom, pretrial detention has an effect on things like access to defense counsel and other resources that can affect case outcome. However, pretrial detention may hold other implications for several other harbingers of adult functionality, which may affect an individual's life in other ways, thereby having further reaching impacts that in turn make serial involvement with the criminal justice system more likely. Details: Boston: Crime and Justice Institute, 2016. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: http://www.crj.org/page/-/publications/Exploring%20Pretrial%20Detention.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.crj.org/page/-/publications/Exploring%20Pretrial%20Detention.pdf Shelf Number: 140156 Keywords: Pretrial Detention Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: Report to the Congress: Impact of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 Summary: The United States Sentencing Commission ("the Commission") submits this report to Congress in response to a congressional directive contained in section 10 of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-220, 124 Stat. 2372 ("FSA"), and pursuant to the Commission's general authority under 28 U.S.C. 994-995. For more than twenty years, the Commission has consistently worked with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and other interested parties to ensure that cocaine sentencing policy promotes the goals of the Sentencing Reform Act,1 including avoiding unwarranted sentence disparities among defendants with similar criminal records who have been found guilty of similar criminal conduct and promoting proportionate sentencing. Prior to the FSA, the Commission submitted four reports to Congress regarding cocaine sentencing, in 1995, 1997, 2002, and 2007, based on legislative history, scientific and medical literature, extensive analysis of the Commission's own data, public comment, and expert testimony.2 Since 1995, the Commission consistently took the position that the 100-to-1 drug quantity ratio of crack to powder cocaine significantly undermined the congressional objectives set forth in the Sentencing Reform Act. The Commission reached this conclusion based on its core findings regarding crack cocaine penalties as they existed before the FSA: - they overstated the relative harmfulness of crack cocaine compared to powder cocaine; - they swept too broadly and applied most often to lower level offenders; - they overstated the seriousness of most crack cocaine offenses and failed to provide adequate proportionality; and - their severity mostly impacted minorities.3 As a result of these findings, the Commission recommended that Congress reduce crack cocaine penalties so that the crack-to-powder drug quantity ratio was no more than 20-to-1, and that Congress repeal the mandatory minimum penalty for simple possession of crack cocaine.4 In 2007, the Commission reduced the crack cocaine guideline by two levels as an interim measure to alleviate some of the problems its reports identified.5 Consistent with the Commission's recommendations, the FSA reduced the statutory penalties for crack cocaine offenses to produce an 18-to-1 crack-to-powder drug quantity ratio and eliminated the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.6 The FSA also increased statutory fines and directed the Commission to amend the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines to account for specified aggravating and mitigating circumstances in drug trafficking offenses involving any drug type, not only crack cocaine.7 The FSA also directed the Commission to "study and submit to Congress a report regarding the impact of the changes in Federal sentencing law under this Act and the amendments made by this Act." 8 The report generally follows the structure of the FSA, first analyzing the FSA's changes to crack cocaine penalties, then turning to its changes to penalties for federal drug trafficking offenses more broadly. The Commission's study finds that the FSA reduced the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences, reduced the federal prison population, and appears to have resulted in fewer federal prosecutions for crack cocaine. All this occurred while crack cocaine use continued to decline. Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Commission, 2015. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2016 at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/news/congressional-testimony-and-reports/drug-topics/201507_RtC_Fair-Sentencing-Act.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/news/congressional-testimony-and-reports/drug-topics/201507_RtC_Fair-Sentencing-Act.pdf Shelf Number: 140267 Keywords: Cocaine Offenders Drug Offenders Drug Trafficking Fair Sentencing Act Federal Offenders Recidivism Sentencing Guidelines Sentencing Policy

Author: Entorf, Horst Title: The Analysis of Prison-Prisoner Data Using Cluster-Sample Econometrics: Prison Conditions and Prisoners' Assessments of the Future Summary: The study investigates whether and how strong prison conditions contribute to the perceived propensity to recidivate after controlling for personal characteristics and criminal background. In order to combine different sources of information on personal characteristics of prison inmates and administrative prison data in an efficient way, we propose the use of matched prison-prisoner data and application of cluster-sample methods such as GEE (generalized estimating equations). Estimated average partial effects based on GEE and random-effects Probit modeling reveal that prison conditions show significant effects on the perceived likelihood of future reincarceration. Particularly, we find that inmates facing prison overcrowding show a reduced likelihood of recidivism. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2016. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 10209: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10209.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Germany URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10209.pdf Shelf Number: 147869 Keywords: Prison Overcrowding Prisoners Prisons Recidivism

Author: Skeem, Jennifer L. Title: How Well Do Juvenile Risk Assessment Measure Factors to Target in Treatment? Examining Construct Validity Summary: There has been a surge of interest in using one type of risk assessment instrument to tailor treatment to juveniles to reduce recidivism. Unlike prediction-oriented instruments, these reduction-oriented instruments explicitly measure variable risk factors as "needs" to be addressed in treatment. There is little evidence, however, that the instruments accurately measure specific risk factors. Based on a sample of 237 serious juvenile offenders (M age=18, SD=1.5), we tested whether California Youth Assessment Inventory (CA-YASI) scores validly assess the risk factors they purport to assess. Youth were assessed by practitioners with good inter-rater reliability on the CA-YASI, and by research staff on a battery of validated, multi-method criterion measures of target constructs. We meta-analytically tested whether each CA-YASI risk domain score (e.g., Attitudes) related more strongly to scores on convergent measures of theoretically similar constructs (e.g., criminal thinking styles) than to scores on discriminant measures of theoretically distinct constructs (e.g., intelligence, somatization, pubertal status). CA-YASI risk domain scores with the strongest validity support were those that assess criminal history. The only variable CA-YASI risk domain score that correlated more strongly with convergent (Zr=.35) than discriminant (Zr=.07) measures was Substance Use. There was little support for the construct validity of the remaining six variable CA-YASI risk domains - including those that ostensibly assess strong risk factors (e.g., "Attitudes," "Social Influence"). Our findings emphasize the need to test the construct validity of reduction-oriented instruments - and refine instruments to precisely measure their targets so they can truly inform risk reduction. Public Significance: This study suggests that scores on a juvenile risk assessment instrument provide little direction for targeting treatment to reduce young people's risk of reoffending. With the exception of "Substance Abuse," we found little evidence that scores on ostensibly treatment-relevant scales measure the risk factors they purport to measure. The instrument must be refined, to support valid interpretations about risk factors to target in treatment. Details: Unpublished paper, 2016. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2832954 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2832954 Shelf Number: 147859 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Risk Assessment Risk Reduction

Author: Southern Poverty Law Center Title: More Harm than Good: How Children are Unjustly Tried as Adults in New Orleans Summary: The Orleans Parish district attorney is prosecuting children as adults in unprecedented numbers. Although nothing in the law requires Louisiana prosecutors to charge children as adults, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro chooses to transfer children to adult court in almost every possible instance. He transfers children who have no prior delinquency record or played a minor role in the alleged crime. He transfers children who have a mental illness or developmental disability. He even transfers children accused of nonviolent offenses. Some of the children he transfers are found innocent of any crime - but only after enduring the stress and danger of the adult system. Prosecuting children as adults is, in fact, Cannizzaro's default practice. Between 2011 and 2015, his office has transferred more than 80 percent of cases involving 15- and 16-year-olds charged with certain offenses where there was an option to prosecute in either juvenile or adult court. Under state law, a judge has no say in these decisions. Discretion rests solely with each parish's district attorney. Cannizzaro has sent 200 children to adult court since assuming office in 2009, but it has not made us safer. Arrests for offenses eligible for transfer to adult court are up. Recent data also show that teenagers prosecuted in Louisiana's juvenile justice system are less likely to reoffend than those prosecuted in the adult system. The district attorney's practice is wrong for New Orleans� children, their families and the community. It does more harm than good. This report by the Southern Poverty Law Center examines the Orleans Parish district attorney's approach to the prosecution of juveniles and the process known as juvenile transfer. It shows that Cannizzaro's use of default transfer is unfair and ineffective - it fails to protect public safety, conserve public dollars, or respond appropriately to juvenile crime. Details: Atlanta, GA: Southern Poverty Law Center, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 19. 2016 at: https://www.splcenter.org/20160217/more-harm-good-how-children-are-unjustly-tried-adults-new-orleans Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.splcenter.org/20160217/more-harm-good-how-children-are-unjustly-tried-adults-new-orleans Shelf Number: 147953 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Courts Juvenile Offenders Recidivism Waiver (of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction)

Author: Bhuller, Manudeep Title: Incarceration, Recidivism and Employment Summary: Understanding whether, and in what situations, time spent in prison is criminogenic or preventive has proven challenging due to data availability and correlated unobservables. This paper overcomes these challenges in the context of Norway's criminal justice system, offering new insights into how incarceration affects subsequent crime and employment. We construct a panel dataset containing the criminal behavior and labor market outcomes of the entire population, and exploit the random assignment of criminal cases to judges who differ systematically in their stringency in sentencing defendants to prison. Using judge stringency as an instrumental variable, we find that imprisonment discourages further criminal behavior, and that the reduction extends beyond incapacitation. Incarceration decreases the probability an individual will reoffend within 5 years by 27 percentage points, and reduces the number of offenses over this same period by 10 criminal charges. In comparison, OLS shows positive associations between incarceration and subsequent criminal behavior. This sharp contrast suggests the high rates of recidivism among ex-convicts is due to selection, and not a consequence of the experience of being in prison. Exploring factors that may explain the preventive effect of incarceration, we find the decline in crime is driven by individuals who were not working prior to incarceration. Among these individuals, imprisonment increases participation in programs directed at improving employability and reducing recidivism, and ultimately, raises employment and earnings while discouraging further criminal behavior. Contrary to the widely embraced 'nothing works' doctrine, these findings demonstrate that time spent in prison with a focus on rehabilitation can indeed be preventive. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2016. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series: Working Paper 22648: Accessed September 19, 2016 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22648.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22648.pdf Shelf Number: 147955 Keywords: Employment Ex-offender Employment Incarceration Jobs Recidivism

Author: Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council Title: Illinois Results First: The High Cost of Recidivism Summary: - In 2014, more than 40,000 people were convicted of felonies and 55,000 were convicted of misdemeanors in Illinois. Roughly 97% of those admitted to IDOC eventually return to the community. - Forty-eight percent of those released from prison each year recidivate within three years of release and 19% will recidivate within one year of release. - The average cost associated with one recidivism event is $118,746; approximately $57,418 is attributed to the tangible and intangible costs borne by victims. - Given current recidivism trends, over the next 5 years recidivism will cost Illinois over $16.7 billion. - Cost-benefit analysis can be used to calculate the benefits, measured by reduced recidivism rates, of diversion programs, alternatives to incarceration, and the incarceration of those for whom prison is the appropriate sentence. Details: Springfield, IL: SPAC, 2015. 8p., supplement. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2016 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/spac/pdf/Illinois_Results_First_1015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/spac/pdf/Illinois_Results_First_1015.pdf Shelf Number: 140380 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Costs of Criminal Justice Recidivism

Author: Gewirtz, Marian Title: Post-Disposition Re-Arrests of Juvenile Offenders Summary: In accordance with New York State's Juvenile Offender (JO) Law, youths under age 16 who face serious violent felony charges are brought directly to the adult rather than juvenile court for prosecution. Most of these youths are charged with robbery in the first or second degree, but the list of eligible charges (see Appendix A) also includes murder, manslaughter, burglary, weapons and other offenses. Previous research conducted by the New York City (NYC) Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) documents extremely high rates of recidivism among the youths processed as JOs. CJA's 2015 research on recidivism among JOs attempted to assess the relationship between the outcome of cases involving JOs and the likelihood of re-arrest. However, that research did not consistently differentiate between pre-and post-disposition recidivism. The report discussed here is a follow-up endeavor, again exploring the relationship between case outcome and recidivism for fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds processed as JOs in the adult courts in NYC, but the current research examines only post-disposition re-arrests. Are youths convicted in JO cases at greater risk of re-arrest than are their counterparts whose cases reached other outcomes? The current research focuses on JO cases arraigned since January 1, 2007, that reached a final disposition in the adult court by December 31, 2014. Re-arrest is tracked starting at disposition for youths who were at risk as of that date, or from the youth's date of release after conviction and/or sentencing. In addition to identifying factors predictive of time to the first rearrest and to the first felony-level re-arrest post disposition, this research also looks at the outcome of the re-arrests. That is, this research also examines factors predictive of the first rearrest post disposition that resulted in conviction and the first that resulted in a felony-level conviction. The goal of the research is to determine whether any of these measures of recidivism varies by case outcome. The report begins with a description of the research population, including how time at risk for re-arrest was determined. We then examine post-disposition recidivism in terms of the rates of re-arrests as well as their severity and timing. We also compare the re-arrest rates by selected characteristics of the juveniles (gender, ethnicity and prior arrests) and by selected characteristics of the initial JO case (charge, borough of arrest and release status). Multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards regression is used to explore the factors associated with the risk of post-disposition re-arrest. We assess whether the disposition affects the risk of recidivism by building the strongest Cox models and attempting to include the type of disposition as a predictive variable. Details: New York: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: http://www.nycja.org/ Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nycja.org/ Shelf Number: 140411 Keywords: Juvenile Court Transfers Juvenile Offenders Re-arrests Recidivism Violent Juvenile Offenders Waiver of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction

Author: Washington State Center for Court Research Title: Functional Family Therapy in a Probation Setting: Outcomes for Youths Starting Treatment January 2010 - September 2012 Summary: In 2004 the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) and Robert Barnoski published an evaluation of several therapeutic programs for juveniles. This evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Community Juvenile Accountability Act (CJAA) passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1997. The central objective of the CJAA was to promote effective approaches to reducing law violating behavior among Washington youth probation supervision and establish which juvenile justice programs demonstrated reductions in recidivism on a cost-effective basis and could earn the label "research-based" or "evidence-based". This process, established by the CJAA, results in the list of evidence-based programs (EBPs), which is updated as new evidence becomes available. Details: Olympia, WA: The Center, 2016. 13p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2016 at: https://www.courts.wa.gov/wsccr/docs/FFT_Outcomes_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.courts.wa.gov/wsccr/docs/FFT_Outcomes_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 146054 Keywords: Evidence-Based Programs Family Therapy Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probationers Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: O'Keefe, Marueen Title: Effectiveness of Arrowhead and Peer I Therapeutic Communities Summary: The therapeutic community (TC) model has been widely implemented in response to the demand for more treatment options for offenders. The effectiveness of the TC in reducing drug use and criminal behavior among offender populations has made it one of the preferred treatment modalities in prisons and community corrections programs. Success of the TC modality in effectively treating substances abusers has been linked to the programs' ability to retain clients. The longer the clients remain in treatment the lower their chance of recidivating. Fixed and dynamic client factors have been studied to determine their predictive ability in helping to retain clients. Although dynamic factors appear to be better predictors, results are often sporadic. Research has also discovered the most prominent factors contributing to successful outcomes include appropriate matching of client needs to programming, retention and length of stay, and a continuum of care. Study Goals The objective of the present study aims to establish the effectiveness of Colorado's implementation of the prison plus community TC model by examining different factors in three distinct studies. The two programs evaluated in these studies are the substance abuse TC at the Arrowhead Correctional Center (ACC) and the Peer I TC. Together these programs provide a continuum of care for high risk substance abusing felons. - Study 1: Examined factors related to retention in the ACC TC where a high percentage of inmates do not complete the program. - Study 2: Analyzed the outcomes of felons with varying amounts of treatment and examined client factors related to successful outcomes post-prison release. This is a large scale analysis of quantitative data comparing study groups with different levels of involvement in the TC programs across multiple outcome variables, including rearrest and return to prison. - Study 3: Explored potential barriers and supports that offenders face when returning to the community and how this might impact their outcomes. Findings Effectiveness of TC Model in Colorado. Results found that offenders who complete the ACC TC and continue on to Peer I have the lowest rate of community supervision failures (i.e., return to prison or rearrest for new crime) at 1- and 2-year follow up periods. Even though the effect declines over time, a continuum of intensive prison and community services significantly reduces recidivism risk over longer follow-up periods. - The group who participated in both TCs had a 78% reduction in 1-year recidivism and a 42% reduction in 2-year recidivism over an untreated comparison group. - Participants who successfully completed ACC TC but had no community TC involvement showed reductions of 12% and 14% for the 1-year and 2-year outcomes, respectively. - Participants who received treatment only at Peer I TC showed reductions of 10% and 3% for 1-year and 2-year outcomes respectively. - Participants who unsuccessfully terminated from the ACC TC had similar rates of recidivism as the control group. Client Profiles. No stable client profiles emerged from the results that would predict outcomes; however there do appear to be personality traits that distinguish those who are more likely to complete treatment from those who do not. - Clients who quit or expelled from the ACC TC were less likely to be married and more likely to exhibit narcissistic personality disorder, schizotypal and paranoid personality disorders, and early childhood conduct problems. This personality profile typifies individuals who may find it difficult to adapt to and succeed in the TC environment because of the specific treatment techniques employed. - Motivation was not found to have a statistical relationship with retention in the ACC TC. This finding is in contrast to the findings in Study 2 which found that motivation played a role in group membership, meaning participants attending both TC programs were more highly motivated. Factors Related to Successful Outcomes. Offenders releasing to the community from prison face a great number of challenges and barriers, including criminal justice supervision, employment, housing, and finances. In addition, their addiction poses a great risk to their ability to remain in the community; relapse is highly correlated with return to prison. Successful participants indicated that they had made an internal decision to change; correspondingly, their decisions relating to criminal justice supervision, employment, housing, and other transition barriers were made with recovery foremost in their thinking. - Finding initial employment and housing was not reported as a challenge for participants; they did not view their felony status as an obstacle in finding either. However, in the future as they seek more desirable positions and living arrangements their backgrounds might prove more problematic. - Motivation as measured herein was not statistically related to outcomes. However, case study participants with successful outcomes expressed high levels of internal and external motivation in contrast to those who were unsuccessful. - The ability to find and maintain positive social support was critical to successful outcomes in the community. Individuals who returned to old neighborhoods and peer groups or had family members with addiction or criminal involvement tended to return to their old patterns of behavior. Details: Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Department of Corrections; University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, 2004. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2016 at:http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A3042/datastream/OBJ/view Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A3042/datastream/OBJ/view Shelf Number: 146053 Keywords: Correctional Programs Recidivism Rehabilitation Therapeutic Communities Treatment Programs

Author: Loudenburg, Roland Title: South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program Evaluation Supplemental Findings Report Summary: The South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program was developed in direct response to an overwhelming need to address repeat impaired driving offenses in South Dakota. The 24/7 Sobriety Program addresses the problem in a nontraditional manner by requiring impaired driving offenders to completely abstain from alcohol and provide breath tests twice daily at approximately 12 hour intervals. An external evaluation firm was engaged to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and an initial evaluation report was released in December 2011, which included data from 2005 thru December 2010. Since the release of the initial report, an additional year of recidivism data is available in order to evaluate the trends demonstrated in the initial report. This updated report evaluates and updates the South Dakota 24/7 Sobriety Program's overall effectiveness in reducing DUI recidivism among PBTx2 participants through data review and statistical analysis. The report is prepared in conjunction with the South Dakota Attorney General's Office and the South Dakota Department of Public Safety. This report utilizes participant data maintained on the Attorney General's Office 24/7 Sobriety Program web based database (24/7 Database) and offender data maintained by the Unified Judicial System (UJS). Initial sections of the report provide a general description of the 24/7 Sobriety Program, participants, and a summary of test results for twice a day PBT testing (PBTx2). Later sections of the report focus on recidivism analysis of DUI offenders participating in PBTx2. In those later sections, DUI recidivism rates for program participants are compared to nonparticipants using three approaches. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is a serious public health and safety problem in the United States. In 2007, impaired drivers with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or above were responsible for 32% of all traffic fatalities. National statistics reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that approximately one-third of all first-time DUI offenders will have a second DUI offense. In addition, DUI offenders are more likely to be involved in future fatal car crashes than non-DUI offenders. Felony DUI offenses (a third or subsequent DUI offense within ten years of a DUI conviction), vehicular homicide and vehicular battery cases account for approximately 35% of all felony convictions in South Dakota. Between 1996 and 2007, felony DUI offenses and felony drug offenses accounted for approximately 60% of the total felony convictions in South Dakota. Analysis of South Dakota Department of Corrections data indicates that 12.56% of the state prison population is incarcerated for a DUI offense . In FY2011, 90% of men and 95% of women sentenced to the South Dakota Penitentiary had an alcohol or illegal drug dependency. To date, traditional DUI offense intervention efforts that include a combination of education and sanctions report only a modest 7% - 9% reduction in recidivism rates for future impaired driving offenses. While generic alcohol ignition interlock devices are effective while physically installed within an individual's vehicle, recidivism rates are not sustained after removal of the device. More effective strategies to reduce repeat impaired driving offenses are necessary. In 2011, Administrative Rule 2:06 was updated to include the use of ignition interlock devices. With an additional year of data, South Dakota's effort to address DUI recidivism through the 24/7 Sobriety Program continues to show results. The PBTx2 test result data examined in this evaluation reveals that individuals are maintaining a very high level of sobriety while on the 24/7 Sobriety Program. With a sample size of just over 1 million recorded PBTx2 test results, only .6% was recorded as a Failure. Over 53% of the 4,680 24/7 Sobriety Program participants in the sample did not fail a PBTx2 test, and only 9.4% had four or more Failures during a testing period that averaged approximately 120 days. An analysis of PBTx2 participants compared to control groups shows a continued pattern of lower recidivism rates by participants, and suggests that the program clearly has a sustained effect on recidivism rates after program completion. PBTx2 participants generally had lower recidivism rates at one, two, three, and four years when compared to controls. Notably, 12.7% of DUI 2nd offenders not on the program committed another DUI offense within three years, while only 5.9% of the 24/7 Sobriety Program participants committed another DUI within a three-year period. The lower recidivism rate for participating DUI 2nd offenders is statistically significant. The analysis also suggests the 24/7 Sobriety Program is statistically significant in lowering recidivism for DUI offenders who remain on the program for 30 or more consecutive days. Details: Salem, SD: Mountain Plains Evaluation, 2012. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2016 at: http://apps.sd.gov/atg/dui247/AnalysisSupplementalSD24.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://apps.sd.gov/atg/dui247/AnalysisSupplementalSD24.pdf Shelf Number: 146105 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence (South Dakota) Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Recidivism

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Federal Prisons System: Justice Has Used Alternatives to Incarceration, but Could Better Measure Program Outcomes Summary: Since 1980, the federal prison population increased from about 25,000 to almost 200,000, as of March 2016. In part to help reduce the size and related costs of the federal prison population, DOJ has taken steps to slow its growth by pursuing alternatives to incarceration at various stages of the criminal justice process for nonviolent, low-level offenders. Senate Report 113-78 included a provision for GAO to review DOJ's management of the federal prison population. This report (1) describes factors criminal justice stakeholders consider when using incarceration alternatives at or before sentencing and identifies the extent to which those alternatives are used, (2) describes factors BOP considers when using incarceration alternatives for inmates and the extent of their use, and (3) assesses the extent DOJ has measured the cost implications and outcomes of using the alternatives. GAO analyzed DOJ and federal judiciary branch data and documents from fiscal years 2009 through 2015, and interviewed DOJ and judiciary officials at headquarters and in 11 selected nongeneralizable judicial districts about the use of alternatives. GAO selected districts to provide geographic diversity and a mix of districts using and not using the alternatives. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that DOJ enhance its tracking of data on use of pretrial diversions and that DOJ and BOP obtain outcome data and develop measures for the alternatives used. DOJ concurred Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: GA)-16-516: Accessed September 27, 2016 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/677983.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/677983.pdf Shelf Number: 147910 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Federal Prisons Pretrial Diversion Recidivism

Author: Markman, Joshua A. Title: Recidivism of Offenders Placed on Federal Community Supervision in 2005: Patterns from 2005-2010 Summary: Examines the offending patterns of persons placed on federal community supervision in 2005 by offender characteristics and prior criminal history. It includes the number and types of crimes offenders committed prior to and after being placed on community supervision. The report examines arrests of federal offenders by federal and nonfederal (state and local) law enforcement agencies. It also compares characteristics and recidivism outcomes of offenders released from federal prison to offenders released from state prison in 2005. Findings are based on records obtained from the Office of Probation and Pretrial Services of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the FBI's Interstate Identification Index, and state criminal history repositories. Highlights: Nonfederal (i.e., state and local) law enforcement agencies were responsible for approximately three-quarters (76%) of prior arrests of offenders placed on federal community supervision in 2005.„„ Nonfederal charges accounted for more than two-thirds (68%) of all arrests that occurred during the 5 years following placement on federal community supervision. „„ Within 1 year following placement in 2005 on community supervision, 18% of the federal offenders had been arrested at least once. At the end of the 5-year follow-up period, 43% had been arrested. Among those conditionally released from federal prison, nearly half (47%) were arrested within 5 years, compared to more than three-quarters (77%) of state prisoners released on community supervision.„„ About 3 in 10 federal prisoners released to a term of community supervision returned to prison within 5 years, while nearly 6 in 10 state prisoners conditionally released returned in 5 years. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2016 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ropfcs05p0510.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ropfcs05p0510.pdf Shelf Number: 140465 Keywords: Community Supervision Community-Based Corrections Offender Supervision Recidivism

Author: Albrecht, Hans-Jorg Title: National Reconviction Statistics and Studies in Europe Summary: Recidivism belongs to the main categories of criminology, crime policy and criminal justice. If the target of preventing offenders from reoffending is taken seriously crime policy should be measured by success of certain penal sanctions in terms of relapses. Also institutions that deal directly with crime and offenders need to get basic information on the consequences of their actions; particularly when decisions have to be based on a prognosis they should refer to general knowledge about offender groups at risk of reoffending. All these are reasons why - besides the conventional crime and criminal justice statistics, that don't allow to follow further offending - representative recidivism studies are needed. In the last years the discussion in criminology and crime policy has shown a growing interest in recidivism. Meanwhile a lot of European countries gather systematic and comprehensive information on recidivism, periodically and on a national level. This volume presents an exemplary collection of such endeavors. In the first international part Hans-Jorg Albrecht introduces recidivism as a subject of criminological research and focuses on reconviction statistics as a knowledge base for crime policy and sanctioning practice. Papers on database, methods and outcome of national studies/statistics from different European countries follow: Germany (Jorg-Martin Jehle), Switzerland (Daniel Fink and Steve Ducommun-Vaucher), Austria (Arno Pilgram and Veronika Hofinger), France (Annie Kensey) and Estonia (Andri Ahven). Part one is completed by an international comparison of reconviction studies in England and Wales, Scotland and the Netherlands (Bouke S. J. Wartna, Ian Knowles, Ian Morton, Susan M. Alma and Nikolaj Tollenaar). Part two focuses on the German reconviction study. Jorg-Martin Jehle presents its basic concept and demonstrates examples of evaluation in terms of sanctions, offences and personal features of offenders. Carina Tetal describes the original data base of the criminal register and the complicated process for the electronic transformation and linking of data sets. Sabine Hohmann-Fricke outlines questions of validity which are connected to data selection and the length of observation period and demonstrates the possibilities of data evaluation, focusing on the interval of relapses. Further examples for evaluation of these reconviction data are presented: offence related studies (Stefan Harrendorf) and gender-based results of sanctioning and reconviction (Tanja Kohler). Finally the contribution of Volker Grundies deals with reconviction in relation to age and gender based on data of the Freiburg cohort study. Details: Freiburg: Universitatsverlag Gottingen, 2014. 249p. Source: Internet Resource: Gottingen Studies in Criminal Law and Justice: Accessed September 28, 2016 at: http://univerlag.uni-goettingen.de/handle/3/isbn-978-3-86395-187-0 Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://univerlag.uni-goettingen.de/handle/3/isbn-978-3-86395-187-0 Shelf Number: 140486 Keywords: Recidivism Reconviction Reoffending

Author: Lauwaert, Katrien Title: Desistance and restorative justice. Mechanisms for desisting from crime within restorative justice practices Summary: The project 'Desistance and restorative justice. Mechanisms for desisting from crime within restorative justice practices' focuses on the benefit offenders can get in a desistance perspective from participating in a restorative justice (RJ) process. The research was developed as a complement of an earlier study the European Forum for Restorative Justice coordinated on 'Victims and restorative justice' and as a response to an increasing interest of in particular policymakers in knowing what the effect of participation in restorative justice processes is on offending behaviour. Recidivism research has looked into the link between RJ and reoffending. The results are not conclusive, but show that at least there is a potential for RJ to reduce crime. Recidivism research, with its mainly quantitative approach, does not, however, provide insight in why this influence occurs. Therefore this project has investigated 1) how participation in restorative justice processes influences the desistance journey of people who have offended, and 2) which factors within restorative justice practices support subjective and social changes that help initiate or maintain desistance from crime. A qualitative approach was used in order to answer the research questions. We interviewed 80 desisters who had taken part in a restorative justice process. The interviews were conducted in in Austria, Belgium, and Northern Ireland. In Austria the juvenile and adult desisters had participated in victim-offender mediation which is organised as a pre-trial diversion measure for not so serious offences. In Belgium the adult desisters had participated in victim-offender mediation which runs parallel to the criminal justice procedure and involves (rather) serious offences. In Northern Ireland the juvenile desisters had participated in diversionary and court-ordered conferencing for offences of varying seriousness as part of the regular procedure. The findings of the research confirm that victim-offender mediation and conferencing as practiced in Austria, Belgium and Northern Ireland have the potential to influence desistance; sometimes as a trigger for change, but more often as a support for an ongoing desistance process. The research uncovered a number of recurring factors and dynamics. However, every desistance account was highly individual and therefore no generalisations should be made. In all three countries the work of the mediator created an atmosphere of openness and respect, and this set the right context for other effects to happen. Adopting a non-judgmental attitude, showing a willingness to listen, and not labeling the participants as criminals was conducive to a constructive spirit and open communication in which participants felt comfortable to speak freely, to explain their whole story and to take responsibility. Although the flexibility of the restorative justice process differs in the three countries, it was clear that the possibility to tailor the process to the needs of the parties also helped to make it a useful experience for the desisting offender. The communication with the victim was a dominant element in terms of impact on change. Facing the situation of the victim, experiencing the sometimes constructive attitude of the victim, the fact that the offender could explain things, apologise, express regrets and show changes in his life since the offence, these had all been helpful elements. The restorative justice process enabled the offenders to change their perspective, to develop empathy with the victim, or to acknowledge the real impact of their behaviour. After the restorative justice process the offenders had felt relieved, they had felt courageous and proud or it had helped them to turn the page. In Northern Ireland in particular the rehabilitative elements in the reparation plans, which were prepared during the conference, were beneficial to many participants, especially to the juveniles who had been persistent offenders. Moreover, these young persons benefitted strongly from the relationship they were able to develop with the Youth Justice Agency worker who supervised the completion of their reparation plan, and from the ethos and humanising response they received from the Youth Justice Agency as a whole. Financial reparation as a result of a mediation, came to the fore as an element supporting desistance in a few Belgian narratives. How were these factors helpful for desistance? Through these factors, the restorative justice processes helped desisters to deal with emotions of shame, blame, guilt and culpability. They instilled hope, provided an opportunity to find closure or to confirm the desister's pro-social identity. In specific situations the restorative justice process helped repairing relationships. Furthermore, it was seen as (very) helpful by the participants that the restorative justice process prevented a case to go to court, or that the restorative justice process supported a positive decision for an early release from prison. Finally, the efficacy of victimless conferences and conferences with drug addicted offenders are areas which merit further attention, as our findings indicate that these situations may prevent restorative justice processes from influencing desistance. Details: Leuven: European Forum for Restorative Justice, 2015. 190p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: http://www.euforumrj.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Research-report-desistance-and-RJ-total-doc-24-11-final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euforumrj.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Research-report-desistance-and-RJ-total-doc-24-11-final.pdf Shelf Number: 145115 Keywords: Desistance Recidivism Reoffending Restorative Justice Victim-Offender Mediation

Author: Rowlinson, Tony Title: An Observational Process Study of a Short Programme for lowerrisk Domestic Abuse Offenders under Conditional Caution in the Hampshire CARA Experiment Summary: The 2013/2014 crime survey of England and Wales found that 28% of women and nearly 15% of men had experienced any domestic abuse (DA) since the age of 16. How to prevent more victims of domestic abuse and so reduce harm is the current focus of all Chief Constables, especially as the evidence base to date suggests that progression through the formal criminal justice system post-arrest for domestic abuse does not effectively reduce DA re-offending. Project CARA is a randomised control trial which started in 2012 continuing through December 2015, and which tests the effectiveness of a conditional caution for eligible lower-risk domestic abuse offenders. Half the participants in the trial are required post-arrest to attend a particular domestic abuse prevention workshop programme designed and delivered by a charity, The Hampton Trust (who gave conditional permission for the author to observe the workshop). Subsequent reoffending by these participants was compared with offending by those not randomly assigned to the workshop programme. The experiment is not yet complete although indicative results (November 2015) are very encouraging. Even though this workshop programme appears to be effective, however, little is known about the core elements that lead to this change in behaviour for most of those who attend. The workshop has so far been a 'black box' and the principal aim of this research is to open this box, identify these core elements and to gain an understanding of the interactions between facilitators and perpetrators that promotes behavioural change. This thesis reports on this observational study. Through analysis of 1400 participant observer hours, the principles and processes of Motivational Interviewing (MI) were found to be the core elements of the workshop with the more perpetrators in the workshop group, so the higher collective effervescence observed. The study also describes the detail of the workshop parts as they were found to be key elements supporting perpetrator behaviour change. Replication of the workshop so that it may reach more perpetrators and so prevent more harm to victims of DA is made more possible as a result of this research should permission for wider dissemination of the findings be provided by the Hampton Trust. The findings of the research underpin the need for police to partner with and commission third sector providers of domestic abuse interventions which are proven to work, rather than attempt to reduce domestic violence through their traditional single agency response and the formal criminal justice system. Details: Cambridge, UK: Wolfson College University of Cambridge, 2015. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 11, 2016 at: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/alumni/theses/Tony%20Rowlinson.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/alumni/theses/Tony%20Rowlinson.pdf Shelf Number: 145414 Keywords: Conditional Caution Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing Title: Pennsylvania's State Intermediate Punishment Program Summary: - The State Intermediate Punishment [SIP] Program is a two-year substance abuse treatment program for eligible offenders sentenced to state prison. - The SIP program became effective in May 2005. As of March 2015: 0 22,935 offenders had been sentenced to the Department of Corrections who were statutorily eligible for the SIP Program - 5,389 offenders [24%] had been evaluated for the SIP Program - Among those evaluated 4,584 offenders [85%] had been admitted to the SIP Program. Of those admitted into the Program: - 2,542 offenders [56%] had successfully completed the SIP Program - 1,029 offenders [20%] had been expelled from the SIP Program - 1,013 offenders [22%] were still enrolled in the SIP Program - As a result of concerns about the underutilization of SIP, the Commission had recommended that the Legislature review the ineligibility criteria for SIP, as well as allow greater discretion to the sentencing court for SIP consideration. Act 122 of 2012 revised statute to incorporate these recommendations. The statute went into effect on July 1, 2013 and increased the number of offenders eligible for SIP by 23% in 2014. The actual number of additional offenders in 2014 was 572, which was within the Commission's estimated range of 369 to 994. - Judges in 63 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have sentenced offenders to the SIP program. - The majority of offenders approved for SIP were male, white, and had an average age of 34 years. Most offenders were convicted of drug delivery or DUI offenses and a large percentage of the offenders had been previously arrested for a drug or property offense. - Offenders were more likely to complete SIP if they were: older, female, white, convicted of a drug delivery or DUI offense, had fewer prior arrests, had a prior DUI offense, and had a low score on the criminal attitudes assessment scale [CSS-M]. - After three years, 36% of the SIP completers recidivated, compared to 66% of those who were expelled and 54% of those who were eligible for SIP but sentenced to prison instead. When controlling for other factors, offenders who completed SIP were significantly less likely to recidivate than offenders sentenced to prison, and offenders who were expelled from SIP were significantly more likely to recidivate than those who completed SIP or those who went to prison. - Offenders were also more likely to recidivate if they had been convicted of a property offense [compared to a drug delivery or DUI offense], had a greater number of prior arrests, had a prior drug offense, were male, and were younger. Details: Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: 2016 Report to the Legislature: Accessed October 12, 2016 at: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications-and-research/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-intermediate-punishment/sip-2016-report-to-the-legislature/view Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://pcs.la.psu.edu/publications-and-research/research-and-evaluation-reports/state-intermediate-punishment/sip-2016-report-to-the-legislature/view Shelf Number: 145424 Keywords: Drug Offenders Drug Treatment Intermediate Punishments Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Stavrou, Efty Title: The revised Group Risk Assessment Model (GRAM 2): Assessing risk of reoffending among adults given non-custodial sanctions Summary: Aim: To re-examine the Group Risk Assessment Model (GRAM) for predicting reoffending in adults given non-custodial sentences and to assess the accuracy of the model. Method: Adult offenders given non-custodial sentences in 2011 were the cohort of interest. Reoffending within 24 months of the index appearance was measured using court data. Models predicting reoffending using personal, index offence and criminal history characteristics were undertaken using multivariate logistic regression and model fits were assessed. Model validity and reliability was also measured by applying the model estimates to sub-group data and to separate smaller cohorts. Results: Of the 81,199 adult offenders, 26% reoffended within two years of the index appearance. The best model fit for GRAM 2 comprised age, gender, Indigenous status, number of concurrent offences, prior custodial sentence, prior proven offences and the index offence type. The internal and external validity of the model was strong, however application of the model to offenders from smaller geographical areas or to those with a prior history of prison or property offending should be undertaken with care. Application of the model for screening purposes should also be carefully considered. Conclusion: The GRAM 2 has been shown to be a robust tool for predicting reoffending. Although reliable, model estimates and their applicability should be re-examined periodically. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 197: Accessed October 12, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-GRAM2-Group-Risk-Assessment-Model-CJB197.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-GRAM2-Group-Risk-Assessment-Model-CJB197.pdf Shelf Number: 145439 Keywords: Prediction Recidivism Reoffending Risk Assessment

Author: LeCroy & Milligan Associates, Inc. Title: Assessing Risk of Recidivism Among Juvenile Offenders: The Recidivism Risk Instrument. Technical Report Summary: The past four decades have been witness to an increasing interest in risk assessment in the corrections field. Risk assessment is based on the calculation of statistical relationships between offender characteristics and outcomes such as recidivism. The process of risk assessment involves estimating an individual's likelihood of continued involvement in delinquent behavior, based on the relationship of specific characteristics to delinquency (Gottfredson & Moriarty, 2006; Krysik & LeCroy, 2002). Several trends have contributed to the increased popularity of risk assessment. A steady increase in the number of juveniles that were entering the juvenile justice system has heightened the demand for rehabilitation services. This increased demand for services combined with their high cost has prompted efforts to target services, based on a systematic assessment of need, to those at the high end of the risk continuum, while reducing efforts aimed at those on the low end. The assignment of low risk cases to intensive services may not only be a waste of scarce resources, but may in fact be criminogenic (Andrews et al. 1986). Statistical risk assessment is increasingly being used to replace assessments based on "clinical" judgments which are subjective and less accurate than statistical instruments. Actuarial/statistical risk instruments generally classify youth as low-, medium-, or high-risk for recidivism by estimating an offender's likelihood of reoffending based on their similarity to others who have recidivated in the past. Accordingly, the goal of statistical risk instruments is to identify a group of offenders with different rates of recidivism and focus intensive treatment interventions on those offenders with the greatest risk of returning to custody. Research has shown that a small number of offenders contribute disproportionately to the crime rate. For instance, research on two cohorts of first-time juvenile delinquents in Orange County, California found that approximately 10% of the juveniles accounted for over one-half of all subsequent offenses (Kurz & Moore, 1993). Based on these findings, Orange County developed a risk-based intervention strategy that emphasizes risk rather than crime seriousness. The recognition that a relatively few individuals commit the majority of crimes has prompted a more streamlined approach to the early identification of the most persistent juvenile offenders. The purpose of identifying high-risk juveniles early in their criminal careers is to provide them with cost effective prevention and treatment services. In Orange County, the chronic offender population averages nearly 20 months of incarceration within 6 years of their first offense, making the cost of incarceration alone $44,000 per individual in 1993 dollars (Kurz & Moore, 1993). At the rate of approximately 500 new chronic juvenile offenders per year, the estimated cost for incarceration in Orange County is $22 million per cohort. A reduction in placement would result in significant cost savings. Further, there is reason to suspect that predictors of recidivism for boys differ from predictors of recidivism for girls (Emeka & Sorensen, 2009). For example, Plattner and colleagues (2009) identified sex specific predictors of recidivism among a sample of incarcerated youth. For boys, the strongest predictors for recidivism were age at first incarceration and presence of oppositional defiant disorder. For girls, the strongest predictors for recidivism were dysthymia (protective factor) and generalized anxiety disorder. Consistent with previous work, early aggressive or disruptive behavior was not a good predictor of later delinquency for girls. The most common problem encountered in risk prediction research is data limitations. Data limitations constrain the potential for sophisticated and more appropriate statistical approaches to analysis. There are two basic sampling issues that lead to limitations in the data. First, the size of the sample is critical. In terms of how big the sample should be, Jones (1996) recommends at least 500, half for estimation and half for validation. If a large number of variables are being tested in multivariate statistical analysis, it is common practice to ensure that the sample includes at least 10 subjects for each predictor variable considered (Norman & Streiner, 1986). Second, the sample must be representative of the population to whom the instrument will be applied; therefore, it should be a random sample. Even if a sample is large and appropriately drawn, serious problems may still emerge. The patterns found in one sample can lead to overestimating patterns that might exist in other samples. Representativeness can encompass the variables of age, gender, race and ethnicity, regional area, and time period (Jones, 1996). Criticism of several studies has revolved around the use of only one sample for estimation, and the subsequent failure to test the accuracy of the derived model on an independent validation sample (Krysik & LeCroy, 2002; Schwalbe, 2007). The primary purpose of using a separate sample for validation is to test the extent that empirically derived relationships persist across samples. When the risk assessment instrument is validated on the same sample from which it was estimated, the rate of correct classification is naturally much higher. Thus, the use of at least two samples is recommended, one for estimation and one or more for validation. The lack of differentiation on the criterion variable is always more apparent during validation than the construction of the instrument. The prediction instrument developed on a selective sample is often applied to a population containing a wider range of risk than that of those individuals originally studied. Under such circumstances, the best policy is to identify a random sample that is as closely related as possible to the population of interest. If this is not possible, it may be useful to examine empirically differences between the original sample and the population of interest. Invariably the best laid plans are constrained by the quality of the data available. Often this problem is not recognized, or it may be noticed and not addressed. The main effect of missing data is to reduce the size of the sample at the stage of multivariate analysis. How this problem is dealt with depends in part on how much data is missing, and how important the particular variables afflicted are thought to be as predictors. If there are few missing values and the data are missing completely at random, then the analysis should be based on those cases with a complete set of variable values (Jones, 1996). Other than a reduced sample size, this complete case approach poses no problems. An alternative approach that makes use of available information is to include all cases that have values for a specified group of variables. This available-cases approach has the significant disadvantage that statistics such as means and variances are based on samples of different sizes. A third approach is the imputation of missing values. This involves the estimation of missing values based on those data that are available (Little & Rubin, 1987). In instances where a person's risk-level is assessed at more than one point in time, it is necessary to move away from a reliance on variables that remain constant toward more dynamic indicators. Static indicators can be historical (e.g., parent criminality) or ascribed (e.g., gender or race). As individuals can exercise no control over static factors, they are insensitive to change over time. The repeated use of these same variables can result in individuals being censured over and over for the same attributes. Psychiatric measures, response to supervision or institutionalization, employment, and family situation, are examples of dynamic factors. One risk assessment instrument involving dynamic factors is offered by Baird (1984). He has developed an initial risk assessment instrument and a reassessment instrument. His reassessment instrument retains the most significant initial predictors such as age at first adjudication, prior criminal behavior, and institutional placements of more than 30 days, and adds to this dynamic factors such as response to supervision and the use of community resources. Dynamic factors introduce a stronger element of judgment or discretion into the classification process. Underwood (1979) cautions that the inclusion of subjectively scored items may provide opportunity for personal biases to be passed off as scientific judgment. The goal in risk assessment is to choose the smallest number of variables with the greatest predictive validity. This goal, however, can be modified by the issue of face validity. Burnham (1990) argues that decision makers feel uncomfortable with only a limited set of data items and require a range of information, most of which they do not take into account. He differentiates between information, that which leads to predictive efficacy; and noise, those items necessary for the instrument to be supported by the user. Most commonly, prediction models include both individual and environmental variables as predictors. Ideally, the pool of possible predictors is theoretically derived, with one variable representing each theoretical construct, and each of the selected variables tested for validity and reliability. In practice, prediction in the area of criminality is constrained by poorly defined theory. Given these cautions, we turn our attention toward key predictor variables supported in the literature. Details: Tucson, AZ: LeCroy and Milligan Associates, 2012. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2016 at: http://www.lecroymilligan.com/data/resources/recidivism-risk-instrument-final-report-10312012-final-revision-b.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.lecroymilligan.com/data/resources/recidivism-risk-instrument-final-report-10312012-final-revision-b.pdf Shelf Number: 140672 Keywords: Juvenile Offenders Prediction Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: LeCroy & Milligan Associates, Inc. Title: Pima County Juvenile Court Evaluation of Probation Services: Executive Summary Summary: The provision of juvenile probation services is a complex endeavor that involves the various components of the criminal justice system and social service provider community, as well as the general community at large. In Fiscal Year 2001, 13,588 juveniles were on probation in Arizona, and of these 2,271 or 16.7% of this number were in Pima County. In addition, in 2001, a total 22,305 youth were diverted from the juvenile courts in Arizona, with 4,891 or 22% of this total from Pima County (Administrative Office of the Courts, 2002). With this number of youth comes a diverse array of needs and requirements that the juvenile court must respond to in its mission of preventing further crime and making the youth accountable for their actions. This may involve the provision of different levels and types of probation supervision, various modes of treatment services for a juvenile's mental health and substance abuse problems, as well as providing services to victims and the community. Understanding this complexity, the Pima County Juvenile Court contracted with LeCroy & Milligan Associates to evaluate the provision of juvenile probation within the court. Specifically, LeCroy & Milligan Associates were asked to conduct four separate efforts:  Complete a literature review of best practices in juvenile probation;  Conduct a survey of key stakeholders in the juvenile justice system;  Perform a single-system design study; and  Complete a recidivism study. Each of these was completed during the period Jun 2002 to May 2003. This report has five sections, including this executive summary. Details: Tucson, AZ: LeCroy & Milligan Associates, 2003. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2016 at: http://www.lecroymilligan.com/data/resources/pima-co-probation-report-exec-summary-2003.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: http://www.lecroymilligan.com/data/resources/pima-co-probation-report-exec-summary-2003.pdf Shelf Number: 145407 Keywords: Juvenile Court Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism

Author: Ryon, Stephanie Bontrager Title: Juvenile Probation and Residential Services Evaluation Summary: Connecticut provides delinquency services through both the judicial and executive branches. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) is responsible for juvenile corrections and aftercare services, while the Connecticut Judicial Branch‟s Court Support Services Division (CSSD) administers pre- and post-adjudication services, including detention and probation supervision (National Center for Juvenile Justice, 2010; Management 2011). The Connecticut Juvenile Justice System (CJJS) is based on restorative justice principles of accountability and reintegration, public safety and rehabilitation. Individualized treatment, prevention, community-based placements, standardized risk and needs assessments, and coordinated evidence-based services are core features of the CJJS (Management, 2011). Together, DCF and CSSD have developed a collaborative strategic plan to ensure the seamless delivery of delinquency services to at risk youth in Connecticut (Child Welfare League of America, 2006). The joint plan is based on principles of effective intervention, which underscore the importance of reserving residential commitment programs for the most high risk youth, and those most likely to benefit from long-term, out-of-home placements. Two recent studies of juvenile probation and residential services suggest that youthful offenders who complete probation programming are less likely to re-offend once discharged than those completing more restrictive commitment programs (Winokur et al., 2007; Greenfield, 2007). The Connecticut Judicial Branch CSSD retained the Justice Research Center (JRC) to study system services including probation and residential programming. The State of Connecticut has a long history of ensuring accountability, and understands that evaluating effectiveness and efficiency is critical to the provision of quality services and the expansion of programs to reach more at-risk youth and their families. The overarching goal of the current evaluation was to assess the extent to which Connecticut‟s juvenile probation and commitment programs provide effective interventions to the appropriate delinquent youth. The evaluation examined youth characteristics, pathways through the continuum of care, and correlates of recidivism for a historical sample of probation and residential clients. All youth disposed from court to either juvenile probation (N=2,823) or commitment to residential placement (N=269), and released between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2007 were included in the study. Research questions specific to probation, residential, alternatives to residential commitment and predictors of system escalation were addressed through quantitative analyses. The evaluation results are summarized below.  Probation  Forty-nine percent of the probation releases had a juvenile referral or adult arrest; and 34 percent had a juvenile adjudication or adult conviction within one year of completing probation services.  Many factors were significantly associated with recidivism for probation releases (gender, race, age at first offense, measures of prior offending and risk and needs); however, none exhibited more than a modest correlation with post-release juvenile adjudication or adult conviction.  The predicted odds of recidivism are higher for male and non-white probation releases; delinquents who are younger when they commit their first offense; and those with elevated criminogenic risk. Those with higher JAG Peer Protective scores had significantly lower the odds of recidivism. Details: Hartfort, CT: Connecticut Support Services Division, Connecticut Judicial Branch, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2016 at: https://www.jud.ct.gov/cssd/research/juvprob/JuvProb_ResServ_Eval.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.jud.ct.gov/cssd/research/juvprob/JuvProb_ResServ_Eval.pdf Shelf Number: 144942 Keywords: Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism

