Monday, March 05, 2012

LBB to explain recidivism report

Interested in how recidivism rates are calculated in Texas? This event in Austin later this week by the Legislative Budget Board may interest some of the wonks among you.
Our second spring Criminal Justice Forum is this Friday,  March 9th  at 1:30 P.M.  The attached flier has all the details.  These forums are open and appropriate for anyone interested in learning more about criminal justice issues in Texas.  Please forward this e-mail and flier to all whom you think would be interested.
 
If you have any specific questions on the subject of Adult Correctional Recidivism, please feel free to submit them to me in advance.  This is a suggestion from our previous forum feedback forms.  We plan to give it a try this time.  Below is a link to our report I will be presenting from and my e-mail address.  Also, there will be time during and after the forum to address your questions as well.\ 
Adult Correctional Recidivism – March 9, 2012* (1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Presenter: Michele Connolly
LBB analysis of adult correctional recidivism includes recidivism and revocation rates for various correctional populations. Recidivism is measured through both rearrest and reincarceration rates. This forum will explore the methodology, techniques, and historical trends associated with adult correctional recidivism in Texas.  http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/PubSafety_CrimJustice/3_Reports/Recidivism_Report_2011.pdf

6 comments:

  1. Scott, where could one find the recidivism rates for all states? Thanks.

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  2. In an apples to apples format, to my knowledge it doesn't exist. I'll bet that will be something they discuss. States define and measure it differently.

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  3. Thanks for posting this info. The one in May on qualitative research looks awesome!

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  4. Texas Maverick3/06/2012 08:55:00 AM

    Broken down by year the rate is less than 10% so why combine to give a rate of 24%
    (Total 41,051/9,972 Reincarceration Rate 24.3%)

    The devil is in the details. The 1st yr is the critical year and studies tell this over and over. The study also mixes parole and time served so,what is the distribution? How is that reflected in the report, by combining together. As we say in IT, garbage in garbage out.

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  5. Unless the report can tease out persons who return to prison because of the onerous parole system that makes parolees pay high fees to the parole system, the numbers will not be accurate. Because of the discrimination against former convicts in the job market and with computer background checks being required on almost every job, economic conditions and parole fees are driving many back to prison because of parole violations.

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  6. The LBB recdivism report is suspect in that it won't even define recidivism to begin--only a general definition; from which it purports to be able to guage recidivism. I can define anything I want, any way I want with a floating definition.

    Further, the actual recidivism rate is closer to 52.6% when you start pulling all of the available data together, and use a widely recognized definition of recidivism. 24.3% is just an asinine and misleading number used to assuage the powers that be that what they are doing is working--it is not. How do I know these things with such specificity---I work in the system and am faced daily with threats of termination for asking for clarification and evidence from outside sources to back their claims.

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