CJC Reports: Recidivism In Delaware: An Analysis Of Prisoners Released In 2008 And 2009

Delaware Criminal Justice Council Releases Recidivism Report

Wilmington – The Delaware Criminal Justice Council Statistical Analysis Center today released Recidivism in Delaware: An Analysis of Prisoners Released in 2008 and 2009.  The report is the first of its kind since 2000, and is an examination of recidivism rates for released offenders serving a sentence of one year or more. 

 

For the last two years, the state has been engaged in the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, a data-driven approach to increase public safety, reduce corrections and criminal justice spending, and invest the savings in strategies that can decrease crime and strengthen neighborhoods.  Last year, Governor Markell signed into law recommendations made by the Justice Reinvestment Task Force, which he created in July 2011 through Executive Order Number 27. The law mandated an annual report on recidivism rates so that efforts to promote successful reentry can be measured against a meaningful baseline.

 

As the table below indicates, by the end of the first year, approximately half the offenders who had been sentence to one year or more had been recommitted to a secure facility, recommitted or rearrested.  By the end of three years, about 67 percent had been recommitted to a secure facility; just over 70 percent had been reconvicted; and just over 75 percent had been rearrested. 

 

	2008 Prison Release Cohort			2009 Prison Release Cohort
	1 year	2 years	3 years	1 year	2 years	3 years
Rearrest	55.8%	70.9%	77.1%	52.6%	68.7%	76.4%
Reconviction	49.3%	65.3%	71.7%	48.1%	63.5%	71.0%
Recommitment	47.0%	61.3%	67.6%	45.3%	61.1%	67.3%

 

Recidivism rates were highest among those offenders who served time for Property offenses when compared to the rates for those serving Violent or Public Order offenses, including drug offenses.   Those under 24 had significantly higher recidivism rates than those over 45. Men were more likely to recidivate than women, and younger offenders were more likely to reoffend than older offenders. 

 

The report will be updated annually with an additional one-year cohort added to each annual report.  The current report can be found at http://cjc.delaware.gov/sac/publications/documents/RecidivismFinalJuly30.pdf.

 

Drewry N. Fennell

Executive Director

Criminal Justice Council

Carvel State Office Building - Tenth Floor

820 French St.

Wilmington, DE 19801

(302) 577-5030

drewry.fennell@state.de.us

Statement by Governor on Report Released by Delaware Criminal Justice Council

First report of its kind since 2000 examines recidivism rates for released offenders

“Recidivism in Delaware: An Analysis of Prisoners Released in 2008 and 2009”

 

(Wilmington, DE)   Below is the Governor’s statement regarding the report and news release issued today by the Delaware Criminal Justice Council Statistical Analysis Center, entitled, “Recidivism in Delaware: An Analysis of Prisoners Released in 2008 and 2009.”

“This report, and the valuable data it provides, is an integral part of our Justice Reinvestment Initiative.  Too many people released from our prisons go on to commit more crimes.  We need to change that, and this report gives us benchmarks for measuring progress as we pursue new strategies to prevent crime and reduce recidivism.  The data released today can help us measure the effectiveness of programs, both in and outside of prison, targeted to helping offenders become productive members of society while improving public safety,” said Governor Jack Markell. 

 Last year, Governor Markell signed into law recommendations by the Justice Reinvestment Task Force, which he created in July 2011 through Executive Order Number 27.  The law mandated an annual report on recidivism rates.

~*~