Author: Wan, Wai Yin Title: Violent Criminal Careers: A retrospective longitudinal study Summary: Aims: To determine: (1) the long-term risk that someone charged with a violent offence will commit another violent offence (2) what factors influence the likelihood of desistance and the length of time to the next violent offence for those who do re-offend. Method: All 26,472 offenders who were born between 1986 and 1990 (inclusive) and who had at least one violent offence proved against them in New South Wales (NSW) before December 31st, 2014 were followed up to December 31st, 2015. An offence was counted as proved if at the index contact it resulted in a caution, a youth justice conference or proven court appearance. The mean follow-up time for offenders in the study was 6.35 years (range = 21.3 years; interquartile range = 4.7 years). Bivariate correlates of time to re-offend were identified using log-rank tests. Multivariate analysis of survival time was undertaken using a cure fraction model with a loglogistic distribution of survival time. Results: In the median case, after 20 years, an estimated 23 per cent of violent offenders committed a further violent offence. However the risk of violent re-offending varies greatly across different offender groups, being much higher for Indigenous offenders, those who were aged 17 and under at the time of their index contact and those whose first contact with the criminal justice system occurred when they were 12 years of age or younger. There is little evidence of specialisation among violent offenders in the sample. Most have committed a wide variety of different offences prior to their conviction for a violent offence and those who do re-offend commit a wide variety of offences. Conclusion: Authorities charged with responsibility for making bail, sentencing and parole decisions in relation to violent offenders need to pay close attention to the characteristics of the violent offenders they are dealing with. Evaluations of violent offender programs should include both short-term and long-term follow up. Prison is not a very effective instrument through which to reduce violent offending. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, no. 198: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Violent-Criminal-Careers-A-retrospective-longitudinal-study-cjb198.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Violent-Criminal-Careers-A-retrospective-longitudinal-study-cjb198.pdf Shelf Number: 145381 Keywords: Career Criminals Re-offending Recidivism Violence Violent Crime Violent Offenders

Author: Cleary, Andrew Title: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) Wave 1 (Reception) Samples 1 and 2 Technical Report Summary: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) is a longitudinal study which aimed to track the progress of 4,000 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010. At the time it was the largest survey of prisoners ever undertaken in Britain. Ipsos MORI was commissioned to carry out the survey by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) National Offender Management Service (NOMS) at the Home Office, now Offender Management and Sentencing Analytical Services (OMSAS) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The broad aim of SPCR was to explore how interventions might work in combination to address the range of prisoners' needs. More specifically, SPCR aimed to assess prisoners' problems and needs on reception, how these are addressed during and after custody and the combined effect of any interventions on offending and other outcomes, in light of prisoners' background characteristics, after release from prison. This report focuses in detail on the first stage of interviews ("reception" stage) of the study, undertaken with an overall sample of 3,849 prisoners in two parts: a representative sample of 1,435 prisoners (Sample 1) sentenced up to four years, and a sample comprising 2,414 prisoners sentenced to between 18 months and four years (Sample 2). The rationale of Sample 2 was to interview more prisoners who had been in custody long enough to undertake prison interventions. In addition to this element the study involved three further stages of interviews (a longitudinal design): - pre-release interviews, conducted shortly before release - post-release two-month interviews, conducted in the community one to two months after release - post-release six-month interviews, conducted in the community six months after release (Sample 2 only). Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 5/12 : Accessed October 21, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278843/surveying-prisoner-crime-reduction-wave-1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278843/surveying-prisoner-crime-reduction-wave-1.pdf Shelf Number: 131154 Keywords: Interventions Prisoner Reentry Prisoners Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Bateman, Tim Title: The State of Youth Custody, 2016 Summary: The National Association for Youth Justice (NAYJ) has consistently argued for a minimum use of custody for children who break the law: imprisonment should only be used as a last resort and for the shortest necessary period in those rare situations where a child's offending is such as to pose a demonstrable risk of serious harm to others and where, after thorough consideration, no other alternative is sufficient to mitigate that risk. Where deprivation of liberty is necessary, children should only be detained in child care establishments that promote their well-being and longer term development. This longstanding opposition to the use of custody is informed by a well-established, international evidence base which clearly shows that incarceration is extremely damaging to children in the short term and impedes their healthy development over the longer term. Nor is imprisonment an effective mechanism for preventing youth crime. In spite of some reduction in recent years, re-ofending rates for children following a custodial episode remain extremely high (67.1% within 12 months for those released in 2014). Analysis confrms that, controlling for range of relevant factors, children who receive custodial sentences of between six and 12 months are significantly (4% points) more likely to re-ofend than a comparison group sentenced to a high level community penalty.5 Deprivation of liberty accordingly exacerbates rather than reduces the likelihood of offending, suggesting that far from acting as a deterrent, incarceration has a criminogenic effect. This conclusion is unsurprising given the nature of youth crime. Children who break the law have rarely given careful consideration to the consequences of their actions. Neither the prospect of incarceration, nor the subsequent experience of being locked up, is likely to deter them or others from further criminal activity. International standards acknowledge the counterproductive and damaging nature of custody. Article 37 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, whose tenets the UK is obliged to uphold as a signatory to the Convention, proscribes the use of child imprisonment other than as a measure of last resort. During the 1990s and much of the following decade, England and Wales was in clear breach of such obligations with child imprisonment characterised by a rapid and sustained escalation. More recently, the number of children in custody has declined sharply. In May 2008, the under-18 population of the secure estate for children was 3,006; by May 2016, it had fallen to 870, a reduction of more than 70%.8 While the precise reasons for this contraction are open to debate, it is clear that much of it can be explained as a consequence of a less punitive climate towards children in conflict with the law, permitting the development of a range of informal responses to youth crime that have, in turn, led to a substantial reduction in the number of children entering the formal parameters of the youth justice system. Such advances should, of course, be recognised, but the NAYJ considers that levels of child incarceration remain too high and continue to be out of step with more progressive youth justice practices and international standards. Moreover, as will be argued in due course, effecting further reductions in child imprisonment may be an important consideration in ensuring a humane treatment of those children who continue to be deprived of their liberty. Details: s.l.: National Association for Youth Justice, 2016. 12p. Source: NAYJ Briefing: Accessed October 24, 2016 at: http://thenayj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NAYJ-Briefing-State-of-Youth-Custody-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://thenayj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NAYJ-Briefing-State-of-Youth-Custody-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 134828 Keywords: Juvenile Detention Juvenile Offenders Re-offending Recidivism Youth Custody

Author: New York State. Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Title: 2010 Inmates Releases: Three Year Post Release Follow-up Summary: Return-to-custody data are presented for inmates released from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) in 2010. This includes inmates who were released from parole program facilities as well as those released from correctional facilities. Return rates are based on a three-year follow-up period and are analyzed relative to several demographic and legal history characteristics. Return rates among the 2010 release cohort are compared to those found for an aggregated release cohort covering 1985 to 2010. Trends in rates of return among the annual release cohorts since 1985 are also presented. Details: Albany, NY: The Department, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2016 at: http://www.doccs.ny.gov/Research/Reports/2014/2010_releases_3yr_out.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.doccs.ny.gov/Research/Reports/2014/2010_releases_3yr_out.pdf Shelf Number: 146022 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Re-offending Recidivism

Author: European Forum for Urban Safety Title: Innovative Strategies for the Prevention of Re-offending: Practices and recommendations for local players Summary: The repetition of offences feeds European crime statistics in large part. The overall rise in prison populations is constant. Studies reveal that a limited number of persons commit three-fourths of offences in certain categories. Regardless of the organisation of criminal justice systems, re-offending rates range between 50% and 70% across Europe , and the human and economic costs resulting from this crime are increasing in all the member-states of the European Union. This is why the necessity of implementing strategies for the prevention of re-offending is recognised as a priority by international and European institutions. The Recommendations of the Council of Ministers to the member states concerning new methods of dealing with juvenile delinquency and the role of juvenile justice emphasise the leads to follow in this matter: ‘The principal objectives of juvenile justice and the associated measures aimed at juvenile delinquency should be the following: preventing the first offence and re-offending; (re)socialising and (re)integrating the delinquents…’. The objectives of the comprehensive strategies of the European Union in the areas of employment, the fight against discriminations and social inclusion, put the accent on a way of thinking that focuses on the importance of the social and economic re-integration of those being released from prison or young multiple-offenders. Along the same lines, the Council of Europe, in the framework of its integrated programme ‘Responses to daily violence’ , has identified twelve principles of action. It is indicated that an ‘integrated national policy aiming at reducing daily violence should include, in particular, prevention centred on offenders: eventually, re-adaptation and reintegration of offenders in society and the prevention of re-offending should be considered objectives worthy of a comprehensive prevention policy.’ Since the European Urban Charter, proclaimed in 1992 and setting forth in its articles devoted to urban security and crime prevention that ‘the prevention of re-offending and creation of alternative solutions to incarceration constitute essential objectives’, the European Union has made the prevention of re-offending one of its overall strategic objectives. The European penitentiary rules, adopted since 2006, are an example of the evolution of the attention of the European Union on this topic. Details: Paris: The Forum, 2009. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed october 26, 2016 at: http://www.stop-reoffending.org/fileadmin/recidive/Activities/PDF/Initiative__VA_.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: http://www.stop-reoffending.org/fileadmin/recidive/Activities/PDF/Initiative__VA_.pdf Shelf Number: 140840 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Re-offenders Recidivism

Author: Parsons, Jim Title: Impact Evaluation of the Adolescent Behavioral Learning Experience (ABLE) Program Summary: In 2012, New York City launched the Adolescent Behavioral Learning Experience (ABLE) program, a large-scale initiative serving 16- to 18-year-old youth held at the Rikers Island jail complex. The ABLE program provided Moral Reconation Therapy to young people with the aim of improving individual outcomes and reducing the number of youth who were rearrested and returned to the jail. Notably, the program was the first initiative in the U.S. to be funded using a social impact bond (SIB)—an innovative form of pay-for-success contracting that leverages private funding to finance public services. The investment bank, Goldman Sachs, provided initial funding for ABLE with the understanding that they would be reimbursed if the program reduced recidivism by at least 10 percent. The City of New York agreed to provide Goldman Sachs a return on their investment if the program reduced recidivism by 11 percent or more, based on savings associated with incarcerating fewer people at Rikers. The Vera Institute of Justice evaluated ABLE using a quasi-experimental design to assess whether the program led to reductions in recidivism for youth passing through the jail. The results of the evaluation determined whether the program met its contractual benchmarks. While the ABLE program reached the majority of 16- to -18-year-olds in the study cohort, it did not lead to reductions in recidivism and therefore did not meet the program's pre-defined threshold of success. Based on the findings of Vera's evaluation, the ABLE program was discontinued on August 31, 2015 Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2016 at: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/rikers-adolescent-behavioral-learning-experience-evaluation/legacy_downloads/rikers-adolescent-behavioral-learning-experience-evaluation.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/rikers-adolescent-behavioral-learning-experience-evaluation/legacy_downloads/rikers-adolescent-behavioral-learning-experience-evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 145010 Keywords: Adolescents Behavioral Modification Correctional Program Moral Reconation Therapy Recidivism Rikers Island

Author: Esposito, Carolina Title: Analysis of the local context report DELIVERABLE 5 Summary: SPRING project aims to fight recidivism of drug related crimes committed by young people in urban contests, through the identification of best practices in alternative measures and treatment programs to detention for drug addicted offenders and prevention campaigns. WP 4 (Analysis of the local context) will aim to perform the country analysis and to report the general knowledge framework about the issues tackled by the project in each participating country (at national and local level): prevention of and fight against recidivism of drug related crimes. The country analysis for each participating country will be based on a literature review of scientific publications, official documents, laws, agreements and guidelines with reference to drug phenomenon and drug addiction and to alternative treatment programs to detention for drug addicted offenders (paying particular attention to experiences with music therapy) This research will concern the following points:  Demographic and socio-cultural analysis and description of drug phenomenon with particular reference to anti-social behaviour;  Legal and regulatory framework on drug and drug addiction;  National data about drug related crimes and drug addicted offenders;  Legislation in force, national and local agreements on the topics of:  health interventions in the field of addiction  social and health practices in the field of addiction  National data about health and social practices in the field of addiction;  Alternative measures to detention for drug addicted offenders;  National data about alternative measures and treatment programs to detention for drug addicted offenders. In order to highlight most clearly the general framework of each participating country, a SWOT analysis (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) will be perform to provide a summary of the strength and weaknesses to be considered in the future phases of the project Details: Valenza (AL): Spring Project, 2016? 160p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2016 at: http://www.spring-project.eu/upload/documenti/deliverables_spring/WP4_final_report-ENG.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.spring-project.eu/upload/documenti/deliverables_spring/WP4_final_report-ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 145775 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Drug Addiction Drug Treatment Drugs and Crime Recidivism

Author: Lai, Keith Title: Does Supervision After Release From Prison Reduce Re-offending? Summary: Currently, in England and Wales, adult prisoners serving a sentence of 12 months or more are supervised by the Probation Service "on licence" upon release from custody, whilst those serving a sentence of less than 12 months are not. This paper summarises work exploring the use of a Regression Discontinuity Design to assess the impact of this supervision on re-offending rates. The analysis compares the re-offending rates of offenders either side of the 12 month licence supervision threshold. It is based on offenders with one or no previous convictions and sentenced to around a year in custody. © Crown copyright 2013 You may re-use this information (excluding logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives. gov.uk/doc/open-governmentlicence/ or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi. gov.uk Where we have identified any third party copyright material you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. First published July 2013 ISBN 978-1-84099-606-7 Contact info: mojanalyticalservices@ justice.gsi.gov.uk Key findings  For offenders with one or no previous convictions, the one-year re-offending rate is between 14 and 17 percentage points lower for offenders on licence than similar offenders not on licence.  Extending the analysis to a two-year re-offending rate increased the difference between the offenders on licence and offenders not on licence to between 16 and 20 percentage points.  These estimates are statistically significant at the 5% level. Whilst none of the results relating to the three-year re-offending rate were statistically significant at the 5% level, the size of the re-offending reductions are only a little smaller in absolute terms than for the one and two year re-offending reductions. More generally, the estimates are less reliable and subject to more uncertainty the longer the time period from release.  The analysis suggests that a period of probation supervision after release from custody reduces the re-offending rate of offenders sentenced to around one year in custody and with one or no previous convictions. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 3p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed November 11, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/224557/supervision-after-release.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/224557/supervision-after-release.pdf Shelf Number: 130133 Keywords: Offender Supervision Prisoner Reentry Probation Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Armstrong, Sarah Title: International Evidence Review of Conditional (Suspended) Sentences: Final Report Summary: Executive Summary Introduction, Background and Methodology i. This review presents international evidence on the effect of conditional sentences on: sentencing practices (including possible net widening effects), reo-ffending rates and public and other stakeholder perceptions. ii. A trend of rising imprisonment rates in many parts of Europe, North America and Australia and New Zealand has led to renewed policy interest in suspended sentences. Research shows use of suspended sentences has been accompanied both by rising and falling prison admissions, and the review of the evidence aims to improve the ability to understand how these different results are possible. iii. We focused our review of conditional sentences to specific sentences of imprisonment which are suspended for a period of time and never served so long as the person sentenced has displayed good behaviour and in some cases complied with additional conditions. The review further focused on jurisdictions where suspended sentences had a distinct origin in enabling legislation as well as their own penal aims. iv. There was insufficient research on deferred sentences to include them in this review. In parts of Scotland schemes of ‘structured deferred sentences’ are available to provide interventions mainly to low tariff offenders who have underlying needs, in order to avoid ‘uptariffing’ them to probation or community service. They may offer a useful tool in a wider strategy of reducing unnecessary use of prison. v. Evidence was identified through existing knowledge and research of the team involved and traditional searches of relevant publications and databases. This review is not a meta-analysis and does not evaluate the methodologies of the literature cited. Details: Glasgow: Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, 2013. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: REPORT No.01 /2013: Accessed November 11, 2016 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Conditional-Sentences-FINAL-january-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Conditional-Sentences-FINAL-january-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 130115 Keywords: Conditional Sentences Recidivism Sentencing Suspended Sentences

Author: Foster, Rowan Title: Evaluation of the Employment and Reoffending Pilot: Lessons learnt from the planning and early implementation phase Summary: The evaluation of the Employment and Reoffending Pilot aims to draw out lessons learned from its design, development, implementation and delivery, including any reasons for the results it achieves, providing valuable learning to inform the implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation. This report contains findings from the first phase of the evaluation, covering the set-up and first six months of operation of the pilot. Annex D - Topic Guides used in the Employment and Reoffending Pilot Evaluation is published as a separated document alongside this report. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 54p., annex. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265287/employment-reoffending-pilot.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265287/employment-reoffending-pilot.pdf Shelf Number: 146640 Keywords: Ex-offender Employment Offender Rehabilitation Re-offending Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Cleary, Andrew Title: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR): Waves 3 and 4 (Post-release): Samples 1 and 2 Technical Report Summary: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) is a longitudinal study which aimed to track the progress of 4,000 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010. At the time it was the largest survey of prisoners ever undertaken in Britain. Ipsos MORI was commissioned to undertake the survey by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) National Offender Management Service (NOMS) at the Home Office, now Offender Management and Sentencing Analytical Services (OMSAS) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The broad aim of SPCR was to explore how interventions might work in combination to address the range of prisoners' needs. More specifically, SPCR aimed to assess prisoners' problems and needs on reception, how these are addressed during and after custody and the combined effect of any interventions on offending and other outcomes, in light of prisoners' background characteristics, after release from prison. 1.2 Research Design This report describes the data collection for the Waves 3 and 4 interviews, each of which was conducted after release from prison for the SPCR sentence. Wave 3 field work was conducted from April 2006 to April 2010 and Wave 4 from May 2007 to October 2010. Separate reports provide the sampling and data collection information for the Wave 1 and Wave 2 interviews (Cleary et al. 2012a; 2012b). SPCR consists of an overall sample of 3,849 prisoners in two parts: a representative sample of 1,435 prisoners (Sample 1) sentenced to between one month and four years (76% were sentenced to less than 12 months), and a sample comprising 2,414 prisoners sentenced to between 18 months and four years (Sample 2). The rationale for Sample 2 was to interview more prisoners who had been in custody long enough to undertake prison interventions. Both samples followed the same four-stage longitudinal design: 1. Wave 1 (reception) interviews, conducted shortly after prisoners' reception into custody 2. Wave 2 (pre-release) interviews, conducted shortly before release, or at the same time as the reception interview (using a "combined" version of the questionnaire) for those Sample 1 prisoners on shorter sentences (mostly sentenced to less than six months) 3. Wave 3 (post-release two-month) interviews, conducted one to two months after release 4. Wave 4 (post-release six-month) interviews, conducted six months after prisoners' release (Sample 2 only) 1.3 Structure of the Waves 3 and 4 Technical Report This report describes the methodology and processes employed during setup, field work, data processing, and data outputs processes for the Waves 3 and 4 (post-release) stages of SPCR. Survey results from Waves 3 of SPCR are available on the MoJ website (e.g. MoJ, 2010, Sadlier 2010, Williams et al., 2012a, Williams et al., 2012b, Cunniffe et al., 2012, Hopkins, 2012, Boorman & Hopkins, 2012; Light et al., 2013; Brunton-Smith & Hopkins 2013; 2014; Hopkins & Brunton-Smith 2014). It is structured into the following sections: Section 2: Sample eligibility and tracing procedures - keeping in contact with eligible prisoners. Section 3: Field work - interviewer briefings, field work procedures and survey response rates. Section 4: Waves 3 and 4 interviews - topics covered and procedures used. Annex: Waves 3 and 4 questionnaires. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series : Accessed November 15, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296776/spcr-waves-3-and-4-technical-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296776/spcr-waves-3-and-4-technical-report.pdf Shelf Number: 146642 Keywords: Interventions Prisoner Reentry Prisoners Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Talpins, Stephen K. Title: The 24/7 Sobriety Program Expansion Project Summary: I. Introduction South Dakota’s 24/7 Sobriety Project is one of the most progressive programs in the country. Conceived of and administered by Attorney General Larry Long, this award-winning program offers several benefits. It has: reduced recidivism; improved public safety; provided an alternative to incarceration and reduced the number of people in local jails; allowed offenders to remain in the community with their family and friends; permitted offenders to maintain employment; cut jail and prison populations; and saved tax dollars by combining enhanced monitoring with real accountability. Offenders pay for their services. Accordingly, although the program was seeded through multiple legislative appropriations, it will be fully self-sustaining by the end of 2009. The Attorney General, several state agencies and local sheriffs, are partnering with the National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime (NPAMC) to create a national model that integrates evidence and consensus based solutions involving brief screening and interventions, formal assessments, and treatment and employing contingency management with the expectation of achieving even more profound results. Details: a.l.: National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2016 at: https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ccjj/Committees/DrugTF/Handout/SD24-7SobrietyProgramExpansionProj_0309.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://cdpsdocs.state.co.us/ccjj/Committees/DrugTF/Handout/SD24-7SobrietyProgramExpansionProj_0309.pdf Shelf Number: 141152 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence (South Dakota) Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Wong, Timothy Title: Validation of LSI-R and ASUS Criminogenic Risk Instruments Summary: This study report is based on a compilation of adult offender risk assessment data from the CYZAP database, and offender arrest/conviction data from the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). The report contains detailed analyses of offenders from the Judiciary’s Probation Services, Hawaii Paroling Authority, and the Department of Public Safety, who were administered the Level of Service Inventory Revised (LSIR) and Adult Substance Use Survey (ASUS). These assessment instruments measure criminogenic and alcohol/drug dependency risk levels, as well as the severity of criminogenic and alcohol/drug patterns, known as subdomains. All offenders are classified by risk levels, which provide invaluable information needed for case supervision purposes and determining treatment levels. Both risk instruments are critical to risk and need principles established in evidence-based practices, and necessitate validation; e.g., ascertainment of whether or not they accurately predict recidivism, and if they correctly classify offenders into distinct risk groups. Recidivism is an important outcome measure, since it distinguishes offenders who have re-offended from those who remained free of crime or technical violations over a three-year period. This report presents information on recidivism rates for probationers, parolees, and incarcerated offenders in the State of Hawaii. It also assesses a variety of offender conditions, including criminogenic dimensions, criminal offenses committed, and socio-demographic variables. The major objective of this report is to assist Interagency Council on Intermediate Sanctions (ICIS) agencies in evaluating longer-term outcomes, and documenting change in criminogenic risk patterns. It also provides analytical information on how a complement of predictive risk indicators, specified by risk levels, plays an important role in identifying risk assessment patterns, analyzing policy decisions, and evaluating service delivery options. The statistical charts depicted herein present data relating to the following areas: (1) Recidivism Analysis a. Agency and County b. Socio-demographics c. Time to Recidivism d. LSI-R Risk classification validity (2) Analysis of LSI-R Initial and Most Recent Assessments (3) ASUS and LSI-R Predictive Validity Methodology: The recidivism database includes an unduplicated count of 7,286 offenders, of which 5,126 received two or more LSI-Rs and ASUS’ from 2009 through 2011. The approach of this report is to complement existing LSI-R and ASUS statistical profile information with offender arrest data. The recidivism database was prepared as a flat file of unduplicated offender records. Each record contains data fields that incorporate initial and most recent LSI-R and ASUS assessment information, criminal arrests, and types of charged offenses. Additionally, calculated fields were added to the database to measure change in both the LSI-R total and protective scores, and criminogenic subdomain percentiles. Furthermore, the use of calculated date fields, which measure the length of time between the start of follow-up date and arrest date, is critical for the measurement of recidivism. For the purpose of this report, recidivism is defined as rearrests, revocations, and technical violations, tracked over a three-year period from the onset of supervision or release to parole. Details: Honolulu: Interagency Council on Intermediate Sanctions, 2013. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://icis.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Validation_LSI-and-ASUS-FYs-2009-2011.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://icis.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Validation_LSI-and-ASUS-FYs-2009-2011.pdf Shelf Number: 147316 Keywords: Probationers Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Wong, Timothy Title: 2015 Recidivism Update Summary: This report provides a comparative update to the 2002 Hawaii Recidivism Baseline Study and subsequent updates in 2006 through 2014. Hawaii's statewide recidivism rate is an important indicator of the Interagency Council on Intermediate Sanctions' (ICIS) efforts to reduce recidivism by 30% over a ten-year period. Although this ten-year period ended in 2011, the 30% recidivism reduction benchmark remains an important long-term goal. This study is comprised of 2,464 offenders from the Fiscal Year 2012 cohort, as compiled from the following State agencies: 1. Hawaii State Probation Services – 1,639 Offenders Sentenced to Felony Probation. 2. Hawaii Paroling Authority (HPA) - 560 Offenders Released to Parole. 3. Department of Public Safety (PSD) - 265 Maximum-Term Released Prisoners. Background: ICIS conducted its first recidivism study in 2002. This baseline study monitored probationers and parolees for criminal rearrests and revocations/technical violations over a three-year follow-up period, and reported a 63.3% recidivism rate (72.9% for parolees and 53.7% for felony probationers). ICIS has since conducted eight additional recidivism update studies, for the FY 2003 and FYs 2005-2011 cohorts, all of which replicated the methodology and recidivism definition adopted in the 2002 baseline study. These update studies retain the methodological consistency required for year-to-year trend comparisons. Methodology This study examines felony probationers, prisoners released to parole, and maximum-term released ("maxed-out") prisoners. It tracks recidivism for each offender over a precise 36- month period. ICIS defines recidivism as criminal arrests (most recent charge after supervision start date), revocations, technical violations, and/or criminal contempt of court. Additionally, excluded from this study (per past methodology) were probationers arrested within three months following their supervision start date, and who did not have a reported offense date. This is due to the reasoning that some probationers are in jail because of an offense committed prior to the supervision start date. Details: Honolulu: Interagency Council ion Intermediate Sanctions, 2016. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://icis.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ICIS-2015-Recidivism-Update.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://icis.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ICIS-2015-Recidivism-Update.pdf Shelf Number: 151286 Keywords: Parolees Probationers Recidivism

Author: Spier, Philip Title: Offending by Children in New Zealand Summary: Children who offend are a group who are under-researched in New Zealand. This research report aims to fill some key information gaps around the profile of child offenders in New Zealand and their patterns of offending and reoffending. The findings from this research will inform future work under the cross-agency Youth Crime Action Plan in response to Government commitments made in September 2012 following the Social Services Select Committee's Inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders. Offending trajectories were examined for the 1995 to 1999 birth cohorts to the end of 2013, and child offenders aged 10 to 13 years in the period 2009 to 2013 were examined in some depth. Children who offend are a group who are under-researched in New Zealand. This research report aims to fill some key information gaps around the profile of child offenders in New Zealand and their patterns of offending and reoffending. The findings from this research will inform future work under the cross-agency Youth Crime Action Plan in response to Government commitments made in September 2012 following the Social Services Select Committee’s Inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders. Offending trajectories were examined for the 1995 to 1999 birth cohorts to the end of 2013, and child offenders aged 10 to 13 years in the period 2009 to 2013 were examined in some depth. Key findings An estimated one in twenty New Zealand children offend before age 14 The number of child offenders has dropped considerably Despite offending less, Māori children remain significantly over-represented Large drop in shoplifting, and violent offending down Fewer children are becoming offenders Early identification of persistent offenders is critical to reduce crime Police responses reflect changing patterns of offending A little over half of all child offenders reoffend within two years Conclusions Offending by children has dropped in the last five years for both genders, across all ethnic groups and ages, across almost all offence types, and in all regions. A falling youth crime rate is not unique to New Zealand, and the reasons for the fall are unclear and therefore subject to debate. It is likely due to the confluence of a number of factors such as: changes in police practice; better public and private security measures; more effective youth justice interventions; goods often subject to theft or burglary historically continuing to become affordable to more people; and a proliferation of smart phones and video gaming devices among youth which may prevent some opportunistic crimes through boredom. The factors behind the fall in crime may also differ for different types of crime. Much of the drop in offending by children in New Zealand has been because of a drop in first-time child offenders. This is a very positive finding. It is encouraging that there was at least a third fewer child offenders from all ethnic groups apprehended in 2013 than in 2009. However, the decrease for Māori was smaller than that seen for European and Pacific children, with the consequence that the over-representation in the offender statistics of Māori children is exacerbated. This over-representation at the front-end of the youth justice system flows through to other parts of the system (i.e. Child, Youth and Family and the Youth Court). It is important to understand and address the complex interplay of risk factors that lead to Māori children, both boys and girls, being apprehended at a greater rate than children from other ethnic groups. Broadly, attention needs to focus on two areas. Firstly, the rate of Māori children offending and entering the youth justice system in the first instance needs to be reduced. Secondly, for those children who do come in contact with the system, there needs to be effective interventions to increase the likelihood that they do not reoffend. Although a minority (20%) of child offenders committed the majority (57%) of offences by children over the five-year period 2009 to 2013, this was not a small group (around 3,600 children). Within these figures there were 820 children who committed around 11,000 offences, including 170 children who committed nearly 4,200 offences. These figures support the view that early identification and application of effective interventions with high-risk child offenders presents an opportunity to steer the children onto a more positive path, thereby preventing a large number of future crimes and a large number of people from becoming victims. Children who offend are a group who are under-researched in New Zealand. There would be benefit to further research in the following areas: The dynamics of offending by Māori children, and what effective interventions for this group would look like. Who are the high-risk child offenders, how can they be identified early, and what would effective interventions for this group look like? Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://apo.org.au/resource/offending-children-new-zealand Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: http://apo.org.au/resource/offending-children-new-zealand Shelf Number: 144843 Keywords: Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Offenders Re-offending Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Trajectories

Author: Millsteed, Melanie Title: Predictors of recidivism amongst police recorded family violence perpetrators Summary: Prior research has identified that a number of factors are associated with an increased risk of recidivism amongst perpetrators of domestic violence and that the risk assessment tools currently available have limited statistical capacity to accurately predict recidivism. In Victoria, police complete a risk assessment form (the L17 form) for each family incident reported to them. This study sought to analyse the relationship between repeat family incidents, and factors that may predict such incidents including alleged perpetrator characteristics and L17 risk factors recorded by police. Logistic regression modelling identified statistical relationships between some, but not all, of the alleged perpetrator characteristics and risk factors recorded, and the perpetration of further family incidents. Opportunities for further research are identified, including piloting and evaluation of any new or revised risk assessment tools developed in Victoria. Details: Melbourne, AUS: Victoria Crime Statistics Agency, 2016. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: In Brief, no. 4: Accessed November 21, 2016 at: https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/embridge_cache/emshare/original/public/2016/06/96/97f49b66e/20160530_final_in_brief4.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.crimestatistics.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/embridge_cache/emshare/original/public/2016/06/96/97f49b66e/20160530_final_in_brief4.pdf Shelf Number: 147852 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Re-offending Recidivism Risk Assessment

Author: Morehead State University. Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology Title: Kentucky Smart Probation Program: Year One Report Summary: The Kentucky Supervision, Monitoring, Accountability, Responsibility, and Treatment (SMART) Probation Program grant was awarded in July 2012 to the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Corrections for the purpose of providing enhanced probation services for eligible participants in six pilot jurisdictions throughout the state of Kentucky. Funding was used to support a call-in system to inform defendants in each jurisdiction when they were to drug test, to purchase drug testing supplies, to provide for testing of abused drugs not typically detected on traditional drug screens, and to contract with an independent evaluator to conduct an unbiased program evaluation. This evaluation report was prepared by Morehead State University to highlight program activities during the first grant year. An overview of applicable data elements (i.e., process evaluation and outcome evaluation) for grant year one (July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013) is highlighted below. Process Evaluation Summary Overall themes emerging from the process evaluation suggest that a majority of administrators, judges, attorneys, and law enforcement/corrections officials are satisfied with the services provided through the SMART Probation Program during the first grant year. There were a minority of individuals interviewed that wished they had more inclusion and knowledge about the program during the implementation process. Many reported they were uncertain, at this point, what the data will show in terms of program success, because it is relatively new, but hope results reveal reduced recidivism and incarceration costs. Overall, despite some initial barriers and problems, most felt the program was beneficial for probationers and would like to see the program expand in the future. Outcome Data Summary Outcome data was reported for 307 participants who entered the SMART Probation Program (between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013). Individuals in the SMART Probation Program were compared with 300 similarly matched probationers. All outcome data was retrieved from the Department of Corrections Kentucky Offender Management System (KOMS). The evaluation for the first grant year focused on examining: the level of service/case management inventory (LS/CMI), drug screening/results, violations/responses, and movements/alterations of sentencing. The target number of individuals to be served was 600. During the first grant year, approximately 51% of the target number was served. Almost two-thirds of probationers served were from two SMART project sites: the combined site of Lincoln/Pulaski/Rockcastle (30.6%) and Jefferson (30.3%). Based on data provided, the average time on probation was 8 months (mean = 7.9 months). When examining raw scores for all of the domains on the LS/CMI, the SMART Probationers were rated as significantly higher on all domains measured by this risk assessment instrument. When examining the categorization of need as measured by the LS/CMI for each domain (i.e., low, medium, and high), the SMART and comparison group had comparable categorization of needs, with the exception of the drug and alcohol problem domain and total score. For the alcohol and drug problem domain, the SMART participants were categorized as having medium needs, whereas the comparison group was categorized as having low needs. Second, when assessing the total LS/CMI score, the SMART participants were rated as medium risk whereas the comparison group was rated as low risk. These differences match the scope of the SMART program, which targets individuals with substance use and related needs who are at-risk of failing on traditional probation. These data suggest the SMART group is a higher risk group – thus, comparisons with a traditional probation group should be interpreted with some caution as the two groups had some inherent differences. In terms of drug testing, the SMART probationers were drug tested 2,529 times; of these, there were 218 positive drug screens, which equates to approximately 11.6% of the total tests. In contrast, the comparison probationers were drug tested 1,149 times; of these, there were 338 positive drug screens, which equates to approximately 29% of the total tests. Further, there were significantly more positive drug screens, on average, for the comparison group (mean = 1.1) compared with the SMART group (mean = 0.6). More specifically, there were significantly more comparison group probationers with positive drug screens for marijuana (48.7% vs. 29.0%) while more SMART probationers tested positive for Oxycontin (14.0% vs. 4.2%). Program violations, as reported in KOMS, were also examined. In general, the comparison probationers had a significantly higher average number of violations (2.3) compared to the SMART probationers (1.2). Almost one third of probationers in the comparison group (32.7%) had a substance use violation compared to 24.0% for the SMART probationers. Further, a significantly greater number of probationers in the comparison group also had probation/parole violations (29.7%) compared to the SMART probationers (21.2%). In addition, a significantly greater percentage of probationers in the comparison group had new charges (33.0% vs. 10.6%). Finally, there was a significant difference between the percentage of probationers in the comparison group (8.7%) and the SMART probationers (3.5%) that had fees and services violations. The most common responses to all violations involved the discretion of the court and a recommendation for probation revocation. In some instances, the responses were more tailored to the violation type. For example, for substance use related violations, the response from the court included referrals to the Social Service Clinician (SSC) and other treatment options. At the time of this report, approximately 14% of the SMART probation participants had probation conditions which had been revoked. A comparable statistic was unable to be calculated for the comparison group, given a criteria for selecting this group was actively on probation. In future evaluation reports, the evaluation team, in partnership with the Department of Corrections will strive to select a comparison group which more accurately reflects a contemporary group of individuals referred to probation that may/may not be active at the time of the reporting. While a significantly greater percentage of SMART probationers (15.1%) were moved into an incarceration placement compared to the comparison group (9.3%), probationers in the comparison group spent a significantly greater average time incarcerated (118.1 days compared to 32.5 days for the SMART probationers). Details: Morehead, KY: Morehead State University, 2013. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 22, 2016 at:http://www.scfcenter.org/resources/Research/201311%20Kentucky%20SMART%20Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.scfcenter.org/resources/Research/201311%20Kentucky%20SMART%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 147311 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Offender Supervision Probation Probationers Recidivism

Author: Akers, Kimberly Title: Factors Influencing the Completion of the GED in a Federal Correctional Setting: A Multiple Regression, Correlational-Predictive Study Summary: Correctional education's primary goal is to reduce recidivism and increase employment among ex-offenders. The Bureau of Prison's practical goal in its mandatory GED program is to maximize the number of inmates obtaining the GED in a given time period. The purpose of this research is to model the number of instructional hours an inmate requires to obtain the GED as a regression on socio-demographic and Bureau of Prison policy variables related to inmate conduct in education programs. This quantitative research uses multiple regression to produce and analyze the model. An archival random sample of GED graduates in a large federal correctional complex is selected, the model fit and diagnosed, and a hold-out sample tested for predictive reliability. Any conclusions regarding policy alternatives for the Bureau of Prisons will then be drawn. Such alternatives may lead to improvements in general criminal justice and in correctional education in particular. Details: Lynchburg, VA:Liberty University, 2013. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 28, 2016 at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1730&context=doctoral Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1730&context=doctoral Shelf Number: 147911 Keywords: Correctional Education Correctional Programs Federal Prisons Recidivism

Author: Wang, Eugene W. Title: Windham School District Evaluation: Post-Release Wage-Earning and Recidivism Outcomes Summary: Windham School District (WSD) is the education provider for offenders within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). WSD is required to complete a biennial evaluation and report of the effectiveness of its program, in accordance with S.B. 213 Sec 19.0041. WSD has compiled data regarding participation in its programs, including academic programs, vocational training, and life skills programs. Researchers at Texas Tech University's Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis and Policy (IMMAP) performed analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of WSD programming by examining correlations between program attendance and completion and outcomes in areas such as institutional disciplinary violations, GED attainment and grade-level gains, and post-release wage-earning and subsequent arrests and confinements. The following report provides detailed results and findings for the above analyses. These analyses are based on WSD educational data for all offenders released during the 2010-2011 fiscal years. For offenders who were released during the 2010-2011 school year, those released in 2011 do not have complete data pertaining to the definitions for subsequent arrests and subsequent confinements during the three years post-release. An explanation for interpretation of this incomplete data is provided within the report. S.B. 213 Sec. 19.0041, titled “Program Data Collection and Biennial Evaluation and Report”, requires Windham School District (WSD) to compile and analyze information to determine whether its programs are meeting its goals, to make changes to the programs as necessary, and to submit a report to the Board, the Legislature, and the Governor’s office. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of its programs, WSD is required to conduct a biennial evaluation and report regarding the effectiveness for each of its programs, including performance-based information and data related to academic, vocational training, and life skills programs, specifically in the following areas: 1. Institutional Disciplinary Violations 2. Subsequent Arrests 3. Subsequent Confinements 4. The Cost of Confinement 5. Educational Achievement 6. High school equivalency examination passage 7. The kind of training services provided 8. The kind of employment the person obtains on release 9. Whether the employment was related to training 10. The difference between the amount of the person’s earnings on the date employment is obtained following release and the amount of those earnings on the first anniversary of that date 11. The retention factors associated with the employment Details: Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech University, Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis & Policy, 2014. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 6, 2016 at: http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/images/PDF/other/Windham_School_District_Evaluation_Post-Release_Wage-Earning_Recidivism_Outcomes.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.windhamschooldistrict.org/images/PDF/other/Windham_School_District_Evaluation_Post-Release_Wage-Earning_Recidivism_Outcomes.pdf Shelf Number: 140311 Keywords: Correctional Education Programs Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism

Author: Oregon. Criminal Justice Commission Title: Oregon Recidivism Analysis Summary: Historically, recidivism in Oregon has been tracked with a single definition: a new felony conviction within three years of release for incarceration or imposition of probation. Criminal justice stakeholders are well versed in this recidivism definition, and some are in the habit of referencing a single recidivism number from memory based on the latest recidivism analysis. The new definition essentially provides three measures of recidivism, and a richer context for recidivism analysis. Developing the analysis necessary to report recidivism using this new definition requires the merging of multiple criminal justice data systems on a scale never achieved before in Oregon. This report is the fourth in a series of comprehensive statewide analysis2 using the definition of adult recidivism in HB 3194 (codified in ORS 423.557). The most recent data available is included, and the statewide recidivism analysis is provided in this report. In addition, the CJC has released an interactive and online data dashboard to present the recidivism analyses3 . This data dashboard includes many different filters and breakouts of the recidivism data, including results by gender, age, race, county, and risk to recidivate level. This dashboard is available to criminal justice stakeholders and members of the public as an interactive and online data sharing tool to provide recidivism analysis results. Many factors can impact recidivism rates such as law enforcement resources and other criminal justice system resources, the risk profile of individuals in the system, changing emphasis on arrests or prosecutions, as well as the use of evidence based programs. This analysis does not attempt to explain why recidivism rates have changed over time, but simply displays the recidivism rates for offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to felony probation statewide. This analysis shows the current statewide rates of recidivism: For those released from prison or from a felony jail sentence in the first six months of 2013: 17% were re-incarcerated for a new felony crime within three years of release, 42% were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime within three years of release, and 55% were arrested for a new crime within three years of release. For those who started a felony probation sentence in the first six months of 2013: 13% were incarcerated for a new felony crime within three years, 41% were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime within three years, and 49% were arrested for a new crime within three years Details: Salem, OR: Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, 2016. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 13, 2016 at: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/SAC/Documents/Oregon_Recidivism_Analysis_Nov2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/SAC/Documents/Oregon_Recidivism_Analysis_Nov2016.pdf Shelf Number: 146421 Keywords: Drug Offenders Felony Offenders Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Hill, Leslie Brooke Title: Becoming the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are: An Assessment of Florida Prison-Based Dog Training Programs on Prison Misconduct, Post-Release Employment and Recidivism Summary: Dog Training Programs have recently become a popular rehabilitative program within correctional facilities. They are present in all 50 states as well as many other countries. However, the empirical literature on the effectiveness of these popular programs is sparse. Using a cohort of inmates released from Florida prisons between the years of 2004-2011 (n=181,547) this study examines the effectiveness of dog training programs on prison misconduct, post-release employment and recidivism. Findings indicate that participation in a dog training program can lead to reductions prison misconduct and reductions in the likelihood and timing of re-arrest. Among those who participated in dog training programs, longer duration, recency of participation, continuity of treatment and being in the program at release emerge as predictors of reductions in prison misconduct and re-arrest and increasing obtaining employment upon release. Due to promising findings, policy implications are discussed as well as potential avenues for future research. Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University, 2016. 186p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed December 14, 2016 at: http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3A360369 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3A360369 Shelf Number: 140442 Keywords: Correctional Programs Dog Training Programs Ex-Offender Employment Prison Programs Prisoner Misconduct Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Clifton, Jonathan Title: Prisons and Prevention: Giving Local Areas the Power to Reduce Offending Summary: Devolving responsibility and funding for the management of low-level offenders could empower local services and agencies to work more effectively to prevent crime and develop alternatives to prison that do more to rehabilitate offenders. This briefing describes how this can be achieved. England and Wales’s prison system could do better at reducing crime and rehabilitating offenders: it is currently a hugely expensive and highly inefficient arm of the public sector. As the number of prisoners continues to rise, and as the Ministry of Justice budget is faces further cuts, this is clearly unsustainable. This paper argues that reform is needed to address the inherent flaw in our criminal justice system: that the bodies that could take action to reduce offending have neither the financial power nor the incentive to do so. This is because many of the services and agencies that could act to reduce offending are organised and controlled at the local level, whereas the budget for prison places is held by central government. The challenge, therefore, is to ‘unfreeze’ the resources that are locked up in the prison system, and ensure that local services and agencies are enabled and incentivised to use those resources to both prevent crime and develop alternatives to custody. At the moment, incentives work in precisely the wrong direction: if a local authority invests in high-quality services that keep people out of prison, the financial benefits accrue to the Ministry of Justice (as it spends less on prisons as a result) rather than the local authority, which ends up meeting the costs of ever more people using their community services The recent drive to devolve power and resources to groups of local authorities and city mayors could hold the answer to this problem. The government has already successfully experimented with devolving elements of the youth justice system to local authorities, as well as granting greater powers over transport, skills and health services to some of England’s major cities and counties. In this report We propose that this approach be extended to the management of low-level adult offenders, who make up the bulk of ‘churn’ within the prison system. This would involve giving city mayors or combined authorities a budget to cover the costs of these offenders, but charging them for each night that an offender from their area is held in prison. This would give local authorities resources to invest in preventative services and alternatives to custody, and give them a strong financial incentive to ensure that these investments deliver results, while also ensuring that money and responsibility for the reduction of reoffending is located where it can best be exercised. This report presents case studies of a number of youth justice programmes in the US and England that have proven effective at reducing pressure on prisons and reoffending, drawing from them eight principles that should underpin the reform and devolution of the adult offenders budget. Bearing these principles in mind, it sets out detailed recommendations for the timings and mechanisms by which the government should pursue these reforms – which bodies should be allowed to bid for control of the custody budget, how targets should be set and oversight and accountability ensured, how funding and savings should be managed and how, in time, funding for probation services for low-level offenders should also be devolved. Details: London: Institute for Public Policy Research, 2016. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.ippr.org/files/publications/pdf/prisons-and-prevention_Jan2016.pdf?noredirect=1 Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ippr.org/files/publications/pdf/prisons-and-prevention_Jan2016.pdf?noredirect=1 Shelf Number: 146165 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Costs of Corrections Criminal Justice Reform Re-offending Recidivism

Author: Giles, Margaret Title: Welfare and recidivism outcomes of in-prison education and training Summary: This report represents the final stage of a three-phase study of the project "Labour market outcomes of education and training during incarceration". The two earlier phases were the extraction of WA Department of Corrective Services (WADCS) prison and training data (Phase 1), and the extraction of Centrelink (CL) welfare data and the linkage of these data with the WADCS data (Phase 2). Analysis of the contribution of in-prison study to reduced recidivism and reduced welfare dependence (Phase 3) is reported here. Phase 1 of the overarching project involved the extraction of five years of prisoner data (including socio-demographics, offences and prison education and training information) from the WADCS. The data were then cleaned and sorted and a Linkage Key (based on 14 alpha-numeric characters take from surname, given name, date of birth and gender) was constructed. Descriptive statistics were produced. The data included prisoners who had been in prison at any time during the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2010 (Giles and Whale 2013). Phase 2 of the overarching project involved two steps. First, a subset of Centrelink welfare data (including a Linkage Key) was obtained from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) on behalf of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) which (then) managed Centrelink data. Next these data were merged with the WA prisoner education and training dataset constructed in Phase 1 to produce a comprehensive longitudinal dataset. This WA prisoner education and welfare dataset contains prisoner/ex-prisoner socio-demographics, offences, prison time, recidivism, study, and welfare reliance (Giles and Whale 2014). Phase 3 of the overarching project, summarised in this report, involved the analysis of the WA prisoner education and welfare dataset constructed in Phase 2 to examine the impact of in-prison study, and other factors, on recidivism and welfare use. The study tested different measures of recidivism, welfare dependence and in-prison study and, using multivariate regression and survival analysis techniques, the relative impacts of in-prison study on post-release outcomes. This report finds that prisoners choose to study if their most serious offence type is Economic Crime and if they were incarcerated earlier in the dataset period. Factors influencing the successful completion of classes are the prisoner being of nonAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent or male, the most serious offence type being an offence other than Economic Crime or the sentence type being Fine Default. Fewer prison terms or shorter prison terms can also contribute to all classes being successfully completed. Factors affecting up-skilling include the prisoner being non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or from rural WA, with sentence type of Fine Default or most serious offence of Economic Crime. Fewer prison terms and longer sentences also contribute to up-skilling. Prisoners who enrol in Forklift Classes or Resources Courses are more likely to up-skill than other prisoners. How study in prison is measured is critical to estimating its influence on post-release outcomes such as recidivism and welfare dependence. Findings in this study include that prisoners who have up-skilled are less likely to recidivate (in terms of increased offence seriousness) and an increased number of successful classes will also reduce recidivism. In addition, ex-prisoners who are best able to remain in the community for longer have studied and successfully completed all their classes. Study also affects welfare dependence, in particular, receipt of unemployment benefits or student allowances. That is, the more classes that were successfully completed or involved up-skilling, the shorter time the ex-prisoners spent on welfare in the immediate post-release period. Although the study was constrained by the variables included in each of the contributing databases, the results confirm the usefulness of prison study generally in reducing reoffending and improving post-release outcomes. Future research could obtain additional data, such as self-report or verified education and employment information, verified physical and mental health status information, and learning disability diagnostic data, which have been shown, in the labour economics literature, to be important confounding factors for labour market participation and success. Details: Canberra: Criminology Research Advisory Council, 2016. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2017 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1516/33-1213-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1516/33-1213-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 144923 Keywords: Correctional Programs Poverty Prison Education Recidivism Vocational Education and Training Welfare Recipients

