Criminal Law News

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is reporting a decline in recidivism rates in the state.  Those rates have fallen to 65%.  Recidivism refers to an individual’s tendency to return to prison either after being arrested again for a crime, or as a result of a parole violation.

According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation data, the new recidivism rate translates into a 2.4% drop from the previous year.  However, California criminal defense attorneys would advise some caution before over optimism at these reduced recidivism rates.  The fact is that approximately 2/3^rd of all offenders still manage to get back into prison.

Overall, last year, 2, 766 fewer inmates returned to prison.  These resulted in a total savings to prison authorities of about $30 million.  The number one reason for recidivism last year was parole violations.  These violations made up about 45% of repeat visits to prison.   Only 3% of persons returning to prison were sent back after they were involved in crimes.  About 7% of these persons were involved in property crimes and drug crimes.

Most sex offenders who returned to prison did so not because of a new sex crime, but because of parole violations.  Overall, 84% of sex offenders ended up back in prison because of a parole violation.  The data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation also finds that inmates who have received substance abuse treatment are less likely to return to prison than those that do not receive such treatment.

Female convicts are about 11% less likely to return to prison over a period of about 3 years after release, compared to males.  Also, persons who suffer from developmental disabilities are much more likely to return to prison.  Overall, the data from the California Department of Corrections And Rehabilitation shows that 99% of convicted murderers who were paroled since 1995, have not returned to prison.