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.