Author: Giles, Margaret Title: Prisoner education and training, and other characteristics: Western Australia, July 2005 to June 2010 Summary: Spending public funds on educating and training prisoners can generate a significant return on investment, because as this report argues, studying in prison can reduce costly recidivism and improve life outcomes for ex-prisoners. What are the costs of recidivism? Let's start with incarceration. Prisoners cost money - about $110,000 per prisoner a year. With over 4,000 prisoners in WA prisons at any one time and a turnover of 8,000 prisoners per year, incarceration is a costly business. In addition, there are policing and legal costs related to finding, charging and sentencing alleged offenders; as well as costs to the community in relation to property damage, insurance premium increases, lives lost and harm and trauma to victims of crime. Reducing recidivism alone can therefore bring about huge cost savings to the government and the community. Then there’s the cost of welfare dependence. In the short term, these include payments to families of incarcerated breadwinners and unemployment benefits for ex-prisoners; just two of the many different types of welfare payments administered by Centrelink. In the longer term, intergenerational welfare looms for an increasing number of disenfranchised, unskilled and unemployed workers, including ex-prisoners who are further disadvantaged by having a criminal record. Improving employability and reducing welfare dependence can therefore reduce demand on the public purse, as well as promote more productive lives. In Western Australia, considerable efforts have been made by the WA Department of Corrective Services (DCS) to reduce recidivism and improve individual and community outcomes. Internal reviews of offending behaviour by the Education and Vocational Training Unit (EVTU), which has provided courses and classes in Western Australia prisons for many years, show proportionately fewer repeat offences by ex-prisoners who studied in prison, compared with those who did not. Missing from these reviews however is the bigger picture. This research project demonstrates how studying in prison can lead to better labour market outcomes and reduced recidivism, and provides an evaluation of the resulting impact on welfare utilisation. This report is the first of three and summarises the prison training data. It indicates that the Western Australia prison population is diverse, and as can be seen from the class and course profiles, prisoners have varied education and training experiences. Details: Joondalup WA, Australia: Edith Cowan University, Centre for Innovative Practice, 2013. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2017 at: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1586&context=ecuworks2011 Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1586&context=ecuworks2011 Shelf Number: 144920 Keywords: Correctional Education Ex-offender Employment Recidivism Rehabilitation Unemployment Vocational Education and Training

Author: Edwards, Kerry L. Title: Male offenders' work experiences pre-prison, inprison, and upon reentry: Interactions between work and crime Summary: This qualitative study explored offenders' work experiences outside of prison and in-prison, and then compared these experiences to their post-release work experiences and outcomes. The subjects' criminal histories varied, but during the study’s initial interview all were incarcerated at lower security level facilities in a western state. Several different types of in-prison employment were compared; these differences included the type of task, the skill level, the work-site, and the beneficiary of the labor. Outcomes were classified according to work measures, and whether the subjects had been reincarcerated within six months of their release. The pre-prison findings suggested that the skill level of the work which the subjects' held affected their commitment to their jobs. However, the data also showed that substance abuse derailed the subjects, regardless of their commitment to their jobs. The in-prison findings revealed important differences between work programs, showed that the quality of the job is affected by intrinsic rewards, and that different types of intrinsic rewards foster different perspectives. In one of the work programs the subjects worked with state forestry employees, performing land clearing, work on structures, prescribed burns, and wild-land firefighting. This program produced character-changing results, including increases in self-esteem, recognition of personal agency, increased sense of responsibility, and pride in their work. The subjects who participated in the forestry work program also were the least likely to have been reincarcerated within six months of their release. The subjects reported that they encountered many obstacles upon their release from prison; some of the obstacles were directly due to their ex-prisoner status, such as stigma and parole restrictions. However, subjects who had strengths, such as overcoming substance abuse, positive social connections, and positive attitudes, appeared to have overcome the obstacles. These strengthening factors closely resembled the perspectives which the forestry subjects had adopted. These findings suggest that certain types of in-prison work can be rehabilitative, and that prison can be an effective arena in which to implement character-changing work-based programs. Details: Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico. Dept. of Sociology, 2011. 331p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 3, 2017 at; http://repository.unm.edu/bitstream/handle/1928/12858/Diss%2011%2003%2029%20T.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://repository.unm.edu/bitstream/handle/1928/12858/Diss%2011%2003%2029%20T.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 140790 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offenders and Employment Male Prisoners Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Work release

Author: Doleac, Jennifer L. Title: The effects of DNA databases on the deterrence and detection of offenders Summary: Countries around the world use databases of criminal offenders' DNA profiles to match known offenders with crime scene evidence. The purpose is to ease police detection work and to increase the probability that offenders get caught if they reoffend, thereby deterring future criminal activity. However, relatively little is known about the behavioral effects of this law enforcement tool. We exploit a large expansion of Denmark's DNA database in 2005 to measure the effect of DNA profiling on criminal behavior. Individuals charged after the expansion were much more likely to be added to the DNA database than similar offenders charged just before that date. Using a regression discontinuity strategy, we find that the average effect of the DNA database is a reduction in recidivism. By using the rich Danish register data, we further show that effects are heterogeneous across observable offender characteristics; it is mainly offenders initially charged with violent crime that are deterred from committing new crimes. We also find that DNA profiling has a positive detection effect, increasing the probability that repeat offenders get caught. Finally, we find evidence that DNA profiling changes non-criminal behavior: offenders added to the DNA database are more likely to get or remain married. This is consistent with the hypothesis that, by deterring future criminal behavior, DNA profiling changes an offender's life course for the better. Details: Unpublished paper, 2016. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2017 at: http://jenniferdoleac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DNA_Denmark.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Denmark URL: http://jenniferdoleac.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/DNA_Denmark.pdf Shelf Number: 147325 Keywords: Criminal Deterrence Criminal Investigation DNA Fingerprinting DNA Typing Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Andersen, Synove N. Title: Electronic Monitoring and Recidivism: Quasi-experimental evidence from Norway Summary: The replacement of custodial with non-custodial sanctions holds the potential to reduce recidivism as well as other costs associated with imprisonment. However, the causal impacts on recidivism of noncustodial sanctions in general, and electronic monitoring (EM) programs in particular, remain unclear. We estimate the effect of EM on recidivism by exploiting an EM program that was gradually introduced in Norwegian counties from 2008, using difference-in-differences and instrumental variable designs. Results show that introducing EM reduced 2-year recidivism rates by about 10 percent, which corresponds to about 19 percent for those actually serving on EM. We find no effects on recidivism intensity or severity. Subsample analyses show that the effect estimates are strongest among offenders without previous imprisonment or recent unemployment spells, and although between-groups differences are statistically non-significant, this suggest that avoiding prison stigma and maintaining workplace relations can be important to reduce recidivism and promote desistance. The reliability of our results is somewhat challenged by unstable pre-implementation trends and signs that more people are convicted to EM-qualifying sentences when EM is introduced. Details: Oslo: Statistics Norway, Research Department, 2016. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Papers, No. 844: Accessed February 13, 2017 at: https://www.ssb.no/en/forskning/discussion-papers/_attachment/276183?_ts=156fa403880 Year: 2016 Country: Norway URL: https://www.ssb.no/en/forskning/discussion-papers/_attachment/276183?_ts=156fa403880 Shelf Number: 145120 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Electronic Monitoring Offender Supervision Recidivism

Author: Centre for Justice Innovation Title: Problem-solving Courts: An Evidence Review Summary: Problem-solving courts put judges at the centre of rehabilitation. Generally operating out of existing courts, problem-solving courts yoke together the authority of the court and the services necessary to reduce reoffending and improve outcomes. This paper reviews the research on problem-solving courts and finds that, when used correctly, they can reduce reoffending and cut costs. Coming at a time when both the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice have expressed an interest in problem-solving, this review is designed to inform the development of government policy and, more importantly, to help shape the practice developed within pilots in England and Wales. What does the evidence tell us? There are many different kinds of problem-solving courts, each specialising in tackling a different need, type of crime, or even a different area. Looking at the evidence for different forms of court, we found: Drug courts: The evidence on adult drug courts is strong. It suggests that they are effective at reducing substance misuse and reoffending. They are particularly effective with offenders who present a higher risk of reoffending. However, the evidence on juvenile drug courts is negative. It suggests they have either minimal or harmful impacts on young offenders. Family drug and alcohol courts: The evidence on family drug and alcohol courts (and the related family treatment courts) is good. It suggests that they are effective in tackling parental substance misuse and can reduce the number of children permanently removed from their families. Mental health courts: The evidence on mental health courts is good. High-quality international evidence suggests that mental health courts are likely to reduce reoffending, although they may not directly impact offenders’ mental health. Domestic violence courts: The evidence on the impact of problem-solving domestic violence courts on outcomes for victims,such as victim safety and satisfaction, is good. The evidence on their ability to reduce the frequency and seriousness of a perpetrator reoffending is promising. This is encouraging when set against the lack of other effective options for reducing reoffending by perpetrators of domestic violence. Community courts: The international evidence that community courts reduce reoffending and improve compliance with court orders is promising. However, the evidence of their impact in England and Wales is mixed (though drawing conclusions from a single pilot site is difficult). We also looked at evidence on effective ways of working with women and young adults in the justice system. While problem-solving courts working with these groups are a new idea and little direct evidence is available on their effectiveness, the evidence suggests that there is potential for courts for these groups to improve outcomes if they draw from existing good practice. Why do problem-solving courts work? As well as looking at whether problem-solving courts work, we also looked at research which seeks to understand how they work. We found two main themes: Procedural fairness: evidence shows that perception of fair treatment leads to better compliance with court orders. Effective judicial monitoring is strongly associated with effectiveness. It relies on clear communication and certainty. Details: London: The Centre, 2016. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2017 at: http://justiceinnovation.org/portfolio/problem-solving-courts-an-evidence-review/ Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://justiceinnovation.org/portfolio/problem-solving-courts-an-evidence-review/ Shelf Number: 146967 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Courts Domestic Violence Courts Drug Courts Family and Alcohol Courts Mental Health Courts Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Centre for Justice Innovation Title: Point me in the right direction: Making advice work for former prisoners Summary: People released from prison face myriad obstacles on the hard road towards a new life. They will need to overcome a shortage of affordable housing, mistrust and discrimination from employers, and a complex and inflexible benefits system. Social welfare advice services such as Citizens Advice Bureaus, Law Centres and independent advice providers can help with these issues. But due to far-reaching cuts, these services often don't work for former prisoners who don't know the services, find it hard to get appointments, and face a sense of stigma about their offending past. This report looks at how we can make advice work better for people who have been in prison. Life after prison Housing and employment play a key role in helping people to build crime free lives. Prisoners who find a stable place to live shortly after release are 15% less likely to reoffend, while those who find paid work are 9% less likely. However, our research uncovered numerous examples of former prisoners encountering many obstacles with even these basics: One person was living in private rented accommodation which was so damp it was making him ill. When he complained to the landlord, he was told that his criminal background was frightening his neighbours and was pressured into leaving. A second person had been employed for several years when a change of role within her organisation triggered a new criminal record check. She was wrongly accused of lying about her convictions and dismissed. A third was required to stay in a probation hostel after leaving prison but was dependent on benefits to pay his rent. When he was sanctioned for missing an appointment he was left without income and threatened with eviction, which could mean being recalled to custody. He was left with a stark choice - reoffend to raise his rent money or risk ending up in prison. Advice for former prisoners Social welfare advice services specialise in helping people deal with these kinds of issues. They offer free advice to help people understand and defend their rights. However, our research suggests that people who have been in prison face three barriers to accessing them: Awareness: Many of the service users we spoke to were not aware of the existence of advice service or the ways that they could help. Access: Recent cuts to legal aid and other funding and increases in demand have increased waiting times and reducing the help that's on offer. Stigma: Former prisoners we spoke to felt that services would not welcome them because of their criminal past. As one put it: "as an ex-con, they'll do nothing for you." Making advice work We have identified four ways in which social welfare advice can be improved for former prisoners: Advice clinics in prison to help prisoners with issues like benefits and housing as they prepare for release. Training and resources for probation officers to help them to identify when social welfare advice can be helpful and to refer clients into these services. Better online directories of advice service can help service users find advice, and let services signal that they welcome people who have been in prison. New advice services which specialise in working with offenders and which employ people with experience of the justice system as staff and offer a more wide-ranging and long term support. However, many of these options will cost money. And even those with no direct cost may be swimming against the tide of the advice sector which, faced with an increasing gap between demand and supply, is struggling to cope with existing client groups rather than seeking out new ones. For this reason, we would urge commissioners of offender services – such as the National Offender Management Service, individual probation providers or newly empowered prison governors – to actively seek to include social welfare advice services in their commissioning processes and supply chains. Details: London: The Centre, 2016. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2017 at: http://justiceinnovation.org/portfolio/point-right-direction/ Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://justiceinnovation.org/portfolio/point-right-direction/ Shelf Number: 146968 Keywords: Ex-Offenders Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Cronin, Jake Title: The Path to Successful Reentry: The Relationship Between Correctional Education, Employment and Recidivism Summary: Nearly all Missouri inmates will be released from prison, but the majority of them will reoffend and return to prison. To combat this problem, prisons have implemented educational programs to help offenders successfully reenter society. Using data from the Missouri Department of Corrections, this study evaluates the impact of these educational programs in terms of post-prison employment rates and recidivism rates. The results show that inmates who increase their education in prison are more likely to find a full-time job after prison, and those with a job are less likely to return to prison. Details: Columbia, MO: Institute of Public Policy, Truman Policy Research, Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, 2011. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Report 15-2011: Accessed February 18, 2017 at: https://ipp.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/the_path_to_successful_reentry.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://ipp.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/the_path_to_successful_reentry.pdf Shelf Number: 146683 Keywords: Correctional Education Educational Programs Ex-Offender Employment Prison Education Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Yahner, Jennifer Title: Validation of the Employment Retention Inventory: An Assessment Tool of the National Institute of Corrections Summary: Purpose This report summarizes findings from the first validation study of the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Employment Retention Inventory (ERI). The ERI is an assessment tool designed to detect potential job loss risks and needs among justice-involved and behavioral health populations. Scope From September 2013 to August 2016, the Urban Institute (Urban) worked collaboratively with NIC's Community Services Division to assess the ability of the ERI to predict employment-related risks and job loss among criminal justice-involved individuals in two diverse jurisdictions - Jackson County, OR and Allegheny County, PA. Researchers also examined the relationship between employment and recidivism. Methods In both study sites, individuals on probation and parole were recruited for study participation from May to October 2014; a total of 253 employed and 159 unemployed individuals participated in the study. Study participation included baseline completion of a short online survey in which the ERI was embedded, and collection of follow-up data on employment and recidivism eight and 12 months later, respectively. Findings Overall, items in the ERI showed strong face and content validity and readability at a 6th grade level, with study participants reporting ease and comfort in taking the computerized, self-administered questionnaire. Looking at the ERI's predictive validity, the instrument performed fair overall with excellent ratings for those in rural Jackson County. Findings also support a linkage between employment retention and recidivism. Next Steps A replication validation of the ERI is currently underway to assess the instrument's validity for a larger sample of individuals, covering the full array of employment experiences for justice-involved and behavioral health populations. The goal is to study the ERI's implementation in practice, when administered by NIC-trained Employment Retention Specialists and applied to individuals from a diversity of backgrounds. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2016. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2017 at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/85331/validation-of-the-employment-retention-inventory_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/85331/validation-of-the-employment-retention-inventory_0.pdf Shelf Number: 146651 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offender Employment Jobs Parolees Probationers Recidivism

Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: Recidivism Among Federal Drug Trafficking Offenders Summary: The Commission's Ongoing Recidivism Research The United States Sentencing Commission began studying recidivism shortly after the enactment of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 ("SRA"). The Commission’s recent publication Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview ("Recidivism Overview Report") discussed the history of this study in greater detail. Recidivism information is central to three of the primary purposes of punishment described in the SRA—specific deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation—all of which focus on prevention of future crimes through correctional intervention. Information about recidivism is also relevant to the Commission’s obligation to formulate sentencing policy that "reflect[s], to the extent practicable, advancements in knowledge of human behavior as it relates to the sentencing process." Considerations of recidivism by federal offenders were also central to the Commission’s initial work in developing the Guidelines Manual's criminal history provisions.4 They remain important to subsequent work, including the retroactive application of sentencing reductions in cases involving crack cocaine, and continue to be a key consideration in the Commission’s work today. Recent developments, particularly public attention to the size of the federal prison population and the costs of incarceration, have highlighted the importance of studying recidivism among federal offenders. The Commission's current recidivism research substantially expands on the scope of previous Commission recidivism projects. In addition to a different set of offenders— U.S. citizen federal offenders released in 2005—the project's study group is much larger than those in previous Commission studies. A larger study group provides the opportunity to develop statistically useful conclusions about many subgroups of federal offenders. This Report: Recidivism Among Federal Drug Trafficking Offenders This report examines a group of 10,888 federal drug trafficking offenders who were released in calendar year 2005. They were originally sentenced between fiscal year 1991 and the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Offenders were placed in this group based on the primary sentencing guideline that the court applied when sentencing the offender. One-half (50.0%) of these drug trafficking offenders were rearrested for a new crime or for an alleged violation of their supervision over the follow-up period of eight years. This compares to a 49.3 percent rearrest rate for all offenders reported in the Recidivism Overview Report. These 10,888 offenders, who were all U.S. citizens, represent 42.8 percent of the 25,431 federal offenders who were released in calendar year 200510 and analyzed in the Recidivism Overview Report. Among those offenders in this group for whom drug type information was available,11 crack cocaine was the most common primary drug type, with 2,953 crack cocaine offenders (27.3% of the 10,814 offenders with a known primary drug type). The remaining primary drug types, in order of prevalence, were marijuana (n=2,570, 23.8%), powder cocaine (n=2,350, 21.7%), methamphetamine (n=1,826, 16.9%), and heroin (n=590, 5.5%). An additional 525 (4.9%) offenders had some other type of drug as the primary type of drug in their offense, and were not studied separately for purposes of this report. Details: Washington, DC: USSC, 2017. 149p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2017 at: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20170221_Recidivism-Drugs.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2017/20170221_Recidivism-Drugs.pdf Shelf Number: 141174 Keywords: Drug Offenders Drug Traffickers Drug Trafficking Federal Offenders Recidivism

Author: Han, Woojae Title: Impact of Community Treatment and Neighborhood Disadvantage on Recidivism in Mental Health Courts Summary: The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of community treatment and neighborhood disadvantage on recidivism among offenders with mental health problems in Mental Health Courts (MHCs) and in traditional courts. Although treatment is believed to lead to reduced recidivism for offenders with mental illness, little research has been conducted for MHC participants. Further, neighborhood disadvantage are known to influence recidivism generally, but environmental factors have not been examined in the MHC context. Data from the MacArthur MHC study were analyzed. The sample includes 741 offenders with mental illness from four counties. Participants were interviewed at baseline and six months after and objective arrest data were collected. Multilevel modelling and propensity score weighting was used to investigate individual level (level 1) and neighborhood level (level 2) variances on recidivism and to control for selection bias. Neighborhood disadvantage data were obtained from the American Community Survey at U.S. Census Bureau, and linked with residential data from participants. Study results suggest that some of treatment variables have significant impact on arrest. For example, MHC participant with more substance abuse service were less likely to be arrest compared to those with less substance abuse service before the court enrollment. Both TAU and MHC participants has significant effect of neighborhood disadvantage on arrest before the court enrollment. After the court enrollment, only MHC participant continued to have effect of neighborhood disadvantage on arrest. In addition, MHC participant with higher treatment motivation were less likely to recidivate compared to those with lower treatment motivation after the court enrollment. The probability of recidivism remained statistically lower among the MHC than the TAU group after the court enrollment. Understanding treatment characteristics and neighborhood disadvantage associated with recidivism for offenders with mental illness can help to more efficiently target research, practice, and policy in the future. In addition, social work professionals should recognize themselves the importance of the treatment related variables and neighborhood disadvantage to provide, develop, and implement innovative interventions for offender with mental illness. Lastly, this research will shed new light into future interventions and/or policies that aim to reduce the recidivism for this difficult-to-treat population of offenders. Details: Albany, NY: University at Albany, 2016. 160p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250535.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250535.pdf Shelf Number: 141247 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Mental Health Courts Mentally Ill Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism Socioeconomic Conditions and Crime

Author: Duane, Marina Title: Criminal Background Checks: Impact on Employment and Recidivism Summary: Criminal background checks continue to be a routine practice among many employers in the United States. According to a recent survey, almost 60 percent of employers screen job applicants for their criminal histories. Despite their prevalence, criminal background checks often generate flawed or incomplete reports, with some reports failing to include conviction information. Such flaws may undermine the value of the screenings to employers and prevent suitable candidates who pose no additional risk to the public from securing a job. This report examines criminal background checks as a significant collateral consequence for justice-involved people and explores the importance of employment to reducing recidivism. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2017. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2017 at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/88621/2017.03.01_criminal_background_checks_report_finalized.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/88621/2017.03.01_criminal_background_checks_report_finalized.pdf Shelf Number: 141332 Keywords: Criminal Background Checks Criminal Records Employment Ex-Offender Employment Recidivism

Author: Queensland. Department of Premier and Cabinet Title: Queensland Parole System Review: Final Report Summary: The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Premier and Minister for the Arts and the Honourable Bill Byrne MP, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services established a review into the parole system in Queensland. Mr Walter Sofronoff QC was appointed to lead the review. The review sought input from victims' organisations, organisations working with offenders, academic researchers and experts, interested members of the public and persons working in the criminal justice system. A report including findings and recommendations was provided to the Premier and Minister for the Arts and the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services on 1 December 2016. Details: Brisbane: Queensland Government, 2016. 362p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 6, 2017 at: https://parolereview.premiers.qld.gov.au/assets/queensland-parole-system-review-final-report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://parolereview.premiers.qld.gov.au/assets/queensland-parole-system-review-final-report.pdf Shelf Number: 141348 Keywords: Community-Based Corrections Correctional Administration Parole Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Willis, Matthew Title: Bail Support: A review of the literature Summary: This report presents the results of a literature review on bail support programs and services, commissioned by the Australian Capital Territory Justice and Community Safety Directorate as part of their Justice Reform Strategy. The literature review was conducted through a wide range of resources on criminological and other social services databases accessed through the services of Australian Institute of Criminology's JV Barry Library and through examination of government agency websites and generally available Internet resources. The literature search found information on a range of different support programs, including evaluations and reviews of some of those programs. Each Australian state and territory has at least one program or service available to support people on bail, either directly to allow the courts to grant bail or to provide treatment and other services during a defendant's time on bail. In some instances different types of programs have been merged, but overall bail support programs share substantial commonalities across Australia. They nonetheless vary in the range of services available, the extent and duration of those services, the degree to which services are provided directly by government agencies or provided through referral by non-government agencies. There are differences between Australian jurisdictions in the eligibility requirements for defendants to participate in the program, with some requiring that defendants have entered a guilty plea while this is not a consideration for others. In addition to the programs offered throughout Australia, the literature review included bail support and supervision responses in New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. The program and service responses in those nations are generally similar to those in Australia, representing broadly comparable criminal justice systems and processes, and broadly comparable needs of offenders and defendants. The literature review also examined practices in a number of European countries, including Scandinavian countries. This aspect of the review showed that these countries take quite different approaches from Australia in the way they determine and effect the release or incarceration of accused persons. In Scandinavian countries bail is very rarely used. From the examination of bail support practices, and the evaluations and reviews that have been undertaken of various programs and services, a set of best practice principles for the implementation and operation of bail support programs was identified. These principles will apply both to programs targeting adults, and those targeting children and young people. However, there will be some differences in application of the principles, reflecting differences in legal considerations, responsibilities and needs between adult and youth clients. Best practice principles suggest that bail support programs should: be voluntary, ensuring that the client has at least some degree of motivation and willingness to engage with treatment and make changes to their life be timely and individualised, being available immediately upon bail being granted and able to respond to the accused person's immediate needs, even before they have left the court be holistic in nature, addressing the full range of the individual's criminogenic needs utilise collaborative arrangements and interagency approaches involving other government and non-government service providers adopt a strong and consistently applied program philosophy that manifests program-wide and at the level of individual case managers emphasise prioritise support before supervision, with treatment and responding to an individual's criminogenic needs being privileged over monitoring and supervision be localised and able to make use of local community resources and knowledge have a court-based staffing presence and establish good working relationships with court officers and service providers. Working relationships with court officials and the judiciary are important for establishing credibility and instilling judicial confidence be based on sound guidelines and processes that assist them to interface with the structured processes of the courts and the requirements of court orders while maintaining program integrity. The implementation of bail support programs also poses a number of challenges. Perhaps the foremost is the availability of suitable, affordable housing. This is critical to defendants being granted bail and being able to complete a bail program. Housing is also critical to longer term successful outcomes in terms of employment and maintaining a stable pro-social lifestyle. Housing availability is a challenge across all Australian jurisdictions and will remain an issue for bail support service providers. The establishment of bail hostels, as widely used in the UK, may present a way of increasing housing availability, although hostels raise a range of issues and have had little success in Australia. The availability and accessibility of treatment programs and other services is integral to the provision of bail support. Limited treatment places, particularly outside metropolitan areas, are a barrier to clients being able to successfully complete bail programs Despite these challenges, experience in Australia and overseas shows that government agencies are able to deliver effective bail support services to a wide range of people coming before the courts. Bail support services have been demonstrated to contribute to reduced remand populations, reduced reoffending among participants and improved sentencing and long term outcomes for accused persons and for the criminal justice system. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 6, 2017 at: http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/JACS/PDF/Bail_support_literature_review_v02_1.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/JACS/PDF/Bail_support_literature_review_v02_1.pdf Shelf Number: 141350 Keywords: Bail Pretrial Justice Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Jackson, Osborne Title: The Effect of Changing Employers' Access to Criminal Histories on Ex-Offenders’ Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from the 2010–2012 Massachusetts CORI Reform Summary: How to best reintegrate large numbers of ex-offenders into civil society is an important challenge for U.S. public policy. In 2006, the Department of Justice estimated that over 30 percent of the U.S. adult population has some type of criminal record; the percentages are even higher for some minority groups. Having a criminal record can impose lasting costs, particularly for anyone seeking job, as gaining legal employment is usually the best chance an ex-offender has to effect a positive change in his or her life. In an effort to reduce some of barriers to employment that may arise from having a criminal record, some states and localities have adopted a policy widely known as ban the box, which prohibits employers from asking about an individual's criminal history on an initial job application. In November 2010, Massachusetts implemented a version of ban the box as the first step in reforming its laws governing Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI). The second step, effective in May 2012, changed who can access the state's CORI database, enacted limits on the information that can be obtained, and imposed a time limit regarding how long misdemeanor and felony convictions will be reported on standard employer requests. On the whole, the Massachusetts CORI Reform is widely regarded as a national model to help improve ex-offenders' labor market outcomes. This study uses a unique and confidential large dataset and rigorous econometric techniques to test how well the intended reforms have worked in practice. The results may help guide and improve upon similar reform efforts in other states. Details: Boston: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 2017. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper no. 16-31: Accessed March 21, 2017 at: https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/research-department-working-paper/2016/the-effect-of-changing-employers-access-to-criminal-histories-on-ex-offenders-labor-market-outcomes.aspx Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/research-department-working-paper/2016/the-effect-of-changing-employers-access-to-criminal-histories-on-ex-offenders-labor-market-outcomes.aspx Shelf Number: 144532 Keywords: Criminal Records Ex-Offender Employment Ex-Offenders Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Griffiths, Andrew Title: Evaluation of ACT Extended Throughcare Pilot Program Final Report Summary: This report presents the findings of the evaluation of the Extended Throughcare program (the Program) provided by ACT Corrective Services. Extended Throughcare is a voluntary program that provides support to detainees returning to the community at the end of their custodial sentence at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC; the ACT's only adult correctional facility). ACT Corrective Services clients can be characterised as experiencing multiple disadvantages, including mental health issues, substance abuse issues, low levels of literacy and numeracy, interrupted education and sporadic employment history, as well as high level of homelessness. The findings of this report highlight clients' experiences with the Program, the impact of the Program in key areas, the strengths of the Program, and areas for improvement. It also details the perspectives of stakeholders with regard to the aims and impact of the Program and the effectiveness of the Program's governance. Objectives of Extended Throughcare The Program aims to reduce reoffending, improve community integration post-release, and improve the social and health outcomes of clients. Ultimately, the Program is designed to reduce recidivism and its associated costs. The Program, which commenced in June 2013, is tailored to each individual, commences pre-release, and continues for a period of 12 months post-release with the support of community organisations. The Program provides coordinated and continuous support, and aims to reduce duplication and gaps in services, to help detainees reintegrate into the community and to reduce the risk of homelessness, poor physical and mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, and premature death. The Program is similar to other Throughcare programs in Australia in that it provides person-centred case management and support in five core areas: accommodation, health, basic needs, income and community connections. Extended Throughcare is a voluntary program and is not mandated as part of any supervision order. Initially, the Program was limited to supporting prisoners prior to their release. The extension of the model to supporting the client into the community after their release was first funded in the ACT 2012-2013 budget. While this post-release care model is not unique to the ACT, the Extended Throughcare model is unique in offering support for 12 months and in offering this service to ex-detainees without ongoing supervision orders. Details: Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia, 2017. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: (SPRC Report 02/17).Accessed April 8, 2017 at: https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/Evaluation_of_ACT_Extended_Throughcare_Pilot_Program.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/Evaluation_of_ACT_Extended_Throughcare_Pilot_Program.pdf Shelf Number: 144750 Keywords: Aftercare Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Throughcare

Author: Loeffler-Cobia, Jennifer Title: Utah Department of Corrections Evidence-Based Practice Adherence Summary Report Summary: According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2013, Utah released 94% of its prison population back into the community, meaning that these previous offenders are back working and living in society. With the majority of offenders returning to their communities, politicians, policy makers, program administrators, researchers, and government officials often ask "are our programs working to reduce recidivism?" That is, we want to know "is the money that we allocate to our prison and jail treatment programs providing the skills offenders need to be productive members of society and yielding positive results?" So how do correction programs provide effective interventions to decrease recidivism? Current research points to eight principles that, when reflected in the system policies, procedures, and day-to-day work of community corrections agencies, increase the likelihood of offender risk reduction (Smith, Gendreau & Swartz, 2009). The eight principles are (see Figure 1. National Institute of Correction's Eight Principles of Effective Intervention): 1. Assess Actuarial Risk/Needs; 2. Enhance Intrinsic Motivation;  Target Interventions Risk Principle: Prioritize supervision and treatment resources for higher risk offenders.  Need Principle: Target interventions to criminogenic (correlated to crime) needs.  Responsivity Principle: Be responsive to temperament, learning style, motivation, culture, and gender when assigning programs.  Dosage: Structure 40-70% of high-risk offenders' time for three to nine months.  Treatment Principle: Integrate treatment into the full sentence/sanction requirements. 3. Skill Train with Directed Practice (e.g., use cognitive behavioral treatment methods); 4. Increase Positive Reinforcement; 5. Engage Ongoing Support in Natural Communities; 7. Measure Relevant Processes/Practices; and 8. Provide Measurement Feedback However, building an evidence-based criminal justice system requires more than just having an understanding of the research that constructed these eight principles. It requires a commitment to fundamentally changing the way criminal justice organizations operate and the way that policy makers, funders, providers and other stakeholders work together. To invest criminal justice reform and make the commitment required, in 2014, Governor Gary Herbert introduced the Utah Justice Reinvestment Initiative (UJRI) that called for a review of the current criminal justice system and will guide a strategic plan to decrease recidivism. As part of the UJRI review, the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC) at the University of Utah was asked to evaluate prison and jail treatment programs on their adherence to these evidence-based practices (EBP) and provided technical assistance surrounding improving treatment practices. The Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) has worked assiduously toward the goal of having their treatment programs become evidence-based and contribute to the criminal justice reform efforts and overall improve public safety in Utah. To this end, 5 prison and 3 jail treatment programs were selected to participate in a program evaluation and quality improvement process with UCJC to enhance their service delivery to be more consistent with EBP. This report is a summary of the eight program evaluations and results of a focus group conducted with program directors. This evaluation provides valuable information on where not only correction treatment programs can improve their practice, but where the Utah criminal justice system can improve as well. The recommendations provided in this report will act as a roadmap for sustainable implementation and replication of EBP in Utah and to develop a just, effective, and evidence-based system. Details: Salt Lake City: Utah Criminal Justice Center, University of Utah, 2015. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2017 at: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015-CCJJ_UDC-EBP-Adherence-Summary-ReportFinal-for-Distribution.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://ucjc.utah.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015-CCJJ_UDC-EBP-Adherence-Summary-ReportFinal-for-Distribution.pdf Shelf Number: 144796 Keywords: Correctional Programs Correctional Treatment Programs Evidence-Based Practices Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Waitangi Tribunal Title: Tu mai te rangi: Report on the Crown and disproportionate reoffending rates Summary: Our report follows the hearing under urgency of a claim concerning Crown actions and policies in reducing the disproportionate rate of Māori reoffending, and whether the Crown is acting consistently with its Treaty obligations in this regard. The claim sits within the broader issue of the undisputed and long-standing over-representation of Maori in the criminal justice system generally. However, our report is the result of an urgent inquiry into the current reoffending aspect of this issue only. We begin with a brief outline of how this claim was brought to us and why it was granted urgency. We also introduce the main parties to our inquiry. In the second chapter we consider the wider picture of Maori over-representation in the corrections system, and previous reports and inquiries into this issue. In the third chapter, we set out the parties' positions on the inquiry's central issues. In the fourth chapter we present our discussion of the evidence as it relates to the central issues we have identified, and we apply the relevant Treaty principles to this evidence. In the fifth and final chapter we present our findings. The Tribunal also recommends the Crown include a dedicated budget to appropriately resource the new strategic focus and target. Details: Wellington: The Tribunal, 2017. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2017 at: https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_121273708/Tu%20Mai%20Te%20Rangi%20W.pdf Year: 2017 Country: New Zealand URL: https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_121273708/Tu%20Mai%20Te%20Rangi%20W.pdf Shelf Number: 145366 Keywords: Criminal justice, Administration of Imprisonment Indigenous Peoples Maori Race relations Racial Disparities Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Rogers, Ashley Title: The First Fifty: A Study of Summary: Assembly Bill 109 ("AB 109") and the subsequent amending legislation (collectively, "The 2011 Realignment Legislation Addressing Public Safety" or "Realignment") seismically shifted the way California structures and manages its criminal justice system. Effective October 1, 2011, AB 109 redefined more than 500 felonies and "realigned" responsibility for the incarceration and supervision of a significant population of specified adult felony offenders from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") to county-based corrections programs. In brief, AB 109 altered both sentencing and post-prison supervision for the newly statutorily classified "non-serious, non-violent, non-sex" offenses and offenders. While the legislation is comprehensive and complex, two major groups are affected by these changes. First, offenders convicted of qualifying felonies are now incarcerated in county jails instead of in state prisons. Second - and perhaps most critically-released prisoners who would have previously been placed on state parole but now qualify as so-called "non-non-non" offenders are diverted to the supervision of county probation departments under "Post Release Community Supervision� ("PRCS"). Because of its import and controversial surrounding it, the latter population-prisoners released under PRCS-is the focus of this paper. On October 1, 2011, California counties assumed responsibility for supervising approximately 60,000 offenders from 33 California prisons who qualified for PRCS. While some have remained neutral, responses to the PRCS component of AB 109 have been largely as passionate as they have been mixed. Supporters note that, because the offenders were to be released into counties anyway, PRCS simply shifts who will do the supervising. They assert that the shift is more technical than substantive: because the offenders to be supervised by PRCS were incarcerated for a relatively low-level "non-non-non" felony, probation offers should be equipped to handle the risks and needs of a population nearly identical to those they already supervise. Prior to AB 109's implementation, Governor Brown expressed confidence that counties were prepared to assume the targeted populations, adding, "It's bold, it's difficult and it will continuously change as we learn from experience. But we can't sit still and let the courts release 30,000 serious prisoners. We have to do something, and this is the most-viable plan that I've been able to put together." Critics of AB 109, however, assert with equal confidence that the plan as it relates to PRCS is far from "viable." They emphasize that under AB 109, offenders are classified only by the present committed offense, meaning that it is possible that a person with a history of violent, serious, or sex offenses-or even a lengthy criminal history-may technically qualify as a "non-non-non" offender under AB 109. The shift in supervisory responsibility from parole to probation departments becomes important. Probation officers, critics argue, may be ill-equipped to address the great risks and significant needs of a potentially a dramatically different population than that contemplated by the legislature. Indeed, several counties have asserted that they are unprepared and under-financed, and some are even bracing for a spike in crime. (See "Part II: The Counties' Responses to AB 109" for further discussion.) b. Scope of the Paper What is missing from these charged debates, however, is data. Speculation about the population is insufficient to spur any informed changes, and a lack of data could lead to rash, harmful decisions based on isolated incidents or conjecture alone. Answers to critical questions - Who are these offenders to be supervised by PRCS? What are their risks? What are their needs? - must be answered. This paper examines these questions in the context of one county - Santa Clara County. In this paper, we first provide an overview of the history and legislative rationale of AB 109, the provisions governing the scope of PRCS, and the CDCR's procedures regarding the determination screening process and data provided to the counties ("Part I: The Legislative Intent of AB 109 and Post-Release Community Supervision"). Second, we provide further context on the various responses to AB 109 as depicted in the media ("Part II: The Counties' Responses to AB 109"). Third, we answer the aforementioned questions (Who are these offenders? What are their risks? What are their needs?) by analyzing the demographics, risks, and needs of the first fifty offenders released to Santa Clara County under PRCS ("Part III: Describing the PRCS Population: The First Fifty Released in Santa Clara"). We then compare the results of the study with the legislative intent and the counties' various responses and predictions ("Part IV: Comparing the First Fifty to the Legislative Intent and Counties' Responses"). Finally, we offer an analysis of the limitations of the study ("Part V: Limitations of the Study") and offer conclusions on the implications of the findings ("Conclusion: Implications of the Study"). Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Law School, 2012. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Draft report: Accessed May 13, 2017 at: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/The_First_Fifty_Rogers.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/The_First_Fifty_Rogers.pdf Shelf Number: 131360 Keywords: Community Corrections Community Supervision Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Prison Overcrowding Probation Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Prell, Lettie Title: Iowa Recidivism Report: Prison Return Rates. FY2007 Releases Tracked for 3 Years Summary: Over the past several years, The Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) has developed standard definitions of performance measures of importance to corrections. States adopting these standard measures will eventually be able to compare their performance with similar states, and set benchmarks for improvement. ASCA has defined a measure of recidivism -- the return rate to prison - which describes the percent of offenders released from prison who return within three years. The measure includes offenders released to parole supervision as well as those who discharge due to expiration of sentence. Prison releases also include exits from work release per ASCA definitions. In addition to reporting the overall return rate to prison, returns due to new convictions versus technical violations are also compiled. While Iowa has periodically conducted recidivism studies in this area for decades, some adjustments had to be made in order to conform to the ASCA counting rules. The Iowa Department of Corrections made these adjustments in the FY2000 and FY2004 data sets in order to respond to a PEW Trusts survey on this topic. Their report on FY2000 and FY2004 recidivism may be found at http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Pew_State_of_Recidivism.pdf. This report documents that Iowa's recidivism rates are consistently well below the average for all states. Justice Data Warehouse programming has now been completed that enables calculation of the return rate to prison on a regular basis. This report provides comparison of recidivism for FY2007 releases with the prior two years, and then provides more detail regarding the FY2007 recidivism findings. Highlights include the following: - Recidivism rates declined as prison releases increased. The FY2007 return rate to prison was 31.8%, the lowest among the three years studied - and was achieved despite a 37% increase in prison releases since FY2000. - Larger drops in recidivism for some offender sub-groups. Recidivism rates and particularly returns to prison for new convictions dropped markedly for women and African-Americans. There was also a very large drop in recidivism for offenders with chronic mental illnesses. - Decline in returns to prison due to new convictions. In FY2007, 31 fewer offenders were returned for new convictions compared with FY2004 returnees-despite 511 more offenders being released. Parole supervision may reduce reoffending, Although more research is needed, analysis suggests that new convictions among prison releases could be further reduced if more offenders received post-release supervision, rather being left to discharge their sentences. This is especially important because there has been an increase in discharges from prison compared with paroles. Reversing this trend would entail earlier releases for some offenders, but potentially achieve greater public safety. Details: Des Moines: Iowa Department of Corrections, 2011. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2017 at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/24677.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/SD/24677.pdf Shelf Number: 131209 Keywords: Offender Supervision Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Poynton, Suzanne Title: Bonds, suspended sentences and re-offending: Does the length of the order matter? Summary: Aim: To examine the effectiveness of good behaviour bonds and suspended sentences in reducing re-offending. Method: Propensity score matching was used to match offenders who received a court imposed bond of less than 24 months with offenders who received a court imposed bond of 24 months or more. These two matched groups were then compared on two re-offending outcomes; the likelihood of reoffending within three years of the index offence and the time to first new conviction. Propensity score matching was also used to match offenders who received a court imposed suspended sentence of less than 12 months with offenders who received a court imposed suspended sentence of 12 months or more. Again, the likelihood of reoffending and the time to first reconviction were compared for these matched groups. Reoffending comparisons between long and short bonds, and long and short suspended sentences were repeated separately for supervised and unsupervised orders. Results: After adjusting for other factors, the probability of reconviction and the time to reconviction were lower for offenders placed on bonds 24 months or longer compared with offenders placed on shorter bonds. A significant effect of bond length on reoffending was apparent for both supervised and unsupervised orders. After adjusting for other factors, the probability of reconviction and the time to reconviction were also lower for offenders given long (12 month plus) suspended sentences compared with offenders given short suspended sentences. However, no significant effect of suspended sentence length was found when supervised and unsupervised suspended sentences were analysed separately. Conclusion: This evidence suggests long bonds and long suspended sentences are more effective in reducing re-offending than short bonds and short suspended sentences. Details: Canberra: Criminology Research Advisory Council, 2012. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2017 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1314/02-1112-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1314/02-1112-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 131264 Keywords: Recidivism Reoffending Sentencing Suspended Sentences

Author: Capis, Salvatory Odhiambo Title: Socio-Economic Factors Contributing to Relapse of Reformed Convicts In Kenya: A Case of Vihiga District, Vihiga County Summary: Incidences of repeat offending have remained elusive amidst major efforts in transforming the societies for betterment. Correctional institutions have tried all that could be done to address notable negative behavioral characters but little remains to be observed. According to the Kenya Prison Reform Centre (KPRC), nearly two thirds of prisoners in Kenya re-offend within two years of release. However, factors that compel reformed convicts to relapse even after leaving prisons are not well understood. This study therefore examined the socio-economic factors that contribute to the relapse of reformed convicts in Kenya, with a specific view of Vihiga district. The study examined the following specific objectives: investigated how unemployment has contributed to the relapse of the reformed convicts within Vihiga District, examined Education as a factor in the relapse of reformed offenders within Vihiga District, analyzed the effects of drug abuse and how it has encouraged the relapsing of the reformed convicts within Vihiga District and assessed the attitudes of the community towards the reformed convicts and its effects in their relapse within Vihiga District. The study was guided by labeling theory to help understand how labels shape human behavior. The study area was Central Maragolli location of the Vihiga district. The total population of reformed convicts in the location was unknown due to the sensitivity of the attribute under study. The reformed convicts were therefore sampled through snowballing until saturation levels were reached. Simple random sampling was also done on Central Maragoli's house hold population of 5310 and a sample of 372 drawn based on Glen Israel's formula of determining sample size. The 372 households were targeted for a community survey. For the Ex-convicts, purposive sampling technique was utilized. 12 in-depth interviews were carried out with ex-convicts. The data collected was analyzed both quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The study findings pointed out that unemployment as a component of socio-economic factor contributed greatly to the relapse of the reformed convicts; with discrimination of the convicts leading the pack at 96.3%, suspicions rate at 83.9%, lack of locally viable skills at 83.9%, low educational levels and unmet ambitions at 64.9%. Educational level as a component of socio-economic factor contributed to the relapse of the reformed convicts with over 90% of those who recidivate being at primary levels while the number diminishes as one climbs higher levels in education. None was found to have relapsed at the University level of education. Drug abuse and addiction among the reformed convicts was also established to have contributed at 92.5% of the relapsed cases of the reformed convicts. Low and negative community attitude with heightened suspicions among the community members were among key factors that greatly contribute to the relapse of the reformed convicts. They have destroyed societal fibers meant to keep communities knit together. The study therefore concluded and recommended that; early identification and nurturing of local talents and individual initiatives be enhanced to reduce the future life explosion in the unemployment phenomenon. Programs that offer bursaries and other educational support as well as prevailing upon local leadership to initiate institutions of higher learning within the District to be enhanced in order to improve education standards. There is an argent need to domesticate and effectively implement the existing policy on drug use and abuse within the District. The already locally existing programs be effectively involved in transforming the negative community attitude toward the reformed convicts which increases their chances of relapsing after rehabilitation. Amongst others, the study proposed further research on challenges facing the Rehabilitation Programs on Offenders management within the community. Details: Nairobi: University of Nairobi, 2012. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 24, 2017 at: http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/56127/Capis_Socio-economic%20Factors%20Contributing%20To%20RelapseOf%20Reformed%20Convicts.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y Year: 2012 Country: Kenya URL: http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/56127/Capis_Socio-economic%20Factors%20Contributing%20To%20RelapseOf%20Reformed%20Convicts.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 145764 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Crime Economics and Crime Recidivism Repeat Offending Socio-economic Conditions and Crime

Author: Ring, Kevin Title: Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism Summary: Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) today released the findings of the first-ever independent survey of federal prisoners, which focused on the type and quality of educational and vocational training programs, as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment, currently available in America's federal prisons. "Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism" offers unique insights from inside federal prisons and includes 13 recommendations for reform. "Roughly 94 percent of federal prisoners are going to go home one day. If they leave smarter, sober, and job-ready, they will be much more likely to thrive - and our country will be safer and more prosperous," said FAMM President Kevin Ring. "Unfortunately, our survey found that the federal government is failing to make recidivism-reducing programming available to all prisoners who need it. President Trump's new budget proposal, which slashes the Bureau of Prisons' staff and corrections officers, will only make the problem worse." Key findings from the report include: Access to quality education is scarce. Most classes lack rigor and substance and are taught by other prisoners. Inmates reported taking classes such as crocheting and one based on the TV show Jeopardy. Attaining a college degree is difficult, if not impossible, for most prisoners. Most jobs afforded to inmates are "make work" jobs to service the prisons, such as cleaning bathrooms and living spaces or dining hall services. Vocational training is popular and coveted, but is limited and only offered to prisoners who are close to their release dates. Not all inmates who need substance abuse or mental health services are getting help. Two-thirds of respondents said they entered prison with a drug or alcohol addiction. In addition, more than two-thirds said they had not received mental or behavioral health treatment in prison. These types of programs should be expanded to help all prisoners in need of treatment, no matter the length or duration of their sentence. Most prisoners are housed too far away from their families to maintain connections. Family connections have been proven to reduce recidivism, yet most prisoners are housed more than 500 air miles away from home. The report also provides 13 recommendations for policymakers to improve prisoners' chances of success once they reintegrate into society. Details: Washington, DC: Families Against Mandatory Minimums , 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 145922 Keywords: Correctional Treatment Programs Federal Inmates Offender Rehabilitation Prisoners Recidivism Vocational Education and Training

