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Parolees Returned to Prison and the California Prison Population

NCJ Number
110082
Author(s)
S L Messinger; J E Berecochea; R A Berk; D Rauma
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This report presents statistics on felons on parole returned to prison by California's parole board and suggests some explanations for recent increases.
Abstract
Parole violators have been a sizable portion of California's prison population since the mid-1940's. At that time, board-returned parolees made up some 15 to 18 percent of yearly admissions to State prisons. This proportion dropped to just over 10 percent in the 1950's, but rose to 30 percent by the mid-1970's. During 1986, close to 40 percent of the felons admitted to prison were sent by the parole board, not the courts. The data strongly suggest that these increases are a consequence of changing correctional policies rather then changing behavior of parolees. Part of the explanation lies in the increasing size of the parole population, a consequence of increases in felons committed by the courts. Moreover, the period available for parole supervision increased as a result of legislation effective in 1979. Additional factors which may explain the increase in parolees returned to prison include a generalized decrease in tolerance of parole violations by the penal system, closer links between police and parole officers, and changes in parole board policies. Implications for prison admissions and prison population trends are discussed. Tables and 14 footnotes.