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RECIDIVISM RESEARCH IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - A REVIEW AND STATUS REPORT

NCJ Number
67592
Author(s)
M A HAGSTAD
Date Published
1977
Length
54 pages
Annotation
THIS STATUS REPORT REVIEWS SOME OF THE RECIDIVISM RESEARCH AND FINDINGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND SUGGESTS WAY TO IMPROVE THE UTILITY OF RECIDIVISM RESEARCH IN THE FUTURE.
Abstract
MOST OF THE STUDIES CONSIDERED WERE DONE BY THE D.C. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, BUT OTHERS WERE THE WORK OF CONSULTANTS, THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE D.C. BAIL AGENCY. THE GENERAL FINDINGS WERE THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE YOUTH RELEASED TO PAROLE, AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE ADULTS, RETURN TO PRISON FOR MORE THAN 5 DAYS WITHIN 2 YEARS OF RELEASE. PAROLE RECIDIVISM RATES ARE INCREASING IN D.C. AVAILABLE INDICATORS OF THE RECIDIVISM RATE ARE PAROLE RECIDIVISM, THE EFFECTS OF HALFWAY HOUSES, AND RECIDIVISM-RELATED MEASURES. OVERALL RATES FOR D.C. ARE LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WHILE THE RECIDIVISM RATE DUE TO MAJOR NEW CONVICTIONS IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN THE DISTRICT. THE RECIDIVISM RATE OF PAROLEES HAS BEEN INCREASING SINCE 1973. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE WORKLOAD OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IN THE DISTRICT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO RECIDIVISTS, AND 20 TO 25 PERCENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKLOAD INVOLVES PERSONS CURRENTLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A DISTRICT CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY. IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED INCLUDE COMPUTERIZATION OF THE COMPUTATION OF RATES TO INCREASE TIMELINESS OF RESULTS, USE OF 'FAILURE-RATE' TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE SENSITIVITY OF RECIDIVISM MEASURES, ROUTINIZATION OF RECIDIVISM RESEARCH, AND SIMULTANEOUS CONSIDERATION OF SOCIAL, CRIMINAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS AND REPORTS. COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUPS UNDER STUDY MAKE THE RESEARCH MORE USEFUL TO CORRECTIONAL PRACTITIONERS, WHO WILL NEED NEED TO DECIDE ON CLASSIFICATION AND RELEASE MATTERS. TABLES OF PAROLE RECIDIVISM RATES ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE A SUGESTED DATA ELEMENT LIST; A SAMPLE COMPUTERIZED RECIDIVISM REPORT FORMAT; A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF RESOURCES IN RECIDIVISM RESEARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C.; AND FINDING OF 15 COHORT RECIDIVISM STUDIES. (MFE)