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Inmate Escape Incidents 2005-2009

NCJ Number
233472
Author(s)
Jim Lyons
Date Published
July 2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on escapes from New York State correctional facilities for 2005-2009, and characteristics of escapees are compared to the under-custody population for this period.
Abstract
There was one inmate escape in 2009, no escapes in 2008, and two escapes in each of the years 2005 and 2007. Prior to 2005, the lowest number recorded over the last 50 years was three escapes in 1966. Seven of the nine escapes in the years 2005-2009 were from minimum-security facilities or involved inmates assigned to work details outside the secure perimeter fence of a medium-security prison. There were no escapes from secure custody in 2007, 2008, or 2009. Three of the nine escaped inmates in the period 2005-2009 were serving a sentence for drug offenses; two escapees were incarcerated for burglary; and one each for murder, robbery, possession of a weapon, and escape. Escapees were younger compared to the average age of the general inmate population; 67 percent of escapees were under 31 years old compared with only 37 percent of the general inmate population being in this age group. Seventy-eight percent of the escapees had served less than 2 years in custody prior to their escape. 10 tables and appended supplementary information