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This is the third annual report to study recidivism in Connecticut that has been prepared by OPM. The 2009 study followed 16,486 sentenced offenders for a three years period after they were released or discharged from a state prison facility during 2004. The study tracked four measures of recidivism during the three year period following an offender’s release from prison consistent with U.S Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics methodology. These four measures include: 1) new arrests 2) new convictions 3) any incidence of re-incarceration, and 4) returns to prison with a new sentence. In addition, a detailed analysis of recidivism rates for select offender groups is provided.
This study finds recidivism in Connecticut to be generally consistent with other states for the categories of recidivism that were reported. As in past studies on both the state and national level, offenders that were discharged after completing community supervision programs, like parole or transitional supervision, had the lowest recidivism rates among all groups of offenders in the study. For example, while 36.7% of all offenders were re-incarcerated for new offenses within 3 years of release, 27.4% of offenders completing transitional supervision and 23.4% of offenders completing were returned to prison for new offenses.
Based on a similar analysis that tracked offenders released or discharged by the DOC in 1997, it appears that there has been a modest decline in recidivism rates in Connecticut in recent years. Among the 1997-release cohort, 38.2% returned to prison for a new offense within three years. For the 2004-release cohort, the return rate was 36.7%. Although the recidivism rate declined between 1997 and 2004, the total number of offenders who were released or discharged from prison increased 26% during the same period.
{Recidivism Chart}
Key Findings – Based on Release Mechanisms
1. Overall Recidivism Rates In Connecticut — Page 10
For the three year period following their release or discharge:
- 67% of offenders were arrested for new offense (New arrest)
- 56% of offenders were incarcerated (Any reincarceration)
- 55.6% were convicted of a new offense (New conviction), and
- 36.7% of offenders received a new prison sentence for a new offense.
2. Recidivism By Releases And Discharges — Page 11
- Offenders that were discharged after completing community supervision programs, like parole or transitional supervision (TS), had the lowest recidivism rates among all groups of offenders in the study. While 36.7% of all offenders were re-incarcerated for new offenses within 3 years of release, 27.4% of TS completers and 23.4% of parole completers were returned to prison for new offenses.
- Based on a similar analysis that tracked offenders that were released or discharged by the DOC in 1997, it appears that there has been a modest decline in recidivism rates in recent years. Among the 1997-release cohort, 38.2% returned to prison for a new offense within three years. For the 2004-release cohort, the return rate was 36.7%. Although the recidivism rate declined between 1997 and 2004, the total number of offenders who were released or discharged from prison increased from 13,081 to 16,486, 26%, during the same period.
3. Recidivism And End of Sentence (EOS) Discharges — Page 12
- Among the 756 offenders who completed the terms of their transitional supervision, 207, or 27.4% returned to prison with a new sentence within 3-years of release.
- Among the 745 offenders who completed parole prior to discharge, 174 were returned to prison with a new sentence, a 3-year recidivism rate of 23.4%.
4. Recidivism and Probationers — Page 13
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