The University of Toledo The University of Toledo Digital Repository Theses and Dissertations 2013 Sentence length and recidivism : are longer incarcerations the solution to high rates of reoffending? Christopher R. Dennison The University of Toledo Follow this and additional works at: http://utdr.edu/theses-dissertations Recommended Citation Dennison, Christopher R., "Sentence length and recidivism : are longer incarcerations the solution to high rates of reoffending?" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by The University of Toledo Digital Repository.
It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The University of Toledo Digital Repository. For more information, please see the repository's About page. A Thesis entitled Sentence Length and Recidivism: Are Longer Incarcerations the Solution to High Rates of Reoffending? by Christopher R. Dennison Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Sociology _________________________________________ Dr.
Patricia Case, Committee Chair _________________________________________ Dr. Barbara Chesney, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Elias Nigem, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr. Jerry Van Hoy, Committee Member _________________________________________ Dr.
Komuniecki, Dean College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo May 2013 Copyright 2013, Christopher Richard Dennison This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no parts of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. An Abstract of Sentence Length and Recidivism: Are Longer Incarcerations the Solution to High Rates of Reoffending? by Christopher R. Dennison Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Sociology The University of Toledo May 2013 The effect of sentence length on recidivism is an important area of research in the fields of Sociology and Criminology.
With all of the social and economic considerations that go into the effectiveness of a correctional institution, there is a consistent demand for making sure these institutions are meeting their societal needs. This study analyzed the implications of sentence length on recidivism when controlling for type of crime, length of sentence, sex, race and age. This study also analyzed the effect of interventions and infractions inside a correctional institution on recidivism. The data used for this study was titled, "Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994," and was provided by the United States Department of Justice (Bureau of Justice Statistics).
The aim of this study was to see if longer sentences continuously reduce the probability of reoffending once released. Using cross-tabulations, survival analysis and logistic regressions, the probabilities for reoffending become stable from a moderate (4-10 year) to a high (11-25 year) sentence length, supporting the idea that longer sentences may not be more effective for reducing recidivism. Also, individuals with criminal history, especially previous prison iii experience, had higher probabilities of reoffending. These analyses were done while controlling for age, race, sex, type of crime, sentence length and criminal history.
iv I dedicate this thesis to my family. Without the opportunities and support you provide for me, I would not be where I am today. Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge all of the faculty and our cohort in The Sociology and Anthropology Department at The University of Toledo. I would also like to thank the ICPSR and Bureau of Justice Statistics for the data.
I'd like to thank all of my committee members: Dr. Patricia Case (Committee Chair), Dr. Barbara Chesney, Dr. Elias Nigem and Dr.
Jerry Van Hoy, for all of the time each of you have spent working with me. Finally, I would especially like to acknowledge Dr. Patricia Case for all of her help and availability on this study. I could not have done this without her assistance and interest in the project.
vi Table of Contents Abstract. vi Table of Contents .vii List of Tables. x List of Figures.1 Statement of the Problem/Importance of Study .2 Introduction to the Topic.1 Introduction to Recidivism.3 Race and Recidivism.6 Correctional/Rehabilitative Techniques.8 Community Service and Recidivism.2 Frequencies and Means.50 5 Predicting Recidivism Risk………… .1 Logistic Regression Analysis.65 6 The Affect of Violent Offenses on Recidivism Risk…….73 7 History of Criminal Behaviors on Recidivism Risk…….1 Logistic Regression Analysis.2 Recidivism Regressed on Type of Crime, Criminal History and Sentence Length.3 Logistic Regression analysis with Interventions and Infractions.1 Summary of Findings.3 Theoretical Consideration of the Findings.5 Criminal Justice System Implications (Policy). 99 ix List of Tables 4.2 Frequencies of Violent and Non-violent Crimes .3 Recidivism by Sentence Length: 8 Categories .4 Recidivism by Type of Crime .5 Recidivism by Education Program Participation .6 Recidivism by Participation in Vocational Program .7 Recidivism by Participation in Drug Treatment Program.8 Recidivism by Participation in Alcohol Treatment Program .9 Recidivism by Previous Prison Sentence .10 Recidivism by Previous Arrests .11 Recidivism by Infractions .12 Recidivism by State .1 Recidivism Regressed on Sex, Age, Race and Sentence Length.1 Recidivism Regressed on Sex, Race Type of Crime and Sentence Length .1 Recidivism Regressed on Sex, Race and Criminal History .2 Recidivism Regressed on Type of Crime, Criminal History and Sentence Length .3 Recidivism Regressed on Sex, Race, Type of Crime, Criminal History and Sentence Length .4 Recidivism Regressed on Sex, Race and Infractions.
84 x List of Figures 4-1 Previous Prison Sentences and Recidivism. 60 6-1 Survival Analysis of Sentence Length, Type of Crime and Recidivism. 71 xi Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Statement of the problem/Importance of Study This study was designed to examine sentence length and recidivism with regard to correctional institutions. I examined the relationship between the length of an individual’s initial sentence and the rate of recidivism.