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation Title: An Inspection of Through the Gate Resettlement Services for Prisoners Serving 12 Months or More Summary: Until 2014, probation services in England and Wales were delivered by local Probation Trusts. Reoffending rates for released prisoners were high. It was recognised that issues including homelessness, unemployment, mental health and substance misuse contributed to reoffending. The government's Transforming Rehabilitation strategy aimed to reduce reoffending rates by opening up the probation market to new providers, encouraging innovation and creativity. A new National Probation Service and 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies were set up on 01 June 2014. Cases allocated to the NPS included high risk of serious harm offenders and those subject to Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. CRCs were to manage most other medium and low risk of serious harm offenders, and were to be given: 'flexibility to do what works and freedom from bureaucracy' (Ministry of Justice, 2013). The Transforming Rehabilitation programme introduced Through the Gate resettlement services into prisons in England and Wales. Through the Gate services were intended to be delivered by the local CRC to help prisoners maintain or find accommodation; provide assistance with finance, benefits and debt; and to support them to enter education, training and employment. Additional support was to be provided for those prisoners who had been sex workers or had experienced domestic abuse. These services had existed in prisons previously, but in a more fragmented way. The aim of Through the Gate was to provide a seamless transition between prison and the community. Through the Gate arrangements The prison estate was reorganised in November 2014, with 89 of the 120 prisons in England and Wales designated as resettlement prisons. All female prisons were so designated. The aim is for 80% of prisoners to be moved to a resettlement prison local to their home area at least three months before release. Prison staff screen all new prisoners to discover what needs they have, and CRCs are expected to plan to meet any immediate resettlement needs at the start of sentence, and then to review the plan 12 weeks before release putting in place assistance required at that point. CRCs have Through the Gate resettlement teams located within all designated resettlement prisons, consisting either of direct CRC employees or staff working for organisations in a contractual arrangement with the CRC. CRCs receive a 'fee for service' for providing core Through the Gate services, which should include assistance to maintain or find accommodation; assistance with finance, benefits and debt; education, training and employment; release coordination; and support for those who have been sex workers or have experienced domestic abuse. When CRCs bid for the contracts, they set out their broad intentions about how they would deliver Through the Gate services, but the detailed content is not specified. Through the Gate services are available to all prisoners, irrespective of whether their cases are to be managed upon release by a CRC or the NPS. The CRC contracts are managed by HMPPS, and the only performance target for CRCs relating to Through the Gate is to complete resettlement plans in the prescribed timescale. There is no contractual obligation to address the needs that have been identified. We visited nine prisons, where Through the Gate services were being delivered by eight different CRCs with seven different corporate owners. We looked at the cases of 98 prisoners, before and after release. What prisoners need to help them resettle We found, as anticipated, that many prisoners needed substantial help before they were released. Finding somewhere to live was a common problem, along with finding work or making a benefits claim, and getting assistance with substance misuse or mental health problems. We found that many of these needs were not recognised when prisoners first went into custody. Problems that should have been obvious to prison staff were not identified. Where problems were picked up, they were not well-recorded, so that Through the Gate staff did not have enough information to make a good plan about what help was needed. If urgent issues were identified at the start of a sentence, the speed with which prisoners were transferred to other prisons meant that they were unlikely to receive early help, for example to sort out debts or maintain accommodation. There was then a time delay until they could access Through the Gate services, 12 weeks before release. Most prisoners did have plans drawn up for them before release, though not always in the required timescale. The quality of the plans was variable. Necessary actions were not always identified. Moreover, many of the actions in plans consisted of no more than referring the prisoner on to other services, with little or no follow-up. The delays in completing plans sometimes meant there was not enough time left to deal with issues that arose. Outcomes for prisoners receiving Through the Gate services Too many prisoners (more than one in seven) were released not knowing where they would sleep that night. Only two prisoners were found accommodation via Through the Gate arrangements. Three more were placed in short-term accommodation provided by HMPPS for home detention curfew. Work that could and should have been done by Through the Gate services in prison was left for responsible officers to pick up after release. Five prisoners only found accommodation on their day of release. This increased the anxiety of those prisoners and placed a heavy burden on staff in the community trying to make arrangements for housing on the day of release. The rate of homelessness varied from prison to prison, but ten of the cases we looked at started off their licence period with no fixed address. The impact of Through the Gate services on education, training and employment was minimal. No prisoners were helped by Through the Gate services to enter education, training or employment after release. All except one of the prisons we visited were able to set bank accounts up for prisoners, but even where this service was available, some prisoners were still released without bank accounts. Other work on finance, benefits and debt was not being delivered to any great extent. When Through the Gate was introduced there was much talk about the use of mentors to provide intensive support to prisoners around the time of release. The use of mentors had not been developed as anticipated, and only one prisoner had received support through a mentor scheme introduced under Through the Gate. After release, all of the prisoners in our sample would be supervised for at least 12 months. We thought it was important that their responsible officers in the community received full information at the point of release, about the prisoner's behaviour and experience in prison. Ideally this would include details of all handover arrangements, including appointments made at Jobcentre Plus, and with drug treatment and mental health services. This could be done either by prison staff or Through the Gate workers, but in many prisons communication and information sharing was poor. Public protection Public protection is the business of everyone working with the prisoner. Most of the Through the Gate staff we met were ill-informed about public protection issues in the cases they were working with. We observed shortcomings in the work of prison staff, and of responsible officers in the CRCs and in the NPS. Too many prisoners had inadequate assessment of their potential to cause harm, and too little was done to mitigate these risks. Poor communication was often a factor, and there was not enough evidence of a 'whole system' approach to managing risk of harm. Design and evaluation of Through the Gate services Prison places are not evenly distributed across the country, so layering Through the Gate onto the prison footprint was never going to be straightforward. Other pressures in the prison system mean that the catchment areas for some resettlement prisons are very wide. We only saw a few prisons where there was a clear benefit from having the 'local' CRC delivering Through the Gate services. No clear guidance has been given on how Through the Gate services should align with sentence planning arrangements. For many prisoners, no sentence planning takes place at all because of operational difficulties within prisons, while others only receive a risk assessment due to the current Offender Assessment System prioritisation policy. The Through the Gate resettlement plan may be the only record of work that needs to be done with them, and it is not sufficient for that purpose. The complexity and incompatibility of the IT systems used by staff in preparing prisoners for release were major obstacles to effective working. Either staff waste time entering the same information in multiple places, or they just record in one or two places, with the consequence that others are not able to find out about relevant work. While many CRCs have contracted well-respected voluntary organisations to deliver Through the Gate services, the focus has been on completion of resettlement plans and so the potential for these more diverse providers to improve the overall quality of resettlement work is not being realised. The few examples of innovation we saw were on a very small scale, so are likely to have no more than a negligible impact on reducing reoffending. The CRC contracts incentivise the completion of resettlement plans, not the improvement of prisoners' situations. CRCs are generally struggling financially and it is not surprising, then, that most have invested little in services beyond the minimum contractual expectation. Those that are doing more - Durham Tees Valley CRC for example - told us that they are doing so at a loss. It is hard to see any impact of the prospect of future payment by results for reducing reoffending rates. The consequence is that Through the Gate services as delivered now are not likely to reduce rates of reoffending. For technical and legal reasons it is impossible for CRCs to track any difference Through the Gate has made for the prisoners they have worked with, such as finding accommodation or work. This makes it hard for them to evaluate the impact of their work. The staff we met in prisons working for Through the Gate were keen and committed, and were clearly very busy writing resettlement plans to meet contractual targets. Many of them, and some of their managers, were unaware that the work they were doing was having little or no impact on the eventual resettlement of prisoners. Details: Manchester: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation, 2017. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 23, 2017 at: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/Through-the-Gate-phase-2-report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/Through-the-Gate-phase-2-report.pdf Shelf Number: 146349 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Probation Probationers Re-offending Recidivism Resettlement

Author: Mews, Aidan Title: Impact evaluation of the prison-based Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme Summary: The aim of the research was to extend the evidence base on the effectiveness of treatment for sexual offenders. This study measures the impact of the prison-based Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) on the re-offending outcomes of sex offenders in England and Wales, whilst controlling for the different observable characteristics, needs, and risk factors of offenders. Core1 SOTP is a cognitive-behavioural psychological intervention designed by the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) for imprisoned men who have committed sexual offences. The Programme is intended to reduce sexual reoffending amongst participants by identifying and addressing known criminogenic needs. It was accredited for use in prisons in 1992 by the then HM Prison and Probation Service Prison and Probation Services Joint Accreditation Panel, which later became the Correctional Services Accreditation and Advice Panel (CSAAP). The CSAAP help the MOJ and HMPPS to develop and implement high quality offending behaviour programmes and promote excellence in programmes designed to reduce reoffending. Programmes are assessed against a set of criteria derived from the "what works" evidence base. These include having a clear model of change, effective risk management, targeting offending behaviour, employing effective methods, ensuring relevance to individual learning styles, and maintaining the quality and integrity of delivery. Changes have been made to the targets, the content, and the methods used in Core SOTP since its introduction in response to emerging research. As a result, during the course of this study (and in the period thereafter) the Programme has changed. However, it remains a cognitive behavioural group based treatment approach. It was, and remains, available in approximately one-sixth of male prison establishments in England and Wales and is intended for individuals sentenced to 12 months or more, who had either a current or previous (sentence) sex offence, were willing to engage in treatment, and were not in denial of their offending. There were 2,562 convicted sex offenders who started treatment under the prison-based Core Sex Offender Treatment Programme between 2000 and 2012 in England and Wales. These were matched to 13,219 co Police National Computer (PNC) records, SOTP treatment records, and the Offender Assessment System (OASys) database (where available). Standardised mean differences between the matched treated and comparison groups for the matching factors showed that the matching quality achieved was excellent. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match sexual offenders who participated in Core SOTP (treated sex offenders) to similar sexual offenders who did not. PSM is a statistical matching technique which uses factors theoretically and empirically associated with both receiving the treatment and the outcome variable (i.e. reoffending) to predict a 'propensity score', which represents the likelihood of entering treatment. This propensity score is then used to match treated individuals to comparison offenders who are similar to them. The matched treatment and comparison groups were then compared on an extensive range of proven reoffending outcomes (sexual and non-sexual). These outcome measures were calculated over a period of up to 13.9 years (average of 8.2 years) starting from each offender's release from prison between 2002 and 2012, with the follow-up period finishing in October 2015. For all individuals in this study (the treatment group plus the unmatched comparison group), the binary reoffending rate for all offences was 38.3% and the sexual reoffending rate excluding breaches,4 was 7.5%. These are low when compared to international studies but are within the range of other UK-based studies on reconviction rates for sex offenders (Craig et al., 2008). PSM can provide a robust quasi-experimental approach, although offenders can only be matched on observable variables. While extensive efforts were undertaken in identifying relevant factors, it is possible that unobserved factors could influence the findings that emerge from this research. Such factors include deviant sexual interest, general self-regulation problems and the degree of violence associated with the current sexual offence. Key findings The main findings of the analysis were as follows: - Some statistically significant differences were detected over an average 8.2 year follow up period. They were small in magnitude although they widened over the follow-up period. In particular: - More treated sex offenders committed at least one sexual reoffence (excluding breach) during the follow-up period when compared with the matched comparison offenders (10.0% compared with 8.0%). - More treated sex offenders committed at least one child image reoffence during the follow-up period when compared with the matched comparison offenders (4.4% compared with 2.9 %). Otherwise, the matched treated and comparison groups had similar reoffending rates across a variety of outcome measures. - A variety of sensitivity analyses were performed, which mostly focused on the sexual reoffending measure. The sexual reoffending treatment effect was found to be reasonably stable across these. As previously noted, it is possible that these results could be materially influenced by unobserved factors. However, such factors would need to increase both the odds of treatment and the odds of reoffending after controlling for the observable factors that were included within the matching process. In fact to conclude that the sexual re-offending treatment impact is not statistically significantly different from a reduction of 2 percentage points, the odds of treatment and re-offending would both need to increase by 122%. This increases to 219% for a 5 percentage point reduction. While the sensitivity analysis, involving both treatment and comparison groups, shows reoffending rates to be higher for individuals who have higher risk profiles, the matching process includes a range of factors that are used to determine risk. Conclusions The results suggest that while Core SOTP in prisons is generally associated with little or no changes in sexual and non-sexual reoffending, there were some statistically significant differences. The small changes in the sexual reoffending rate suggest that either Core SOTP does not reduce sexual reoffending as it intends to do, or that the true impact of the Programme was not detected. This study draws on large treatment and comparison groups, long follow-ups, and many matching factors, thus addressing the most common shortcomings in the research field on sex offenders' reoffending behaviour. However it still has a number of limitations that could either bias the findings or the interpretation of them. In particular: - It is impossible to conclusively rule out the absence of variables relating to deviant sexual interest, general self-regulation problems and the degree of violence associated with the current sexual offence that could possibly influence the results. Moreover, it is possible that the available data do not fully account for issues such as motivation to address offending behaviour. However, these absences are at least partly accounted for by matching factors included in this study (e.g. sexual deviancy by matching factors covering previous offending). Furthermore as shown above, what remains unaccounted for would need to have strong relationships both with participation onto treatment and reoffending to conclude that Core SOTP is associated with a reduction in sexual reoffending. - The estimated impact of Core SOTP was found to be similar when removing from the comparison group those who were identified as having done community SOTP. However, it will include some differences between the matched treatment and comparison groups that reflect changes occurring after the prison sentence has commenced and which are not associated with the provision of Core SOTP. Such factors include participation on other treatment programmes in prison and in the community, differences in offender management and in supervision, and regional demographics e.g. in employment rates. - Availability of good quality data on all factors which determine an offenders' participation on core SOTP, was also a particular issue. It is possible that paucity of data on some key offender characteristics including denial of offending, and a degree of self-selection, could bias the results. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2017. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed June 30, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/623876/sotp-report-web-.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/623876/sotp-report-web-.pdf Shelf Number: 146479 Keywords: Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Correctional Programs Recidivism Reoffending Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders

Author: Mercado, Cynthia Calkins Title: Sex Offender Management, Treatment, and Civil Commitment: An Evidence Based Analysis Aimed at Reducing Sexual Violence Summary: This study was designed to provide a comprehensive exploratory examination of the program management, treatment, and recidivism of sexual offenders in New Jersey. There were four main objectives of the research: 1) To provide normative data on a large sample of New Jersey sex offenders; 2) To determine which sex offenders get selected for treatment and what criteria are used to make that decision; 3) To examine the effect of treatment on recidivism; and 4) To compare those offenders selected for commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) with those offenders not selected for commitment. Data were gathered from the archival records of 3,168 male sex offenders who were housed at either a prison-based sex offender treatment facility (treatment group) or any of the New Jersey State prisons (no treatment group) and released from custody between the years 1996 and 2007. Additionally, archival data were gathered from all detained or committed SVPs. Federal and state recidivism data were obtained for all released offenders. Ultimately, three general outcome categories were the focus of the analyses: selection for treatment (determined by whether the offender was housed at the prison-based sex offender treatment facility), recidivism (determined by whether an offender was convicted of an additional offense - sexual or non-sexual - following release), and SVP commitment (determined by whether the offender was released or civilly committed upon completion of the index sentence). After coding the archival file data for offender characteristics, offense characteristics, risk assessment outcomes, and recidivism (and what type of recidivism, if applicable), comparisons were made via chi-square analysis and independent samples t-test across these three outcomes; that is, we compared treated and non-treated offenders, recidivists and non-recidivists, and committed and not-committed offenders on these factors. Additionally, a series of classification tree analyses and logistic regressions were conducted to gather insight into what factors were most strongly indicative of selection for treatment, SVP commitment, and recidivism. The following points highlight the major findings for each objective of the study: Objective One - The overwhelming majority of offenders in this sample had female victims (83.9%; n = 2,566), indicating that women and girls continue to be among those most victimized by sexual violence. - Nearly three-quarters of the index crime events involved molestation of a minor child, and despite a popular notion of "stranger danger" that is prevalent across sexual crimes (an assumption that is arguably an influential factor in sex offender legislation), most offenders knew their victims. Over 44% of the sample perpetrated an offense against someone with whom they were already acquainted (but not related), and an additional one-third of the sample offended against an immediate or extended family member. - A minority (15%) of the offenses were perpetrated against strangers, suggesting that the "stranger danger" notion of offending (upon which much sex crime legislation is based) may not reflect the empirical reality that most sex crimes (85%) are committed by individuals known to the victim - With regard to prior criminal history, nearly 70% of the offenders had been charged with a prior non-sexual offense; however, less than one-third of the sample had a prior history of sexual offenses, providing some support for the notion that sex offenders may be more generalist rather than specialist in their offending patterns. Objective Two - The best predictor of placement in the treatment facility was the demonstration of some treatment amenability or readiness for treatment. Choosing offenders based upon their willingness to participate in treatment may, however, exclude those offenders who are at highest risk to recidivate. - Those placed in the treatment facility had lower risk scores than those in the general population, which may run contrary to the risk-need-responsivity principle of providing the most intensive services to those of highest need. Objective Three - In terms of general recidivism (i.e., recidivism of any nature), those offenders who did not receive treatment recidivated (in terms of a new conviction) at twice the rate of those who did receive treatment (51.7% versus 25.0%), and this difference remained even when the groups were matched with regard to actuarial risk scores. - When looking specifically at sexual recidivism rates, we found that overall 5% of the offenders in our sample were re-convicted of a new sexual offense over an average 6.5 year follow-up period. - No differences in sexual recidivism were found between the treated and untreated groups, even when these groups were matched in terms of recidivism risk. Though random assignment to treatment conditions is seldom possible in research of this nature, future studies that use random assignment would allow for firmer conclusions regarding treatment effectiveness. - Sex offenders who offended against strangers were more likely than those who were acquainted with or related to their victim to re-offend after treatment. Likewise, sex offenders who had adult victims were more likely to offend after treatment than those who had minor victims. Objective Four - Sex offenders selected for civil commitment were found to be at significantly higher risk of recidivating (based on Static-99 and MnSOST-R actuarial risk scores) than offenders not committed under SVP statutes. - Sex offense history, MnSOST-R historical scale score, prior history of any contact sexual offense, use of weapon during index offense, age at first sex offense, history of psychiatric problems, age of victim, and age at first non-sexual offense were predictive of SVP commitment. - Based upon re-conviction data, those considered for civil commitment but ultimately not committed were found to have high rates of any kind of recidivism (67%). Details: New York: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2013. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243551.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243551.pdf Shelf Number: 130140 Keywords: Civil Commitment Offender Classification Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders Sexual Violence

Author: Fowler, Justine Title: The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Recidivism Report: Juveniles with a 2007 Case Closure Summary: One in five juveniles (20%) recidivated within two years of their 2007 case closure (page 19). Recidivism rates ranged from 0% (in Clinton and Sullivan Counties) to 45% (in Clarion County) (page 19). The average length of time to recidivism was 11.5 months from case closure (page 24). Recidivists were more likely than non-recidivists to have been adjudicated delinquent at some point in their juvenile offending career prior to their 2007 case closure date (page 26). Juveniles with only one written allegation in their juvenile offending history (i.e., first time offenders) reoffended at a rate of 13%. Conversely, juveniles with four or more previous written allegations (i.e., chronic offenders) re-offended at a rate of 37% (page 27). The younger a juvenile was at the time of his or her first written allegation, the more likely he or she was to recidivate. Conversely, the older the juvenile was at the time of his or her first written allegation, the less likely he or she was to recidivate (page 29). The older the juvenile was at the time of case closure, the more likely he or she was to recidivate. Conversely, the younger the juvenile was at case closure, the less likely he or she was to recidivate (page 32). 90% of recidivists were males (page 34). Males were almost three times more likely to recidivate than females (page 35). One in four Black offenders re-offended, while one in six White offenders recidivated. Only one in 12 Asian offenders were recidivists (page 37). 80% of recidivists were from "disrupted" family situations (e.g., biological parents deceased, biological parents never married, or biological parents separated/divorced). Only 20% of recidivists were from family situations in which their biological parents were married (page 40). 44% of juveniles with both biological parents deceased recidivated. Only 15% of juveniles whose biological parents were married recidivated (page 41). Drug offenders and Property offenders were most likely to commit the same types of crimes when they re-offended. Person offenders and Other offenders were less likely to commit the same types of crimes when they re-offended (page 45). 70% of juveniles committed a misdemeanor offense when they recidivated (page 48). Juveniles who had more formal dispositions on their 2007 case that closed (e.g., placement and formal probation) recidivated at higher rates than juveniles who had less formal dispositions on their 2007 case (e.g., informal adjustment, consent decree, and warned, counseled, case closed) (page 50) Juveniles who committed an indecent exposure recidivated at higher rates than any other sex offenders (page 52). Recidivists were 1.5 times more likely to have an out-of-home experience (e.g., detention/shelter or placement) than non-recidivists (52% vs. 32%, respectively) (page 63). Only 15% of juveniles who had NO out-of-home experience recidivated, while 30% of juveniles who at least one out-of-home experience recidivated (page 63). The average recidivism rate for juveniles who had a placement experience at a private sector placement facility was 34% (page 65). The average recidivism rate for juveniles who had a placement experience at a Youth Development Center/Youth Forestry Camp operated by the Department of Public Welfare was 40% (page 69). Philadelphia County (Class 1) had the highest recidivism rate: 29% (page 71), followed by Class 7 counties, with an average recidivism rate of 26% (page 75). Class 8 counties had the lowest recidivism rate: 15% (page 75). One in five juveniles with a 2007 case closure were either a serious offender, a violent offender, OR a chronic offender, as defined by the study (page 78). 6% of juveniles with a 2007 case closure were serious offenders, and 34% of violent offenders recidivated (page 79). 6% of juveniles with a 2007 case closure were violent offenders, and 31% of violent offenders recidivated (page 84). 14% of juveniles with a 2007 case closure were chronic offenders, and 37% of chronic offenders recidivated (page 89). Only 0.4% of juveniles with a 2007 case closure were serious, violent, AND chronic (SVC) offenders, though 48% of SVC offenders recidivated (page 95). 2% of juveniles with a 2007 case closure were child offenders, and 29% of child offenders recidivated (page 98). 45% of child offenders were either a serious offender, a violent offender, or a chronic offender (page 103) Details: Harrisburg, PA: Juvenile Court Judges' Commission, 2013. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2017 at: https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/2007_Recidivism_Report_v2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://static.prisonpolicy.org/scans/2007_Recidivism_Report_v2.pdf Shelf Number: 131725 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Farmer, Michael (Lord Farmer) Title: The Importance of Strengthening Prisoners' Family Ties to Prevention Reoffending and Reduce Intergenerational Crime Summary: The Secretary of State commissioned this Review to investigate how supporting men in prison in England and Wales to engage with their families, can reduce reoffending and assist in addressing the intergenerational transmission of crime (a landmark study found that 63% of prisoners' sons went on to offend themselves ) as part of the Government's urgently-needed reform agenda. The Ministry of Justice's own research shows that, for a prisoner who receives visits from a partner or family member, the odds of reoffending are 39% lower than for prisoners who had not received such visits. Supportive relationships with family members and significant others give meaning and all important motivation to other strands of rehabilitation and resettlement activity. As one prisoner told me, 'If I don't see my family I will lose them, if I lose them what have I got left?' Yet the unacceptable inconsistency of work that helps prisoners to maintain and strengthen these relationships across the estate shows it is not yet mainstream in offender management in the same way as employment and education. Family work should always be seen and referred to alongside these two rehabilitation activities as the third leg of the stool that brings stability and structure to prisoners' lives, particularly when they leave prison. That is why the overarching conclusion of my Review is that good family relationships are indispensable for delivering the Government's far-reaching plans across all the areas outlined in their white paper on Prison Safety and Reform, published in November 2016. If prisons are truly to be places of reform, we cannot ignore the reality that a supportive relationship with at least one person is indispensable to a prisoner's ability to get through their sentence well and achieve rehabilitation. It is not only family members who can provide these and, wherever family relationships are mentioned, it should be assumed that other significant and supportive relationships are also inferred. Consistently good family work, which brings men face-to-face with their enduring responsibilities to the family left in the community, is indispensable to the rehabilitation culture we urgently need to develop in our penal system and has to be integral to the changes sought. It helps them forge a new identity for themselves, an important precursor to desistance from crime, based on being a good role model to their children, a caring husband, partner and friend and a reliable provider through legal employment. However, responsibilities are not discharged in a vacuum. Families need to be willing and able to engage with the rehabilitation process, so harnessing the resource of good family relationships must be a golden thread running through the processes of all prisons, as well as in the implementation of all themes of the white paper. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2017. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636619/farmer-review-report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/636619/farmer-review-report.pdf Shelf Number: 146878 Keywords: Children of Prisoners Families of Inmates Intergenerational Crime Prison Visits Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism Reoffending Visitation

Author: Schmucker, Martin Title: Sexual offender treatment for reducing recidivism among convicted sex offenders: a systematic review and meta-analysis Summary: Treatment of sexual offenders reduces reoffending, but more research needed to identify effective interventions Treatment can reduce reoffending (recidivism) rates of sexual offenders. But the results of individual studies are too heterogeneous to draw a conclusion on the general effectiveness of sex offender treatment. What is this review about? Sexual offender treatment programs to reduce reoffending have been implemented in many countries as part of a strategy in managing this offender group. However, there are still controversies regarding their effectiveness. This review integrates findings from six experimental and 21 quasi-experimental studies that compare groups of treated sexual offenders with equivalent control groups. These studies tested whether treated sexual offenders differed from the control groups in sexual and other reoffending. What are the main findings of this review? What studies are included? Included studies compare official recidivism rates of treated sexual offenders with a comparable group of sexual offenders that have not been subjected to the respective treatment. Quasiexperimental studies were included only if they applied sound matching procedures, where the incidental assignment would not introduce bias, or where they were statistically controlled for potential biases. The treatment had to explicitly aim at reducing recidivism rates. The review summarizes 27 studies containing 29 eligible comparisons of a treated group and a control group, containing data for 4,939 treated and 5,448 untreated sexual offenders. The studies come from seven different countries, but more than half of the studies have been carried out in North America. All eligible comparisons evaluated psychosocial treatment (mainly cognitive behavioral programs). No studies on pharmacological/hormonal treatment were found which meet the inclusion criteria. Does treatment of sexual offenders reduce recidivism? On average, there is a significant reduction in recidivism rates in the treated groups. The odds to sexually reoffend were 1.41 lower for treated compared to control groups. This equals a sexual recidivism rate of 10.1 percent for treated offenders compared to 13.7 percent without treatment. The mean rates for general recidivism were higher, but showed a similar reduction of roughly a quarter due to treatment. The results from the individual studies were very heterogeneous, that is individual study features had a strong impact on the outcomes. Methodological quality did not significantly influence effect sizes. Cognitive-behavioral as well as studies with small samples, medium to high risk offenders, more individualized treatment, and good descriptive validity revealed better effects. There was no significant difference between various settings. We found significant effects for treatment in the community and in forensic hospitals, but there is not yet sufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of sex offender treatment in prisons. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2017. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2017 at: https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/media/k2/attachments/0050_CCJG_Schmucker_-_Sexual_offender_treatment.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.campbellcollaboration.org/media/k2/attachments/0050_CCJG_Schmucker_-_Sexual_offender_treatment.pdf Shelf Number: 147001 Keywords: Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders

Author: Fowler, Justine Title: The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Recidivism Report: Juveniles with cases closed in 2007, 2008, 2009, or 2010 Summary: The Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission (JCJC) provides leadership, advice, training, and support to enable Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system to achieve its balanced and restorative justice mission. The Commission is legislatively empowered to advise juvenile court judges in all matters pertaining to the proper care and maintenance of delinquent and dependent children, employing evidence-based practices whenever possible, and to compile and publish such statistical data as needed for efficient administration of the juvenile courts. In November 2010, the JCJC unanimously endorsed a comprehensive strategy, known as the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES), to enhance the capacity of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system to achieve its mission of balanced and restorative justice. The following is the statement purpose of the JJSES: We dedicate ourselves to working in partnership to enhance the capacity of Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system to achieve its balanced and restorative justice mission by: - Employing evidence-based practices, with fidelity, at every stage of the juvenile justice process; - Collecting and analyzing the data necessary to measure the results of these efforts; and, with this knowledge, - Striving to continuously improve the quality of our decisions, services and programs. Key stakeholders concluded that one of the most appropriate ways to evaluate the effectiveness of the JJSES was to examine the recidivism rates of juveniles who have been involved in Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system. After all, "recidivism is the key statistic in determining whether or not criminal justice interventions, from diversion through incarceration, are making a difference in keeping offenders from committing more crimes." At the initiation of the JJSES, however, there was no systematic mechanism available to track the statewide recidivism rates of juvenile offenders in Pennsylvania within both the criminal and juvenile justice systems once their case closed. Consequently, the JCJC undertook the current project and developed the methodology and capacity to monitor the statewide recidivism rates of juvenile offenders. The Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research (CJJT&R), a division of the JCJC, currently collects and maintains delinquency data related to approximately 100,000 juvenile court dispositional records each year through the Pennsylvania Juvenile Case Management System (PaJCMS), and has been doing so for over three decades. The JCJC worked closely with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), who collects court data at both the criminal and magisterial district justice levels, for the project. The current study had two overarching goals. Since the core premise of the JJSES is that recidivism rates can be reduced through the implementation of evidence-based practices, the first goal was to establish a recidivism benchmark against which the JJSES could be measured. The second goal was to examine differences between recidivists and non-recidivists in terms of demographics and other key variables to identify factors associated with recidivism in the Pennsylvania juvenile justice system. The two-year tracking period was selected because there was a consensus that recidivism beyond two years from case closure would be less likely to be related to the services and interventions provided during the period of juvenile court supervision. Additionally, only subsequent adjudications of delinquency and findings of guilt in criminal proceedings4 were included in the definition of recidivism since these case outcomes require judicial determinations. The benchmark was developed with cases closed in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 to provide an accurate measure of pre-JJSES recidivism. While full implementation of the JJSES may take years, the data obtained from this report will provide an appropriate baseline to gauge the successfulness of the strategy. In April 2013, the JCJC released The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Recidivism Report: Juveniles with a 2007 Case Closure, which detailed the outcomes of youth with a case closed from a juvenile probation department in 2007. In November 2013, the JCJC released its second statewide report, entitled The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Recidivism Report: Juveniles with Cases Closed in 2007, 2008, or 2009. The current study expands on this research to include data from cases closed in 2010. After a brief description of the methodology employed, the remainder of this report will describe the results of the study. First, the calculated baseline recidivism rate at both the statewide and the individual county level will be provided. Next, descriptive statistics of juvenile recidivists and non-recidivists will be detailed. Finally, the report will conclude with project limitations and future research. Details: Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Juvenile Court Judges' Commission, 2014. 222p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2017 at: http://www.jcjc.pa.gov/Publications/Documents/Recidivism/Pennsylvania%20Recidivism%20Report_Juveniles%20with%20Cases%20Closed%20in%202007-2010.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.jcjc.pa.gov/Publications/Documents/Recidivism/Pennsylvania%20Recidivism%20Report_Juveniles%20with%20Cases%20Closed%20in%202007-2010.pdf Shelf Number: 147025 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Kassem, Leigh Title: The Effects of Employment on Recidivism Among Delinquent Juveniles Summary: Current research indicates an association between intense adolescent work (twenty hours or more per week) and delinquent behavior. It has been widely speculated that this relationship is spurious, occurring only as a result of other factors which are common to both offending and intense employment. The current study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by utilizing the Pathways to Desistance dataset to examine the evolution of the relationship between work and self-reported offending in a longitudinal sample of juvenile offenders. Work intensity and consistency, social capital, and expectations for success were analyzed as potential predictors of recidivism or desistance as juvenile offenders mature into adulthood. Variations in the significance of these variables throughout the first seven waves of data collection were examined from the life course perspective. Results provide support for the theory of age graded social control and suggest that high risk youth self-select into intensive work roles as adolescents. No statistically significant differences in lifetime offending were found between respondents across varying levels of work intensity. Details: Johnson City, TN: East Tennessee State University, 2017. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 7, 2017 at: http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3302/ Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3302/ Shelf Number: 147153 Keywords: Employment Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Delinquents Recidivism

Author: California. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research Title: 2015 Outcome Evaluation Report. An Examination of Offenders Released in Fiscal Year 2010-11 Summary: Between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 (Fiscal Year 2010‐11), 95,690 offenders were released from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) adult institution and tracked for three years following the date of their release. The three‐year return‐to‐prison rate for the 95,690 offenders who comprise the Fiscal Year 2010‐11 release cohort is 44.6 percent, which is a 9.7 percentage point decrease from the Fiscal Year 2009‐10 rate of 54.3 percent. Fiscal Year 2010‐11 marks the fifth consecutive year the three‐year return‐to‐prison rate has declined and is the most substantial decrease to‐date. As shown in Figure A, Fiscal Year 2010‐11 also marks the first cohort of offenders where more offenders did not return to prison during the three‐year follow‐up period (55.4 percent or 53,029 offenders) than returned to State prison (44.6 percent or 42,661 offenders). Details: Sacramento: The Department, 2016. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2017 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/2015_Outcome_Evaluation_Report_8-25-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/2015_Outcome_Evaluation_Report_8-25-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 147343 Keywords: Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation

Author: Mueller-Smith, Michael Title: Avoiding Convictions: Regression Discontinuity Evidence on Court Deferrals for First-Time Drug Offenders Summary: This paper studies the causal impact of court deferrals, a legal strategy to help defendants avoid a felony conviction record, on the future criminal and labor market outcomes of first-time felony drug offenders. To accomplish this, we exploit two natural experiments in Harris County, Texas, in which defendants appearing in court one day versus the next experienced abruptly different likelihoods of deferral. In 1994 deferral rates dropped by 34 percentage points the day following the implementation of a penal code reform; in 2007 deferral rates increased by 22 percentage points the day after the unexpected failure of a ballot initiative to expand the county jail. Using administrative data and local polynomial regression discontinuity methods, we find robust evidence consistent across both experiments that regimes with expanded use of court deferrals generated substantially lower rates of reoffending and unemployment over a five-year follow-up period. Additional analysis delves further into the timing, nature and incidence of these impacts. Together our results suggest that increasing the use of deferral programs may be an attractive and feasible option for a jurisdiction seeking to reduce the fiscal cost and community impact of its criminal justice system. Details: Bonn: IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, 2016. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper no. 10409: Accessed September 19, 2017 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10409.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10409.pdf Shelf Number: 147407 Keywords: Criminal Records Drug Offenders Ex-offender Employment Felony Offenders Recidivism

Author: Doleac, Jennifer L. Title: The Interaction and Impact of State DNA Database Laws, Final Summary Overview Summary: Despite the widespread use of criminal offender DNA databases by the law enforcement community, relatively little is known about their real-world effects on criminal behavior. The purpose of DNA databases is to quickly and accurately match crime scene evidence with known offenders. They aim to reduce crime by increasing the probability of punishment, conditional on offending. They also exhibit large returns to scale. For these reasons, DNA databases are likely to be far more cost-effective than traditional law enforcement tools. Indeed, previous research has shown that DNA databases have large crime-reducing effects at the state level (Doleac, 2015). However, because DNA database expansions are - like most crime policies - legislated at the state level, the resulting policies may not be efficient from a national perspective. Each state will weigh its own costs and benefits when making policy decisions, without regard for their effects on other states. But state DNA databases do not exist in a vacuum: they could have effects on criminal behavior elsewhere. The federal government can improve the national efficiency of state-level policies by inducing states to consider the costs and benefits to their neighbors - i.e., to internalize the externalities. The federal government has invested a large amount of money in helping states expand their databases and clear sample backlogs, presumably because it perceives positive externalities to state database expansions. Positive externalities would exist if offenders are highly mobile, and are deterred or incapacitated upon being added to a state database. If they stop committing crime, this would reduce crime in other states. Positive externalities could also exist if profiles from one state help other states catch and incapacitate offenders. One important aspect of DNA database policy in the United States is that states can search for profile matches across state lines, using CODIS. This should increase the positive externalities of state-level expansions. For instance, if Georgia expands its database, neighboring states such as Florida could benefit from being able to search those additional profiles. Depending on how often crimes in Florida are committed by out-of-state offenders, the expansion of Georgia's database could help Florida identify and convict more offenders, reducing its own crime rate. When Georgia is weighing the costs and benefits of expanding its database, it will probably not consider these external benefits, and so its database will be inefficiently small; hence the justification for federal funding to encourage more expansions. However, there could be negative externalities, particularly if a state's database expansion induces probable offenders to move to another state. For instance, suppose Georgia adds felony arrestees to its database, but Florida does not include that group. Offenders in Georgia who think they could be arrested for a felony will have an incentive to move to Florida, to avoid DNA profiling and therefore detection for past or future crimes. (Such a behavioral effect is not unreasonable to expect: we typically assume that human capital is mobile, and that workers move to places with better jobs.) In this case, Georgia's database expansion would displace some of its own crime to Florida. As before, Georgia would not include this external cost in its cost-benefit analysis, but in this case a state database that seems optimal from the state's perspective will be inefficiently large from the national perspective. Which of these externalities dominates in the DNA database context is an empirical question. The goal of this project is to answer that question. This report summarizes the main findings. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2017. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251035.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251035.pdf Shelf Number: 147416 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Criminal Deterrence Criminal Investigation DNA Fingerprinting DNA Typing Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Kubiak, Sheryl Title: Statewide Mental Health Court Outcome Evaluation: Aggregate Report Summary: Nationally, the number of people with serious mental illness (SMI) in jails ranges from 6 to 36 percent. Some refer to jails as the last mental health hospital as individuals with SMI revolve in and out of jails. As one solution to this social problem, jurisdictions are finding ways to divert such individuals from prosecution or sentencing by engaging them in treatment services. The mental health court (MHC) offers an alternative to traditional criminal court processing; it is post‐booking diversion program that utilizes treatment and services available in a given community to stem the frequency of mentally ill offenders' contact with the criminal justice system. Studies of MHCs have consistently found that they can be successful in reducing re‐offending and increasing treatment utilization. In 2008, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) developed the Michigan Mental Health Court Grant Program as a mechanism to jointly fund a statewide MHC pilot program during fiscal year 2009. In 2011, MDCH contracted an external evaluation of the pilot program encompassing eight MHCs: Berrien (Unified Trial Court); Genesee (25th Probate Court); Grand Traverse (86th District Court); Jackson (4th Circuit and 12th District Courts); Livingston (53rd District Court); Oakland (6th Circuit Court); St. Clair (72nd District Court); and Wayne (3rd Circuit Court). The evaluation encompasses the three‐year pilot period of January 2009 to December 2011 and relies on multiple sources of data to assess the processes and outcomes of each court. Questions related to court processes were: How are courts similar to and different from each other? What are mechanisms for referral and admission? How strong is the collaboration or integration between the court and mental health staff? Did participants successfully complete? Data used to assess these process‐related questions included surveys, site visits, interviews, and court observation. Based on site visit and interview data, the research team created a process map illustrating each court's screening, admission, and decision‐making processes. The process map and a report based on the data collection was submitted to each MHC for verification. Questions related to outcomes included: Did MHC reduce recidivism (i.e. time in jail, new arrests)? Did MHC increase participation in mental health treatment? Did high‐intensity treatment such as hospitalization decrease as a result of MHC? Did specific individual or system level factors affect outcomes? Data collected to assess these outcomes came from five primary sources: MDCH‐CMH Encounter/Service Data; SCAO - MHC database; jail data from each county; MDCH - Bureau of Substance Abuse and Addiction Services treatment data; and Michigan State Police - arrest and conviction data. To assess long‐term outcomes, a comparison of three time periods was considered: 1) one year prior to MHC admission; 2) the period of involvement in MHC; and 3) one year following MHC discharge. Using the Council of State Governments Justice Center list of ten essential elements of MHC as a guide, MHCs across Michigan were found to vary widely in terms of organization, policies, and practices. Differences between courts should not be construed as a 'right' or 'wrong' way of operating. Rather, each court is responsive to the needs of the particular county and uses the resources available to the best of its abilities. Because each MHC is unique, it is not possible to draw direct comparisons between courts. The intent of this evaluation is to illuminate the variety of MHC structures and processes across the state and utilize individual - and system‐level factors, other than county of origin, to assess variations in outcomes. There were 678 individuals admitted into the eight MHCs prior to December 31, 2011. The average age at admission was 35 years (range 18 to 64). Nearly two thirds of participants (63%) were males and 67% identified as Caucasian. The overwhelming majority of participants were unemployed (91%) at admission, and nearly 20% were homeless. Nearly 40% were admitted into MHC with a primary diagnosis of bipolar disorder, followed by depression (29%), schizophrenic/psychotic or delusional disorders (21%), and 12% representing other diagnoses such as developmental or personality disorders. Although 60% were identified as having a 'current substance abuse', other evidence shows that as many as 79% were substance involved. Participants were most likely to enter MHC on a felony offense (48%), while 43% were admitted on a misdemeanor, and 8% on civil cases. The average length of stay in MHC was 276 days; among all 678 participants who were admitted, there were 187,043 MHC program days since 2009. Of the 450 participants discharged, 43% successfully completed all requirements of the MHC - a proportion within range of national averages. Age and offense type were the strongest predictors of success: Successful completers were more likely to be older than average (39 years) and have a misdemeanor/civil offense. Treatment outcomes. Participants received the greatest number of services during MHC, and these were primarily low‐intensity services (e.g., med reviews, case management). The proportion of participants requiring a high intensity service (e.g., hospitalization) declined from 31% pre‐MHC to 15% post‐MHC. Time to first mental health treatment after MHC admission averaged 16 days; upon discharge into the community the average was 41 days. While 95% of participants received mental health treatment during MHC, 72% of those discharged greater than one year received such services. Substance abuse treatment within the CMH system increased during MHC as compared to pre‐MHC (45% compared to 53%) but declined post‐MHC (28% of those discharged). Recidivism outcomes. A primary indicator of MHC is recidivism, measured nationally by new arrests. Since admission into MHC, only 14% of participants were arrested and charged with a new offense - a much lower rate than national averages - particularly, since time between admission to MHC and one year post‐MHC may have been as long as 2-years. Prior to MHC, 81% of participants spent time in jail, averaging 39 days. During MHC, 54% of participants spent time in jail, averaging 24 days. This represents a statewide saving of 10,074 jail bed days. To date, a reduction of 15,991 jail bed days is seen when comparing the pre‐MHC to post‐MHC periods for the 450 participants discharged. Among participants discharged one‐year (n=236), long‐term outcomes indicate 43% spent time in jail post‐MHC and 4% were incarcerated in state prisons. Successful program completion strongly predicts the absence of recidivism. Individual Factors Influencing Outcomes. Mental health diagnosis was found to have no effect on completion, treatment attainment or recidivism. However, the presence of COD predicted less favorable completion, more time in jail during MHC and higher proportion of new arrests/convictions. Similarly, those with felony offenses were less likely to complete, and when they did, they spent more time in MHC. Interestingly, those with felony offenses had significant reductions in jail days when comparing pre- and post‐MHC periods regardless of completion status. Importantly, there was no difference in new arrest/convictions between those who entered with a felony versus a misdemeanor. System‐level Factors Influencing Outcomes. Outcome variations related to court type (felony, misdemeanor/civil, or mixed) were similar to those above, with courts focused on felony cases having the greatest reduction in jail days. Examining the level of integration between the courts and treatment staff (high vs. low), high integration courts had lower lengths of stay and less time to treatment. Although those in low integration courts were more likely to complete MHC, those in high integration courts were more likely to experience greater reductions in jail days and higher treatment participation. Implementation and piloting of MHCs across Michigan has been successful, and many quantitative indicators as well as personal stories demonstrate positive outcomes. Based upon the body of knowledge amassed in this report, the following are areas for future consideration that may expand positive outcomes: 1) Enhance the level of integration between courts and treatment; 2) Consider matching risk level with length or intensity of court supervision; 3) Extend use of rewards to encourage longer length of stays and positive completion; 4) Increase attention to COD, integration of mental health and substance abuse treatment, and continuity of care post‐MHC to support ongoing recovery. Details: East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2012. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2017 at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/Statewide_MHC_Evaluation_-_Aggregate_Report_Final_103112_w_seal_407300_7.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/Statewide_MHC_Evaluation_-_Aggregate_Report_Final_103112_w_seal_407300_7.pdf Shelf Number: 147445 Keywords: Mental Health Courts Mental Health Treatment Mentally Ill Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Flower, Shawn M. Title: Outcome Evaluation of Call-in Meetings Conducted in Maryland under Project Safe Neighborhoods Summary: Conducted by IGSR in partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland, and the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, the research reported here builds on a prior IGSR report, Process Evaluation of Call-in Meetings Conducted in Maryland under Project Safe Neighborhoods. The purpose of this outcome evaluation is to assess the impact of call-in meetings held in five Maryland jurisdictions on the recidivism of participants attending the meetings. Targeting newly-released parolees with histories of gun-related and violent offenses, the call-in meetings are described in detail on pages 20-33 of the process evaluation report. The outcome study employs a quasi-experimental design and compares call-in participants' rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration outcomes with those of a group of persons with similar criminal histories who did not attend the meetings. The call-in sample includes participants of 18 call-in meetings held in the City of Annapolis, Baltimore City, and the City of Frederick and in Anne Arundel and Prince George's Counties. Reviewed on pages 7 through 13 of the process evaluation report, the few studies that have examined recidivism among participants of call-in meetings have yielded mixed results. This research will contribute to our understanding of the effectiveness of call-in meetings for reducing crime among violent offenders. Research Questions and Hypotheses Research questions and hypotheses for the outcome evaluation were focused in three areas: 1. Recidivism of call-in participants a. What percentage of participants are rearrested, reconvicted, and reincarcerated for up to three years following participation in the meetings? What is their frequency of rearrest and reconviction during the follow-up period? What are the types and severity of charges among those recidivating? b. Of those recidivating, what is the time between participation and rearrest and reconviction? 2. Recidivism reduction comparisons between study groups a. Hypothesis: The percentage of call-in participants recidivating will be lower than that of comparison group offenders with similar demographics and criminal histories. b. Hypothesis: Of those recidivating in both groups, the time to first rearrest and reconviction will be longer than that of comparison group offenders. c. Hypothesis: Of those recidivating in both groups, call-in participants will be less likely to be arrested and convicted for violent offenses than comparison group offenders. 3. Factors affecting recidivism and recidivism reduction comparisons between study groups a. What is the relationship between background factors (demographics, criminal histories) and recidivism in both study groups? b. Hypothesis: Lower recidivism rates among call-in participants relative to comparison group subjects will be observed controlling statistically for group differences in demographics and criminal histories Details: College Park, MD: Institute for Governmental Service and Research, University of Maryland, 2016. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2017 at: http://www.igsr.umd.edu/applied_research/Pubs/OutcomeEvaluationProjectSafeNeighborhoods_042016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.igsr.umd.edu/applied_research/Pubs/OutcomeEvaluationProjectSafeNeighborhoods_042016.pdf Shelf Number: 147452 Keywords: Parole Supervision Parolees Recidivism Violent Offenders

Author: Fleury, Megan M. Title: Process Evaluation of Call-in Meetings Conducted in Maryland under Project Safe Neighborhoods Summary: Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program to combat gun violence that is coordinated by U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the country. The University of Maryland's Institute for Governmental Service and Research (IGSR) is the research partner to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland, on PSN through grant PSNM-2013-0001, administered by the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP). One approach to implementing PSN nationally and in Maryland is the use of offender call-in meetings. High risk offenders are called in and notified of the consequences they could face, including federal prosecution, if they reoffend using a gun. In many jurisdictions, service providers attend the meetings to apprise offenders of programs available to help them succeed. Because there is only limited research concerning the effectiveness of call-in meetings, the U.S. Attorney's Office, GOCCP, and IGSR decided to focus research efforts on evaluating the Maryland call-in meetings. This report contains the results of the process evaluation of call-in meetings in five Maryland jurisdictions: the City of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, the City of Frederick, and Prince George�s County. Another report will be issued after an outcome evaluation of the meetings is completed. A review of existing literature found evaluations that attributed reductions in crime to PSN programs incorporating call-in meetings as well as programs employing call-in meetings that pre-dated creation of PSN. However, studies that focus specifically on the effectiveness of call-in meetings have yielded mixed results. Call-in meetings in Chicago reduced recidivism and the seriousness of subsequent crimes committed by meeting participants. Call-in meetings in Indianapolis increased participants' awareness of law enforcement efforts, but did not result in lower recidivism rates among participants. The meetings in Chicago and Indianapolis had similar formats. However, Chicago targeted the most violent offenders in the most crime-ridden neighborhoods, while Indianapolis invited a broader set of offenders to its meetings. Chicago also emphasized the legitimacy of law enforcement efforts to reduce violence. In Indianapolis, a failure of law enforcement to follow through with increased oversight and sanctions of targeted offenders may have weakened the meetings' effects. In Maryland, PSN has been implemented in conjunction with two other programs, Maryland Exile and the Safe Streets initiative. Maryland Exile focuses on federal prosecution of the most violent repeat offenders. Safe Streets uses a set of criteria to identify offenders who will receive increased attention from law enforcement. Both programs utilize call-in meetings to communicate with their respective target group. Through review of documents provided by PSN partners, interviews with meeting organizers, and observation of meetings, the IGSR researchers conducted a process evaluation of call-in meetings in Maryland. Offenders in the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) are the target population, with four of the five jurisdictions inviting the most violent VPI offenders to their call-in meetings. Anne Arundel County invites all VPI offenders and has call-in meetings with 80 to 100 offenders in attendance. The other jurisdictions typically limit meetings to 30 or 40 offenders. Targeting call-in meetings to the most violent offenders is consistent with the successful approach used in Chicago and in programs that led to creation of PSN. As is the case nationally, the meetings in Maryland jurisdictions generally combine a deterrent message and a message of support. Representatives of the local police department, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the State's Attorney's Office speak at the meetings in every jurisdiction. Offenders are told that they risk federal prosecution and harsh sanctions if they are rearrested for a violent crime. The emphasis is on deterrence, although all the jurisdictions except Annapolis invite service providers to the meetings. The smaller jurisdictions provide offenders with personalized pamphlets describing the consequences of reoffending, given their individual criminal histories. The larger jurisdictions provide examples of offenders who have been prosecuted in the federal system. Meetings in Baltimore City have the broadest community involvement, including a member of the clergy, an ex-offender, and residents affected by violence. These participants help reinforce the anti-violence message and provide legitimacy to law enforcement efforts. The other Maryland jurisdictions should consider incorporating this feature into their call-in meetings. Meeting organizers in some of the Maryland jurisdictions expressed concern over whether meeting participants that reoffend are actually receiving federal prosecution and harsher sanctions. They worry that their credibility will be harmed if this is not happening. Some meeting organizers would like to have more service providers at the meeting and more programs available to help offenders succeed. The meeting organizers that were interviewed for the process evaluation generally believe that call-in meetings have contributed to reductions in violent crime. The extent to which this is the case will be addressed by the planned outcome evaluation. A caveat regarding the findings and conclusions presented in this report is that they are based on interviews with a limited number of individuals in only four of the five jurisdictions and observations of call-in meetings in only four of the five jurisdictions. Key staff in Baltimore City departed the program before they could be interviewed, and the City of Annapolis did not conduct a call-in meeting during the time-frame of the process evaluation. Details: College Park, MD: Institute for Governmental Service and Research, University of Maryland, 2016. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2017 at: http://www.igsr.umd.edu/applied_research/Pubs/ProcessEvaluationProjectSafeNeighborhoods_032416.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.igsr.umd.edu/applied_research/Pubs/ProcessEvaluationProjectSafeNeighborhoods_032416.pdf Shelf Number: 147453 Keywords: Crime Prevention Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Project Safe Neighborhoods Recidivism Violence Prevention

