Recidivism

This article is about recidivism in criminology and penology. For recidivism in medicine, see Recidivism (medicine).

Recidivism is a relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior, most frequently used in conjunction with substance abuse and criminal behavior. The collection and evaluation of recidivism rates is essential in determining the success of both the prison system and substance abuse treatment. In the prison sytem, punishment alone is not always the best way to ensure inmates do not return to crime upon their release; recidivism data can help identify additional ways of preventing reconviction. Recidivism data can also help to improve substance abuse treatment programs evaluate the most successful methods of treatment.

Definitions

Recidivism, from the Latin for "fall back," is the relapse into a previous condition or mode of behavior. The term is most frequently used in conjunction with substance abuse and criminal behavior, where it signifies a relapse into prior patterns of substance abuse or criminal acts.

In criminology, recidivism generally refers to the act of repeating criminal behaviors even after the negative consequences of such behavior (arrest, conviction, and imprisonment) have been experienced.

When dealing with substance abuse, recidivism rates refer to the proportion of people who, after treatment, are reported to have returned to old patterns of drug or alcohol abuse.

In legal parlance in a number of countries, the term "[[habitual offender]" is used to describe one who repeatedly commits the same crime. Penalties for such offenders are more severe than for those who have committed their first crime.

Rates

The collection of recidivism rate data can be problematic. Different reports may use different criteria: a report that includes all rearrests will generally have a higher recidivism rate than one that only includes reconvictions. Not all of those who are arrested are guilty, and not all of those who are guilty are convicted; neither criteria accurately represents true recidivism rates. Additionally, many crimes committed by ex-prisoners may escape detection altogether, and this must be kept in mind when studying recidivism data.

A 1994 study from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics tracked 272,111 prisoners released from prison in 15 states. The study found that 67.5% of prisoners released were rearrested within only three years. Almost forty seven percent of released prisoners were reconvicted. Less than five percent of parolees were sent back to prison because of a technical violation of their parole.

A Canadian study tracked all prisoners released during a three year period from 1994/95 through 1996/97, tracking the number of prisoners that were reconvicted in the two year period following their release. Reconviction rates for these three years ranged from 40.6% to 44%. The study cited consistency with other Canadian and international studies on recidivism. Non-violent reconvictions were found to account for the majority of reconvictions; recidivism was much lower among violent or sexual convictions.

A 1990/91 study done in Australia used similar qualifications: prisoners were tracked for two years after their release, and recidivism rates were based on conviction, irrespective of offense type. The study found that 35% of males and 38% of females returned to prison within two years. Recidivism rates were highest for younger offenders, as well as offenders sentenced for property or violent offenses. Drug and sexual offenses constituted a much smaller percentage of recidivism rates.

Influencing factors

While the collection of recidivism data is inherently flawed, there are nonetheless some basic patterns that can be noticed. Recidivism rates are often highest among juvenile offenders; numerous studies worldwide have shown a correlation between age and crime. In 1833, Adolphe Quetelet declared that criminal behavior often peaks during the teenaged years: a finding that has been backed up by numerous studies worldwide.

In both Australia and Canada, higher rates of recidivism are also reported among the indigenous male population. Whether this is due to factors within the population, or to bias within the criminal justice system, including profiling by police forces.

The type of offense also appears to have an impact on the likelihood of recidivism. Violent crimes and sexual crimes tend to have lower incidences of repeat offending, while robbery and property-based crimes tend to have higher levels of recurrence.

Services provided both in and out of prison can lower recidivism rates. A study by the University of Pittsburgh showed that prisoners released from a county jail had a 50% lower recidivism rate than a comparable group when they utilized support services. Educational programs offered within the prison system also positively affect recidivism rates. A 2003 study in the Journal of Correctional Education found that NY inmates who earned their GED while in prison had a significantly lower incidence of recidivism than those who did not. This correlation is most noticeable among younger offenders (less than 21 years of age.)

Importance of Recidivism Data

Recidivism rates are important for a number of reasons. One of the main focuses of most criminal justice systems is to reduce the overall level of crime. The study of recidivism data can help policymakers determine which programs or policies work best at rehabilitating prisoners. Recidivism research can help identify the characteristics of repeat offenders, as well as helping create effective crime prevention strategies. Lower crime rates not only result in a sense of public safety, but also reduce the financial and spiritual cost of crime on a society. Studies on recidivism can also help determine parole policies and eligibility.

Recidivism data not only serves as a barometer for programs and policies that rehabilitate prisoners successfully, but also as an indicator of programs or policies that do not work. High recidivism rates may be an indicator that improvements need to be made to the correctional system.

Similarly, in substance abuse or other programs, recidivism data is an effective way of determining the success and value of a program or methodology. For example, high recidivism rates may indicate that more support is needed after one finishes a program, or that aspects of the program itself need to be amended. Studies have shown that recidivism rates are higher for those who are involuntarily committed to a program, as well as those who use alcohol in conjunction with certain illegal drugs. This indicates that extra focus needs to be given to these patients, and perhaps alternate or additional treatment methods should be considered.

Reducing Recidivism Rates

Ultimately, the goals of both the penal system and substance abuse treatment are similar: both seek to eradicate illegal and/or socially destructive behavior. There are marked differences between substance abusers and convicted criminals: substance abusers suffer from psychological and physical addictions, and many (like alcoholics) have not necessarily broken any laws, whereas criminals have often voluntarily opted to commit illegal or violent acts. However, there is often a connection between substance abuse and criminal behavior: addicts may steal to support their habit, and a significant number of prison inmates suffer from substance abuse.

In both substance abuse programs and prisoner rehabilitation programs, studies have shown that follow-up care is one of the major influences on recidivism rates. Prisoners who are released into a supervised halfway house for an assigned period are reconvicted at nearly half the rate of those who are released with no supervision.

If illegal drug use is part of the cause of an inmate’s conviction and imprisonment, it makes sense that substance abuse treatment should be part of their sentence. Punishment alone will not address the psychological and emotional aspects of drug addiction. Research has shown that prisoners who participate in substance abuse treatment with aftercare are significantly less likely to return to prison or drug use. A 1999 study showed that only 27 percent of prisoners involved with such a program returned to prison, compared with 75 percent of those not in the treatment program.

While eliminating recidivism altogether may seem like an impossible task, the collection and evaluation of recidivism data can certainly help prisons and substance abuse treatment programs to successfully rehabilitate prisoners and addicts alike. Not only does this benefit the individuals involved, but lower recidivism rates benefit society as a whole.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Bonta, James, Tanya Rugge, and Mia Dauvergne, The Reconviction Rate of Federal Offenders 2003-02, Public Works and Government Services Canada, June 27, 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2008. ISBN 0662343042
• Maruna, Shadd. 2001. Making Good: How Ex-Convicts Reform and Rebuild Their Lives. American Psychological Association. ISBN 1557987319
• Payne, Jason, Recidivism in Australia: findings and future research, Australian Institute of Criminology, p103, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2008. ISBN 978-1921185496
• Searcy, Joshua. 2008. Correctional Education, Programs, Services, and Inmate Recidivism: Education , Programs, and Services for Inmates. VDM Verlag. ISBN 363908621X

• Zamble, Edward and Vernon Quinsey. 2001 The Criminal Recidivism Process. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521795109
• Song, Lin, and Roxanne Lieb, Recidivism: The Effect of Incarceration and Length of Time Served , Washington State Institute for Public Policy, September 1993. Retrieved January 12, 2009.

External links

• Recidivism in Finland 1993-2001
• United States Recidivism Statistics
• Recidivism: a paper by Michael Maltz

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