This study used data from the United States Department of Justice (Bureau of Justice Statistics) from 1994. The following discussion examines previous research on recidivism, discusses theoretical perspectives that lead to an interest in this possible relationship, and investigates the possible implications an individual’s sentence length may have on recidivism rates. Specifically, I wanted to see if there is a positive relationship between the two variables. The main hypothesis of this study was: an individual who receives a shorter sentence for their first conviction will be less likely to return to a correctional institution.
A second aim of this study was to examine whether or not a past history of criminal acts increased the risk of recidivism. By looking at first-time offenders, this study compared individuals who were entering a correctional institution for the first time in their lives to those who were serving a second or subsequent term, which means any significant findings may be applicable to all first-time offenders essentially, regardless of 1 ascribed factors. By controlling for the previous factors researched in recidivism (i. race, type of crime and education), I was able to isolate sentence length as a variable and reveal any possible relationship that can likely be used to analyze first-time offender’s recidivism rates once released.
Finally, I examined whether or not behaviors during imprisonment could be used to predict recidivism risk. In other words, did participating is positive programs, such as educational classes or vocational training reduce risk? Were conduct infractions indicative of increased risk for return? It is important to note the positive implications this research may have. A better understanding of recidivism and possible methods to reduce recidivism rates can lead to the implementation of new approaches and practices to the correctional system. Reducing recidivism rates on a macro level can lead to several positive outcomes for both individuals who go through the justice system and the rest of society.
If a significant relationship between sentence length and recidivism can be shown, the approach to distributing sentence lengths may call for some reconsideration.2 Introduction to the Topic When considering the function of correctional institutions in our society, one might immediately look at the fact that corrections are enforced to carry out some sanction or consequence an individual has earned. At the same time, it is important to also recognize how correctional institutions function as a deterrent for individuals and society, regardless of one’s involvement in the criminal justice system. By establishing 2 various sanctions for those who commit crimes, it is apparent how this can also hinder other individuals from committing crimes. Although correctional institutions may be seen as a deterrent in the overall scheme, there is some skepticism that this is not functioning adequately.
It seems that correctional institutions do not deter crime for all as there are always individuals committing crimes. As of 2009, roughly 61% of adult offenders reoffended within one year of their release from a correctional institution (Iorizzo 2012). Statistics such as this may contribute to negative assessments of correctional institutions. With that in mind, there is a key element to prison life that some may see as the source for these high recidivism rates.
One could assume that individuals who are exposed to other convicted criminals for various lengths of time may develop negative traits and lifestyles (or possibly reinforce their original behavior), and this may be a factor that increases the likelihood for recidivism. Although it is difficult to avoid such a situation, it may contribute to individuals finding themselves committing crimes again. A high level of exposure to an environment surrounded by criminals may create a window of opportunity for an individual to develop some negative habits. In addition to the lifestyle settings and societal considerations within correctional institutions, the length of an individual’s stay could also be seen as a source for affecting their likelihood of reoffending.
If an individual is exposed to these conditions for an extended period of time, it seems quite possible that individual may find those societal conditions as acceptable behavior in their everyday life. Once released from a correctional institution after a long sentence, an individual might find that life on “the 3 outside” is too difficult to adapt to, and he or she may commit a crime simply to get back to a society that is considered normal to them. When considering all of these factors, a more specific approach to understanding recidivism may be useful. It seems that the length of an individual’s sentence could affect one’s recidivism rate when controlling for specific factors.
Specifically, this research, while controlling for several factors, looked at the relationship between the length of an individual’s sentence and their rate of recidivism. By limiting the exposure an individual has to a correctional institution’s lifestyle, the window of opportunity for an individual to develop more criminal tendencies is smaller than it would be with a longer sentence, thus possibly decreasing one’s rate of recidivism. This study analyzed the risk of recidivism for individuals based on several different criteria. First, descriptive statistics were used, including cross-tabulations, to observe the frequencies of the independent variables in terms of recidivism.
Next, logistic regression was used to predict the risk of reoffending for individuals while controlling for demographic variables. Logistic regression was also used to analyze how interventions and infractions within the correctional institution influence recidivism rates. Finally, survival analysis was used to analyze recidivism rates for violent and non-violent offenders as well as individuals with prior prison experience and prior arrests. Theoretically, this study used a symbolic interactionist approach (Mead 1934) as well as differential association (Sutherland, Cressey and Luckenbill 1992).
As these theories demonstrate, individuals learn behavior through social interaction, and the idea of learning criminal behavior was quite applicable to this study. With longer sentence lengths and controlling for the type of crime an individual commits, this study 4 hypothesized that individuals will be more susceptible to learn criminal behaviors if they experience a longer sentence, especially on their first offense. The following chapters will review past literature in the area of recidivism. A discussion of the theoretical framework for this study will follow the review of literature.
From there, cross-tabulations will provide a better description of the data and the variables that were used in this study. Chapters 5-7 will include the logistic regressions and survival analysis of these variables, which will then be followed by a conclusion and discussion of the findings.