0 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Recidivism Findings
We coded recidivism data for 1,084 total inmates in our sample wio were released fkom
DOC custody as of June 21,2001. Three types of recidivism data were collected: (1)
reincarceration data, (2) rearrest data, and (3) parole data. Several critical outcome measures
(e.g., reincarcerations) were available through DOC. Others (e.g., rearrests and convictions) were
available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Others (e.g.,
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drug testing) were available through the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. Data
sharing agreements and procedures were worked out with each agency.
Reincarceration data were collected by printing out the Department of Corrections
“MOVE” screens for each inmate, which contained the inmate’s most recent date of release fiom
custody, type of release (e.g., parole v. full sentence served) and any new incarcerations
0 thereafter.
Rearrest data, collected by the Pennsylvania State Police, was available through the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). As with DOC, we submitted a list
of all 1,084 inmates released fkom DOC between January 1,2000 and June 21,2001. We received
“rap sheets” (printouts) of each ex-offender’s criminal history up to the time of the PCCD data
run (July 18,2001). We then coded and entered all data received fiom PCCD, including date and
type of rearrest offense (if any) and disposition.
Parole data provided another important source of post-release data. We met with officials
fkom the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) in November of 2000 to discuss
data sharing procedures, and we were granted access to several specific types of data. We wanted
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to determine whether an inmate successfully completed his term of parole or not, and whether the
inmate tested positive for any type of drug use while on parole. If an inmate was resentenced into
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This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.