Author: Drago, Francesco Title: The Political Cost of Being Soft on Crime: Evidence from a Natural Experiment Summary: We provide evidence about voters' response to crime control policies. We exploit a natural experiment arising from the Italian 2006 collective pardon releasing about one third of the prison population. The pardon created idiosyncratic incentives to recidivate across released individuals and municipalities. We show that municipalities where resident pardoned individuals have a higher incentive to recidivate experienced higher recidivism. Moreover, in these municipalities: i) newspapers were more likely to report crime news involving pardoned individuals; ii) voters held worse beliefs on the incumbent governments ability to control crime and iii) with respect to the previous elections, the incumbent national government experienced a worse electoral performance in the April 2008 national elections relative to the opposition coalition. Overall, our findings indicate that voters keep incumbent politicians accountable by conditioning their vote on the observed effects of their policies. Details: Unpublished paper, 2017. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper Series No. 6532: Accessed October 3, 2017 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2875317 Year: 2017 Country: Italy URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2875317 Shelf Number: 147531 Keywords: Politics and Crime Recidivism Voting Behavior

Author: Nochajski, Thomas H. Title: Hillside Children's Center: Livingston County Youth Court and Community Services Evaluation Summary: From 2008 to 2010, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Social Work conducted an evaluation of the Hillside Children's Center - Community Service Livingston County Youth Court (LCYC) program. Analyses focused on the recidivism (readmission) rates of children ages 12-17 who participated in their program. A particular strength of this evaluation is the use of a mixed method design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data elements. Additionally, the ability to integrate research and clinical practice with client outcomes provides an added strength to this evaluation, ultimately building the knowledge base in an effort to more appropriately meet the needs of the children and adolescents that Hillside Children's Center serves. Based on the initial goals and the interest in having enough allotted time to track follow-up recidivism rates, prospective data was not collected for this evaluation. Beginning in the year 2006, participants entered the LCYC and continued receiving services until 2008. Following discharge, the year of 2009 serves as the follow-up period for this evaluation. With a vast amount of rich data, pretest information utilized for this evaluation was collected by Hillside Children's Center which included program participant information. Additionally, information was collected from Livingston County Probation (Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument [YASI] Recidivism information) and Livingston County Department of Social Services (LC-DSS) (Placement information). The qualitative data collection component of this evaluation consisted of either a face-to-face or a telephone interview, and included multiple sources: LCYC participants and their parents, LCYC volunteers and their parents, LC Probation, and Hillside Children's Center staff. Due to constraints based on the relatively low rates of recidivism and placement, the available size of the sample was quite small, which perhaps reduces the power to detect significant differences between the groups, essentially elevating the risk for Type I errors. As a result, information on marginal trends (p<.25) is also presented. Because of limited power and the increased chance of causality related to a random occurrence, evaluators considered nearly all other potential elements or variables that may help improve existing Hillside Children's Center programs, with the understanding that these factors will need to be evaluated further. This information could perhaps point to areas of future investigation, in addition to potentially saving time, effort, and monetary costs associated with future data collection. The current evaluation utilized data from 120 participants, of which 55 were LCYC participants and 65 were Community Service Only (CSO) participants. To increase the accuracy of comparisons and results, the two groups were matched on age and gender. Although evaluators were unable to locate a true control group of juvenile offenders who did not experience LCYC or community services in Livingston County, which is the reason for use of the CSO as the comparison, information was found for comparison groups from various other states that were included in an evaluation of teen courts from 2002. While not ideal, the addition of these comparison groups in this evaluation does provide some useful information concerning recidivism among youth. Lastly, evaluators also considered cost-effectiveness of the LCYC program using recidivism and placement rates as the results or outcomes of interest. For purposes of this executive summary, the Livingston County Youth Court group will be referred to as LCYC, and the Community Services Program Only group will be referred to as CSO. Details: Buffalo, NY: State University of New York at Buffalo, 2010. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2017 at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54231470e4b00cb5c6464dc7/t/547d4e82e4b0756a4a5d2c35/1417498242299/Youth+court+evaluation+_1110.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54231470e4b00cb5c6464dc7/t/547d4e82e4b0756a4a5d2c35/1417498242299/Youth+court+evaluation+_1110.pdf Shelf Number: 147547 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Services Juvenile Court Juvenile Diversion Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Probation Recidivism Youth Court

Author: Baldwin, Molly Title: From Evidence-Based Practices to a Comprehensive Intervention Model for High-Risk Young Men: The Story of Roca Summary: Researchers of criminal behavior are taking a more data-driven approach to community corrections. Rather than focusing solely on professional experience or anecdotal successes - key factors that often drive public policy in social services - they are identifying evidence-based practices that rely on empirical research and produce measurable outcomes. The challenge for providers is to bridge the gap between theoretical best practices and practicable intervention models that reduce recidivism rates and keep communities safe. One organization that is finding success in bridging this gap is Massachusetts-based Roca, Inc. Established in 1988, Roca has worked with high-risk young people in various communities across Massachusetts. Roca has served thousands of young men and women facing multiple challenges, including young parents, immigrants, youth involved in gangs, and other at-risk young people. Along the way, though, Roca witnessed a troubling reality: Despite its commitment to help youth stay out of harm's way, and the fact that individuals were attending programming in large numbers and the organization was thriving, the same individuals were in trouble again days, weeks, or months later. As a result, Roca leadership grew less confident that it was doing more good than harm. It started searching for a different path. Around this time, meta-analysis of practices in the field, conducted by the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) at Community Resources for Justice and the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in 2002, identified a set of eight methods proven successful in reducing recidivism. Roca found the move toward evidence-based practices (EBP) refreshing: These practices were based on specific principles that had been proven successful based on data, rather than anecdotes, and the idea that some interventions work significantly better than others was appealing. The challenge, though, was to develop a comprehensive intervention model based on these practices and to transform the organizational culture into one that embraces data and evidence. Over more than a decade, Roca has undergone tremendous changes. The organization has rigorously examined its practices, collected and analyzed data, changed its interactions with other institutions, and incorporated only those practices that were proven effective. The result of these efforts is Roca's High-Risk Young Men Intervention Model - a four-year, non-mandated model dedicated to serving 17- to 24-year-old men at the highest risk of future incarceration. The Model was implemented in 2011 and now operates in four sites, serving 21 communities across Massachusetts. Roca's rigorous data track ing allows the organization to measure its success in reducing recidivism and increasing employment among high-risk young men. Roca's baseline is the existing criminal justice system outcomes pertaining to young adults: In Massachusetts, 76 percent of the 18- to 24-year-olds released from Houses of Corrections are rearraigned within three years (Mosehauer et al., 2016), and nationally, 78 percent of those released from state or federal prison at the ages of 18 to 24 are rearrested within three years (Schiraldi, Western, and Bradner, 2015). Roca's outcomes are dramatically different. Roca retains 84 percent of participants annually, despite the fact that these are high-risk young people who are not ready, willing, or able to participate in programming. After completing the first two years of the program, participants significantly reduce their criminal behaviors: 93 percent are not rearrested, 95 percent are not reincarcerated, and 88 percent of those on probation comply with their conditions. In addition, graduates demonstrate significant employment gains: Although 83 percent of participants come to Roca with no employment history, 84 percent of those enrolled longer than 21 months are placed in a job; 92 percent of them keep the job longer than three months, and 87 percent keep it for six months or more. This paper focuses on the gap between research- and theory-based practices and a fully functioning intervention model, and how Roca has worked to bridge this gap and achieve the above-mentioned outcomes. Part I reviews the eight evidence-based practices in community corrections as identified by CJI and NIC. Part II explores how Roca learned of these principles and how it worked internally to integrate them and develop its Intervention Model. Part III explains Roca's Intervention Model and revisits the eight evidence-based practices, explaining how each one is implemented in the Model. The conclusion draws some lessons from Roca's work with evidence-based practices and suggests that Roca's Model is an alternative to traditional community corrections. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard Kennedy School Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, 2017. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: New Thinking in Community Corrections: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/NTCC_Evidence-based_practices_final_laser_8-28-17_508_v2.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/NTCC_Evidence-based_practices_final_laser_8-28-17_508_v2.pdf Shelf Number: 147679 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Criminal Justice Policy Evidence-Based Practices Recidivism Young Adult Offenders

Author: Mock, Lynne Title: Performance incentive funding for prison diversion: An implementation study of the Winnebago County Adult Redeploy Illinois Program Summary: Research demonstrates the effectiveness of drug courts, which have been linked to a reduction of recidivism rates among participants. A meta-analytic review of 154 drug courts, including 92 adult drug courts, conducted by Mitchell, Wilson, Eggers, & Mackenzie found that the majority of adult drug court participants had lower rates of recidivism compared to non-participants. Drug court participants had a recidivism rate of 38 percent compared to 50 percent for non-participants. A more recent study found significantly lower rates of recidivism for drug court graduates: 21 percent compared to 60 percent for those who were terminated from a drug court program. Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) awards funds to counties to divert adult non-violent individuals from state prisons by developing and implementing evidence-based supervision programs which are linked to treatment and supportive services in their communities. ARI is a performance incentive funding program whereby continued funding is based on meeting performance measures including a reduction in the number of prison admissions from a defined eligible target population. A monetary penalty may be assessed by the ARI Oversight Board when a program fails to meet its target reduction. This report presents an implementation evaluation of the ARI-funded Winnebago County Drug Court (WCDC) using qualitative and quantitative approaches. It covers the initial pilot phase of the program, which ran from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. Data collection included four components: (1) interviews with staff and stakeholders, (2) interviews with probationers, (3) analysis of program administrative data, and (4) criminal history record information. Key Findings Based on program administrative data, WCDC probationers were mostly white, single males who were on average 32 years old and had some high school education. Most were unemployed and living with a family member. Almost half were heroin-dependent. Over half the probationers were assessed as exhibiting a high risk for recidivism, and over one-third exhibited a moderate risk. During the pilot phase, WCDC staff enrolled 128 probationers, 122 were successfully diverted from prison, and six were re-sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). WCDC exceeded its required 25-percent reduction in prison admissions of 37 individuals by 329 percent. Most of the probationers continued in the program after 18 months. In interviews, probationers identified their service needs as housing, educational resources, job referrals, transportation, identification, financial assistance, and medical assistance. All probationers reported that they received transportation resources. Most received educational and job training resources, about half received assistance with identification, and about one fourth received housing and financial assistance. None received medical assistance, although a fifth of those interviewed requested it. The top three needs: housing, education, and job referrals, were resolved at different levels. Details: Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2017. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 16, 2017 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/WCDC_implementation_evaluation_100417.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/WCDC_implementation_evaluation_100417.pdf Shelf Number: 147689 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Diversion Drug Courts Drug Offenders Probationers Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Wang, Joanna JJ Title: Intensive corrections orders versus short prison sentence: A comparison of re-offending Summary: Aim: To compare reoffending rates between those who received an intensive correction order (ICO) and those who received short prison sentence (less than two years). Method: Offenders' demographic characteristics, index offence characteristics, prior convictions and penalties, LSI-R score and re-offences were extracted from the Re-offending Database maintained by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Using logistic regression model with inverse probability of treatment weighting, the effect of penalty choice on re-offending was estimated. Doubly robust estimation and bivariate probit model with an instrumental variable were also used to address potential model misspecification and endogeneity of penalty assignment. As a sensitivity analysis, separate modelling was performed for offenders who were in medium to high risk categories and the prison group was restricted to those with 6 months or less fixed term. Results: There was a 11%-31% reduction in the odds of re-offending for an offender who received an ICO compared with an offender who received a prison sentence of up to 24 months. The bivariate probit model with an instrumental variable did not reveal a significant effect or evidence of endogeneity. Conclusion: These results further strengthen the evidence base suggesting that supervision combined with rehabilitation programs can have a significant impact on reoffending rates Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2017. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 207: Accessed October 19, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/113866/apo-nid113866-449821.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/113866/apo-nid113866-449821.pdf Shelf Number: 147729 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community-based Corrections Intensive Supervision Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Gobeil, Renee Title: Releases of Men Offenders Classified as Medium and Maximum Security Summary: In recent years, the percentage of men offenders released at their statutory release dates has been increasing, and many of these releases occur from medium and maximum security institutions. This study was undertaken to follow up on these patterns both by examining the risks associated with release directly from medium- and maximum-security institutions and by exploring the factors that may be associated with not being granted parole and/or with not cascading, or transferring,to a minimum-security institution prior to release. Analyses included all 4,455 male offenders released on day or full parole or on statutory release in fiscal year 2013-14. Of these, most were classified as minimum (45%) or medium (49%) security at release. Analyses focused on comparing the groups of offenders using administrative data. In addition, thematic analyses were used to analyze data in narrative security review and parole recommendation assessments. Offenders released from higher levels of security had higher rates of suspensions, revocations, and re-offences in the year following release. These differences remained present when analyses were limited to only statutorily-released offenders, and relative differences remained very similar regardless of the special conditions imposed at release (e.g., residency condition). In other words, results aligned with previous findings that offenders released from higher levels of security were more likely to return to custody, even after accounting for certain offender differences. The second series of analyses focused on identifying possible factors associated with offenders not cascading to lower levels of security prior to release, and/or being released on statutory release rather than on day or full parole. Offenders statutorily-released from different security levels differed importantly even at intake, suggesting that many differences were present prior to their periods of incarceration rather than developed while in custody. Offenders classified as medium or maximum security at release and those who were statutorily released were consistently higher risk, less engaged in their correctional plan, less motivated and less accountable. They also had more institutional misbehaviour and lacked insight or responsibility regarding their offences. Perhaps more interesting, however, were findings relating to opportunities. Over a third (38%) of offenders statutorily-released while classified as medium or maximum security did not undergo a security classification review (e.g., due to the short length of their sentence, or to avoid a negative outcome) - in other words, they did not have or take the chance to be reclassified to a lower level of security. Moreover, a considerable number of offenders classified as medium and maximum security waived or withdrew their opportunities to be considered for discretionary release (i.e., day or full parole). Overall, these findings suggest that it is not only characteristics of offenders that are contributing to these release patterns but also opportunities missed or not taken. As such, it may be fruitful to develop action plans that facilitate offenders transferring to minimum security prior to their release. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: 2015 N R-376: Accessed October 19, 2017 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-376-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-376-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 147734 Keywords: Male Prisoners Parole Parolees Recidivism

Author: Torrey, E. Fuller Title: Treat or Repeat: A State Survey of Serious Mental Illness, Major Crimes and Community Treatment Summary: Individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes represent 2% of the estimated 8.2 million individuals with a severe psychiatric disease in the United States. Although this is a small segment of the total population, research shows that, without treatment, these individuals are at heightened risk of being re-arrested after their release from jail or prison or discharge from a forensic hospital. Because the timely and effective treatment of individuals with the most severe mental illness is the focus of its mission, the Treatment Advocacy Center conducted a survey of selected state systems and structures available to individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes. The states were graded from A to F based on the availability and comprehensiveness of these practices. The result, Treat or Repeat: A State Survey of Serious Mental illness, Major Crimes and Community Treatment, finds this population is often overlooked in programming and funding decisions. The report recommends prioritizing evidence-based treatment to reduce re-arrest of individuals with serious mental illness who have a history of violence. Top Takeaway Evidence-based programs for individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes allow individuals to succeed in the community following reentry from jail or prison or after discharge from a forensic psychiatric bed by providing complete and intensive treatment. However, no state in the United States utilizes them comprehensively or effectively. Fast Facts No state received an A grade. The majority of states do not provide adequate support in the community for individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes, resulting in higher re-arrest rates and all the attendant human and economic costs of re-incarceration. Evidence-based programs can reduce the risk of re-arrest for individuals with serious mental illness living in the community from an average rate of 40%-60% to only 10% or less. The four states that received the best grades under this study - Hawaii, Maine, Missouri and Oregon - are all models that other states should look to for various aspects of their successful programming. Other states with exemplar programs and practices were also identified. Recommendations Federal, state and local governments must create policies to stop the criminalization of individuals with serious mental illness. Federal, state and local governments must prioritize treatment for individuals with serious mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system. State and local governments must implement evidence-based treatment programs for individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes. Researchers and government agencies must conduct research and evaluate programs for individuals with serious mental illness who have committed major crimes to inform best-practices. Details: Arlington, VA: Treatment Advocacy Center, 2017. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2017 at: http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/treat-or-repeat.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/storage/documents/treat-or-repeat.pdf Shelf Number: 147987 Keywords: Evidence-Based Programs Mental Health Mental Health Services Mentally Ill Offenders Mentally Ill Persons Recidivism

Author: National Reentry Resource Center Title: Making People's Transition from Prison and Jail to the Community Safe and Successful: A Snapshot of National Progress in Reentry Summary: One of the most significant developments in criminal justice policy over the past 15 years has been a fundamental shift in thinking about the primary purpose of prisons and jails. Not long ago, elected officials saw the principal responsibility of corrections administrators as providing for the care, custody, and control of people who are incarcerated. Today, there is widespread agreement that government has a responsibility to ensure that when people are released to the community from jail or prison, they are less likely to reoffend than they were at the start of their sentence. Although no single event is associated with this change in philosophy, a key milestone stands out. Late in 2004, Congress set to work on the Second Chance Act, which the House and Senate later passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Elected officials in the nation's capital had made clear that ensuring people's safe and successful transition from prison and jail to the community wasn't a partisan issue, but simply good, smart policy - because anything short of that objective compromises public safety, wastes taxpayer dollars, and undermines the well-being and stability of communities. A decade since the passage of the Second Chance Act, it is time to consider a critical question: Have local, state, and federal efforts to improve reentry outcomes for people under correctional supervision yielded sufficient results? This brief highlights five ways in which state and local governments' approaches to reentry and recidivism reduction are fundamentally different today than they were a decade and a half ago. Details: New York: National Reentry Resource Center, 2017. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2017 at: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6.8.18_A-Snapshot-of-National-Progress-in-Reentry1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6.8.18_A-Snapshot-of-National-Progress-in-Reentry1.pdf Shelf Number: 148048 Keywords: Criminal Justice policy Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Moberg, D. Paul Title: Five Year Recidivism after Arrest for Operating While Intoxicated: A Large-scale Cohort Study Summary: This evaluation addressed questions regarding the effectiveness of Wisconsin's Intoxicated Driver Program (IDP). The focus is on the five-year post-arrest recidivism rate for individual OWI offenders, assessing whether recidivism rates vary by personal characteristics (age group, sex, race/ethnicity, prior offense) of offenders and by contextual variables (county characteristics). We then ask whether the IDP process is effective in helping offenders to attain services and to reduce recidivism. The analysis also examines whether the nature of the driver safety plan (DSP) which recommends specific levels of service (group dynamics education program, outpatient treatment, etc.) and subsequent compliance with the DSP have an impact on recidivism. Methods: We used data on 441,916 OWI arrests in Wisconsin from 2004 to 2014, with links between arrest, conviction, Wisconsin Assessment of the Impaired Driver (WAID; Jacobson et al., 1979) assessment, and compliance data in order to follow the 2004-2008 arrest cohort of 175,466 Wisconsin drivers over the subsequent 60 months. Analysis used descriptive techniques as well as logistic regression, random effects modeling with covariates, and hierarchical linear modeling to address county-level variables. Findings: OWI arrests declined steadily over the 11 years (2004-2014) we analyzed. These rates are likely affected by individual driver's behavior, intensity of law enforcement activity, and other issues. The decline mirrors national trends. Among all of those arrested (n=341,157 individuals with 417,347 arrests) for OWI over the 11 year time period, most (78%) had only one arrest and 17% had two arrests during the 11 years. A few had three (4%) or four (1%) arrests, while only 0.3% (about 1,000 people) had five or more arrests. Taking into account all documented lifetime OWI arrests prior to the study period, based on 417,347 arrests (and not individuals) over the 11 years, 58% were first arrests, 23% were second arrests, 11% were third, 5% were fourth, 2% were fifth arrests and slightly more than 1% were sixth or higher. For the most recent year in this data set (2014) there were 17,134 first arrests (58%), 6,416 second arrests (22%), 3,198 third arrests (11%), 1,475 fourth arrests (5%), 707 fifth arrests (2%), and 539 arrests (1.8%) which were 6th or more. We intensely analyzed data from a 5 year cohort of 175,446 individuals with at least one OWI arrest from 2004 through 2008 (see Figure1). Those with OWI arrests were most often young adult (39% age 20-29) white (82%) males (77%). Among those with any OWI arrest during this 5 year time period, 31% had at least one prior arrest; those with priors were older, more likely to be male, and disproportionately more white or American Indian than those with no priors. Details: Madison, WI: Population Health Institute, University of Wisconsin, 2017. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2017 at: https://uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu/publications/other/IntoxicatedDriverProgram_April2017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://uwphi.pophealth.wisc.edu/publications/other/IntoxicatedDriverProgram_April2017.pdf Shelf Number: 148067 Keywords: Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Bakker, Leon Title: And there was light...Evaluating the Kia Marama treatment programme for New Zealand sex offenders against children Summary: About this evaluation - Kia Marama is the first New Zealand treatment programme for those imprisoned for sexual offences against children. It has run for seven years and its first graduates have lived for up to six years in the community. The time is right for evaluation of the programme's results, and that is the aim of this report. - The Kia Marama programme aims to prevent relapses by teaching offenders their offending is the result of linked steps of thought and behaviour. It offers skills and strategies to break these links, and opportunities for change right from initial assessment, through treatment, to post release. - Two hundred and thirty eight men have been released from prison as graduates of Kia Marama's first three years. A control group similar to the Kia Marama offenders was selected from all sex offenders against children convicted between 1983 and 1987. Comparison of these two groups enables us to assess the impact of the Kia Marama treatment programme. - A more detailed version of this report may be requested from the authors at the Department of Corrections. Key findings - Kia Marama treatment has a significant effect. The Kia Marama group has less than half the number of re-offenders than the control group, and this remains so even when numbers of previous sexual convictions are accounted for. The Kia Marama group has a reconviction rate of 8%, with analysis suggesting a final rate of 10%. (Another five men are likely to reoffend, bringing the total from 19 to 24.) The control group has a reconviction rate of 21%, predicted to rise to 22%. - These differences in reconviction and re-imprisonment suggest the Department of Corrections has reaped net savings of more than $3 million from its treatment of 238 Kia Marama offenders, once programme costs of $2 million are offset against a gross saving of $5.6 million. Less quantifiable social savings also result from fewer offenders and fewer victims. - Comparison between 19 Kia Marama graduates who re-offended and 219 who did not shows re-offenders tend to hold attitudes supporting their offending. Their thinking is often distorted; they accept rape myths and employ impersonal sexual fantasies which are slightly more sadomasochistic. They also have more conservative attitudes to women, internalise their anger, and are less able to empathise. Those who are not reconvicted tend to give up conservative attitudes towards women, but treatment seems to reinforce these beliefs in re-offenders. - Re-offenders tend to have a lower IQ. They are less likely to report female victims, more likely to report male victims or victims of both genders. Reoffenders are almost twice as likely to say their offending began before adulthood, and they report a higher incidence of exhibitionism. They are nearly three times more likely than their non reconvicted counterparts to report the death of a parent or caregiver during childhood, and five times more likely to be judged as having a severe literacy problem. Details: Christchurch [N.Z.] : Psychological Service, Dept. of Corrections, 1998. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2017 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/665635/kiamarama.pdf Year: 1998 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/665635/kiamarama.pdf Shelf Number: 148073 Keywords: Child Molesters Child Sex Abuse Recidivism Sex Offender Treatment Sex Offenders

Author: Wilton, Geoff Title: The additive effects of women offenders' participation in multiple correctional interventions Summary: In the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), in addition to correctional programs, many other services and interventions are provided to women offenders to prepare them for release into the community and, ultimately, to reduce their risk to reoffend. Some of these services include employment and employability programs, educational programs, mental health programs and services, chaplaincy, prison visits, and social programs. While there is evidence suggesting that these types of interventions can have a positive impact on women's rehabilitation and reintegration, there is very little research that attempts to disentangle the relative contribution of participation in multiple interventions or services on women's outcomes. Since in CSC multiple correctional interventions and services are offered throughout the course of offenders' sentences, it is important to examine the extent to which these services provide "additive effects," that is, further improve the outcomes of offenders who participate in correctional programs. This study, therefore, determined the relative contribution of key services and interventions to rates of revocations of conditional release of federally sentenced women. All federally sentenced women admitted to the custody of CSC between September 2009 and August 2013 and released prior to April 13th, 2014 were included in the study (N = 918). The research design first controlled for differences between women offenders based on factors related to offending. Beginning with a control model subsequently applied to all analyses, interventions including CORCAN and CSC employment, education programs, vocational certificates, community employment centre services, prison visits, community correctional programs, and maintenance programs were added, first on their own, then all interventions significantly contributing to outcomes were added together in the final model. Previous research on federally sentenced men had found encouraging results with respect to CSC's overall approach to their rehabilitation. Likewise, this study on federally-sentenced women also found that the combination of services and interventions produced outcomes that significantly improved their chances of success on release. The most promising interventions were: (a) education programs, particularly those that enabled women to get close to obtaining a high school equivalent, (b) participation in community maintenance/booster sessions, and (c) having received at least one prison visit. When all the interventions were included in the model at the same time only prison visits and the number of education courses completed remained uniquely associated with reductions in the rates of revocations. Based on the results we can conclude that, in addition to correctional programs, other services offered to women offenders in CSC are associated with reduced revocations of conditional release even after controlling for risk factors associated with outcomes. This suggests that there are several methods by which CSC works to improve women's success on release in addition to offering correctional programs. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, 2015. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2017 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-369-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-369-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 148098 Keywords: Correctional Programs Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Rempel, Michael Title: NIJ's Multisite Evaluation of Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs: Strategies, Impacts, and Cost-Effectiveness Summary: In recent years, a growing number of prosecutors have established pretrial diversion programs, either pre-filing-before charges are filed with the court-or post-filing-after the court process begins but before a disposition. Participating defendants must complete assigned treatment, services, or other diversion requirements. If they do, the charges are typically dismissed. With funding from the National Institute of Justice, the current study examined 16 prosecutor-led diversion programs in 11 jurisdictions across the country, and conducted impact evaluations of five programs and cost evaluations of four programs. Goals of Prosecutor-Led Diversion - Multiple Goals: Diversion programs of the 1970s tended to prioritize defendant rehabilitation and recidivism reduction. Today, these goals occupy a less preeminent role. The most commonly endorsed goals in our sample of programs were: (1) administrative efficiency/cost savings-by routing many cases away from traditional prosecution and redirecting resources to other more serious cases; and (2) reducing convictions and collateral consequences for defendants. Target Populations - Timing of Diversion Participation: Of 15 programs in the study, eight were post-filing, three were pre-filing, and four programs enrolled participants either prior to or after filing charges with the court depending on case specifics (mixed model). - Misdemeanors and Felonies: Unlike programs of the 1970s, current models are not exclusively focused on the lowest level cases. Instead, nine of 15 programs we examined either targeted felonies or a mix of misdemeanors and felonies. - Specialist Programs: Six of 15 programs targeted specific types of crimes, most often drug or marijuana possession, although one program in Hennepin County, MN targeted both felony-level drug and property cases and another program in Phoenix, Arizona targeted misdemeanor prostitution cases. - Risk-Informed Decision-Making: The programs we examined generally made eligibility determinations based on charge and criminal history, not validated risk assessments. A notable exception was in Milwaukee, which adopted a universal riskinformed screening protocol, leading low-risk defendants to be routed to a brief, pre-filing program and medium-risk defendants to be routed to a more intensive post filing program, with services tailored to each defendant's needs. Program Mandates - Standardized vs. Individualized: Of 15 programs examined, five utilize a "one size fits all" approach, whereas ten programs use individualized mandates to some degree, assigning different types of services based on defendants' needs. - Educational vs. Therapeutic Models: Thirteen of the 15 programs link at least some participants to educational classes about the relevant problem behavior, including classes about drugs, driving, theft, prostitution, weapons, health, and/or parenting. Staff at only one program cited the consistent use of evidence-based cognitive-behavioral approaches, although two additional programs use these approaches with some cases. - Community Restoration: Ten of the 15 programs order at least some participants to perform community service. In addition, four programs use restorative justice groups with at least some participants., Restorative justice represents a core organizing principle of the model for San Francisco's Neighborhood Courts diversion program and Los Angeles' newly created Neighborhood Justice Initiative. Case Outcomes, Recidivism, and Cost - Case Outcomes: All five programs participating in impact evaluations (two in Cook County, two in Milwaukee, and one in Chittenden County, VT) reduced the likelihood of conviction-often by a sizable magnitude. All five programs also reduced the likelihood of a jail sentence (significant in four and approaching significance in the fifth program). - Re-Arrest: Four of five programs reduced the likelihood of re-arrest at two years from program enrollment (with at least one statistically significant finding for three programs and at least one finding approaching significance in the fourth). The fifth site did not change re-arrest outcomes. - Cost: All four programs whose investment costs were examined (two in Cook County and one each in Chittenden and San Francisco) produced sizable cost and resource savings. Not surprisingly, savings were greatest in the two pre-filing programs examined, which do not entail any court processing for program completers. All three programs whose output costs were examined (i.e., omitting the San Francisco site) also produced output savings, mainly stemming from less use of probation and jail sentences. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2017. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2018 at: https://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2017/Pretrial_Diversion_Overview_ProvRel.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2017/Pretrial_Diversion_Overview_ProvRel.pdf Shelf Number: 148845 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Diversion Programs Pretrial Diversion Prosecutors Recidivism

Author: Hunt, Priscillia Title: Breaking Down Barriers: Experiments into Policies That Might Incentivize Employers to Hire Ex-Offenders Summary: The rate of criminal punishment in the United States has had far-reaching economic consequences, in large part because people with criminal records are marginalized within the labor market. Given these negative economic implications, federal, state and local officials have developed a host of policies to encourage employers to hire ex-offenders, with varying degrees of success. To inform policies and programs aimed at improving employment rates for ex-offenders, we examined employer preferences regarding policy options targeted to incentivize hiring individuals with one nonviolent felony conviction. In our experiments, we found employers were 69 percent more likely to consider hiring an ex-offender if a hiring agency also provides a guaranteed replacement worker in the event the ex-offender was deemed unsuitable and 53 percent more likely to hire an ex-offender who can provide a certificate of validated positive previous work performance history. Having consistent transportation provided by a hiring agency increased the likelihood of being considered for hire by 33 percent. Employers also were found to be 30 percent more likely to consider an ex-offender for hire if the government increases the tax credit from 25 percent of the worker's wages (up to $2,500) to 40 percent (up to $5,000) - double the current maximum amount allowed by the Work Opportunity Tax Credit - and 24 percent more likely to hire an ex-offender if the government completed all tax-related paperwork. Key Findings Worker Replacement and Fee Discounts Increase Hiring Prospects for Ex-Offenders With a baseline policy of a discount on a staffing agency fee set at 25 percent of the hourly wage and post-conviction certification verifying adherence to company rules or code of safe practices, 4.3 out of 10 employers would consider hiring an ex-offender. With the same baseline policy and a guaranteed replacement worker program, in which an agency would send a replacement worker if the ex-offender is unsuitable, that number rises to 7.3 out of 10. Six in ten employers would advance a candidate with this professional and criminal background if the candidate used a staffing agency with a 50-percent discount instead of a 25-percent discount. Tax Credits Have a Similarly Positive Effect With a baseline policy of a tax credit for 25 percent of a worker's wages (up to $2,500) after a worker has put in 120 hours and a post-conviction certification verifying adherence to company rules or code of safe practices, 5.9 out of 10 employers would consider hiring an ex-offender. With the same baseline policy and a 40-percent tax credit (up to $5,000), the number rises to 7.7 employers out of 10. Seven in ten employers would advance the candidate if the government, rather than the employer, completed the relevant tax forms to receive the tax credit. Employer Access to Previous Performance Could Factor into Hiring With the same baseline policy as considered for tax credits and a certificate of validated work performance history, that number rises from 5.9 out of 10 employers to 8.1 out of 10. Employer Concerns in Hiring Ex-Offenders From a specific list provided in the survey, the top-cited concern was "any violent felony conviction," which was chosen as the most important issue by 53.3 percent of respondents and as the second most important issue by 24.5 percent of respondents. This may partially reflect concerns related to negligent hiring liability, but it may reflect other issues, as well. Another primary concern stated by employers was "skills to get the job done," which was ranked as the first or second most important issue to consider by 45.4 percent of respondents. Recommendations Staffing agencies and reentry or reintegration programs could increase the likelihood of employment for people with a criminal record if they guarantee prospective employers a replacement employee. State policymakers should consider expanding post-conviction certification programs. Across both the tax credit and staffing agency discount experiments, employers demonstrate a clear preference for wanting to know whether an ex-offender job candidate has a consistent work history and verifiable positive employment references versus simply knowing whether the person follows company codes of conduct. Tax agencies should consider reducing the paperwork that companies have to fill out for credits. Government agencies could also consider providing help to prepare and submit the forms. Ensuring reliable transportation to and from a job site for candidates with a criminal record increases the likelihood an employer will support hiring such individuals. As with reducing paperwork, the impact of this policy is more limited than many of our other tested policy features. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2018. 28p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 19, 2018 at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2142.html Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2142.html Shelf Number: 148870 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offender Employment Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: The Impact of Community-Based Drug and Alcohol treatment on Re-Offending: Joint experimental statistical report from the Ministry of Justice and Public Health England. Summary: This experimental statistical report contains initial findings from a project that has linked data from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) held by Public Health England (PHE) with data on offenders held by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The aim of this report is to improve the evidence base of the links between community-based treatment for substance misuse and changes in re-offending. This ad-hoc release includes key sections on: - Characteristics associated with offending in the two-years before and after starting treatment (sections 3 and 7); - The offending profile both before and after starting treatment (section 4 and 5); - Change in offending (section 6); - Offending during prison or treatment (section 8). This report contains initial findings from analysing the final matched dataset to support policy development and is intended to demonstrate the potential utility in linking treatment and offending data. Future publications may follow as our investigations into the links between substance misuse, treatment and re-offending are expanded. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2017. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2018 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/28059/1/PHE-Community_based_drug_and_alcohol_treatment.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/28059/1/PHE-Community_based_drug_and_alcohol_treatment.pdf Shelf Number: 149139 Keywords: Alcohol Treatment Programs Community-Based Programs Drug Offender Treatment Drug Treatment Programs Recidivism Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: New York University Center on the Administration of Criminal Law Title: Disrupting the Cycle: Reimagining the Prosecutor's Role in Reentry: A Guide to Best Practices Summary: The report provides concrete recommendations that prosecutors can implement in order to focus on reentry and target the risk of recidivism. The report proceeds in four parts: PART I focuses on reforms that prosecutors can implement at the "front end" of the process, including considering how prosecutorial discretion at various stages of a criminal case can impact defendants' risk of recidivism and affect their reentry process. This includes using discretion to make screening and charging decisions, considering diversion and other alternatives to incarceration, supporting pretrial release of defendants where appropriate, and considering the use of creative sentencing alternatives; PART II focuses on reforms that prosecutors can implement at the "back end" of the process to begin preparing for an incarcerated individual's eventual reentry to their community. This includes prerelease reentry planning, and removing barriers that interfere with their ability to reintegrate into their communities, such as obtaining identification and drivers' licenses, providing them opportunities to expunge their convictions and reduce fines that may burden them upon release, and collaborating with employers and community-based resources; PART III focuses on the prosecutor as office leader and highlights office-wide reforms that can shift office culture to include anti-recidivism concerns as part of a broader focus on public safety; and PART IV focuses on the prosecutor's role in the larger community and how he or she can use his or her power to engage a diverse group of stakeholders in outreach and education initiatives, including legislative reforms designed to target recidivism at the front and back ends of the justice system. Details: New York: NYU Center on the Administration of Criminal Law, 2017. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2018 at: http://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/upload_documents/CACL%20Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/files/upload_documents/CACL%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 149228 Keywords: Offender Reintegration Prisoner Reentry Prosecutorial Discretion Prosecutors Recidivism

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Federal Prisons: Information on Inmates with Serious Mental Illness and Strategies to Reduce Recidivism Summary: About two-thirds of inmates with a serious mental illness in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) were incarcerated for four types of offenses-drug (23 percent), sex offenses (18 percent), weapons and explosives (17 percent), and robbery (8 percent)-as of May 27, 2017. GAO's analysis found that BOP inmates with serious mental illness were incarcerated for sex offenses, robbery, and homicide/aggravated assault at about twice the rate of inmates without serious mental illness, and were incarcerated for drug and immigration offenses at about half or less the rate of inmates without serious mental illness. GAO also analyzed available data on three selected states' inmate populations and the most common crimes committed by inmates with serious mental illness varied from state to state due to different law enforcement priorities, definitions of serious mental illness and methods of tracking categories of crime in their respective data systems. BOP does not track costs related to incarcerating or providing mental health care services to inmates with serious mental illness, but BOP and selected states generally track these costs for all inmates. BOP does not track costs for inmates with serious mental illness in part because it does not track costs for individual inmates due to resource restrictions and the administrative burden such tracking would require. BOP does track costs associated with mental health care services system-wide and by institution. System-wide, for fiscal year 2016, BOP spent about $72 million on psychology services, $5.6 million on psychotropic drugs and $4.1 million on mental health care in residential reentry centers. The six state departments of corrections each used different methods and provided GAO with estimates for different types of mental health care costs. For example, two states provided average per-inmate costs of incarceration for mental health treatment units where some inmates with serious mental illness are treated; however, these included costs for inmates without serious mental illness housed in those units. DOJ, Department of Health and Human Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and criminal justice and mental health experts have developed a framework to reduce recidivism among adults with mental illness. The framework calls for correctional agencies to assess individuals' recidivism risk and substance abuse and mental health needs and target treatment to those with the highest risk of reoffending. To help implement this framework, SAMHSA, in collaboration with DOJ and other experts, developed guidance for mental health, correctional, and community stakeholders on (1) assessing risk and clinical needs, (2) planning treatment in custody and upon reentry based on risks and needs, (3) identifying post-release services, and (4) coordinating with community-based providers to avoid gaps in care. BOP and the six states also identified strategies for reducing recidivism consistent with this guidance, such as memoranda of understanding between correctional and mental health agencies to coordinate care. Further, GAO's literature review found that programs that reduced recidivism among offenders with mental illness generally offered multiple support services, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, case management, and housing assistance. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2018. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-18-182: Accessed February 27, 2018 at: https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/690279.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/690279.pdf Shelf Number: 149264 Keywords: Federal Prisons Mental Health Services Mentally Ill Inmates Prisoners Prisons Recidivism

Author: McCann, Ellen P. Title: The District's Youth Rehabilitation Act: An Analysis Summary: On December 22, 2016, Mayor Bowser requested that the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) conduct analysis on the District's Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA). The specific questions to be examined include: how is the YRA applied; what is the recidivism rate of those who received it; and, what programming is available to those sentenced under YRA? In addition to the Mayor's research request, on the same day, Councilmember Allen requested that the CJCC address: how many times YRA was applied to felonies, and later resulted in a set aside; how many later committed another felony, particularly with a weapon or a crime of violence; and how are programs identified for these persons, and the details of their supervision. Responses to Councilmember Allen's requests were submitted February 1, 2017, and informed the analysis conducted herein. The research conducted in response to the Mayor's request examines all eligible offenses, cases, and offenders that were convicted in the DC Superior Court in 2010, 2011, and 2012. This timeframe was selected to offer at least two years after the completion of a term in order to gauge reoffending. Overview of the YRA According to the Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 1985, persons convicted of, and sentenced for, an offense under the age of 221 are eligible for a set aside, or sealing, of conviction at the successful completion of their term, in addition to potentially different sentencing options. Those with a charge of murder, including murder that is part of an act of terrorism, are not eligible. When determining a sentence for a YRA-eligible offender, judges have the option to impose a sentence under the YRA based on the information already available, or, prior to imposing a sentence may order a "youth study" performed in order to aid in a determination about whether a YRA sentence is appropriate. It is intended to determine if the person is likely to be rehabilitated, and to give the offender the opportunity to have the conviction set aside at the conclusion of his term. Authority to formally set aside a conviction belongs to the sentencing judge; in the case of a person who is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Parole Commission, the Commissioner may set aside the conviction sentenced under the YRA. YRA Analysis From 2010-2012, the DC Superior Court handled the disposition of 70,454 cases. Cases eligible for YRA sentencing represented 7% of the disposed cases during this period. How is the YRA applied? There were 5,166 cases that were eligible, and 3,960 persons who were eligible for a YRA sentence during the three-year period studied. In that time, 53% (2,726 of 5,166) of eligible cases were sentenced under YRA, and 60% (2,384 of 3,960) of eligible persons were sentenced under YRA. The offenders sentenced under YRA are convicted of similar offenses to those seen in the superset of all persons eligible for YRA in 2010-2012. Offenses that carried a mandatory minimum sentence were found for just 6.7% of all eligible offenders, and were less likely to be sentenced under YRA, particularly when there were multiple charges that carried a mandatory sentence. Of those eligible persons who had completed their sentence by April 1, 2017, nearly half (976 of 2,135) successfully had their conviction set aside. Younger persons with less of a criminal history (fewer past arrests and convictions and juvenile commitments) were more likely to be sentenced under YRA. Younger offenders with less of a criminal history who were female, as well as those with weapon offenses, were more likely to have their conviction set aside. In this analysis, weapon offenses include only those offenses of possessing a weapon or ammunition illegally. Also of note, persons convicted of felonies were conversely less likely to be set aside. What is the recidivism rate? Based upon the analysis, persons whose convictions were set aside were less likely to be re-arrested and/ or reconvicted than persons who were sentenced under the YRA but whose convictions were not successfully set aside. This held true when controlling for demographics, criminal history factors, and the offense that resulted in the YRA sentence. This highlights the need for more information, as the impact of interventions used during an offender's sentence is not accounted for, and may be instructive to further improve outcomes. When comparing similarly situated persons who were and were not sentenced under the YRA, there was no difference in reoffending from the point they were sentenced. The two groups had similar chances of being re-arrested or reconvicted over the next two years, demonstrating that the sentence itself does not act as a point at which behavior changes, but instead that the sentence merely sets the stage for a person to have the conviction set aside at the end of his or her term. What programming is available? The examination of programming revealed two main points. First, there are no programs targeted to the YRA population. Second, there are programs that a YRA offender might access, such as Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency's (CSOSA) Young Adult Program, Federal Bureau of Prison's (FBOP) standard programming, and the Department of Correction's (DOC) standard programming, but a YRA sentence is not a qualifying criteria for any of the existing programs. Findings and Considerations There is broad consensus that the propensity for youthful offenders to commit crimes desists once they reach their mid-20s. Across the United States, young adult offenders who are able to show an amenability to rehabilitation have been able to receive concessions such as conviction sealing and expungement if they do not reoffend. This is the case both nationwide and locally in the District of Columbia. Neurological development indicates that young people develop reasoning and maturity starting from adolescence, and are well-developed by eighteen years of age. A person can distinguish right from wrong by their mid-teens; however, persons cannot gauge risk, understand consequences fully, or delay gratification until well into their 20s, a phenomenon referred to as the "maturity gap." The age-crime curve supports biological conclusions in this sense, as persons who are criminally active tend to slow down or stop offending by their mid-20s. Young adult offender programs utilized across the United States vary widely, including Young Adult Courts, probation and parole programs, district attorney-led programs, community-based partnerships, hybrid partnerships, and prison-based programs. At the same time, in many jurisdictions there is legislation that directs either courts, government agencies, or both to address young adult offenders in ways distinct from those approaches taken with older adult offenders. Unfortunately, while there is a national consensus on the need to hone practices specific to the young adult offender population, research identifies best practices thus far for only two distinct groups: juveniles and adults. While programs that are known to be effective with other age groups may also be effective with young adult offenders, the evidence base simply has not caught up. After a full review of the findings, as well as the testimony from Councilmember Allen's Roundtable on Sentencing in the District of Columbia: Agency Roles and Responsibilities (February 9, 2017), and the relevant national literature, some opportunities emerged. The findings here show that it is possible to improve the utilization of YRA, be more effective in outcomes for young adult offenders and enhance public safety. This can be done through legislation, as well as through appropriate programming, both of which can help better inform decision-making and help better prepare the offender to successfully attain the set aside of his or her conviction at the end of term. Details: Washington, DC: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, 2017. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 12, 2018 at: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/vol-27/dc-yra-analysis.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/sac-digest/vol-27/dc-yra-analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 149442 Keywords: Juvenile Justice Systems Juvenile Offenders Juvenile Rehabilitation Recidivism Treatment Programs Young Adult Offenders

Author: Carey, Shannon M. Title: Reentry Court Research: Overview of Findings from the National Institute of Justice's Evaluation of Second Chance Act Adult Reentry Courts Summary: Specialized courts seeking to address the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals and reduce future criminal behavior differ in their approach and, as a result, in their effectiveness. Key processes setting the most successful of the seven Second Chance Act Adult Reentry Courts considered by this study apart from other sites include consistency and intensity of substance abuse treatment; wraparound services for criminogenic needs; intensive supervision; and increased use of judicial praise, sanctions, and incentives. The study had four principal goals: describe the reentry courts; determine program effectiveness at reducing recidivism and improving individual outcomes; determine net program costs and financial benefits; and contribute to the development of a "true" reentry court model. Results were mixed across sites. One site consistently demonstrated positive outcomes across measures. Two sites had neutral, trending toward positive, recidivism results. Two other sites had mixed results; two had consistently negative results. Cost findings were similarly mixed. Data sources included a process evaluation with stakeholder interviews, program observations, and participant focus groups; interviews with reentry court participants and a matched comparison group; a recidivism impact evaluation; and a cost-benefit evaluation. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, Portland, OR: Northwest Professional Consortium (NPC Research) 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2018 at: https://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018-02/reentry_courts_findings_overview_nij.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018-02/reentry_courts_findings_overview_nij.pdf Shelf Number: 149452 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Prisoner Reentry Problem Solving Courts Recidivism Reentry Courts Second Chance Act

Author: Lynch, Mathew Title: Arches Transformative Mentoring Program: An Implementation and Impact Evaluation in New York City Summary: The Arches Transformative Mentoring program (Arches) advances New York City's commitment to maintain public safety through community-based programming that supports personal development as a mechanism to avoid future criminal activity. Through a combination of credible messenger mentoring and an evidence-based curriculum, Arches reduces one-year felony reconviction by over two-thirds and reduces two-year felony reconviction by over half. These findings demonstrate the promise of combining an evidence-based curriculum and credible messenger mentoring to achieve recidivism reduction. This evaluation report reflects the findings of a qualitative and impact evaluation of Arches, a group mentoring program serving young adult probation clients ages 16 to 24. Arches uses an evidence-based interactive journaling curriculum centered on cognitive behavioral principles, delivered by mentors with backgrounds similar to those of their mentees, known as "credible messengers," direct service professionals with backgrounds similar to the populations they serve, often including prior criminal justice system involvement. Launched in 2012 as part of the NYC Young Men's Initiative (YMI) and with private funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies and oversight from the Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity), Arches is managed by the NYC Department of Probation (DOP) and currently operates with City funding at 13 sites across the five boroughs. The evaluation was conducted using a matched comparison group to assess the impact of Arches on participant outcomes, including recidivism reduction; to explore participant and staff experiences in and attitudes toward the program; to identify practices associated with successful programmatic operation and positive outcomes; and to develop recommendations for program enhancement. The evaluation finds that Arches participants are significantly less likely to be reconvicted of a crime. Relative to their peers, felony reconviction rates among Arches participants are 69 percent lower 12 months after beginning probation and 57 percent lower 24 months after beginning probation. This impact is driven largely by reductions among participants under age 18. The evaluation also indicates the program helps participants achieve improvement in self-perception and relationships with others. Pre- and post-assessment show gains in key attitudinal and behavioral indicators, including emotion regulation and future orientation. Qualitative findings show that participants report very close and supportive relationships with mentors, attributed to mentors' status as credible messengers, their 24/7 availability for one-on-one mentoring, and a "family atmosphere" within the program. The report presents several recommendations to enhance the Arches program model and capitalize on its success, including better tailoring the content of the curriculum to reflect the lived experience of the participant population, increasing the frequency and length of programming to support participant engagement, and introducing wraparound and aftercare services. The report highlights the potential for expanded collaboration across Arches providers to improve knowledge sharing and adoption of best practices, as well as enhanced partnerships between Arches providers and other young adult programming to supplement service delivery and grow community awareness of the program. The report also calls for expanded mentor supports, including opportunities for full-time employment and advanced training. This evaluation confirms that Arches is an impactful program with demonstrated ability to reduce participant recidivism and great promise to produce sustainable attitudinal and behavioral change for justice system-involved young adults. New York City has already formalized its commitment to Arches through the new allocation of City funding to sustain the program following the completion of Bloomberg Philanthropies grant funding. Additionally, as part of the Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice has launched the Next STEPS program, a modified version of Arches targeted to serve young adults at risk of justice-system involvement who reside in select high-crime New York City Housing Authority developments Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2018 at: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96601/arches_transformative_mentoring_program.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/96601/arches_transformative_mentoring_program.pdf Shelf Number: 149523 Keywords: Cognitive Behavioral Programs Evidence-Based Programs Felony Offenders Mentoring Probationers Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Young Adult Offenders

