tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7085176059245165940..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Pew recommendation on recidivism metric wrong for TexasGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47595401566021865122012-04-09T17:38:00.554-05:002012-04-09T17:38:00.554-05:00I am also confused by this argument. My understand...I am also confused by this argument. My understanding is that prison is criminogenic: so, the more sentences one serves, the more likely one is to re-offend. On this basis, incarcerating larger percentages of the population through increasing the use of incarceration among non-dangerous offenders, would not decrease recidivism (in the long run). <br /><br />However, I agree with you that recidivism rates are no measure of the negative social impacts of mass incarceration - having conducted an ethnographic study of re-entering ex-prisoners I can say that official recidivism rates (usually measured by either re-arrest or re-incarceration) are actually only really measuring detection rates rather than reoffending rates. So - many people in my study were reoffending but were never detected, so do would not form part of official re-offending stats.<br /><br />Perhaps, on that logic, what this study shows is that Texas are locking a lot of people up, letting a lot of people out, and then not catching many of them again when they commit new crimes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71492409670781855902011-04-21T21:20:45.199-05:002011-04-21T21:20:45.199-05:00Grits I think it is interesting that the exact opp...Grits I think it is interesting that the exact opposite problem with recidivism rates exists for juvenile justice. While many low level offenders are in the adult system, many of the youth placed in the juvenile justice system in Texas would automatically be placed in the adult system in most states. Those youth are more likely to continue to get in trouble and increase the recidivism rate of TYC as compared to other states.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-14540820788457688142011-04-18T13:21:08.950-05:002011-04-18T13:21:08.950-05:00Grits you had a very good post on April 11 entitle...Grits you had a very good post on April 11 entitled "Licensing strictures boost ex-felon unemployment". Unfortunately, I did not see the post until it was too late to post a timely comment. I did post the following anyway but this post regarding the Pew Report was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. So, I am posting my comments again. You see, IMHO, the roadblocks placed in the path of ex-offenders by the government has as much to do with creating recidivist as most any other circumstance you care to name.<br /><br />BTW, There was a similar discussion last Wednesday, 04-13, on Professor Berman's blog regarding the recent Pew report on recidivism. I posted this same comment there which of course resulted in a full on distraction/diversionary assault by Bill Otis.<br /><br />COMMENT: How in the world do politicians ever expect to reduce the recidivism rate if they continue to introduce stupid legislation that prohibits ex-offenders from seeking meaningful employment? <br /> <br />Two bills currently pending in Tennessee, HB 1070 by Rep. Barrett Rich & SB 0901 by Senator Bo Watson is a case in point. As introduced the legislation prohibits any board under the division of health related boards from issuing or renewing a license to a health care professional or applicant who might engage in direct patient care when that professional or applicant has been convicted of a felony.<br /><br />Read all about it at the following link:<br />http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1070&GA=107<br /><br />There has to be some understanding by politicians of the difference between a "FELON" and a felony offense. There is Charles Manson, a "FELON" and there is Martha Stewart who committed a felony offense. Of course, the one should be put away forever but the other......... Is there a real threat here? <br /><br />These two Tennessee politicos are, like so many other "tough on crime" proponents, only looking at the benefit to their own political careers. They make no distinction between a violent and non-violent offense and pay no heed to the damage being done to those ex-offenders and their families who only want, and deserve, a chance to put their lives back in order. <br /><br /> The fiscal impact statement section of the legislation makes the outrageous statement that the fiscal impact of the bill is "Not Significant". Perhaps not to the immediate loss of revenue to Tennessee but what about the loss of the ability to make a living and support a family. What about the future expense to Tennessee if, because of government roadblocks, the ex-offender becomes a welfare recipient or worse commits another crime and is returned to the state prison system? What now of the fiscal impact?<br /><br />Rather than placing more roadblocks in the path of ex-offenders, the State of Tennessee and the country would be better served if these representatives would get behind the initiative of Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen and his "Fresh Start Act". This is common sense legislation that will give federal first time non-violent offenders a real second chance at becoming productive taxpaying citizens. The legislation would also provide incentives to the individual states to follow the same course.Thomasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80897219960077306182011-04-18T11:46:40.218-05:002011-04-18T11:46:40.218-05:00Is the mindset of control or punishment more a fun...Is the mindset of control or punishment more a function of the Legislature, law enforcement, or judges? WHY do we lock up more and more? This State has plenty resources. How many prisoners from here (and other States) are released here? Does that increase our crime? And then the illegal-alien issue, certainly an increase. I know Dan Patrick wanted to let cops arrest us if we try to be private. HOW MUCH POWER will those in power TAKE, and why do we let them?johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808884177035705472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-7318940143111273172011-04-17T22:37:31.091-05:002011-04-17T22:37:31.091-05:009:56, please work on your reading comprehension. I...9:56, please work on your reading comprehension. I said no such thing. In fact, I argued AGAINST using recidivism reduction as a performance measure.<br /><br />Plato, I wish I knew what "gift horse" you were talking about. Is the reference to overincarceration of low-risk inmates? If so, as far as I'm concerned you can take that nag back to the glue factory.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72488616248857058682011-04-17T21:56:37.734-05:002011-04-17T21:56:37.734-05:00Thanks for holding the state responsible for recid...Thanks for holding the state responsible for recidivism. We all know it's not the criminal's fault. It's the state's fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48948522781552314152011-04-17T19:20:56.447-05:002011-04-17T19:20:56.447-05:00Grits: My ol' grandpappy used to tell me &quo...Grits: My ol' grandpappy used to tell me "never look a gift horse in the mouth."<br /><br />PlatoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com