Author: Cross, Brittany Title: Mental Health Courts Effectiveness in Reducing Recidivism and Improving Clinical Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis Summary: Mental health courts have recently emerged with goals to reduce recidivism and improve clinical outcomes for people with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system. The present study is a review of mental health court literature assessing their effectiveness in reducing recidivism and improving clinical outcomes for participants using meta-analytic techniques. A total of 20 studies that included sufficient information to compute the standardized mean difference effect size, focused on adult populations, and were within the United States were included in the analysis. Only experimental and quasi-experimental research designs were obtained. Using Cohen's (1988) guidelines, mental health courts were found to have a small effect on reducing recidivism (0.32, p<.05) and a non-significant effect for improving clinical outcomes for participants. Several moderator analyses were conducted and indicated that the nature of the control group (whether they were a treatment as usual or participants who "opted-out") was found to be significant between groups (Q=22.33, p<.001) as a possible moderating effect. Details: Tampa: University of South Florida, 2011. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed march 20, 2018 at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4247&context=etd Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4247&context=etd Shelf Number: 149536 Keywords: Mental Health Courts Mental Health Treatment Mentally Ill Offenders Problem-Solving Courts Recidivism

Author: Holmberg, Stina Title: Reintegration assistance after prison: Follow-up on the Prison and Probation Service's work with special reintegration assistance measure Summary: Within three years of release from prison, two out of five persons commit a new offence sanctionable by prison or probation. For most of these individuals, recidivism occurs within several months after they have left prison (Bra 2017). In order to reduce the risk that individuals who are released commit new offences in connection with release, the Swedish Prison and Probation Service can grant reintegration assistance at the end of their sentence. These measures smooth the transition between prison and life at liberty, and entail a gradual reduction of the Prison and Probation Service's control over the client. The four so-called special reintegration assistance measures are: - day release; - treatment period; - halfway house; - enhanced day release. Bra has been instructed by the Government to follow up on the Prison and Probation Service's work with reintegration assistance. In conjunction with this instruction, the Government instructed the Prison and Probation Service at the end of 2015 to develop and strengthen its work with reintegration assistance. Bra's instruction requires us to follow up on the progress of the Prison and Probation Service's development work and to track the scope and nature of the reintegration assistance. We are also meant to report on any impediments to well-functioning and knowledge-based reintegration assistance work. Special attention is to be paid to any differences in working methods in various parts of the country, differences between men and women, and differences for persons from different language backgrounds. The crime victim aspects are to be highlighted, where relevant. Finally, Bra is, as necessary, required to suggest ideas for further development of the reintegration assistance efforts. As a basis for the study, Bra has visited 13 different facilities ' prisons with various security classifications, detention centres, day release offices, halfway houses, and treatment homes. We have interviewed a total of 100 individuals, both staff and clients, at these facilities. Interviews have also been conducted with a number of individuals at the headquarters of the Prison and Probation Service, as well as with other strategically important individuals. In addition, Bra has had continual contact with representatives from the Prison and Probation Service's working group for the development work. Our quantitative source material includes both the Prison and Probation Service's existing statistics and a special order in respect of clients who were released from prison. Bra has also been given access to unpublished data from a study which was conducted on the Prison and Probation Service's research unit. In addition to the above, a survey of the literature in the form of previous studies and evaluations has been conducted. Details: Stockholm: Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra), 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: English summary of Bra report 2017:15: Accessed April 4, 2018 at: https://www.bra.se/download/18.10aae67f160e3eba62919667/1517917740405/2017_15_Reintegration_assistance_summary.pdf Year: 2028 Country: Sweden URL: https://www.bra.se/download/18.10aae67f160e3eba62919667/1517917740405/2017_15_Reintegration_assistance_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 149687 Keywords: Parolees Prisoner Reentry Probationers Recidivism Rehabilitation Reintegration Reoffending

Author: Beijersbergen, K.A. Title: Recidivism after domestic violence: Recidivism of perpetrators of domestic violence who were convicted between 2008 and 2013 Summary: For the last 20 years, domestic violence (abbreviated DV) has been recognized as a major social problem and is high on the political agenda in the Netherlands. Various health programs have tried to address this health and safety problem. The main goal of these programs is to reduce the extent and severity of domestic violence. The programs consist of a wide range of measures aimed primarily at raising awareness, by making the magnitude of the problem visible, setting out normative guidelines, by making it clear that domestic violence is not tolerated, improving collaboration between stakeholders, improving care and assistance for victims, and the development of screening instruments and offender interventions. In this report, we examine the recidivism of DV-perpetrators who were convicted between 2008 and 2013. This research is part of a five-year research program into recidivism among perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse. In the present study, the research questions were: 1 How many individuals are convicted annually for domestic violence? 2 What are the characteristics (personal and criminal case characteristics) of domestic violence perpetrators and how do the characteristics of this group compare to the characteristics of the total group of convicted perpetrators? 3 What is the recidivism rate for perpetrators of domestic violence: what percentage of domestic violence perpetrators came back into contact with the criminal justice system within two years of their DV criminal case? How does the prevalence of recidivism for this group compare to the prevalence of recidivism for the total group of convicted offenders? Three forms of recidivism are examined: general, violent, and domestic violence recidivism. 4 Which personal characteristics are related to whether or not domestic violence perpetrators recidivate and how do these compare to those for the total group of convicted perpetrators? 5 How do recidivism rates among domestic violence perpetrators develop over time, taking into account shifts in the background characteristics of perpetrators? Details: The Hague: Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security, WODC, 2018. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Cahier 2018-2_Summary) https://www.wodc.nl/binaries/Cahier%202018-2_2773a_Summary_tcm28-307221.pdf (Full text only available in Dutch) Year: 2018 Country: Netherlands URL: https://www.wodc.nl/binaries/Cahier%202018-2_2773a_Summary_tcm28-307221.pdf Shelf Number: 149691 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Family Violence Recidivism Violence Against Women, Children

Author: Butts, Jeffrey A. Title: Recidivism Reconsidered: Preserving the Community Justice Mission of Community Corrections Summary: Recid iv ism is not a robust measu re of effectiveness for communit y corrections agencies. When used as the sole measure of effectiveness, recidivism misleads policymakers and the public, encourages inappropriate comparisons of dissimilar populations, and focuses policy on negative rather than positive outcomes. Policymakers who focus on recidivism as evidence of justice effectiveness are confusing a complex, bureaucratic indicator of system decision-mak ing w ith a simple measure of individual behavior and rehabilitation. Recidivism is at least in part a gauge of police activ it y and enforcement emphasis and, because of differential policing practices in minority communities, using recidivism as a key measurement may disadvantage communities of color. Relying on recidivism defines the mission of community corrections in law enforcement terms, relieving agencies of their responsibility for other outcomes such as employment, education, and housing. In the following discussion, we describe the logical and practical problems that arise when recidivism is used as the principal outcome measure for community corrections agencies. We recognize that recidivism will always be a feature of justice policy and practice. Recidivism offers a simple and familiar outcome measure for judging the effectiveness of justice interventions. Pointing out the logical flaws of recidivism will not diminish its salience for audiences disinclined to question its utility. Our purpose in this discussion is not to end the use of recidivism as a justice system measure but to illustrate its limits and to encourage the development and use of more suitable measures - namely, positive outcomes related to the complex process of criminal desistance. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard Kennedy School Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, 2018. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2018 at: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/recidivism_reconsidered.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/recidivism_reconsidered.pdf Shelf Number: 149858 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Criminal Justice Policy Recidivism

Author: Canada. Public Safety Canada Title: 2016-2017 Evaluation of the National Flagging System Program: Final Report Summary: The Program The National Flagging System was established in 1995 to ensure that provincial/territorial Crown prosecutors were aware of the potential information held in other provinces/territories regarding an offender's high and continuing risk of future violent conduct. The National Flagging System is both a database and a network of provincial/territorial officials, referred to as National Flagging System Coordinators, who are responsible for identifying high-risk offenders for flagging purposes. The National Flagging System operates through the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC), which is housed within the RCMP. CPIC facilitates the sharing of person records to support this Program. When a flagged offender re-offends anywhere in Canada, those NFS Coordinators that have access to CPIC messaging functionality are notified through CPIC. NFS coordinators must apply and be granted CPIC system access before sharing the aforementioned information. The NFS is a $500,000/year grant program for the provinces with base funding of $25,000 per year per province and the remainder divided among the provinces on a population basis. Funding is used for salaries, equipment for electronic storage and file distribution, communication and travel for training and conferences that enhance expertise in the area of high-risk offenders. The territories, while part of the network, are not eligible for funding because the administration of justice is the responsibility of the Public Prosecution Service, a federal body that cannot be funded under the grant program. Why it is important High-risk offenders are a mobile population. Many spend time in the federal penitentiary system and may be moved around the country. After their incarceration, there is high incentive for them to relocate as they are often known in their community. There is a need for coordination among provinces and territories in the management of high-risk offenders. Inter-jurisdictional cooperation is essential in order to ensure that prosecutors have the information necessary to treat them appropriately if they re-offend anywhere in Canada. What we examined The evaluation assessed the relevance and performance of the NFS Program over the period 2012-13 to 2016-17. It examined: 1) continued need, 2) alignment with federal government priorities, 3) alignment with federal roles and responsibilities, 4) progress towards achievement of intended outcomes, and 5) efficiency and economy. What we found Relevance There is a continued need for the NFS and inter-jurisdictional cooperation so that prosecutors have information to ensure flagged offenders are treated appropriately if they re-offend anywhere in Canada. Workload is increasing because of the requirement to maintain files on high-risk offenders who tend to have long criminal careers. Given the mobility of long-term offenders, inter-provincial co-operation and sharing of information are crucial. Without federal funding some provinces are likely to become inactive leading to less communication, information sharing and cooperation among provinces. By identifying and tracking high-risk offenders and providing information on flagged offenders should they reoffend anywhere in Canada, the Program is aligned with the Government of Canada's and Public Safety's objective of a Safe and Secure Canada. The administration of justice is an area of shared responsibility between the federal government and the provinces/territories. The Program is consistent with federal roles and responsibilities to provide national leadership to foster cooperation and coordination among the provinces/ territories in the management of high risk offenders. Cost sharing reflects the need for information sharing with respect to this population as their mobility is increased when transferred within the federal penitentiary system. The NFS is a unique network with no equivalent counterparts. It has synergies with provincial flagging systems and with the new High Risk Child Sex Offender database for which NFS Coordinators have recently agreed to act as a conduit between the RCMP and organizations in the provinces/territories conducting public notifications. Performance - Effectiveness The evidence from interviews as well as document and literature reviews suggests that the Program is contributing to the outcomes identified in its logic model. The Program has helped provinces maintain or increase their capacity to identify and track high- risk offenders by providing funding for resources, training and equipment and by encouraging the development of inter-and intra-provincial/territorial networks. Although the data suggests that offenders who are higher risk than the general offender population are being identified, referred, flagged and tracked, it appears that cases may be missed and flagging criteria may be inconsistent across provinces. Work underway in certain provinces suggests that twice as many offenders should be flagged. A 2015 research study conducted in collaboration with PS points to inconsistency in flagging noting that some provinces are flagging disproportionally more offenders even though there were no differences in risk scores or recidivism rates between provinces.Footnote 1 The study also concluded that "the NFS appeared to function as an appropriate mechanism for tracking offenders at increased risk for violent or sexual recidivism" and identifies the right risk offenders.Footnote 2 Interviewees suggested that the program could be improved by reviewing flagging guidelines and practices. There are no standards for the timeliness of the transfer of information between provinces/territories; however, most interviewees felt it had improved and that files were transferred to meet court deadlines. Increased knowledge about the NFS and flagged offenders among Crown prosecutors and other justice partners is attributed to education and training, good communications between Coordinators and prosecutors and the knowledge and accessibility of Coordinators and staff to those with questions or seeking information. NFS information is seen to affect outcomes because it is readily and nationally available, extensive, complete and of high quality. It would be difficult for a Crown prosecutor to identify and obtain information of this caliber in a timely manner through his/her own efforts. NFS information is used to make decisions on charges, prosecution strategy, bail submissions, plea negotiations and sentencing recommendations as well as to alert prosecutors to the need to consider making an application for Dangerous Offender or Long Term Offender designations and as input into the programming an inmate receives from the Correctional Service of Canada. The NFS facilitates Dangerous Offender and Long Term Offender applications by providing complete criminal histories to support these applications, documenting intensive court processes and significantly reducing resource demands on Crown prosecutors that may in the past have limited the number of applications. A 2015 PS research study found that 14% of flagged offenders included in the study were subsequently designated compared to 1% of Canadian violent recidivists.Footnote 3 Having dedicated NFS staff, partly funded by federal grants, has facilitated the achievement of outcomes and the development of a network and strong relationships that are fostered through Coordinators' meetings. Two factors have been identified by some of the interviewees to have hindered the achievement of the Program's outcomes: information sharing challenges with the Correctional Service of Canada and the backlog faced by the RCMP in entering the criminal records of offenders in the CPIC. However, the RCMP indicated that CPIC does not have a backlog of any information. PS research studies published in 2005 and 2015 have provided confidence that the right people are being flagged and have helped Coordinators understand the impact of the Program. However, no additional research is currently planned. A number of potential improvements related to the Program have been suggested including reviewing flagging guidelines and criteria to improve inter-provincial consistency, implementing automatic notification of flagging candidates from provincial databases to minimize missed cases, preparing case summaries to improve the usefulness of flagging files to Crown prosecutors, increasing the use of electronic files, developing a web-based national database to store flagged offender files, more timely and consistent access to the Correctional Service of Canada data, more training for prosecutors on the Dangerous Offender and Long Term Offender application process and more systematic communication within the network to share information on issues and challenges related to high-risk offenders. Performance - Efficiency and Economy As recommended by the previous evaluation, a Performance Measurement Strategy was completed in 2014 and implemented in 2015. At 8%, the administration ratio for the program is in line with that of other grant programs and is indicative of an efficient administrative process. It is noted that the ratio has increased from 4.5% at the time of the last evaluation. The evaluation has identified a number of opportunities for improvement. To that end, the following recommendations are being made for consideration. Recommendations Internal Audit and Evaluation Directorate recommends that the ADM of CSCCB: In collaboration with the provinces, to develop more structured flagging criteria and guidelines to improve consistency in the application of these criteria by NFS coordinators and across jurisdictions; To work with NFS coordinators and Correctional Service Canada (CSC) to improve consistency, timeliness and ease of access to CSC information by NFS coordinators and across jurisdictions. Management Response and Action Plan Management accepts all recommendations and will implement an action plan Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2017. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2018 at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/vltn-ntnl-flggng/vltn-ntnl-flggng-en.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Canada URL: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/vltn-ntnl-flggng/vltn-ntnl-flggng-en.pdf Shelf Number: 149949 Keywords: Offender Monitoring Recidivism Risk Assessment Sex Offenders Violent Offenders (Canada)

Author: Leslie, Dacia Latoya Title: Criminal Recidivism in the Caribbean: improving the Reintegration of Jamaican Ex-Prisoners Summary: Finding ways to reintegrate ex-prisoners into Jamaican society is a pressing but complex social, economic and moral issue. This is due, not least, to the financial costs of prison recidivism and growing concern over the Jamaican state's capacity to meet the needs of a large number of its citizens subject to forced repatriation to their homeland by overseas jurisdictions due to their offending. The absence of a mature and reliable evidence base about the extent and nature of criminal recidivism in Jamaica also contributes to the challenges faced by policy makers and service providers seeking to reduce incidence of crime. This is in part related to the dearth of research on what is a sizeable and multi-faceted subject matter which has impeded a more decisive and progressive political and policy response. While there are generic criminological themes in regard to recidivism, desistance and reintegration of offenders that cross international boundaries (see Harriott 2000; Headley 2006), there remains the not inconsiderable challenge of identifying culturally specific features that bear upon crime and the policies and programmes that might encourage sustained abstinence from offending and which could be better served by a distinctive Caribbean criminological epistemology. To that end, this exploratory study seeks to offer insights into the social worlds of male and female offenders in Jamaica in order to better understand what they deem to be the influences that led them to crime and those which might at least assist them in desisting from law-breaking. The study is based upon a largely qualitative research design comprising semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Some 54 inmates participated who had received more than one prison sentence and in that sense are termed here a 'recidivist', albeit the contested nature of this term and related key concepts such as desistance and reintegration will be subject to scrutiny in the early chapters of this thesis. One other inmate who could not be regarded a prison recidivist mainly because he was awaiting trial on this his second time in prison was interviewed in prison and added to the study. All 55 interviews and most focus groups were conducted with persons being held in three of Jamaica's maximum security correctional facilities. In addition, eighteen other individuals who had managed to stay out of prison following their release were interviewed within the community. A further set of interviews were conducted with 17 organisational leaders and spokespeople representing state and voluntary agencies engaged in the process of offender reintegration. Their perspectives reveal illuminating contrasts with those provided by the ex-prisoners about the likely ingredients of an effective return to a life without serious offending. The findings will hopefully assist policy makers and professionals in thinking about the steps that might be taken to tackle Jamaica's high rate of serious crime. As the findings will suggest, such steps must involve a renewed understanding, sense of belief and commitment towards effective reintegration. Additionally, there needs to be a more robust conviction that persons leaving prison can indeed change but that they face embedded hostility and exclusion from a number of quarters. This study provides insights into why ex-prisoners believe that there is resistance amongst influential others in the community to accepting them as 'reformed'. Such perspectives should assist local agencies in better understanding the impact of negative community attitudes and point to ways to counter social exclusion and help promote effective reintegration. Moreover, the findings point to the importance of strategies at national and local level that can bestow upon ex-prisoners a more meaningful sense of belonging and positive citizenship that can help reinforce the reintegration process. Throughout, the voices and experiences of the ex-prisoners come to the fore to challenge accepted policy and criminological wisdoms and to point out the need for more creative and determined initiatives to help people from prison find a new and better future. Details: Cardiff, UK: Cardiff University, 2016. 382p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 7, 2018 at: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/93842/ Year: 2016 Country: Jamaica URL: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/93842/ Shelf Number: 150084 Keywords: Prisoner Reentry Prisoner Reintegration Recidivism

Author: Billings, Stephen B. Title: Hanging Out With the Usual Suspects: Neighborhood Peer Effects and Recidivism Summary: Social interactions within neighborhoods, schools and detention facilities are important determinants of criminal behavior. However, little is known about the degree to which neighborhood peers affect successful community re-entry following incarceration. This paper measures the influence of pre-incarceration social networks on recidivism by exploiting the fact that peers may be locked up when a prisoner returns home. Using detailed arrest and incarceration data that includes residential addresses for offenders, we find consistent and robust evidence that a former inmate is less likely to reoffend if more of his peers are held captive while he reintegrates into society. Details: Unpublished paper, 2017. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3144020 Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3144020 Shelf Number: 150110 Keywords: Neighborhoods and Crime Peer Influence Recidivism Social Networks

Author: Veale, Frances R.B. Title: African American male offenders experiences of successful parole/post-release completion Summary: A qualitative research study was conducted to explore the factors that affect African American male offenders� ability to resist crime and complete parole/post-release supervision. The effects of recidivism and parole violation continuously add to the ever-growing prison population within the United States. In this study, social and personal factors were analyzed. Specifically, the researcher interviewed six former African American felony male offenders who had resisted crime and completed parole supervision successfully. The results revealed that African American men have the ability to resist crime and complete parole supervision. Based on the results, social and personal factors such as employment, education, support, social networking, individual characteristics, and programs, along with other factors all aid in the process. Explicitly, employment status, level of education, targeted support, vouching, behavior change, and programs designed to rehabilitate, in addition to social ties play a significant part in how the offenders progress through the process of resisting crime and completing parole supervision. These and other areas for future research are recommended. Implications of the research study�s findings and future research directions are also presented. The results presented in this research study may facilitate improvement in understanding how offenders reintegrate back into society; desist from crime, especially African America men who account for the largest race and gender currently incarcerated in the United States� prison system. Details: Iowa City: University of Iowa, 2015. 138p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 9, 2018 at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6274&context=etd Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6274&context=etd Shelf Number: 150117 Keywords: African Americans Desistance Male Offenders Parolees Recidivism

Author: Bird, Mia Title: Realignment and Recidivism in California Summary: California has experienced significant changes in its criminal justice landscape since the 2011 implementation of public safety realignment-which shifted the management of lower-level offenders from the state prison and parole system to county jail and probation systems. The prison population has dropped dramatically, and though jail populations rose, overall incarceration levels have declined. One goal of realignment was to reduce California's persistently high recidivism rates. Using data from 12 counties representative of the state, this report examines rearrest and reconviction rates after release from custody for two groups of offenders affected by realignment: those on post-release community supervision (PRCS) and those sentenced under section 1170(h) of the California Penal Code. Overall, we find realignment had modest effects on recidivism, with considerable variation across offender groups and counties. Specifically: Individuals on PRCS have somewhat higher recidivism than similar individuals released before realignment. PRCS offenders are released from state prison after serving time for certain lower-level felonies and receive supervision by county probation agencies. In the two years following realignment, we find that 71.9 percent of these individuals were rearrested (2.6 percentage points higher than before realignment), and 56.4 percent were reconvicted (2.4 points higher). Realignment did not have a consistent effect on recidivism for individuals sentenced under 1170(h). These offenders are sentenced for a specific set of lower-level felonies and, under realignment, serve time in county jail rather than state prison. In the two years following realignment, we find that 74.5 percent of these individuals were rearrested (2.3 percentage points higher than their pre-realignment counterparts) and 54.9 percent were reconvicted (2.0 points lower). Offenders who received straight sentences have the same or lower rates of recidivism. Realignment created two types of 1170(h) offenders: those who receive both jail time and probation supervision (known as a "split" sentence) and those who receive jail time with no supervision (known as a "straight" sentence). The group serving "straight" sentences had the best outcomes: the same two-year rearrest rates and lower two-year reconviction rates (by 3.0 percentage points). Those who received "split" sentences had higher rates of rearrest (by 7.8 points) but lower rates of reconviction (by 3.4 points) compared with similar individuals before realignment. The effects of realignment on recidivism vary substantially across counties. For example, overall we find reconviction rates were higher for those on PRCS after realignment, but in fact nine counties saw lower rates of reconviction-indicating that the overall finding is driven by a small number of counties. County variation in recidivism outcomes is likely linked to demographic, economic, and geographic differences, as well as the range of county capacity and experiences providing evidence-based interventions before realignment. However, some of this variation may be due to different intervention strategies, creating the potential for counties to learn from each other over time. Notably, offenders who received a jail term and no supervision stand out as having better outcomes on all measures of recidivism, when compared with similar individuals released before realignment. This finding suggests we need to carefully consider the complex relationship between supervision and recidivism. While it could simply be easier to detect reoffending when an individual is under supervision, the requirements of supervision could also create more opportunities for non-criminal violations. With a longer follow-up window and more recent data, the relationship between supervision and recidivism, as well as the overall effects of realignment, may change as counties build capacity and experience with evidence-based practices. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers must continue to work together to develop the data and expertise necessary to understand the impacts of California's corrections reforms and to identify effective strategies to reduce recidivism. Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2017. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2018 at: http://www.ppic.org/publication/realignment-and-recidivism-in-california/ Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/publication/realignment-and-recidivism-in-california/ Shelf Number: 150170 Keywords: Criminal Justice Reform Prison reform Prisons Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Hillier, Joseph Title: Do offender characteristics affect the impact of short custodial sentences and court orders on reoffending? Summary: Custodial sentences of under 12 months without supervision on release are associated with higher levels of reoffending than sentences served in the community via 'court orders' (community orders and suspended sentence orders). This report examines whether this impact differs according to offenders' age, ethnicity, gender, and mental health. It also provides further analysis on the reoffending impact of suspended sentence orders compared with similar cases where community orders were given, whether the impacts vary according to the number of previous offences, and the impacts of mental health and alcohol treatment requirements. Key findings - Reductions in re-offending were associated with the use of court orders as compared with short-term custody. These effects: - Were greater for people with larger numbers of previous offenses. For people with no previous offenses, there was no statistically significant difference between the re-offending associated with short-term custody and that associated with court orders. - Differed according to an offender's age group, after controlling for the number of previous offenses. The use of court orders was associated with relatively more benefit for those aged 18-20 and those over 50, and less benefit for those aged 21-29. - Differed according to identification of mental health issues, after controlling for the number of previous offenses. The use of court orders was associated with more benefit for offenders with 'significant' psychiatric problems and those with current or pending psychiatric treatment. - Were similar across ethnic groups and for both males and females, after controlling for the number of previous offences. - For those with identified mental health issues, mental health treatment requirements attached to court orders were associated with significant reductions in re-offending where they were used, compared with similar cases where they were not. The re-offending rate was around 3.5 percentage points lower over a one-year follow-up period. - For those with identified alcohol use issues, alcohol treatment requirements were associated with similar or slightly lower re-offending where they were used compared with similar cases where they were not. - Suspended sentence orders were associated with a reduced rate of re-offending (over a one year follow-up period) of around 4 percentage points compared with similar cases where community orders were given, with a smaller impact over longer follow-up periods. Suspended sentence orders were associated with more benefit in reducing re-offending as age increased and less benefit as the number of previous offenses increased. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2018. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary 2018 : Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706597/do-offender-characteristics-affect-the-impact-of-short-custodial-sentences.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/706597/do-offender-characteristics-affect-the-impact-of-short-custodial-sentences.pdf Shelf Number: 150334 Keywords: Custodial Sentences Recidivism Reoffending Sentencing Short Sentences

Author: Council of Economic Advisors Title: Returns on Investments in Recidivism-reducing Programs Summary: Crime imposes a significant burden on Americans' well-being and tax-financed resources. These costs are amplified by a cycle of crime that results in re-arrest rates for released American prisoners in excess of 50 percent. Rigorous and evidence-based prison reforms are proposed to break the crime cycle, thereby reducing future crime and lowering incarceration expenditures by facilitating more successful re-entry to the workforce upon prison release. In this policy brief, CEA reviews the evidence on the underlying factors that determine the value of such prison programs and provides estimates on their rates of return. There are numerous programs that have been tried in one form or another over many decades. We do not aim to cover the entire scope of prison reform programs but focus instead on three main categories: programs that address mental health, substance abuse, or education and that are delivered inside correctional facilities. 2 We find that there is great variation in the effectiveness across programs such that reallocation of budgets from poorly to well performing programs may both lower spending and improve results. In addition, CEA finds evidence that certain individual programs can reduce crime as well as reduce spending by lowering long-run incarceration costs. Programs that save at least one dollar in crime and incarceration costs for every dollar spent are deemed cost effective. More specifically, with a focus on rigorous studies of the programs that have been previously implemented, CEA finds that, on average, programs that address the prisoner's mental health or substance abuse problems may reduce the cost of crime by about $0.92 to $3.31 per taxpayer dollar spent on prison reform and long-run incarceration costs by $0.55 to $1.96, for a total return of $1.47 to $5.27 per taxpayer dollar. Despite these positive returns, there are many programs-such as those in which the primary focus is education-for which the evidence base is inconsistent and rates of return more uncertain. Given this uncertainty, CEA estimates by how much rates of recidivism would have to be reduced in order for the programs to break even given their costs. We calculate that educational programming needs only to achieve a modest impact on recidivism rates (about a 2 percent reduction) in order to be cost effective. Overall, increased investment in better evidence is needed to guide future investments into programs to reduce recidivism. Many programs, even if they are found to be cost effective may have small sample sizes or unique characteristics that may be difficult to replicate or scale up, and some studies with high-quality research designs are too dated to provide needed insight. Carefully designed, broad-based national programs that target a wide variety of offenders in conjunction with carefully designed empirical evaluations would improve the ability of policymakers to allocate criminal justice funds to achieve the greatest possible social benefits. Details: Washington, DC: The Council, 2018. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Returns-on-Investments-in-Recidivism-Reducing-Programs.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Returns-on-Investments-in-Recidivism-Reducing-Programs.pdf Shelf Number: 150338 Keywords: Correctional Education Cost-Benefit Analysis Evidence-Based Practices Justice Reinvestment Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission Title: Immediate Sanction Probation Pilot Program Evaluation Summary: The Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) program was established in 2004 with the goal of enhancing public safety and improving compliance with the rules and conditions of probation among offenders being supervised in the community. HOPE targets higher risk probationers and requires that each violation of the conditions of supervision is met with a swift and certain, but mild, sanction. A rigorous evaluation of HOPE completed in 2009 found a significant reduction in technical violations (such as drug use and missed appointments), lower recidivism rates, fewer probation revocations, and reduced use of prison beds among HOPE participants compared to similar offenders supervised on regular probation. Interest in Hawaii's swift-and-certain sanctions model spread. As of July 2015, there were swift-and-certain sanctions programs operating in at least 29 states across the country. The 2010 General Assembly passed legislation which established the basic parameters for swift-and-certain sanctions programs in Virginia (19.2-303.5). In May 2012, the General Assembly adopted budget language to extend the provisions of 19.2-303.5 and to authorize the creation of up to four Immediate Sanction Probation Programs (Item 50 of Chapter 3 of the 2012 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I). This provision charged the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission with selecting the pilot sites, developing guidelines and procedures for the program, administering program activities, and evaluating the results. As no additional funding was appropriated for this purpose, the pilot project was implemented within existing agency budgets and local resources. The General Assembly has since extended the sunset date to July 1, 2017, which enabled the pilot sites to continue the program until the 2017 General Assembly has reviewed the Commission's evaluation and determined whether to continue the program in the future. Since the 2009 HOPE evaluation, a number of programs based on the HOPE model have been evaluated. Results of these studies have been mixed. A longer term evaluation of HOPE completed in 2016, as well as evaluations in Washington State, Arkansas, Michigan, and Kentucky found that the HOPE approach yielded positive results, such as lower recidivism rates and reduced use of incarceration. However, a recent large-scale evaluation of a four-site replication of the HOPE model, funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), did not produce similar results. According to this evaluation, there were no statistically significant differences, overall, between the HOPE and probation-as-usual groups in the likelihood of arrest, new conviction, or probation revocation. Similarly, an evaluation of a Delaware program based on the HOPE model found that the program was not successful in reducing substance use or new crimes among probationers. The Commission designed Virginia's Immediate Sanction Probation Program based on the parameters established by the General Assembly's statutory and budgetary language and the key elements of the swift-and-certain sanctions model pioneered in Hawaii. Implementing Virginia's program with as much fidelity as possible to the swift-and-certain sanctions model provided the best opportunity to determine if the positive results observed in HOPE and other programs would emerge in Virginia. Thus, the Immediate Sanction Program targets offenders who are at risk for recidivating or failing probation. Working with the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Department of Corrections, the Commission identified four pilot sites (Henrico County, the City of Lynchburg, City of Harrisonburg/Rockingham County, and Arlington County), which became operational between November 2012 and January 2014. The Commission developed policies and procedures to provide a framework for the program, including eligibility criteria and a mechanism for expedited hearings for program violations. In each site, Commission staff organized and participated in multiple meetings to facilitate and support local implementation of the program. As of October 1, 2016, 288 probationers across the four pilot sites had been placed into the Immediate Sanction Probation Program. In order to allow for a sufficient follow-up period to track participants for recidivism, the 200 eligible participants who were placed into the program before July 1, 2015, were selected for the evaluation cohort. The majority (76%) were at medium to high risk of recidivating and all had a history of technical violations prior to program placement. Low risk probationers were only placed in the program after committing at least three violations while on regular supervision, indicating a higher risk for revocation. More than 80% of participants violated at least once after program placement, committing an average of 2.7 violations each. The most common violation during program participation was drug use. As of October 1, 2016, 39% of the evaluation cohort had completed the program. Nearly all of the program completers had been violation-free for 12 months, the measure established by the Commission for "successful completion." Judges allowed seven participants who had not reached the 12-month violation-free mark to complete the program, due to individual circumstances of these participants. The Commission used standards established in the 2016 evaluation of the BJA/NIJ-funded HOPE replication project to measure the swiftness and certainty of sanctions imposed during Virginia's pilot program. For swiftness, pilot sites were assessed based on the percentage of violations heard by the court within three days. Approximately half (47%) of program violations in Virginia's pilot sites were heard by the court within the three-day window. This is below the minimum of 60% established by the evaluators of the HOPE replication project. Regarding the certainty of sanctions, Immediate Sanction judges responded to violations by imposing a jail sanction for 100% of the violations brought to court, per the program's design. Judges utilized jail sanctions as envisioned by the Commission, with more than 94% of sanctions falling within the recommended range. Nearly 93% of the jail sanctions imposed were at or below the maximum sanction of 19 days used by evaluators of the HOPE replication project. The Commission tracked the evaluation cohort for one year following placement into the Immediate Sanction Program. At the one-year mark, 9.7% of the participants in the evaluation cohort had been arrested for a new felony. Only 6.2% had a new felony conviction based on an offense committed during the follow-up period. Participants whose primary drug of use was opiates (including heroin) recidivated at a higher rate than other participants. For the evaluation, the Commission developed a quasi-experimental design, often used in evaluations of criminal justice programs. Quasi-experimental designs identify a comparison group that is as similar as possible to the program or treatment group in terms of baseline (pre-intervention) characteristics. To reduce the risk of bias (i.e., the possibility that participants are systematically different from nonparticipants), the Commission used commonly accepted statistical techniques to create a valid comparison group. Constructing the comparison group for this evaluation was a two-stage process. In the first stage, the Commission identified jurisdictions that were similar to the pilot sites across a number of community-level characteristics, such as crime rates, demographics, and judicial practices in sanctioning technical probation violators. In the second stage, the Commission developed a pool of potential comparison offenders from within the selected comparison jurisdictions. Using tightly controlled matching procedures, the final sample included 63 participants in the evaluation cohort matched to 63 comparison probationers, for a total of 126 subjects. Participants for whom no matched comparison probationer could be found were not included in the subsequent analyses. At one year from program placement or, in the case of the comparison group, one year from the date the probationer would have become eligible for placement, 7.9% of the 63 participants in the matched sample had been rearrested for a felony offense versus 22.2% of the comparison group. Thus, Immediate Sanction participants were less likely than comparison probationers to be rearrested for a felony during the one-year follow-up. Immediate Sanction participants were also less likely than comparison probationers to be reconvicted of a felony following the arrest (6.3% for participants versus 17.5% for the comparison group). The Commission conducted survival analysis, which measures the time until a recidivist event occurs, to determine if these differences were statistically significant. The results of the survival analysis are mixed. This analysis revealed that Immediate Sanction participants were less likely to be rearrested for a felony over time than those in the comparison group and were free of felony arrests for a longer period of time. When controlling for relevant factors, including street time (i.e., the time that the individual was not in jail serving sanctions, etc., and, thus, was in the community with the opportunity to recidivate), this finding remained statistically significant (p<.05). However, when examining the time until rearrest for an offense that resulted in a felony conviction, the differences between participants and the comparison group were not statistically significant after controlling for other factors. Due to the small sample size and relatively low occurrence of recidivism, the results of the Commission's analyses are not generalizable to the population. Details: Richmond: VCSC, 2016. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2018 at: http://www.vcsc.virginia.gov/Immediate%20Sanction%20Probation%20Pilot%20Program%20Evaluation%20-%20Final%2012-20-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcsc.virginia.gov/Immediate%20Sanction%20Probation%20Pilot%20Program%20Evaluation%20-%20Final%2012-20-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 150381 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Corrections Community Supervision Felony Probation Intermediate Sanctions Probationers Recidivism

Author: Bird, Mia Title: Evaluating the Effects of Realignment Practices on Recidivism Outcomes Summary: In 2011, California enacted Public Safety Realignment, a historic policy reform that resulted in dramatic reductions to the state prison population. Realignment shifted responsibility and authority over lower-level felons from the state prison and parole system to county jail and probation systems. From our current vantage point, it is clear that the changes brought by realignment paved the way for a series of subsequent reforms. 1 Together, these reforms reflect two key features of the state's changing approach to criminal justice policy. First, the state has altered system incentives and rules to reduce its overall reliance on incarceration. Second, the state has increased the emphasis on the use of evidence-based interventions to reduce crime and criminal justice involvement. Despite the emphasis on data-driven policy and practice, dedicated resources to support data collection, evaluation, or research have not been provided. In the case of realignment, this is particularly problematic given that data capturing individuals moving through state and county criminal justice systems are kept in separate systems. Evaluating the effects of realignment or identifying effective recidivism-reduction interventions would not be possible without finding a way to collect and integrate data from these disparate systems. In 2013, PPIC initiated the Multi-County Study (MCS), a data collection effort aimed at producing an integrated dataset to address these gaps. NIJ provided support for our first phase of analytic work drawing on the MCS dataset. The planned work would focus on the following research questions: (1) What was the impact of realignment on recidivism statewide? (2) How did the effects of realignment vary across counties? (3) How have service and sanction interventions affected recidivism outcomes? Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2018. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251627.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251627.pdf Shelf Number: 150412 Keywords: Criminal Justice Reform Prison reform Prisons Public Safety Realignment Recidivism

Author: Hillier, Joseph Title: The Reoffending Impact of Increased Release of Prisoners on Temporary Licence Summary: Research from the USA suggests temporary release from prison is an effective way to improve offenders' reoffending and employment outcomes. This study assesses the impact of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) in England and Wales from a dose-response perspective. The effects on individuals' reoffending outcomes of increasing numbers of temporary releases in the period leading up to release from prison on individuals' reoffending were examined. Data of those released from prison in 2012 and 2013 were used in the analysis. Key findings - Results suggest that increased use of ROTL overall was associated with reduced reoffending for those to whom it was given prior to release from prison in 2012 and 2013. This was after controlling for offenders' characteristics, offending history and ROTL failure. - For those given at least one ROTL, additional ROTLs in the six-month period leading up to release were associated with small but statistically significant reductions in rates of proven reoffending and frequency of reoffences. - The reoffending effects associated with increased ROTLs became larger the closer individuals were to release. - The categories of ROTL were associated with different impacts. For example, after controlling for other variables, in the six-month period leading up to release: - Each additional Resettlement Day Release was associated with a 0.5% reduced odds of reoffending over a one-year follow-up period. - Each additional Resettlement Overnight Release was associated with a 5% reduced odds of reoffending over a one-year follow-up period. - Further analysis comparing those with under 25 ROTLs within six months prior to release with similar offenders with 25 or more ROTLs confirmed that the higher ROTL group had a 3.1 percentage points lower reoffending rate over a one-year follow-up period (and 0.1 fewer reoffences per offender on average). - While the approach taken in this study involved adjusting for offenders' characteristics, offending history and ROTL failure, it cannot definitively control for all factors that may influence the findings. In particular, the available data do not include ROTL release duration or contextual details such as the quality of the ROTL release. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2018. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709123/rotl-report.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/709123/rotl-report.pdf Shelf Number: 150351 Keywords: Recidivism Reoffending Temporary Release

Author: Little, Simon Title: Impact of youth diversion on re-offending by young people Summary: In Australia, most young people who offend and have contact with police are diverted from formal processing via a formal police caution or referred to a restorative justice conference (hereafter referred to as a 'youth justice conference'). The focus on diversion is based on the perceived criminogenic effects that formal court processing may have on young people. Labelling theory provides the primary theoretical basis for diverting young people from formal processing, by predicting that being labelled 'deviant' by the courts can have a detrimental effect on the individual's self-image and the label that others attach to them. Stigmatisation caused by this negative labelling makes it increasingly likely for the young person to gravitate towards other negatively labelled young people and engage in subsequent offending behaviour. Thus, if the predictions of labelling theory are true, those diverted from court should be less likely to re-offend, all other factors being equal. This thesis provides an examination of how effective the police diversionary strategies of formal police cautioning and youth justice conferencing are for reducing recidivism by young people in comparison to a finalised youth court appearance. However, the decision by police about whether to divert or formally process alleged young offenders is not due to random allocation, but is based on a complex interplay between various legal and extra-legal factors. Thus, a comparison between these two groups of young people on outcome measures may be impacted by selection bias, or reflect pre-existing differences between the groups on outcome measures. Propensity score matching (PSM) provides the ability to deal with the problem of selection bias by matching groups on a number of covariates to achieve statistical balance, and therefore approximate experimental conditions. Details: Brisbane: Griffith University, 2015. 351p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed June 6, 2018 at: https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/file/39aafb13-e8d8-4db7-b0aa-0a4222b88d83/1/Little_2015_02Thesis.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/file/39aafb13-e8d8-4db7-b0aa-0a4222b88d83/1/Little_2015_02Thesis.pdf Shelf Number: 150484 Keywords: Juvenile Diversion Programs Juvenile Offenders Police Cautions Recidivism Restorative Justice Youth Justice Conference

Author: Blanco, Melissa Title: How Effective Are Virginia's Juvenile Division Programs? A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment for the Virginia State Crime Commission Summary: Virginia has a vested interest in promoting state and local policies that prevent and reduce juvenile delinquency. In particular, policies should be aimed at rehabilitating juvenile offenders with the goal of decreasing recidivism rates across the Commonwealth. One possible way to accomplish lower recidivism rates is through the use of diversion programs. Diversion programs offer alternatives to the traditional forms of secure detention, such as treatment programs, restorative justice services, and community service opportunities. These programs can be mandated by a judge, or they can be assigned in lieu of the juvenile undergoing court proceedings. This study will focus on the diversion programs assigned by Intake Officers before the juvenile enters the traditional criminal justice system. The Virginia State Crime Commission has been directed by the General Assembly of Virginia to conduct a comprehensive, two-year study of Virginia's juvenile justice system. One element of this study calls for an examination of juvenile diversion programs across the state, their impact on rates of recidivism, and their cost-effectiveness. In accordance with this mandate, the Center for Public Policy Research at The College of William & Mary has conducted a survey of juvenile Intake Officers across the Commonwealth (including Parole and Probation Officers who complete intake duties), the purpose of which was to understand how diversion is implemented in each Court Services Unit (CSU), which diversion programs appear to be most effective at reducing recidivism, and why some programs seem to be more effective than others. The scope of this project covers the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, which includes 35 CSUs. The CSUs perform intake, investigations, probation, and parole services for juveniles, and each CSU has anywhere between 3 and 24 Intake Officers and as many or more programs offering diversion services for juveniles. The largest component of this study consists of the formulation and distribution of a web-based survey of Intake Officers, which was anonymous to ensure the reception of candid responses. The survey was formulated to serve four key purposes. The first purpose of the survey was to identify the procedure followed by Intake Officers for deciding which juveniles to divert and to what program he or she should be diverted. The second purpose of the survey is to ascertain which programs or which types of programs Intake Officers feel are most effective. The third purpose is to determine if Intake Officers have any method for assessing the progress of the juvenile after he or she has begun participating in his or her assigned diversion program. Finally, the fourth purpose of the survey is to identify any impediments to the juvenile's successful completion of the diversion program. The twenty-question survey was distributed in November 2007 to 177 Intake Officers across the Commonwealth in 30 of 35 CSUs. Responses were collected from 51 of those individuals(28%), representing 15 of the 30 CSUs included in the sample. A mixture of rural and urban CSUs is represented across the disparate regions of the state. A significant limitation, however, is the lack of representation from two large urban areas of the state, Richmond and Norfolk. More than half of Intake Officers surveyed believe that juveniles should be allowed to be diverted more than once, depending on the circumstances. However, 4 of the 14 CSUs (28.6%) represented have policies that prohibit this, and respondents from five other CSUs (35.7%) presented conflicting interpretations of their CSU's policy. Only about one third of respondents utilize some type of standard assessment at intake for making decisions about diversion for a juvenile. Discretion of Intake Officers appears to be an important element in the diversion process with respect to the determination of whether diversion is appropriate for a juvenile, whether it is permissible for a second offense, and in consideration of the type of offense and any mitigating circumstances. Most Intake Officers take a wide range of factors into consideration when deciding whether to divert a juvenile rather than send him or her through court proceedings. Eighty percent or more consider the number and type of prior offenses in the juvenile's record, the juvenile's current offense, the age of the juvenile, the recommendation of the arresting officer, the type of diversion programs available in the CSU, and the juvenile's family or home situation. Similarly, Intake Officers also consider a number of different factors when deciding which program to divert a juvenile to, citing everything from the juvenile's current offense, to the personality or demeanor of the juvenile, to the availability of transportation for the juvenile to and from the program site. It is clear from the responses received for these two questions that the discretion of the Intake Officers plays a major role in determining whether juveniles are diverted and to what program. Intake Officers were also asked if their CSU implements a family-centered approach to diversion, and most (88%) indicated that they do. Many of the Intake Officers provided comments suggesting that parents are strongly encouraged to take part in at least some part of the diversion and that more ways in which parents could become involved in the diversion process would be welcome in their CSU. Most Intake Officers (78%) indicated that their CSU does perform some kind of assessment of the juvenile's progress after he or she has begun participating in a diversion program. There is a wide spread of responses concerning how often CSUs perform this assessment, ranging from every other week to sporadically, with none doing so everyday. A majority of CSUs continue to assess the juvenile's progress until the juvenile has completed the diversion program requirements. Many CSUs perform their assessment of the juvenile's progress by contacting the juvenile's family, contacting the program director, or meeting the juvenile in-person. Very few do so by observing the juvenile's participation through in-person visits to the diversion program site. Forty percent of Intake Officers reported that their CSU assesses the effectiveness of the diversion programs they utilize, while another 40% said their CSU did not assess diversion program effectiveness. However, these results are potentially misleading. Further analysis reveals that Intake Officers from the same CSU often differed in their answer to this question. Of the eleven CSUs represented, Intake Officers from six of them gave conflicting answers. It appears that Intake Officers may not be aware of their CSU's policy on assessing effectiveness, a situation which should be addressed. The vast majority of Intake Officers' responses indicate that a lack of cooperation from the family (73.2%) and from the juvenile (65.9%) stands in the way of successful diversion outcomes. Furthermore, many of the responses cited too little funding provided by the state (48.8%), too few diversion programs offered in the CSU (46.3%), and an insufficient range of diversion program types (41.5%). Finally, a small number (4.9%) said lack of transportation posed an obstacle to successful diversion. Intake Officers expressed a desire for increased funding for diversion programs, particularly to increase diversion staff and expand the number and type of diversion programs offered in each CSU. They also expressed a desire for uniform criteria for diversion eligibility, as current policy differs from CSU to CSU. For example, a juvenile in one CSU may be eligible for a diversion opportunity, while a juvenile with a similar criminal history may be ineligible for a diversion opportunity in another CSU. After completing this study and reviewing the results, several recommendations for reforming the methods of diversion in Virginia's juvenile justice system became apparent. First, we recommend that the state provide CSUs with resources to collect data on juveniles who have been diverted and the outcomes of the programs to which juveniles are diverted. Second, we recommend that CSUs improve the clarity and uniformity of their diversion policy. Third, we recommend the implementation of a standardized intake assessment with statewide criteria. Results of the survey are valuable and instructive for understanding diversion implementation and its effectiveness in Virginia, but the conclusions do present some limitations. First, only perceived effectiveness was assessed through the perspectives of Intake Officers given that actual data on diverted juveniles was not available to us at the time of this study. Second, less than half of the 35 CSUs in the Commonwealth were represented; ideally we would have achieved representation from all. Third, the narrow definition of recidivism as "re-conviction" may lead to over-stating the effectiveness of diversion programs. Finally, the difficulty in obtaining figures for the costs of diversion program implementation in light of their disparate funding sources precluded a cost-effectiveness analysis within the three-month time constraint for this research endeavor. The Intake Officer Survey has laid the groundwork for future work that could provide additional evidence on how effective diversion programs are at reducing recidivism rates. Specifically, two bodies of work are needed: (1) a quantitative analysis of Virginia's Department of Juvenile Justice data, which would compare recidivism rates between juveniles who were diverted before being adjudicated with juveniles who entered the traditional criminal justice system; and (2) an assessment on how cost-effective diversion programs are in comparison to the traditional adjudication process. Details: Williamsburg, VA : Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy, The College of William & Mary, 2007. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2018 at: https://www.wm.edu/as/publicpolicy/documents/prs/crime.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.wm.edu/as/publicpolicy/documents/prs/crime.pdf Shelf Number: 150490 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Diversion Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile Diversion Programs Juvenile Justice systems Recidivism

Author: Niedzwiecki, Emily Title: Massachusetts Juvenile Diversion Assessment Study Summary: On behalf of the Massachusetts Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC), in collaboration with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), ICF International (ICF) conducted an assessment of District Attorneys' (DAs') offices' pretrial juvenile diversion practices across the Commonwealth. Findings from this assessment are intended to provide a snapshot of DAs' juvenile diversion practices in Massachusetts and make recommendations regarding the enhancement and wider use of promising diversion practices. The purpose of the assessment is also to provide DAs, their staff, and other juvenile justice stakeholders with a better understanding of the state of practice in order to make informed decisions regarding their diversion programs. Methodology In order to gain a better understanding of DAs' pretrial juvenile diversion practices, this assessment included three primary tasks: (1) Background Review, (2) Literature Review, and (3) Key Informant Interviews. This assessment is largely descriptive in nature and is meant to provide an initial look at DA-based pretrial juvenile diversion in Massachusetts. To inform the development of the interview protocol and reduce burden on interview participants, researchers first conducted a background review of public data sources to collect information on jurisdictional characteristics (e.g., population demographics, youth demographics), crime statistics, juvenile court statistics, school statistics, youth initiatives, and existing diversion programming within the community. In conjunction with the background review, the research team conducted a literature review that addressed juvenile justice trends in the United States, juvenile diversion philosophies, model diversion programs and strategies, and background information on juvenile justice in Massachusetts. Finally, the research team conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with staff within each of the 11 DAs' offices who were most knowledgeable regarding juvenile diversion programs and practices within their office. The interviews were designed to collect detailed information on diversion programs and practices, including: key program elements (e.g., target population, eligibility criteria, and decision-making and referral protocols); services provided as part of the diversion program; perceived challenges and limitations; and offices' data collection practices. Over a two-month period, the research team conducted interviews with 14 participants, representing all 11 DAs' offices, which generally included DAs, Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs), diversion program staff, juvenile unit staff and attorneys, and other special programs staff. Details: Fairfax, VA: ICF International, 2015. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2018 at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58ea378e414fb5fae5ba06c7/t/593709d2197aeac077e3f2f9/1496779220634/MADiversion_FinalReport_2015+01+14-FINAL.PDF Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58ea378e414fb5fae5ba06c7/t/593709d2197aeac077e3f2f9/1496779220634/MADiversion_FinalReport_2015+01+14-FINAL.PDF Shelf Number: 150491 Keywords: Diversion Juvenile Diversion Programs Pretrial Diversion Recidivism Restorative Justice

Author: Warner, Chelsey R. Title: Juvenile Diversion Programs: high-Risk Youth and Their Effect on Offense Targeting Summary: One of the largest problems that plague the juvenile justice system today is how to better handle juvenile crime without causing the juvenile to revert back to that behavior, but still helping them understand and acknowledge the crime they have committed. The state of Minnesota has created juvenile diversion programs as an attempt to aid in that endeavor. These programs however are under researched. The goal of this article is to shed some light on what those programs look like and how some counties programs vary from other programs on other counties; specifically focusing on the variation between offense-targeting for high-risk youth. This study uses county level data collected from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the American Community Survey to answer the following question: Do programs with more high-risk youth target more severe crimes? Findings suggest that there is a significant correlation between highrisk youth and diversion programs which target more severe crimes. Details: Bemidji, MN: Bemidji State University, 2014. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: accessed June 6, 2018 at: https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/political-science/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/05/warner-thesis.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/political-science/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/05/warner-thesis.pdf Shelf Number: 150498 Keywords: Diversion Juvenile Diversion Programs Recidivism

Author: Stewart, Melody J. Title: An Outcomes Study of Juvenile Diversion Programs on Non-Serious Delinquent and Status Offenders Summary: This study uses a retrospective cohort design to explore the impact of juvenile diversion programs on non-serious delinquent and status offenders. The study examines the influence of demographic characteristics, legal factors, and diversion program components, on short term program outcomes for two juvenile Community Diversion Programs in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The data for this study are from a non-random sample of juveniles (N = 533) who were referred to one of the two programs between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2004 as a result of having been charged with committing a delinquent act or status offense. The short term outcomes examined were program completion, recidivism, and offense escalation. The examination period was for one year from the date of program hearing with a one year follow up for those youth who completed the program or had their case dismissed. Using the perspectives of restorative justice and reintegrative shaming as theoretical guides, this study examines the relationship between diversion programmatic components and outcomes, hypothesizing that the amount of exposure to reintegrative program components would be positively associated with program completion and negatively associated with recidivism and offense escalation. The results of the study did not support the hypotheses. Although one Community Diversion Program utilized significantly more reintegrative components than the other program utilized, there were no significant differences in program outcomes between the two diversion programs. Regression analyses also failed to show any significant interactions between reintegrative program components and outcomes. Findings did reveal significant interactions between educational components and therapeutic components on program outcomes. Additionally, the study examined whether the diversion programs impact status offenders differently from delinquent offenders and whether any demographic and/or legal factors influence program outcomes. No differences in impact were found between the two categories of offenders. However, demographic and legal factors were found to interact with program outcomes. The study suggests that future research on juvenile diversion program components and program outcomes would help to inform decision making with regard to program operations and also serve to help assess the programs overall effectiveness. Details: Cleveland, OH: Case Western Reserve University, 2008. 153p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed June 7, 2018 at: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:case1215365411 Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/ap/10?0::NO:10:P10_ACCESSION_NUM:case1215365411 Shelf Number: 150501 Keywords: Diversion Juvenile Diversion Programs Recidivism Restorative Justice Status Offenders

Author: Lindquist, Christine Title: Cross-Site Evaluation of the Bureau of Justice of Justice Assistance FY 2011 Second Chance Act Adult Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects: Final Report Summary: The cross-site evaluation of the Adult Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects (AORDP) was a seven-site designed to 1) describe the implementation and sustainability of each AORDP project through a process evaluation, 2) determine the per capita program costs of each AORDP project through a cost study, and 3) determine the effectiveness of the programs through a multicomponent outcome study assessing the extent to which recidivism reductions were achieved in each site and program participation was associated with increased access to services and improvements in self-reported outcomes in several reentry domains across sites.  The process evaluation found that grantees selected program interventions and services matched to the unique needs of their respective target populations, delivering a comprehensive mix of services. Numerous systems-level improvements were attributed to SCA funding, and prospects for sustaining at least some portions of the AORDP projects were promising in most sites.  The cost study documented that the seven AORDP sites accessed a total of $37.7 million in federal and local resources and that case management comprised the sites' main spending priority (44% of program expenditures). Across the sites, the average per participant cost was $6,778.  The prospective outcome study found that AORDP enrollment clearly increased access to services, with the greatest impact found for pre- as opposed to post-release services. However, the treatment group did not appear to have better rearrest or other reentry outcomes than the comparison group, although they had more positive trajectories over time for housing independence and employment.  The site-specific recidivism analyses generally found null treatment effects for rearrest and reincarceration, with some scattered effects found - both positive and negative. No clear pattern of consistent positive effects were found in any site. Similarly, no site had consistently negative effects. The findings suggest that program developers should look for opportunities to provide long-term, post-release supports that are informed by reassessment results, as most grantees had relatively short post-release service periods and few participants received post-release services. In addition, policymakers must promote realistic expectations for incremental improvements among individuals reentering from jail and prison. Finally, researchers should examine multiple outcomes (beyond recidivism) consistent with reentry success, and explore service dosage (i.e., intensity of services delivered) in addition to service profiles (i.e., whether individuals received a particular type of service) to arrive at a better understanding of how the duration, intensity, sequencing and combination of services and programming contributes to reentry outcomes. Details: Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International; Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2018. 512p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 12, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251703.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251703.pdf Shelf Number: 150522 Keywords: Evidence-Based Practices Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Second Chance Act

Author: Bird, Mia Title: The Impact of Proposition 47 on Crime and Recidivism Summary: Passed by voters in November 2014, Proposition 47 brought broad and significant changes to California's criminal justice system. Undertaken in the wake of public safety realignment in 2011, Proposition 47 reduced the penalties for certain lower-level drug and property offenses and represented a further step in prioritizing prison and jail space for higher-level offenders. The policy has sparked continued debate around two key questions: Did Proposition 47 increase crime? We find no evidence that violent crime increased as a result of Proposition 47. While California saw an uptick in the violent crime rate from 2014 to 2016, this trend appears to have preceded the reform and is due in large part to unrelated changes in crime reporting after 2014. We find some evidence that Proposition 47 affected property crime. Statewide, property crime increased after 2014. While the reform had no apparent impact on burglaries or auto thefts, it may have contributed to a rise in larceny thefts, which increased by roughly 9 percent (about 135 more thefts per 100,000 residents) compared to other states. Crime data show that thefts from motor vehicles account for about three-quarters of this increase. Despite recent upticks, California's crime rates remain comparable to the low rates observed in the 1960s-even with the dramatic reductions in incarceration ushered in by recent criminal justice reforms. Did Proposition 47 reduce recidivism? Recidivism rates decreased due to Proposition 47. Using data from 12 California counties, we find that among individuals released after serving sentences for Proposition 47 offenses, the two-year rearrest rate was 70.8 percent, 1.8 percentage points lower than for similar individuals released before the reform. The two-year reconviction rate for individuals released under Proposition 47 was 46.0 percent, 3.1 percentage points lower than their pre-reform counterparts. These overall declines were driven by substantial reductions in recidivism rates for Proposition 47 offenses. Rearrest and reconviction rates for these offenses were 10.3 and 11.3 percentage points lower, respectively, than for similar individuals before the reform. Our findings suggest that the measure reduced both arrests by law enforcement and convictions resulting from prosecutions by district attorneys. However, we are not able to separate the reform's effects on reoffending from its effects on the practices of criminal justice agencies. Proposition 47 redirected the savings from reduced incarceration to treatment interventions, with the goal of reducing recidivism. While it is too early to know if this shift in funding has affected recidivism rates, in the coming years the state and counties will be better able to assess the impact of increased interventions and to identify promising strategies. As California continues to pursue criminal justice reforms, understanding the effects of Proposition 47 and local treatment programs will be essential to achieving further reductions in recidivism and maintaining public safety. Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2018. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 13, 2018 at: http://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/r_0618mbr.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/r_0618mbr.pdf Shelf Number: 150527 Keywords: Crime Rates Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Systems Proposition 47 Public Safety Realignment Recidivism Treatment Programs

Author: Kubas, Andrew Title: Does the 24/7 Sobriety Program Positively Influence Driver Behaviors in North Dakota Summary: The 24/7 Sobriety Program is an intervention strategy mandating that impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most at-risk offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. As a component of the program, offenders are required to submit to twice-a-day blood alcohol concentration tests, ankle bracelet monitoring, drug patches, or urinalysis as a monitoring technique. If a program participant fails to remain sober, the individual is sent directly to jail. In 2013, House Bill 1302 - which mandated longer enrollment periods for repeat DUI offenders - went into effect. This project seeks to understand four areas: if before-and-after deterrent effects arise upon program enrollment; if House Bill 1302 had a stronger deterrent effect on program participants; if some factors contribute to recidivism more than others; and, if program enrollees outperform a control group of other impaired drivers not subjected to the intervention. Results show that participants significantly improve crash and citation metrics after enrolling in the program. Longer sentencing periods have stronger deterrent effects on DUI-related citations. Individuals participating in the program more than once have higher odds of relapsing into impaired driving behavior. Additional treatment for these individuals may be appropriate as they likely represent the portion of the North Dakota driver population which has issues with alcohol abuse and self-control. Nonetheless, compared to a control group of DUI offenders, those enrolled in the 24/7 Sobriety Program are significantly less likely to recidivate: the 24/7 Sobriety Program reduces DUI-related recidivism by 29.7%, 34.2%, and 39.5% in the 60 days, 365 days, and 730 days following an impaired driving-related citation. Details: Fargo, ND: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University, 2017. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Department Publication No. 296: Accessed June 18, 2018 at: https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/dp-296.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/downloads/dp-296.pdf Shelf Number: 150569 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Kubas, Andrew Title: The Effects of Legislatively-Mandated Sobriety on First-Time and Repeat DUI Offenders in North Dakota Summary: The 24/7 Sobriety Program is an intervention strategy mandating that impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most at-risk offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. As a component of the program, offenders are required to submit to twice-a-day blood alcohol concentration tests, ankle bracelet monitoring, drug patches, or urinalysis as a monitoring technique. If a program participant fails to remain sober, the individual is sent directly to jail. In 2013, House Bill 1302 - which mandated longer enrollment periods for repeat DUI offenders - went into effect. This project seeks to understand if the passing of this legislation altered behavioral performance of participants in the program. It also addresses potential deterrent effects stemming from the program. Results show that participants significantly improve crash and citation metrics after enrolling in the program. Longer sentencing periods appear to have stronger deterrent effects. Individuals who participate in the program multiple times have an above-average likelihood of relapsing into negative behavior. These individuals typically perform positively when enrolled in the program, but recidivate shortly after completing program mandates. Other programs may be more appropriate for these individuals as they represent the North Dakota driver population which likely has issues with alcohol abuse and self-control. Details: Fargo, ND: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2018 at: Department Publication No. 290 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: Department Publication No. 290 Shelf Number: 150570 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Kubas, Andrew Title: Assessment of the 24/7 Sobriety Program in North Dakota: Participant Behavior During Enrollment Summary: The 24/7 Sobriety Program is an intervention strategy mandating that repeat impaired driving offenders remain sober as a condition of bond or pre-trial release. The goal is to monitor the most dangerous offenders in North Dakota and require that these individuals remain sober in order to keep roadways safe from hazardous drivers. As a component of the program, offenders are required to submit to twice-a-day blood alcohol concentration tests, ankle bracelet monitoring, drug patches, urinalysis, or a combination of techniques. If a program participant fails to remain sober, the individual is sent directly to jail. During the most recent legislative biennium, the North Dakota legislature passed House Bill 1302, a resolution mandating that repeat offenders participate in the program for 12 months. This new legislation went into effect on August 1, 2013. This project seeks to understand if the 24/7 Sobriety Program has a positive deterrent effect on repeat impaired driving offenders. Results show that drivers significantly improve traffic metrics after enrolling in the program. The program appears to have more of a deterrent effect on women than on men. The mandatory 12-month enrollment period has a stronger deterrent effect than did prior sentences which were generally left to judicial discretion. Nonetheless, for a group of high-risk offenders - those who likely abuse alcohol and have issues with self-control - the program was found to have little positive effect on non-DUI convictions and crash patterns. Details: Fargo, ND: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University, 2015. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: UGPTI Department Publication No. 279: Accessed June 18, 2018 at: https://www.ugpti.org/pubs/pdf/DP279.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.ugpti.org/pubs/pdf/DP279.pdf Shelf Number: 150571 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Vachal, Kimberly Title: Community Leader and Law Enforcement DUI Survey, 2013 Summary: Driving under the influence is a dangerous activity and is especially problematic in North Dakota. To curtail rates of impaired driving, it is important to examine the actions of those that have firsthand involvement with DUI prevention: prosecutors, community leaders, and law enforcement personnel. A survey was administered to leaders across the state. It included ranking, ordering, and fill-in-the-blank response questions. Statistical analyses were performed to study differences across respondent groups, administrative regions, and with regard to traffic-related work loads. Results show that DUI citation and conviction rates differ and are contingent upon one's job title, geographic location, and time spent on traffic related calls for service. Imprisonment is viewed as the most effective deterrent to impaired driving, and two funding resources - North Dakota Department of Transportation High-Visibility Enforcement Grants and North Dakota Highway Patrol Roving Patrols - were rated as most important in stopping driving after drinking. Changes can be made to ensure higher conviction rates, and new strategies can be used to discourage impaired driving. North Dakota DUI penalties lag considerably behind other states, and modifications to the state's legislation could reduce future instances of this hazardous behavior. Details: Fargo, ND: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, North Dakota State University, 2013. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2018 at: https://www.ugpti.org/pubs/pdf/DP269.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ugpti.org/pubs/pdf/DP269.pdf Shelf Number: 150571 Keywords: Alcohol Law Enforcement Alcoholism Driving Under the Influence Drunk Driving Recidivism

Author: Valentine, Erin Jacobs Title: Implementing the Next Generation of Parole Supervision: Findings from the Changing Attitudes and Motivation in Parolees Pilot Study Summary: One strategy for addressing persistently high recidivism rates among individuals leaving prison is to incorporate interventions into the parole supervision process. This paper presents findings from the Changing Attitudes and Motivation in Parolees (CHAMPS) study, which examined the implementation of a pilot of one parole-based intervention, known as the Next Generation of Parole Supervision (NG), in three sites: Dallas, Denver, and Des Moines. NG is intended to improve parolee outcomes by enhancing parole officers' knowledge and the strategies they use during their regular supervision meetings with parolees. The study uses a range of qualitative and quantitative data, including assessments of the knowledge and skills of parole officers who were trained in NG and a second group of officers who represented business-as-usual supervision, to assess the implementation of NG. Results from the study show that, while there was some variation across sites, parole officers in the CHAMPS sites generally already knew many of the concepts that were part of NG, and changes to officers' supervision practices were limited. Only in Dallas did NG-trained parole officers exhibit practices that were substantially different from those observed among untrained officers, perhaps because the Dallas parole agency's supervision culture and parole officer training started out least aligned with NG, allowing more room for change. The results in Dallas also suggest that coaching may be important to successfully implementing an intervention that involves changing parole officers' skills and practices. While NG-trained parole officers exhibited small changes in their supervision practices early in the study period, there were more noticeable changes once coaching was introduced. However, despite coaching for the entire study period in Des Moines and Denver, little change was observed there, suggesting that the presence of a coach is not sufficient to lead to change. Overall, this study shows that parole officers are amenable to training and coaching to help them improve their supervision practices, but that consistent implementation can be challenging. Details: New York: MDRC, 2018. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2018 at: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/CHAMPS_full%20report_FINAL_0.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/CHAMPS_full%20report_FINAL_0.pdf Shelf Number: 150630 Keywords: Offender Management Parole Officer Training Parole Supervision Parolees Prisoner Reentry Recidivism

Author: Casanova-Powell, Tara Title: Evaluation of State Ignition Interlock Programs: Interlock Use Analyses From 28 States, 2006-2011 Summary: In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and NHTSA began collaborating on a project to evaluate ignition interlock programs in selected States. The purpose of the evaluation was to provide information and best practices to States for ignition interlock programs. The project was managed by the Governor's Highway Safety Association and conducted by the Preusser Research Group. Research was conducted to determine the following: - How States can increase interlock use among DWI offenders who are required or eligible to install one. - Which changes in ignition interlock programs led to increases in ignition interlock use. - Identify the key features of ignition interlock programs. - Which key program features were related to higher ignition interlock use rates. Details: Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, & Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. 144p. Source: Internet Resource: DOT HS 812 145: Accessed June 27, 2018 at: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/172626.aspx Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/172626.aspx Shelf Number: 150715 Keywords: Alcohol Interlock Devices Driving Under the Influence Driving While Intoxicated Drunk Driving Ignition Interlock Program Recidivism

Author: Howard, Flora Fitzalan Title: The experience of electronic monitoring and implications for practice: A qualitative research synthesis Summary: The aims of the study were to understand the experience of electronic monitoring (EM) in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), and how this sanction can be implemented most effectively to achieve best outcomes, including compliance with legal requirements, rehabilitation and desistance. The findings of six qualitative studies of the experience of EM were synthesised using Thematic Synthesis (Thomas and Harden, 2008). Key findings - Six studies of sufficient quality and focus were included, examining the experience of EM in England, Belgium, New Zealand, Canada and the US. EM was used as an alternative sanction, or as part of an early release scheme (none looked at EM for people on bail). The findings may be limited by the small number of primary studies available, and variations in how EM is used in different countries. - EM appeared to offer a range of potential benefits. These included the opportunity for 'headspace', reflection and to disengage from antisocial aspects of life. Additionally, EM could facilitate access to employment and training opportunities, and allow for relationships and social capital to be developed. - Individuals are not guaranteed these benefits. They appeared to be influenced by the individual's circumstances and their response. For some people, EM could lead to a deterioration of relationships, and act as a barrier to employment opportunities. - The nature of EM and the consequences of non-compliance meant that monitored life could be stressful and pressured for some. Individuals' private lives felt intruded on and people living in the same household could be negatively affected. - For many people, EM offered valued freedom, despite life still feeling controlled. For some, autonomy and self-sufficiency improved, but others appeared to experience a lack of control and choice, and may have become overly reliant on others. - From the perspectives of people that are reflected in the research literature, the advantages of EM usually outweighed the disadvantages, and those sentenced to EM tended to readily accept this, particularly if the alternative was to spend time in prison. - People appeared to comply with EM mainly through fear of punishment for non-compliance. Behaviour change may be maintained while EM was active. However, people felt their reoffending and longer-term outcomes may be less affected by EM, and identified additional critical support needed, for example interventions that helped them to think differently or provided them with necessary risk management skills. - From the perspective of monitored people, and the wider evidence base, people's compliance may potentially be enhanced by making EM feel procedurally just. Compliance with EM and rehabilitative outcomes may also be improved by including structured interventions and support to target criminogenic needs (facilitating changes in thinking and skill development), access to employment, hope, self-efficacy and positive relationships. These may also prevent people's future chances of desistance being diminished. Details: London: HM Prison & Probation Service, 2018. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary 2018: Accessed July 12, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723218/The_experience_of_electronic_monitoring_and_implications_for_practice__a_qualitative_research_synthesis.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723218/The_experience_of_electronic_monitoring_and_implications_for_practice__a_qualitative_research_synthesis.pdf Shelf Number: 150832 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Community Supervision Electronic Monitoring Offender Rehabilitation Offender Supervision Recidivism Tagging

Author: Lattimore, Pamela K. Title: Evaluation of the Honest Opportunity Probation With Enforcement Demonstration Field Experiment (HOPE DFE): Final Report Summary: Purpose: The multi-site evaluation of the Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement Demonstration Field Experiment (HOPE DFE) was a four-site, randomized controlled trial replicating a Hawaii probation program widely touted as successful in reducing drug use, violations, and reincarceration. HOPE is based on "swift, certain, and fair" principles-beginning with a warning hearing from a judge and requiring strict adherance to supervision requirements, including random drug testing, with all violations followed by hearings and jail sanctions; treatment is for those who repeatedly fail random tests. Grants and technical assistance were provided to the sites (Saline County, Arkansas; Essex County, Massachusetts; Clackamas County, Oregon; Tarrant County, Texas) by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to facilitate implementation. The evaluation documented implementation and fidelity; tested outcomes, primarily recidivism; and estimated costs. Research Subjects: 1,504 HOPE-eligible individuals were randomly assigned to HOPE or to probation as usual (PAU) between August 2012 and September 2014. Most were male (81%), white (69%), and high risk (55%). On average, they were 31 years at study enrollment, with 7 prior arrests and 3.5 prior convictions. Subject characteristics varied across the sites. For example, study participants were younger at first arrest in Texas than Massachusetts (19 versus 27 years) and had more prior convictions in Massachusetts than in Arkansas and Texas (6 versus about 2). Methods: The evaluation team established procedures with each site for identifying HOPE-eligible probationers and implementing random assignment. Data collection included site visits and document review for the process evaluation, as well as analysis of fidelity data. For the outcome and cost evaluation, administrative data were collected from local and state agencies and three waves of interviews were conducted with study participants. Oral swab drug tests were administered during the second and third interviews for individuals in the community and who consented. A substudy was conducted that enlisted randomly selected subjects in a telephone component that asked subjects to call in weekly and answer a short set of questions to assess whether attitudinal changes occurred over the course of HOPE participation. Results: Implementation fidelity was good to excellent in the DFE sites, showing adherance to guidelines for warning and violation hearings, random drug testing, and responses to violations. Of the eleven metrics measured, the sites had the greatest difficulty bringing a violator to a violation hearing within 3 days of the violation, although three-quarters did have a hearing within 1 week. Overall, cooperation, prior experience with HOPE-like programs, and organizational linkages between probation and the court. Challenges in some sites included resource constraints-even with grant funding-and conflict with existing probation culture. HOPE probationers were more likely to have a violation and had more violations than PAU probationers, including more than twice as many drug-related violations accompanying the more than five-fold increase in drug testing for HOPE versus PAU probationers. HOPE probationers were less likely to miss a probation officer visit, to fail to pay their fees and fines , and to be violated for a new charge ; but were more likely to have a violation for failing to appear for court . Most sanctions for HOPE probationers were jail days; HOPE probationers were more likely to go to jail , to go more often ), and to serve more days total than PAU probationers. there was strong buy-in to the HOPE concept and implementation was facilitated by existing agency The HOPE model included treatment referral after repeated failed tests and HOPE participants were three times more likely to go to residential treatment . HOPE probationers were also referred to treatment more quickly (overall and in three sites). Drug tests conducted in conjunction with follow-up interviews showed fewer positives for HOPE than PAU probationers. Recidivism outcomes were similar for the HOPE and PAU groups: 40% of HOPE versus 44% of PAU had a new arrest; 25% of HOPE versus 22% of PAU had a revocation; 49% of HOPE versus 50% of PAU had an arrest or revocation; and 28% of HOPE versus 26% of PAU had a new conviction. There was some variation in rates across sites, but the general conclusions of no differences hold with two exceptions: (1) HOPE probationers were more likely to be revoked in two sites (PAU revocation rates in those sites were about 10%.); and (2) HOPE probationers were more likely to have a new conviction in one site. Lognormal survival models of time to recidivism events confirm the bivariate findings, but revealed one additional finding-HOPE probationers had longer times to revocation in one site. Cost analyses estimated costs of intake, warning hearings, staffing meetings, office visits, drug tests, violation hearnings, arrests, state and county corrections, and residential treatment. Six-month median costs were significantly higher for HOPE than PAU overall and in four sites and mean costs were higher overall and in three sites. Twelve-month median and mean costs were significantly higher overall and in three sites. Twenty-four-month median and mean costs were significantly higher overall and in one site. Cost differences were driven by treatment and incarceration costs. Conclusions: Four sites that differed in organizational structures and populations successfully implemented HOPE programs-holding probationers accountable to their conditions of supervision and reducing drug use. Overall, HOPE did not reduce recidivism, as measured by arrest, revocation, and new conviction. More jail days, more residential treatment, and similar (or higher) recidivism resulted in higher (although not always significantly higher) costs for HOPE compared with PAU. PAU context is important as sites consider whether to implement HOPE or similar programs based on "swift, certain, and fair" principles. PAU revocation rates were low (9% and 13%) in two sites- suggesting limited ability to reduce revocations and that sites with low PAU revocation rates should consider whether to implement procedures to mitigate any potential increases in revocations that would accompany the increased surveillance of HOPE. In at least two sites, revocation could yield only short prison stays (90 days)-suggesting limited opportunities for "prison bed savings" even if revocations were lower with HOPE and a smaller incentive for individuals to comply. PAU was based at least somewhat on Risk-Needs-Response principles in at least two sites-suggesting an additional consideration with respect to the integration of HOPE with PAU. In addition, in one site, probation could use short jail stays on their authority (and did for PAU cases)-suggesting that a HOPE judge was not necessary to enforce conditions. Thus, the similar outcomes may hinge on the "compared to what" aspect of any evalution-in that findings suggest that HOPE worked as well as but not better than PAU. However, given the consistency of findings across four sites that differed in the administration of PAU, there is little to support a conclusion that HOPE or HOPE-like programs will produce substantial improvements over PAU when implemented widely. Details: Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI International, 2018. 268p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251758.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251758.pdf Shelf Number: 151019 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Drug Offender Treatment Drug Offenders Offender Supervision Probation Probationers Project Hope Recidivism Revocations

Author: Hunt, Pricillia Title: Incentivizing Employers to Hire Ex-Offenders What Policies Are Most Effective? Summary: An estimated 64.6 million Americans (25 percent of the population) have a criminal record; of those, 19.8 million have at least one felony criminal conviction. Evidence indicates that ex-offenders have substantially lower probabilities of being hired than members of other disadvantaged groups - such as welfare recipients, high school dropouts, unemployed people, and those with "spotty" work histories - who do not have a criminal record. When ex-offenders experience poor economic outcomes, they are more likely to engage in criminal activity, which further affects their job and earnings growth and the standard of living for their families, friends, and wider community. Key Findings - In our experiment, 59 out of 100 employers filling an entry-level job would consider hiring someone who has one nonviolent felony conviction with the incentive of the baseline tax credit. Adding a post-conviction certificate verifying work performance history increases that number by 37 percent, to 81 out of 100 employers. Increasing the baseline tax credit to 40 percent of a worker's wage (up to $5,000) increases that number by 30 percent, to 77 out of 100 employers. With a baseline staffing agency discount fee program, 43 out of 100 employers filling an entry-level position would consider hiring someone who has one nonviolent felony conviction. Adding a guaranteed replacement worker program increases that number by 69 percent, to 73 out of 100 employers. Doubling the baseline staffing agency fee discount increases that number by 39 percent, to 60 out of 100 employers. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2018. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 9, 2018 at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB10003.html Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB10003.html Shelf Number: 151097 Keywords: Employment Ex-offender Employment Jobs Recidivism

Author: Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council Title: Illinois Results First: The High Cost of Recidivism Summary: This brief updates the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council's (SPAC�s) 2015 High Cost of Recidivism report. Similar to regular updating of financial reports on economic activity or investments, this criminal justice update incorporates new trends and improved methodology to provide a more accurate and current picture of the high costs of recidivism in Illinois. The brief below describes the key findings and costs, how those costs accumulate over time, and how evidence-based policies and practices can help reduce recidivism such that the benefits outweigh the costs. - In 2016, 38,477 people were convicted of felonies and 33,074 were convicted of misdemeanors in Illinois. - Only 11% of the 71,551 total convictions were of individuals with no prior arrests. Roughly 96% of the people admitted to prison eventually return to the community. - Forty-three percent of those released from prison each year recidivate within three years of release and 17% will recidivate within one year of release. - Thirty-five percent of those sentenced to probation for felony offenses each year recidivate within three years of sentencing, and 17% will recidivate within one year. - Thirty-seven percent of those sentenced to probation for misdemeanor offenses each year recidivate within three years of sentencing, and 19% will recidivate within one year. - The average cost associated with one recidivism event is $151,662. Given current recidivism trends, over the next 5 years recidivism will cost Illinois over $13 billion. Details: Springfield: SPAC, 2018. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2018 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/spac/pdf/Illinois_Result_First-The_High_Cost_of_Recidivism_2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/spac/pdf/Illinois_Result_First-The_High_Cost_of_Recidivism_2018.pdf Shelf Number: 151264 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Costs of Criminal Justice Recidivism

Author: Devitt Westley, Christine Title: Examining the recidivism of firearm offenders using state criminal history and mortality data Summary: The scourge of gun violence in our streets, schools, places of worship, workplaces, and entertainment venues around the nation has created a sense of urgency to find prevention and intervention strategies. Research is scarce, however, in part due to decades-long Congressional limits on federal funding to support U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention research on firearm-related topics (Sofer, 2017). This study was conducted to demonstrate the usefulness of state criminal history records for examining recidivism of specific criminal justice populations, in this case, gun offenders. Besides gathering information on repeat offending through criminal history and prison records, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers obtained state death records of deceased individuals in the study sample. These records provided detail on the cause and manner of death not available in criminal justice administrative data. Together, these findings offer relevant insights into first-time firearm-involved arrestees, their recidivism patterns and mortality rates, and inform policy and practice on the issue of guns and violence. Details: Chicago, IL: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2018. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2018 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Firearm_study_report_073118.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Firearm_study_report_073118.pdf Shelf Number: 151265 Keywords: Firearms Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Recidivism

Author: Thorburn, Hamish Title: The effect of parole officers on re-offending Summary: Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect that parole officers have on the reoffending of parolees. Method: The sample chosen was all adults released on parole in NSW between 2009 and 2012. Data on parole officer, officer characteristics and office of the parolee were obtained from Corrective Services NSW. This was matched with the reoffending database (ROD) maintained by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research to obtain demographic, index contact and prior offending variables for each parolee. The outcomes measured were reoffending within one, two or three years of release, and were recorded as binary variables. Logistic regression models were used to estimate these effects, with parole officer and parole office being included as random effects. Significance of the random effects was measured using likelihood ratio tests comparing the random effects models to the same models without the random effects included. Finally, the random parole officer effects were regressed on parole officer gender, age and years of experience to determine if these factors influenced parole officer effects. Results: Significant variance was found in the random effects for the parole officers for reoffending within one, two or three years, and within one and three years for parole offices. In the majority of cases, differences in parole officer and office effects accounted for less than 1 percentage point in the probability of reoffending. However, in extreme cases, this difference could be as high as 11 percentage points. No evidence suggesting that parole officer age, gender or years of experience were associated with parole officer effects was found. Conclusion: It does appear that there are differences in parole officer and office effects on reoffending. However, in practical terms, these effects are very small in the majority of cases. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 214: Accessed September 18, 2018 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/2018-Report-The-effect-of-parole-officers-on-reoffending-CJB214.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/2018-Report-The-effect-of-parole-officers-on-reoffending-CJB214.pdf Shelf Number: 151571 Keywords: Offender Supervision Parole Parole Officers Parole Supervision Recidivism Reoffending

Author: Rahman, Sara Title: Evaluation of the EQUIPS Domestic Abuse Program Summary: Aim: To estimate an unbiased effect of commencing the EQUIPS Domestic Abuse Program (DVEQUIPS) on general reoffending and domestic violence (DV)-related re-offending. Method: To deal with omitted variable bias, instrumental variables approaches are used to examine general and DV reoffending within 12 months free time after program referral for DVEQUIPS starters and offenders who were referred but did not start (non-starters). The program was delivered as a closed group which permitted the use of the peer non-commencement rate as an instrumental variable (IV), to exploit differences in participation based on the number of other offenders available to start the program at the time of an offender's referral. Results: Instrumental variables analyses indicated that selection bias was not a major problem, supporting the use of logistic regression to compare re-offending outcomes for starters and non-starters. The treatment effects estimated for offenders who started the program were not significantly different from zero for either general or DV-related re-offending within 12 months of referral. Conclusion: There is no evidence of a treatment effect for those who start DVEQUIPS within 12 months of referral when compared with those offenders who were referred but did not start. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 211: Accessed September 18, 2018 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/2018-Report-Evaluation-of-the-EQUIPS-Domestic-Abuse-CJB211.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/2018-Report-Evaluation-of-the-EQUIPS-Domestic-Abuse-CJB211.pdf Shelf Number: 151572 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Recidivism Reoffending

Author: St. Giles Trust Title: The Evaluation of St Giles Trust's SOS Project Summary: St Giles Trust's SOS Project trains and employs reformed ex-offenders as caseworkers, who provide practical and psychological support to their clients - primarily other ex-offenders, but also those at risk of offending - to help them to avoid offending and reintegrate themselves into society. This is a pioneering model for the delivery of such services and the limited results of this paper indicate this model could have an impact if scaled and supported appropriately. This paper provides an account of a mixed-methods evaluation of the SOS Project, carried out by The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP) and its associates, whose dual-purpose was to analyse the SOS Project's impact and optimise its implementation. The key findings of this report are: - The caseworkers themselves are the biggest strength of the SOS Project. Their commitment, willingness to challenge their clients, and ability to address their attitudes and behaviours whilst still providing support are integral to the SOS Project's work. Clients most frequently mentioned support from SOS workers and the information, advice and guidance as the most valuable parts of the SOS Project. - The SOS Project and St Giles Trust in general are clearly (based on case file reviews, interviews, and partner discussions) receiving referrals from multiple routes, and taking on clients who are difficult or not motivated to reform. This dynamic and 'hard-to-measure' variable means the reconviction analysis conducted in this study needs to be considered in this context. - The SOS Project is well-aligned with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) understanding of best practice - it takes a holistic approach that principally targets four of NOM'� reoffending risk factors � this is an important foundation that St Giles Trust are targeting well. With more structure, all nine outcomes could be strongly targeted. - According to client interviews and caseworkers' self-reported outcomes, the SOS Project shows signs of positive impact. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and case file analysis indicates good work. - A reconviction analysis showed that the reoffending rates of SOS clients were not significantly different from what would be predicted had no intervention taken place. However, due to unavoidable issues with data, these results may not accurately reflect the SOS Project's impact. Further work is recommended. - In any case, data collection needs to be improved in order to fully and accurately capture the SOS Project's impact. St Giles Trust could capture its data better with dedicated administrative support - The process of delivering this evaluation has illustrated that projects that emerge organically and subject to a wide range of funder requirements like the SOS Project (evolved over 6 years) i.e. take on a variety/difficult of clients, use multiple referral routes, and use flexible interventions need to carefully consider the evaluation methodologies and desired outcomes that they select to assess their work. Details: London: St. Giles Trust, 2013. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2018 at: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Evaluation%20into%20SOS%20Gangs%20project%20full%20report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Evaluation%20into%20SOS%20Gangs%20project%20full%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 151748 Keywords: Caseworkers Ex-Offenders Mentoring Offender Supervision Peer Advisors Recidivism Reoffending

Author: United States Sentencing Commission Title: Recidivism Among Federal Offenders Receiving Retroactive Sentence Reductions: The 2011 Fair Sentencing Act Guideline Amendment Summary: The Fair Sentencing Act of 20101 ("FSA") reduced the statutory penalties for crack cocaine offenses in two ways. First, it increased the drug quantity thresholds required to trigger the statutory mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for manufacturing or trafficking crack cocaine. Second, it eliminated the statutory mandatory minimum penalty for possession of crack cocaine. In the FSA, Congress directed the United States Sentencing Commission (the "Commission") to amend the federal sentencing guidelines to incorporate the reduced statutory penalty structure for crack cocaine offenses effective November 1, 2010. Congress did not make the FSA statutory penalty reductions retroactive, but the Commission did give retroactive effect to the FSA guideline amendment (the "FSA Guideline Amendment") as of November 1, 2011.2 Following that action, 7,748 crack cocaine offenders have received an estimated average sentence reduction of 30 months, lowering their sentence from an average of 153 months to 123 months of imprisonment. In 2015, as required by the FSA, the Commission submitted a report to Congress assessing the impact of the FSA on the federal criminal justice system (the "2015 FSA Report"). The Commission noted in that report that its earlier research had found that a previous population of crack cocaine offenders released early as a result of retroactive application of a guideline amendment did not show a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of recidivating, but it was too soon to assess the recidivism of crack cocaine offenders released early through retroactive application of the FSA Guideline Amendment. In the 2015 FSA Report, the Commission further stated its intent to separately study the effect of retroactive application of the FSA Guideline Amendment on recidivism. This publication provides that analysis: Finding: The Commission finds no difference between the recidivism rates for offenders who were released early due to retroactive application of the FSA Guideline Amendment and offenders who had served their full sentences before the FSA Guideline Amendment reduction retroactively took effect. Details: Washington, DC: USSC, 2018. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2018 at: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2018/20180328_Recidivism_FSA-Retroactivity.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/research-publications/2018/20180328_Recidivism_FSA-Retroactivity.pdf Shelf Number: 152918 Keywords: Cocaine Offenders Drug Offenders Drug Trafficking Fair Sentencing Act Federal Offenders Recidivism Sentencing Guidelines Sentencing Policy

Author: Duwe, Grant Title: The Effects of Prison Labor on Institutional Misconduct, Post-Prison Employment and Recidivism Summary: We used a retrospective quasi-experimental design to assess the impact of prison labor on institutional misconduct, post-prison employment, and recidivism among 6,144 offenders released from Minnesota prisons between 2007 and 2011. In addition to using multiple measures of prison labor participation, we relied on propensity score matching to minimize observable selection bias. Participation in prison labor significantly improved post-prison employment outcomes, but it yielded mixed results for prison misconduct and had little overall impact on recidivism. When we examined the extent to which prisoners participated in prison labor, the best outcomes were observed for those who spent a greater proportion of their overall confinement time working a job in prison. As the percentage of prison time spent working increased, we found significant improvements in prison misconduct, post-prison employment, and several measures of recidivism. Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2017. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Effects%20of%20Prison%20Labor%20on%20Institutional%20Misconduct%2C%20Post-Prison%20Employment%20and%20Recidivism_tcm1089-320173.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Effects%20of%20Prison%20Labor%20on%20Institutional%20Misconduct%2C%20Post-Prison%20Employment%20and%20Recidivism_tcm1089-320173.pdf Shelf Number: 153072 Keywords: Ex-offender Employment Inmate Labor Prison Labor Prison Misconduct Recidivism

Author: McNeeley, Susan M. Title: Does Neighborhood Context Moderate the Relationship between Criminal Propensity and Recidivism? Summary: This study examines whether the relationship between individual-level risk and recidivism varies according to ecological context, measured at the census tract level. It is hypothesized that high-risk offenders - as measured by MnSTARR 2.0 and LSI-R - will have elevated risk of recidivism when living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and lower risk of recidivism when living in affluent neighborhoods. These hypotheses are tested with hierarchical logistic models predicting rearrest and revocation for a technical violation among a sample of approximately 3,000 offenders released from Minnesota state prisons in 2009. Rearrest was positively related to neighborhood disadvantage and negatively related to neighborhood affluence, while revocation was positively related to neighborhood urbanism. Further, neighborhood disadvantage moderated the association between LSI-R and rearrest; however, this interaction was not in the hypothesized direction. The results contradict prior literature examining similar relationships at the county level. Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2017. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/NeighborhoodModeration-Full_tcm1089-341787.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/NeighborhoodModeration-Full_tcm1089-341787.pdf Shelf Number: 153075 Keywords: Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Neighborhoods and Crime Recidivism Urban Areas

Author: Clark, Valerie Title: The Effects of Restrictive Housing on Recidivism Summary: The isolation of certain inmates for the protection of others or themselves is sometimes required for the sake of safety and institutional order. However, many observers have argued that restrictive housing is a form of torture, and may leave inmates at a greater risk of reoffending in the future. This study examined (a) the extent to which a cohort of released state prisoners were held in restrictive housing during their confinements, (b) whether or not they were released to the community directly from restrictive housing, and (c) whether or not these factors significantly impacted the likelihood of three types of recidivism. The results revealed that time spent in restrictive housing increased the risk of supervision revocations up to two years after release, but did not significantly increase the likelihood of rearrest or reconviction. Thus, rule-breaking behaviors appear to continue into the community, but not necessarily continued criminal offending. Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2017. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Effects%20of%20Restrictive%20Housing%20on%20Recidivism_tcm1089-320093.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/Effects%20of%20Restrictive%20Housing%20on%20Recidivism_tcm1089-320093.pdf Shelf Number: 153077 Keywords: Administrative Segregation Inmate Discipline Inmate Misconduct Isolation Recidivism Restrictive Housing Solitary Confinement

Author: Bazzi, Samuel Title: Deterring Illegal Entry: Migrant Sanctions and Recidivism in Border Apprehensions Summary: In this paper, we use administrative records from the U.S. Border Patrol to examine how penalizing illegal border crossing affects recidivism in the apprehension of undocumented migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Over 2008 to 2012, the Border Patrol rolled out a Consequence Delivery System, which increased the fraction of apprehended border crossers subject to administrative or criminal sanctions from 15 percent to 85 percent. By matching fingerprints across apprehension records, we detect if a migrant apprehended by the Border Patrol is subject to penalties and if he is re-apprehended at a later date. Exploiting day-to-day variation in the capacity of the Border Patrol to levy sanctions during the rollout phase, we estimate strong effects of penalties on the likelihood that an apprehended migrant re-attempts illegal entry and is recaptured. Exposure to (milder) administrative penalties reduces the 3-month and 18-month re-apprehension rates for male Mexican nationals by 6.6 and 4.6 percentage points, off of baseline rates of 22.6 percent and 24.2 percent; exposure to the full set of penalties reduces these re-apprehension rates by 8.1 and 6.1 percentage points. The estimated magnitudes imply that the rollout of the CDS can account for 28 to 44 percent of the reduction in re-apprehension rates over 2008 to 2012. Further results suggest that our estimated impacts of sanctions on recidivism in apprehensions may understate the impact of sanctions on recidivism in attempted illegal entry. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2018. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25100 Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25100.pdf Shelf Number: 152866 Keywords: Deterrence Illegal Immigration Immigration Migration Recidivism

Author: McNeeley, Susan M. Title: The Effect of Neighborhood Context on Recidivism: Differences Based on Gender, Race, and Post-Release Housing Type Summary: Several studies show that recidivism is influenced by the context of neighborhoods in which offenders live after leaving prison. However, the research on this topic is mixed, with many studies finding inconsistent or null neighborhood effects. This study attempts to address this inconsistency by examining whether neighborhoods affect recidivism differently based upon offenders' housing situation or personal characteristics (i.e., gender, race). The results of the multilevel logistic regression analyses show that neighborhood characteristics were significantly related to rearrest among minority offenders but not White offenders, and among offenders living in private residential housing but not those living in community-based facilities. These results help to explain the mixed findings in the literature and highlight the complexity of the relationship between neighborhood context and recidivism. Details: St. Paul, MN: Department of Corrections, 2017. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2018 at: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/EffectOfNeighborhoodContextOnRecidivism-FullReport_tcm1089-299794.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/EffectOfNeighborhoodContextOnRecidivism-FullReport_tcm1089-299794.pdf Shelf Number: 153871 Keywords: Neighborhood Characteristics Offender Reentry Post-Release Housing Recidivism

Author: Colquhoun-Flannery, Claire Title: Examining the Efficacy of the Building Skills for Recovery (BSR) Programme for Substance-Misusing Offenders in Custody in England and Wales Summary: Building Skills for Recovery (BSR) is a substance misuse intervention that has been designed to reduce offending behaviour and dependent substance misuse with an eventual goal of recovery. As little research has been carried out to explore the efficacy of BSR, this study aimed to measure change in the treatment targets of impulsivity, locus of control and problem solving in 1,702 BSR participants in custody, particularly clinically significant change. The impact of readiness to engage in treatment on programme completion was also explored. Details: London, U.K.: Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, 2018. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764651/examining-efficacy-building-skills-recovery-programme.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/examining-the-efficacy-of-the-building-skills-for-recovery-programme-for-substance-misusing-offenders-in-custody Shelf Number: 154065 Keywords: Building Skills Recovery Drug Abuse Drug Use Impulsivity Intervention Locus of Control Recidivism Reduce Offending Substance Abuse Substance Abuse Intervention

Author: Sloan, Carly Will Title: The Effect of Risk Assessment Scores on Judicial Behavior and Defendant Outcomes Summary: The use of risk assessment scores as a means of decreasing pretrial detention for low-risk, primarily poor defendants is increasing rapidly across the United States. Despite this, there is little evidence on how risk assessment scores alter criminal outcomes. Using administrative data from a large county in Texas, we estimate the effect of a risk assessment score policy on judge bond decisions, defendant pretrial detention, and pretrial recidivism. We identify effects by exploiting a large, sudden policy change using a regression discontinuity design. This approach effectively compares defendants booked just before and after the policy change. Results show that adopting a risk assessment score leads to increased release on non-financial bond and decreased pretrial detention. These results appear to be driven by poor defendants. We also find risk assessment scores did not increase violent pretrial recidivism, however there is some suggestive evidence of small increases in non-violent pretrial recidivism. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute of Labor Economics, 2018. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: https://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp11948.html Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11948.pdf Shelf Number: 154069 Keywords: Bail Bond Defendants Judicial Discretion Non-Financial Bond Pretrial Detention Recidivism Risk Assessment Texas

Author: Wilkinson, Keely Title: A Process Study of the Horizon Programme Summary: The Horizon programme is an intervention delivered to men who have a sexual conviction as part of an antisocial criminal orientation and are considered to be at a medium, high or very high risk of reconviction. The programme can be delivered in both custodial and community sites and is suitable for men accepting responsibility for their offence and those maintaining their innocence. There has been a staged implementation of the Horizon programme, which has enabled a process study to take place in 2016 at six early implementation sites. This study aimed to gauge the perceptions of both the staff delivering Horizon and the participants completing the programme, in order to evaluate the programme's design and identify how it could be best optimised for successful delivery across all sites. Focus groups were conducted with the facilitators and treatment managers delivering Horizon, and individual interviews were carried out with the group members of the first completed programme. While the study is a reflection of staff and group members' opinions of the initial implementation and processes of Horizon, it does not measure the impact of the programme on outcomes such as reconviction. Details: London, UK: Ministry of Justice, 2018. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2019 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/769540/process-study-horizon-programme.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/769540/process-study-horizon-programme.pdf Shelf Number: 154130 Keywords: Antisocial Focus Groups Horizon London Recidivism Reconviction Sex Offenders Sexual Conviction

Author: Rabuy, Bernadette Title: Prisons of Poverty: Uncovering the Pre-Incarceration Incomes of the Imprisoned Summary: Correctional experts of all political persuasions have long understood that releasing incarcerated people to the streets without job training, an education, or money is the perfect formula for recidivism and re-incarceration. While the fact that people released from prison have difficulties finding employment is well-documented, there is much less information on the role that poverty and opportunity play in who ends up behind bars in the first place. Using an underutilized data set from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, this report provides hard numbers on the low incomes of incarcerated men and women from before they were locked up. Details: Northampton, MA: Prison Policy Initiative, 2015. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/income.html Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/corrections/publications/uncovering-the-pre-incarceration-incomes-of-individuals-in-the-justice-system/ Shelf Number: 154223 Keywords: Incarceration Inmates Poverty Prisoners Prisons Recidivism Socioeconomic Status and Crime

Author: Schleifer, Rebecca Title: Drug Courts in the Americas Summary: Executive Summary Drug courts in the United States are presented as an alternative to incarceration for people arrested for minor drug offenses where drug use is considered an underlying cause of the crime, thus theoretically serving as a tool for reducing prison and jail populations. The United States has nearly thirty years of experience with these courts, which have spread to all fifty states as well as US territories. Many countries around the world have looked to the United States' experience with drug courts as a model to be adopted, and the US government has also promoted them abroad as an alternative to incarceration. Perhaps the most organized efforts to expand this policy are those currently underway in Latin America and the Caribbean. The considerable influence of the United States on the region's drug control policies has certainly encouraged many of its countries to view drug courts as such an alternative, and the growing number of countries implementing them signals that these efforts are moving ahead with full force there. The Canadian government has also worked to support the expansion of drug courts, particularly in the Caribbean, but this report does not focus on the Canadian model. Proponents of drug courts assert that they are cost-effective; they reduce recidivism as well as time spent in detention (prison or jail); and they offer drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration to people whose drug use fuels their criminal activity. To evaluate these assertions, this report reviews key findings from the United States' experience which, despite major institutional, legal, and cultural differences, may usefully inform debates about drug courts, along with other alternatives to incarceration for low-level drug crimes, in other countries - in particular, in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that have either established, or are looking to establish, drug courts. This report also presents a brief overview of where and how drug courts have been implemented in Latin America and the Caribbean to identify, to the extent possible, the different experiences and challenges faced by those countries. One main difficulty in this exercise is the limited availability of data that would allow strong parallels to be drawn. As is the case with the United States, with rare exceptions, drug courts in Latin America and Caribbean are not independently monitored and evaluated, and most were established relatively recently. Nevertheless, we have found the information available points to fundamental problems with the implementation of drug courts; the findings from the United States experience could, at the very least, offer insight into whether and under what circumstances they provide a more desirable option than incarceration. The US section is based on review of the existing research on drug courts and treatment for substance use disorders and evaluations of drug court efficacy conducted and published by the US government, major research institutions, advocacy organizations, and leading scholars whose work focuses on drug courts specifically or on criminal justice, substance use disorders, drug treatment, and drug policy more broadly. The Latin America and Caribbean sections are based on a review of their available information on drug courts (which is significantly more limited than the vast literature available in the United States), as well as on research on criminal justice, incarceration, drug treatment, and drug policy, responses to requests for information, and interviews. Also reviewed for each country are laws, official documents (including memoranda of understanding, government documents and web pages, judiciary reports, PowerPoint presentations made by authorities, and international organization documents, among others), studies and evaluations (when available), and, in a few cases, news reports. The substantial diversity among drug court models complicates efforts to evaluate their impact on the problems they aim to address, but our review of the existing evidence shows the claim that drug courts provide an alternative to incarceration is debatable. We found that drug courts, as implemented in the United States, are a costly, cumbersome intervention that has limited, if any, impact on reducing incarceration. Indeed, for many participants, they may have the opposite effect by increasing criminal justice supervision and subjecting those who fail to graduate to harsher penalties than they might otherwise have received, thus becoming an adjunct rather than an alternative to incarceration. Moreover, evidence about their effectiveness in reducing cost, recidivism, and time spent in prison is mixed. The financial and human costs to drug court participants are also steep and disproportionately burdensome to the poor and racial minorities. The evidence also does not support drug courts as an appropriate public health intervention. Drug court judges are empowered to make treatment decisions that should be the domain of health care professionals, choosing from limited or counterproductive options that may threaten the health and lives of participants as well as expose confidential information about their health and drug use. One of the main stated objectives of drug courts is to ensure access to comprehensive substance abuse treatment for those who need it. Our review of the available evidence shows, however, that, in practice, many drug court participants do not need treatment; at the same time, treatment may be unavailable to or inappropriate for those who do. Evidence we have found indicates the resort to drug courts may be an appropriate measure for certain offenders - that is, people charged with serious crimes linked to their drug dependence who would otherwise serve prison terms. What is often not considered is that most drug courts do not meet this definition. More important, we must remember that drug dependence treatment is a type of medical care. People who are dependent on drugs have a right, under international human rights law, to relevant health care services that are available, physically and economically accessible without discrimination, gender appropriate, culturally and ethically acceptable, designed to respect confidentiality, scientifically and medically appropriate, and of good quality. By mediating treatment through the criminal justice system, drug courts aggressively insert the penal system into people's private and family lives and into their decisions about their health and medical care, reproducing and perpetuating the criminalization of people who use drugs and those involved in low-level drug-related crimes. As an overall framework through which to think about drug courts, we should not lose sight of the fact that no individuals, regardless of their criminal records, should be punished for their medical conditions, nor should they have to allow courts to make their medical decisions for them or rely on the criminal justice system for access to treatment that could perhaps have prevented their incarceration in the first place. The primary lessons learned from US drug courts that should be considered by other countries in the Americas as they look at this model are the following: Drug courts are not an alternative to incarceration: - Defendants remain in criminal proceedings at every step in the drug court program, risk incarceration, both as a sanction while in the program and for failure to complete it, and, in some cases, spend more time behind bars than they would have had they chosen to pursue criminal justice proceedings instead of drug court. Drug courts may increase the number of people under supervision of the criminal justice system in the following ways: - By requiring them to plead guilty as a condition of getting access to drug court. - By processing discretionary crimes that police might have not enforced had drug court not been an option. - By mediating treatment through the criminal justice system. Drug courts are not a rights-based health intervention: - Drug court judges maintain control over treatment decisions for drug court participants, in some cases ordering treatment that is at odds with accepted medical practice. - Participants who fail drug court risk incarceration and face abrupt interruption of treatment and other health risks attendant to incarceration. - Access to treatment comes at the cost of forfeiting fundamental legal and human rights. Drug courts may perpetuate racial bias in the criminal justice system: - Drug courts point to drug dependence as the factor that puts people at risk of criminal justice involvement, ignoring the racial bias in drug policing and prosecution in the United States that leads African Americans and Latinos into long-term criminal justice supervision at much higher rates than their white counterparts. Further complicating this scenario is the concerted effort to export drug courts as a model that should be adopted by other countries. Despite the evidence from the United States experience cited above, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have embraced drug courts as a promising solution to the over-incarceration problem that plagues the region. This development is problematic not only because governments in the region apparently are not conducting proper investigations before adopting drug courts as a public policy model, but also because the very specific social, economic, and political context of Latin American and Caribbean countries immediately complicates the adoption of public policies designed by other, more developed countries with different legal systems. The lack, for example, of scientifically and medically appropriate treatment options and the reliance on private providers is a serious issue in the Latin America and Caribbean region, where numerous cases of abuse and human rights violations by treatment providers have been documented. Furthermore, health systems do not have enough capacity to provide health and social services to all the people who need them; in these cases, private and religious institutions with scarce knowledge about drug dependence, treatment, and medical standards are used. A reliance on abstinence-based treatment programs and drug testing is also of concern. On the criminal justice side of the issue, many drug courts in the region still focus on simple drug possession as a crime, contributing to the criminalization and stigmatization of people who use drugs. Research about drug courts in Latin America and the Caribbean also underscores the need for a more rigorous data management system that can provide sufficient information for a comprehensive assessment of their effectiveness in the region. Currently, research is too dependent on anecdotal evidence and not focused on evidence-based analysis. This report's main findings about drug treatment courts in Latin America are as follows: - Generally speaking, detailed and current data are lacking in almost all the Latin American countries studied, and independent evaluations are scarce. - The model is more advanced in three countries (Chile, Mexico, and Costa Rica) and in a pilot phase in four others (Argentina, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Colombia). Ecuador and Peru are also considering whether to establish drug courts. - Most programs in the region were established in 2012 or later, except for the Chilean model, which was implemented in 2004. - Drug courts in Latin America function as specific programs within the legal jurisdictions where they have been established rather than as special courts. They function under the conditional suspension of criminal proceedings mechanism and adopt a pre-plea approach that diverts participants before conviction. - Candidates must meet two basic requirements to enter the programs: they must be prosecuted for an eligible offense, and they must receive a diagnosis of problematic drug use related to the commission of the crime. - Only people charged with what the local jurisdictions consider to be minor and/or nonviolent rimes (charges carrying sentences of no more than three to five years in prison) are accepted in the programs. - Many programs carry harsh penalties as sanctions during the course of treatment. - In most programs, participants must be first-time offenders. - In contrast to the US experience, Latin American drug treatment courts graduate few participants. - The drug courts in the region most commonly address crimes against property, domestic violence, and drug possession. Based on available information, simple possession is one of the most frequent crimes in drug court programs that include drug offenses (those in Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama). - Most participants in drug court programs are male. - Juvenile courts have been established in Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and other countries plan to create such programs. - Much as in the United States, participation in Latin American drug courts typically requires that participants remain drug free and sometimes sanction them for positive drug tests. - Most countries clearly lack the capacity to provide appropriate treatment to all program participants. This report's main findings about drug treatment courts in the English-speaking Caribbean are as follows: - Much as in Latin America, detailed and current data are lacking in almost all the Caribbean countries studied, and no independent evaluations of drug courts have been done. The information available is mostly from government sources. - The earliest drug court programs in the Caribbean were established in 2001 in Bermuda and Jamaica (making these the oldest programs in the Latin America and Caribbean region), with other countries (the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Belize) establishing drug courts in 2012 or later. - The drug court model is more advanced in three countries (Bermuda, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands) and in an initial phase in three others (Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Belize). The Bahamas seems to be interested in establishing drug courts. - Drug courts in the Caribbean are not specialized courts as in the United States but, rather, operate as specific programs under local lower (parish/magistrate�s) courts, as in Latin America. The drug treatment courts in Caribbean countries operate under different legal structures. Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica have enacted specific legislation, while Barbados, Belize, and Trinidad and Tobago have signed memoranda of understanding with the Organization of American States' Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). The Canadian government has directly supported the implementation of drug courts in a few Caribbean countries. - The basic requirements for admission to drug court are to be charged with an eligible offense and receive a diagnosis of problematic drug use related to the commission of the crime. - Only people charged with what the local jurisdictions consider to be minor and/or nonviolent crimes are accepted in the programs, with the exception of Jamaica, where people charged with certain more serious crimes may be eligible. Participants must be first-time offenders. - Jamaica is the only country in the English-speaking Caribbean where a guilty plea is not a requirement for admission. - The information available suggests that few participants graduate from Caribbean drug courts. - The drug courts in the region most commonly address crimes against property and drug possession. Based on available information, simple possession is one of the most frequent crimes in drug court programs that include drug offenses. - Most participants in drug court programs are male. - Juvenile courts have been established in Jamaica, and reports indicate the Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago are exploring the possibility of establishing such programs. - Many programs carry harsh penalties as sanctions during the course of treatment. - Participation in Caribbean drug courts typically requires that participants remain drug free, and they rely on drug testing to assess compliance, with sanctions imposed for positive drug tests. - Information about treatment standards and options available is scarce, but our research suggests most countries in the region lack the capacity to provide appropriate treatment to all program participants. Undoubtedly, the creation of alternatives to the criminal justice system for drug-related offenses is urgently needed, and countries should focus on moving away from an excessive reliance on incarceration as a panacea. Nonetheless, a close examination of the United States as a case study does not support the drug court model as the most appropriate solution for governments genuinely focused on addressing this issue, since in some respects it continues to criminalize drug consumption and prioritize a criminal approach to drug dependence over a health approach. Hence, this report presents a series of recommendations that should be seriously considered by countries concerned with mass incarceration and intent on moving away from over-reliance on criminal justice responses to drug use. We developed the recommendations with two groups in mind: countries that have not established drug courts or in which they are in early stages, and countries in which drug courts are more established and their continuation is overwhelmingly supported, thus making it difficult (but not impossible) to address the issues raised here. Details: New York, NY: Social Science Research Council, 2018. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 20, 2019 at: https://www.ssrc.org/publications/view/drug-courts-in-the-americas/ Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ssrc-cdn1/crmuploads/new_publication_3/DSD_Drug+Courts_English_online+final.pdf Shelf Number: 154312 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration Caribbean Data Management System Drug Courts Drug Crimes Drug Offenses Drug Possession Drug Treatment Courts Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICA Jail Population Latin America Prison Population Public Health Intervention Racial Bias Recidivism Substance Use Supervision Treatment

Author: Lipsey, Mark W. Title: Rehabilitation Programs for Adult Offenders: A Meta-Analysis in Support of Guidelines for Effective Practice Summary: Project Purpose-- - To conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of the available research through 2014 on the effects of intervention programs for adult offenders, building on an existing database drawn from eligible studies reported through 2005. - To analyze the resulting meta-analytic data with a focus on estimating the impact of different interventions on recidivism and other outcomes, and identifying the program and participant characteristics most strongly associated with positive outcomes. - To use the meta-analysis findings to construct effective practice guidelines and obtain feedback on their applicability, utility, and ease of implementation from criminal justice practitioners in the adult correctional system. Project Design and Methods -- Eligibility criteria. Research studies were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis if they met specific criteria summarized in brief as follows: 1. The study involves a qualifying psychosocial intervention or treatment that has as its aim, implicitly or explicitly, the reduction of criminal behavior or other improvements in behavior, skills, mental health, social functioning, and the like. 2. At least 50% of the sample consists of criminal offenders and at least 60% of the sample consists of adults (age ≥ 18 years) or the mean age of the sample is > 18. 3. Outcomes for at least one participant group of at least 10 individuals receiving treatment are compared with those for at least one qualifying control condition (no treatment; treatment as usual, etc., but not persons dropping out or refusing treatment) of at least 10 individuals. 4. Participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions, or matched on or compared on baseline variables that included at least one pretest criminal history/risk variable or two relevant personal / demographic characteristics. 5. At least one outcome variable is reported for recidivism or other outcomes indicative of successful intervention such as employment, mental health, substance use, etc. 6. The study was conducted during or after 1950 in the U.S. or another English-speaking, culturally similar country (e.g., Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand). Details: Nashville, TN: Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed February 18, 2019 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252504.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252504.pdf Shelf Number: 154635 Keywords: Offender Rehabilitation Offender Treatment Programs Recidivism

Author: Rhodes, William Title: Event- and Offender-Based Recidivism Methodology Using the National Corrections Reporting Program Summary: This report presents a new methodology using National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) data to produce return-to-prison recidivism estimates. This offender-based methodology uses longitudinal data to estimate recidivism and produces estimates of offenders released over long periods rather than specific release cohorts. Though each type of recidivism methodology is suited to answer different criminal justice questions, scholars formerly relied on the event-based approach alone. This report discusses how to produce offender-based recidivism estimates and the circumstances in which offender-based estimates are more appropriate, based on the type of policy or research question. Details: Cambridge, MA: Abt Associates, 2019. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accesssed February 18, 2019 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bjs/grants/250749.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bjs/grants/250749.pdf Shelf Number: 154647 Keywords: Crime Statistics Recidivism

Author: Walters, Jennifer Hardison Title: FY 2011 Second Chance Act Adult Offender Reentry Demonstration Projects: Evaluability Assessment of the Minnesota Department of Corrections High Risk Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Project Summary: In 2008, the Second Chance Act (SCA): Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention was signed into law with the goal of increasing reentry programming for offenders released from state prisons and local jails. Programs funded through Title I of the SCA must create strategic, sustainable plans to facilitate the successful reentry of individuals leaving incarceration facilities. Other key requirements include collaboration among state and local criminal justice and social service systems (e.g., health, housing, child services, education, substance abuse and mental health treatment, victim services, and employment services) and data collection to measure specified performance outcomes (i.e., those related to recidivism and service provision). Further, the SCA states that program reentry plans should incorporate input from local nonprofit organizations, crime victims, and offenders' families. It also requires that grantee programs create reentry task forces-comprised of relevant agencies, service providers, nonprofit organizations, and community members-to use existing resources, collect data, and determine best practices for addressing the needs of the target population. Consistent with the objectives of the Second Chance Act, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) funded 22 adult offender reentry demonstration grants in FY 2011. Eight FY 2011 SCA projects were selected by BJA for this evaluability assessment (EA). These projects target adult offenders under state or local custody (and about to return to the community) for comprehensive reentry programing and services designed to promote successful reintegration and reduce recidivism. Intended to proactively address the multiple challenges facing former prisoners upon their return to the community, the grants may be used to provide an array of pre-and post-release services, including education and literacy programs, job placement, housing services, and mental health and substance abuse treatment. Risk and needs assessments, transition case planning, case management, and family involvement are key elements of grantees' SCA projects. The goals of the SCA projects are to measurably (1) increase reentry programming for returning prisoners and their families, (2) reduce recidivism and criminal involvement among program participants by 50 percent over five years, (3) reduce violations among program participants, and (4) improve reintegration outcomes, including reducing substance abuse and increasing employment and housing stability. The MN DOC's High Risk Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Project is a new reentry program developed by DOC's Community Services Division to serve release violators - a unique, high-risk population, including sex offenders, that historically has not received reentry support services. The overarching case management framework used in the program's design is the National Institute of Corrections' Transition from Prison to Community (TPC) model. MN DOC's focus on reentry increased around 2005 with the introduction of the TPC model by the National Governor's Association and the formation of a unit dedicated to reentry services. The design of the SCA grant program was influenced by preceding reentry initiatives including the Serious and Violent Reentry Initiative, the MN Comprehensive Offender Reentry Program, and the Prisoner Reentry Initiative. The SCA program serves release violators committed to the Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Lino Lakes who will be returning to Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, or Ramsey County under community supervision. Eligible participants receive individualized transition planning and case management from a reentry coordinator for two to six months prior to release. Soon after enrollment, participants attend an orientation group session during which they are introduced to the program's services and expectations and meet key community partners. Upon release, a reentry team meeting is held to review client goals and to set up a schedule of services. Post-release services are offered through a community hub for 6 to 12 months. Co-located services include case management, employment assistance (including wage subsidies for transitional employment), transitional housing assistance, bus cards, and weekly life skills and mentoring groups. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2013. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2019 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243984.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/243984.pdf Shelf Number: 155012 Keywords: Adult Offender Reentry Prison Programs Prisoner Reentry Recidivism Reentry Program Second Chance Act

Author: California State Auditor, Bureau of State Audits Title: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Several Poor Administrative Practices Have Hindered Reductions in Recidivism and Denied Inmates Access to In‑Prison Rehabilitation Programs Summary: Although the number of inmates housed in state prisons has decreased in recent years, recidivism rates for inmates in California have remained stubbornly high, averaging around 50 percent over the past decade. The State defines recidivism as when a person is convicted of a subsequent crime within three years of being released from custody. Research shows that rehabilitation programs can reduce recidivism by changing inmates' behavior based on their individual needs and risks. For example, inmates are more likely to recidivate if they have drug abuse problems, have trouble keeping steady employment, or are illiterate. Rehabilitation programs aim to address and mitigate those challenges. In 2012 the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Corrections) released a report, commonly known as the blueprint, that set a number of goals, including increasing access to rehabilitation programs. Since 2012 Corrections has expanded cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), vocational education, and academic education to all of its 36 prisons, including a corresponding increase in its budget for in‑prison rehabilitation programs, from $234 million in fiscal year 2013-14 to $298 million in fiscal year 2018-19. Corrections has also begun administering the tools it uses to assess rehabilitative needs for a greater number of inmates, and has created ways to better ensure its CBT vendors are providing services consistently and efficiently. However, since this expansion, Corrections has not undertaken sufficient effort to determine whether these programs are effective at reducing recidivism. Details: San Francisco: The Author, 2019. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Report 2018-113: Accessed March 18, 2019 at: https://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2018-113.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2018-113.pdf Shelf Number: 155019 Keywords: Correctional Programs Criminal Justice Administration Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism

Author: Barden, Bret Title: New Perspectives on Creating Jobs. Final Impacts of the Next Generation of Subsidized Employment Programs Summary: Some adults have great difficulty finding and holding jobs even when overall economic conditions are good. These individuals typically have low levels of formal education and skills, and other characteristics such as criminal records that place them at the back of the queue for job openings. Many programs have been developed to assist hard-to-employ job seekers, but few have demonstrated sustained success. One such model, "transitional jobs," offers temporary jobs, subsidized with public funds, that aim to teach participants basic work skills or help them get a foot in the door with an employer. Several transitional jobs programs have been evaluated, with mixed results. The Enhanced Transitional Jobs Demonstration (ETJD), funded by the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, tested seven transitional jobs programs that targeted people recently released from prison or low-income parents who had fallen behind in child support payments. The ETJD programs were "enhanced" in various ways relative to programs studied in the past. MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, led the project along with two partners: Abt Associates and MEF Associates. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families also supported the evaluation. The evaluation used a random assignment research design. Program group members were given access to the ETJD programs and control group members had access to other services in the community. This report presents the final impact results from the study 30 months after enrollment and information about the costs of the ETJD programs. Most measures presented in the report focus on the final year of the follow-up period, when nearly all program group members had left transitional jobs. The results therefore reflect longer-term effects of the programs after the subsidized positions ended. The ETJD programs increased participants� earnings and employment rates in the final year of the study period. The program group earned about $700 more than the control group in that year. Sixty-four percent of the program group worked in that year, compared with 60 percent of the control group. Impacts on longer-term employment outcomes are better than those found in previous evaluations. The three ETJD programs targeting people returning from prison reduced incarceration in prison among those at higher risk of reoffending. Although there was no statistically significant impact on a broad measure of recidivism (the rate at which people commit new crimes or are reincarcerated), there were some encouraging patterns on other measures of recidivism. In addition, among higher-risk participants across the three locations, there was a statistically significant reduction in incarceration in prison (of 12 percentage points) in the 30 months following study enrollment. The impacts on recidivism largely reflect the program in Indianapolis, which targeted a very disadvantaged and high-risk population. The ETJD programs targeting noncustodial parents did not increase the amount of child support paid in the last year of the follow-up period. However, they did increase the proportion of parents who paid at least some support during this period by 6 percentage points. Results varied somewhat among the programs. Some of the ETJD programs produced statistically significant effects on notable outcome measures. However, it is unclear whether patterns in results reflect differences in models, in the implementation of the models, in contextual factors, or in the characteristics of the ETJD sample members served in each location. ETJD program costs ranged from about $7,000 to $11,100 per program group member. The net costs of the ETJD programs (taking control group costs and non-ETJD costs into account) ranged from about $6,200 to $11,100 per person. Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research; Washington, DC: U.S. Department of labor, Employment and Training Administration, 2018. 291p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2019 at: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/ETJD_STED_Final_Impact_Report_2018_508Compliant_v2.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.mdrc.org/sites/default/files/ETJD_STED_Final_Impact_Report_2018_508Compliant_v2.pdf Shelf Number: 155160 Keywords: Employment Ex-Offender Employment Job Training Jobs Programs Recidivism

Author: Bilby, Charlotte Title: Re-imagining futures: Exploring arts interventions and the process of desistance Summary: This report was commissioned by the Arts Alliance, the national body representing arts in criminal justice. Jointly funded by the Ministry of Justice and the Monument Trust, the Arts Alliance represents a growing network of over 470 arts practitioners and organisations working in prisons and the community to support men, women and young people to lead crime-free lives, through creative interventions. The coalition Government's Transforming Rehabilitation strategy and ongoing austerity measures mean rapid and complex change across the Criminal Justice System. This includes opening up the market, restructuring of the prison and probation service and the introduction of payment-by-results mechanisms to re-offending outcomes. The Transforming Rehabilitation agenda also includes acknowledgement of offenders' complex backgrounds and a call for increased development of offenders' vocational skills to enhance future employability alongside learning opportunities which address responsiveness and diversity issues (NOMS, 2012; MoJ, 2013). This landscape presents huge challenges and potential opportunities for innovative arts projects, which contribute towards the important 'intermediate' outcomes that enable individuals to make positive steps towards effective rehabilitation. This research, along with the growing body of evidence, suggests there are strong reasons to consider arts in criminal justice an area of considerable significance and innovation. Arts practice aims to bring about a positive affect experience in the participant (Parkes & Bilby, 2010). The affective experience, which can include a sense of community cohesion, that time is passing at a different pace, or an improved feeling of self-satisfaction and achievement, can be linked to desistance from crime. Desistance is the process by which people who have offended stop offending (primary desistance) and then take on a personal narrative (Maruna, 2001) that supports a continuing non-offending lifestyle (secondary desistance). Change is not a linear process; rather some will zigzag and will offend again on the journey to secondary desistance. In order for desistance from crime to take place, Giordano, Cernkovich and Rudolph (2002: 999-1002) suggest that there is a four-stage process which includes an openness to change; exposure and reaction to 'hooks' for change (or turning points); imagining and believing in a 'replacement self'; and a change in the way that offending and deviant behaviour is viewed. Maruna (2007: 652) notes that 'desistance is typically understood to be more than just an absence of crime. Desistance is the maintenance of crime-free behaviour and is an - active process in itself- it involves the pursuit of a positive life'. This research considers the possible relationships between the intricate process of abstaining from crime and the influence that taking part in some form of art-based enrichment activity might have on participants. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research addresses a number of questions linked to intermediate steps (or outcomes) in an individual's journey to desistance from crime. The research specifically explores how arts interventions contribute towards enabling people to form positive identities, build new narratives and build positive relationships with peers, staff and family. It also begins to investigate how arts interventions enable people to make significant behavioural changes. The latest National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Commissioning Intentions Document (October 2013) recognises the importance and complexity of these intermediate steps, which may lead to desistance from crime. The research team investigated five arts projects in four criminal justice settings, including practising visual arts in a high security adult male prison; music and deejaying skills with young offenders in the community; a music making project in a resettlement (open) prison and creative writing and bookbinding in a closed female prison. The research team spent at least four sessions with each of the projects observing the activities and interviewing participants, arts practitioners and prison staff as part of an in-depth qualitative methodology. The team also used participants' written work and evaluations, and examples of the work produced in the arts activities. This data was analysed using a thematic, content analysis approach. This piece of research demonstrates a clear link between taking part in arts-based activities and the movement towards secondary desistance. It identifies the importance of arts practice for the participants and shows what types of outcomes successful projects should be producing. The research also highlights the importance of collecting qualitative as well as quantitative data on arts projects and their participants when measuring these changes. Analysis of the data across all five projects produced the following key findings: - Participation in arts activities enables individuals to begin to redefine themselves, an important factor in desistance from crime. - Arts projects facilitate high levels of engagement. This is significant because many individuals in contact with the Criminal Justice System have struggled to engage with productive activities in the past. Participants must engage in order to be able to redefine themselves. Engagement in arts projects has also been shown to lead to greater participation in education and work-related activities. - Arts projects can have a positive impact on how people manage themselves during their sentence, particularly on their ability to cooperate with others - including other participants and staff. This correlates with increased self-control and better problem-solving skills. - Engagement with arts projects facilitates increased compliance with criminal justice orders and regimes. - Arts projects are responsive to participants' individual needs. Current policy documentation on commissioning services to meet offenders' needs highlights the importance of responsiveness in meeting diverse needs. The status of arts practitioners as professional artists is highly significant in the success of projects and their impact on participants. The value of this should not be underestimated by agencies of the Criminal Justice System when considering using external organisations. - Arts projects provide safe spaces for individuals to have positive experiences and begin to make individual choices. The findings from this research clearly indicate that arts projects can contribute to an individual's journey to desistance. The findings highlight key outcomes for participants and the importance of the relationships with project facilitators. There is now a need for longitudinal research, combining both qualitative and quantitative methods, to assess how far the findings presented here are sustained in the long term. Details: London: Arts Alliance, 2013. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 25, 2019 at: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16846/1/Re-imagining_Futures_Research_Report_Final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/16846/1/Re-imagining_Futures_Research_Report_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 155161 Keywords: Arts Programs Correctional Programs Desistance Music Therapy Musical Programs Offender Rehabilitation Recidivism Rehabilitation Programs Writing Programs

Author: McNeeley, Susan M. Title: Prison Visitation, Spatial Distance and Concentrated Disadvantage of Visitor Neighborhoods and Offender Recidivism Summary: Since prisoners who receive visits while incarcerated are less likely to recidivate, scholars have studied predictors of visitation, finding that the distance that visitors must travel affects how often they visit, as do characteristics of the visitors' neighborhoods. This study examines whether spatial distance between visitors and correctional facilities and visitors' neighborhood disadvantage are related to recidivism. These questions are assessed using data from a sample of approximately 2,600 inmates released from Minnesota state prisons. The results of Cox regression models showed that, among offenders who received visits, reconviction was less likely when visitors traveled longer distances, although this varied somewhat based on the measurement used to capture distance. Visitors' neighborhood disadvantage was not related to reconviction. These findings highlight the importance of visitation for maintaining social ties in the community, and suggest that some visits (such as those from distant visitors) may be especially beneficial for reducing recidivism. Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2018. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2019 at: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/PrisonVisitationVisitorNeighborhoodsAndRecidivism_Full_tcm1089-364583.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://mn.gov/doc/assets/PrisonVisitationVisitorNeighborhoodsAndRecidivism_Full_tcm1089-364583.pdf Shelf Number: 155222 Keywords: Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Prison Visits Recidivism Visitors to Prison

Author: Lin, Jeffrey Title: Conducting Reliable Research on Parole Outcomes: Factors to Consider Summary: Criminal justice populations are dynamic. They are constantly changing in terms of size and composition. In part, this is because criminal justice institutions exist in dependent relationships with other institutions. Thus, court dockets are affected by police activities; prison populations are affected by court decisions and returns from parole; and parole caseloads are shaped by prison release patterns. Moreover, the changing characteristics of a particular population affect a range of dynamics within that population. Within parole-the focus of this fact sheet-recidivism outcomes are affected by changes to the risk profiles of parolees under supervision, and this effect is reciprocal. As caseloads get riskier, recidivism rates will likely increase, but as riskier parolees are removed from caseloads because of revocations and new criminal convictions, caseload risk will decrease. These nuances are generally ignored by the public, the media, and often policymakers- who tend to focus primarily on the relationships between criminal activities and correctional outcomes. But such a perspective under-emphasizes the ways that key institutions affect one another, and the ways that institutional characteristics and the local political environment shape correctional population and sanctioning patterns. This fact sheet will explore these issues with a focus on the recent history of parole in Colorado, which experienced significant changes to policies, practices, and outcomes in the wake of a tragic, high-profile event-the murder of Tom Clements, the Executive Director of the Department of Corrections, by a high-risk parolee in March of 2013 (Lin, 2018). This fact sheet will also highlight the importance of accounting for institutional and environmental influences on parole outcomes, review some of the ways that researchers can empirically measure them and identify common analytic challenges in these efforts. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Research and Statistics Association, 2019. 11p. Source: Internet Research: Accessed April 3, 2019 at: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/factsheets/jrsa-factsheet-parole.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: http://www.jrsa.org/pubs/factsheets/jrsa-factsheet-parole.pdf Shelf Number: 155278 Keywords: Criminal Justice Research Parole Parolees Recidivism

Author: Bell, Dee Title: Not Enough Time in the Day: An Examination of Correctional Counselor Workloads in Iowa Summary: The Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC), with technical assistance from the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) has undertaken a workload study of their correctional counselors working in IDOC institutions. This study was designed to provide a greater understanding of the nuanced work performed by correctional counselors. The study aims to understand: 1) What are the most common tasks, case (e.g., interviews, group facilitation) and non-case related (e.g., administrative work, training, report writing), associated with correctional counselors? 2) How much time is associated with these tasks? 3) Are there tasks in which counselors must sacrifice quality for timeliness? 4) Are these tasks and their prevalence in alignment with the department�s evidence-based practice (EBP) goals? 5) What barriers interfere with the work of correctional counselors? 6) Are there enough counselors to cover the department's institutional obligations? While workload studies have been utilized heavily in judicial settings for several years an extensive literature review found no studies of the workload of correctional counselors. This research is the first study completed in an institutional corrections setting with correctional counselors. This study adapted the time study methodology from prior studies completed on prosecutors, judges and community corrections officers. The research is exploratory in nature and seeks a better understanding of the most common tasks and activities associated with the correctional counselor work, the amount of time associated with these tasks and activities, time associated with non-case related activities and tasks, institutional variations in activities and if counselors perceive they process an inadequate amount of time to satisfactorily complete specific tasks, and consideration of whether the current workforce parameters appropriate to meet the agency's mission. Details: Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Department of Corrections, 2018. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2019 at: https://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/APPA/pubs/NETDECCWI.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.appa-net.org/eweb/docs/APPA/pubs/NETDECCWI.pdf Shelf Number: 156049 Keywords: American Probation and Parole Association Case Management Correctional Counselors Corrections Iowa Prison Recidivism

Author: Knoth, L. Title: Washington State Adult and Juvenile Recidivism Trends: FY 1995 - FY 2014 Summary: Previous reports published by WSIPP have shown a gradual decline in recidivism for adults released from prison through the 1990s and early 2000s. This report updates our review of recidivism trends for adults released from prison and expands the scope of our report to include youth populations and additional adult populations. This report provides a high-level overview of general changes in Washington State recidivism trends from FY 1995-FY 2014. The report analyzes recidivism for four samples of criminal justice-involved populations: adults convicted of a criminal offense, adults released from incarceration in prison, youth convicted of a criminal offense, and youth released from a commitment in a Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) facility. Consistent with our prior reports, our analyses found gradual declines in overall recidivism for all four populations from FY 1995-FY 2014. However, examination of recidivism trends by type of recidivism, type of initial offense, and demographic characteristics indicates that the magnitude of the decline in recidivism varied among different sub-populations. Details: Olympia, Washington: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2019. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2019 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1703/Wsipp_Washington-State-Adult-and-Juvenile-Recidivism-Trends-FY-1995-FY-2014_Report.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/Publications Shelf Number: 156166 Keywords: Incarceration Juvenile Rehabilitation Offender Rehabilitation Prison Recidivism

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: The Health of Australia's Prisoners 2018 Summary: The health and well-being of people in prison are also those of the community. People in contact with the criminal justice system have higher rates of homelessness and unemployment and often come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. People leaving prison are members of society needing employment, housing, health care, and other support services in the community to maintain and improve health and well-being, and reduce the likelihood of returning to prison. On 30 June 2018, there were about 43,000 people in Australia's prisons. Most people in prison were either on remand (32%), or serving sentences under 5 years in length (62%), and thousands of people cycle through the prison system each year (ABS 2018a). People in prison have significant and complex health needs, which are often long-term or chronic in nature. They have higher rates of mental health conditions, chronic disease, communicable disease, acquired brain injury, tobacco smoking, high-risk alcohol consumption, recent illicit drug use, and recent injecting drug use, than the general population (AIHW 2015). Improving the health and well-being of people in prison, and maintaining those improvements after prison, benefits the entire community. This report presents the results of the 5th National Prisoner Health Data Collection (NPHDC), which was conducted in 2018. 3 in 4 prison entrants had previously been in prison - Most people (73%) entering prison had been in prison before, and almost half (45%) of prison entrants had been in prison within the previous 12 months. Male prison entrants were more likely to have extensive prison histories than female entrants. More than one-third (35%) of male entrants had been in prison 5 or more times, compared with 15% of female entrants. Indigenous prison entrants were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants to have an extensive prison history. Almost half (43%) of Indigenous entrants had been in prison at least 5 times before, compared with 25% of non-Indigenous entrants. 2 in 5 prison entrants had been told they had a mental health condition, with almost 1 in 4 currently taking mental health-related medication - About 2 in 5 prison entrants (40%) and prison dischargees (37%) reported a previous diagnosis of a mental health condition, including alcohol and other drug use disorders. Women were more likely than men to report: - a history of a mental health condition (65% compared with 36%); - taking medication for a mental health condition (40% compared with 21%). Non-Indigenous prison entrants (26%) were more likely than Indigenous entrants (19%) to report currently taking medication for a mental health condition. 3 in 4 deaths in prison custody were due to natural causes - Between 2013-14 and 2014-15, 115 people died in prison. Almost 3 in 4 (71%) of these deaths were from natural causes, and 1 in 4 (25%) were due to suicide or self-inflicted causes. 1 in 5 prison entrants reported a history of self-harm - More than 1 in 5 (21%) prison entrants reported a history of self-harm. Women entering prison (31%) were 1.5 times as likely as men (20%) to report a history of self-harm. More than 1 in 4 (26%) younger prison entrants (aged 18-24) reported a history of self-harm, higher than any other age group. Almost 3 in 10 younger prison entrants had a family history of incarceration - Almost 1 in 5 (18%) prison entrants reported that one or more parents or carers had been in prison when they were a child. This was more likely among Indigenous entrants (31%) than non-Indigenous entrants (11%). Younger prison entrants (27% of those aged 18-24) were almost 3 times as likely as older entrants (10% of those aged 45 and over) to have had a parent or carer in prison during their childhood. 3 in 4 prison entrants were current smokers - Most (75%) prison entrants said they were current smokers. Indigenous prison entrants (80%) were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants (73%), and women (86%) were more likely than men (73%) to be current smokers. More than 2 in 5 (41%) prison entrants who were current smokers said that they would like to quit. Almost 2 in 3 prison entrants reported using illicit drugs in the previous year Almost two-thirds (65%) of prison entrants reported using illicit drugs during the previous 12 months. Female prison entrants (74%) were more likely to report recent illicit drug use than male entrants (64%), and non-Indigenous entrants (66%) were more likely than Indigenous entrants (63%). Methamphetamine was the most common illicit drug used, followed by cannabis. Almost 1 in 6 (16%) prison dischargees reported using illicit drugs in prison, and 1 in 12 (8%) said they had injected drugs in prison. About 1 in 3 prison entrants had a high-school education level of Year 9 or under - Prison entrants were asked about the highest level of schooling that they had completed - one-third (33%) said Year 9 or under, and 17% said Year 8 or under. About 1 in 4 (25%) Indigenous prison entrants had completed Year 11 or 12 at school, compared with 41% of non-Indigenous entrants. Indigenous entrants (24%) were more likely than non-Indigenous entrants (10%) to report that their highest level of completed schooling was Year 8 or under. Almost 1 in 3 (30%) prison entrants had a chronic physical health condition Almost one-third (30%) of prison entrants said they had a history of at least 1 of the following chronic physical health conditions - arthritis, asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes. Asthma (22%) was the most common chronic physical health condition reported. Almost half (45%) of female entrants had a history of a chronic condition, compared with almost 3 in 10 (28%) male entrants. Of the prison entrants tested for blood-borne viruses, 1 in 5 tested positive for hepatitis C - In 2016, more than 1 in 5 (22%) prison entrants tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies - about 1 in 5 (21%) male prison entrants and more than 1 in 4 (28%) female prison entrants (Butler & Simpson 2017). About half (50%) of the prison entrants who had previously injected drugs had positive hepatitis C antibody tests - 52% of males, and 45% of females. More than 1 in 2 prison dischargees expected they would be homeless on release Homelessness is far more common among people in contact with the prison system than among people in the general community. About one-third (33%) of prison entrants said they were homeless in the 4 weeks before prison - 28% were in short-term or emergency accommodation, and 5% were in unconventional housing or sleeping rough. More than half (54%) of prison dischargees expected to be homeless on release from prison, with 44% planning to sleep in short term or emergency accommodation, 2% planning to sleep rough, and 8% did not know where they would sleep. Details: Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018. 203p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2019 at: https://apo.org.au/node/238771 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/05/apo-nid238771-1362216.pdf Shelf Number: 156209 Keywords: Correctional Health Homelessness Prison Prisoner Health Prisoner Mental Health Prisoner Suicide Prisoner Wellbeing Recidivism

Author: Prince, Kort Title: Evaluation of Utah's Mental Health Courts: Limited Findings and a Review of Research Challenges Summary: The goal of second phase of the study was to assess the efficacy of Utah's MHCs using a matched sample of individuals with similar treatment and criminal histories. Four jurisdictions were considered for the evaluation, as these were the only jurisdictions with a sufficiently large sample of cases: Utah, Salt Lake, Cache, and Weber counties. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used in an attempt to identify comparison groups based on variables that predict the likelihood of being placed in the treatment group (in this case, the likelihood of participation in the MHC). A large number of PSM algorithms were employed in an attempt to obtain a matched comparison sample. Unfortunately, due to a high degree of missing mental health history data, PSM could not identify an appropriate comparison group. Because the study was unable to implement the intended methods to examine MHC outcomes, the MHCs were evaluated using an alternative, and less rigorous, method. Using pre-post data for MHC clients only, participant data was assessed regarding defendants' offending behavior in all four MHCs, and mental wellness for the Salt Lake and Utah MHCs. Each court was evaluated separately for both recidivism and mental health outcomes. Given the inability to implement the intended PSM design, some of the challenges that future studies would face and recommendations for how to address these issues are discussed. Details: Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah, Utah Criminal Justice Center, College of Social Work, 2018. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2019 at: https://socialwork.utah.edu/research/reports/posts/statewide-mental-health-court-study/index.php Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://socialwork.utah.edu/_resources/documents/statewide-mhc-outcome-study_2018_final.pdf Shelf Number: 156207 Keywords: Mental Health Courts Mental Wellness Propensity Score Matching Recidivism

Author: Oregon. Criminal Justice Commission Title: Oregon Juvenile Justice System Recidivism Analysis Summary: In July 2016, Oregon published for the first time a measurement of juvenile recidivism based on the criteria set forth for the adult system in HB 3194 (2013), codified in ORS 423.5571 . This report provides an update of the new juvenile justice recidivism rates for fiscal years 2002 to 2014. Historically, the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) has tracked recidivism using the same definition as the adult system - a felony adjudication from juvenile court, or a felony conviction from adult court, within three years of release from a youth correctional facility or imposition of probation. OYA has published reports tracking this recidivism measure for youth released from a youth correctional facility or on OYA probation. In addition, the juvenile justice system has also tracked recidivism for referred youth by tracking a new referral within 12 months. The new definition in this report tracks all youth that were previously adjudicated regardless of if they were served by a county or a state. The recidivism analysis in this report is the comprehensive statewide analysis of youth recidivism using the newer adult definition found in ORS 423.557 as the guide. There are limitations with the current available data, as well as challenges due to the differences in terminology, processes, and population across the adult and juvenile justice systems. There are also differences in the data used in the adult report compared to this report. This analysis starts from all youth previously adjudicated, and includes arrest, juvenile referral, misdemeanor and felony conviction, misdemeanor and felony adjudication, and incarceration and other sentence type data in a single recidivism analysis. This analysis shows the current statewide rates of recidivism for all youth previously adjudicated: For youth released from a youth correctional facility or on probation, either at the state or county level, between July 2013 and June 2014: -46% were referred or arrested for a new crime within three years, -36% were adjudicated or convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime within three years, and -8% were incarcerated for a new crime within three years. Details: Salem: Author, 2019. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2019 at: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/CJC%20Document%20Library/JuvenileJusticeRecidivismApril2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.oregon.gov/cjc/CJC%20Document%20Library/JuvenileJusticeRecidivismApril2019.pdf Shelf Number: 156601 Keywords: Juvenile Justice System Juvenile Offenders Recidivism

Author: Nilsson, Thomas Title: Violent Recidivism: A Long-Time e Follow-Up Study of Mentally Disordered Offenders Summary: Background: In this prospective study, mentally disordered perpetrators of severe violent and/or sexual crimes were followed through official registers for 59 (range 8 to 73) months. The relapse rate in criminality was assessed, compared between offenders sentenced to prison versus forensic psychiatric care, and the predictive ability of various risk factors (criminological, clinical, and of structured assessment instruments) was investigated. Method: One hundred perpetrators were consecutively assessed between 1998 and 2001 by a clinical battery of established instruments covering DSM-IV diagnoses, psychosocial background factors, and structured assessment instruments (HCR-20, PCL-R, and life-time aggression (LHA)). Follow-up data was collected from official registers for: (i) recidivistic crimes, (ii) crimes during ongoing sanction. Results: Twenty subjects relapsed in violent criminality during ongoing sanctions (n = 6) or after discharge/parole (n = 14). Individuals in forensic psychiatric care spent significantly more time at liberty after discharge compared to those in prison, but showed significantly fewer relapses. Criminological (age at first conviction), and clinical (conduct disorder and substance abuse/dependence) risk factors, as well as scores on structured assessment instruments, were moderately associated with violent recidivism. Logistic regression analyses showed that the predictive ability of criminological risk factors versus clinical risk factors combined with scores from assessment instruments was comparable, with each set of variables managing to correctly classify about 80% of all individuals, but the only predictors that remained significant in multiple models were criminological (age at first conviction, and a history of substance abuse among primary relatives). Conclusions: Only one in five relapsed into serious criminality, with significantly more relapses among subjects sentenced to prison as compared to forensic psychiatric care. Criminological risk factors tended to be the best predictors of violent relapses, while few synergies were seen when the risk factors were combined. Overall, the predictive validity of common risk factors for violent criminality was rather weak Details: PLoS ONE 6(10): e25768. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2019 at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025768&type=printable Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0025768&type=printable Shelf Number: 156618 Keywords: Mentally Ill Offenders Recidivism Sexual Crimes Violent Crime Violent Recidivism

Author: West, Mathew P. Title: Nevada's Day Reporting Center: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial Summary: The Nevada DRC is designed as an alternative to incarceration. Among other goals, the DRC aims to reduce recidivism among at-risk parolees and probationers. The current study involved a randomized controlled trial where approximately 400 probationers and parolees from Nevada's Southern Command were randomly assigned to either the DRC or a control group (traditional parole and probation). The two groups were compared on several outcome measures over a 1-year period. Results indicate that DRC graduates were significantly more likely to be successfully discharged compared to their control group counterparts. DRC graduates were also significantly less likely to be revoked compared to the control group. Although some in the experimental group did not complete the DRC program, of those that did, only 5 DRC graduates were revoked. Compared to the control group, DRC graduates were significantly more likely to be employed and have a stable residence. Of those in the DRC group, successful graduates tended to complete more programs and services. About 16% of successful graduates and those remaining in the DRC program at the end of the study period enrolled in 2 or more programs/services, compared to about 8% of those removed from the program. Details: Las Vegas, Nevada: University of Nevada, 2019. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2019 at: https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/27/CCJP-RIB_DRC.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331246695_Nevada's_Day_Reporting_Center_Results_from_a_Randomized_Controlled_Trial Shelf Number: 156569 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration At-Risk Parole Parolees Probation Probationers Randomized Control Trial Recidivism

Author: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Title: Entrepreneurship for the Formerly Incarcerated: A Process Evaluation of the Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC) Program Summary: Each year, over 25,000 individuals are released from Illinois prisons and nearly half of them end up returning to prison within three years (Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, 2015; The Illinois Department of Corrections, 2018). Reentry entrepreneurship training programs have been implemented as one way to reduce recidivism and improve the economic stability of men and women returning to the community from jails and prisons. Entrepreneurship training programs were developed to help overcome barriers inherent in traditional reentry workforce development programs and services such as lack of education, work experience, qualifications, opportunities, and discrimination (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2016). Some programs provide the opportunity for small loans to help fund new entrepreneurs. The body of previous research is small, but there is some support that entrepreneurship programs may be a way to help improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals (Johnson, Wubbenhorst, & Schroeder, 2013; Keena & Simmons, 2015; Klein & Mohan, 2017). Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers conducted an evaluation of Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC). PERC offers classroom training on entrepreneurship and business, mentoring, and the opportunity to obtain a loan to start a business to individuals recently released from prison and living in Chicago neighborhoods. PERC is a collaboration between the Chicago Neighborhood Initiative�s Micro Finance Group (CNIMFG), ICJIA, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), several community-based nonprofit training organizations, and multiple private funders. The goals of PERC are to increase employment and self-sufficiency of returning citizens; decrease recidivism; and produce businesses that operate for two or more years. ICJIA researchers completed a process evaluation examining program planning and development in the first six months of the program by using multiple methods of data collection. The evaluation of the PERC program focused on individuals that applied for PERC in Winter 2017 and completed training in Spring/Summer of 2018. The research attempted to answer the following research questions about PERC: -Who were the applicants and participants of the program? -How did the program operate in its first six months? -What did the stakeholders, training staff, and participants think of the program? -To what extent did participants learn entrepreneurship skills? Details: Chicago, Illinois: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2019. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2019 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Entrepreneurship%20for%20the%20Formerly%20Incarcerated%20-%20A%20Process%20Evaluation%20of%20PERC.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/articles/entrepreneurship-for-the-formerly-incarcerated Shelf Number: 156590 Keywords: Evaluation Jails Prisons Recidivism Reentry Returning Citizens

Author: Berenji, Bijan Title: Recidivism and Rehabilitation of Criminal Offenders: A Carrot and Stick Evolutionary Game Summary: Motivated by recent efforts by the criminal justice system to treat and rehabilitate nonviolent offenders rather than focusing solely on their punishment, we introduce an evolutionary game theoretic model to study the effects of "carrot and stick" intervention programs on criminal recidivism. We use stochastic simulations to study the evolution of a population where individuals may commit crimes depending on their past history, surrounding environment and, in the case of recidivists, on any counseling, educational or training programs available to them after being punished for their previous crimes. These sociological factors are embodied by effective parameters that determine the decision making probabilities. Players may decide to permanently reform or continue engaging in criminal activity, eventually reaching a state where they are considered incorrigible. Depending on parameter choices, the outcome of the game is a society with a majority of virtuous, rehabilitated citizens or incorrigibles. Since total resources may be limited, we constrain the combined punishment and rehabilitation costs per crime to be fixed, so that increasing one effort will necessarily decrease the other. We find that the most successful strategy in reducing crime is to optimally allocate resources so that after being punished, criminals experience impactful intervention programs, especially during the first stages of their return to society. Excessively harsh or lenient punishments are less effective. We also develop a system of coupled ordinary differential equations with memory effects to give a qualitative description of our simulated societal dynamics. We discuss our findings and sociological implications. Details: Los Angeles, California: University of California, 2014. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2019 at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0085531 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0085531&type=printable Shelf Number: 157036 Keywords: Crime Reduction Punishment Recidivism

Author: The Council of State Governments Justice Center Title: Justice Reinvestment in Wyoming: Policy Framework Summary: The final report of The Council of State Governments Justice Center outlines policy recommendations developed in collaboration with Wyoming's Joint Judiciary Committee that were reflected in a package of legislation signed into law in February 2019. Among other things, these policies aim to improve community supervision practices and reduce recidivism. The state can reinvest averted costs in increasing the availability and effectiveness of community-based behavioral health treatment for people on probation and parole. Details: Washington, DC: The Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2019. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2019 at: https://csgjusticecenter.org/jr/wyoming/publications/justice-reinvestment-in-wyoming-policy-framework/ Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/JR-WY-Final-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 157091 Keywords: Community Supervision Parole Probation Recidivism