Early Statistics of Recidivism and Drug Court Impacts

Source Links:
http://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/recidivism/Pages/welcome.aspx
http://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/drug-courts/pages/work.aspx


Summary:

"The Bureau of Justice recidivism Statistics tracked 404,638 prisoners within 30 states in order to find recidivism rates," ("Matthew, Cooper, and Snyder") which were ridiculously high. "The National Institute of Justice sponsored the research on the drug courts in Multnomah County, Portland Oregon," ("M.W. Finigan") in order to see if the drug courts made an impact on the public, and it turns out recidivism was cut down in many surrounding counties. These two statistical studies show the public that recidivism is high, and drug courts make a difference by lowering the recidivism rates.  The more inmates participating in treatment the better it is for the community as a whole.  "In 2005 this was good news for the citizens of Oregon because they could save around $6,000 per participant that go through treatment and pass." ("M.W. Finigan") The statistical data are showing proof that our court  systems are making strides to keep the public safe, and allowing those that made mistakes to better themselves once released from prison.


Quality:

The websites are  reliable government sites, and the given information is from The National Institute of Justice and The Bureau of Justice Statistics.  The statistics on recidivism and drug courts are also from The National Institute of Justice and The Bureau of Justice Statistics.


Issues:
The down side is the statistics are ranging from 1991-2005, and things have changed sense then.  The statistics regarding the public saving an average $6,744 per treated participant may have changed due to infaltion throughout the years.  The information given is not as detailed as it could have been.  The websites were mostly brief statistics. The sites say they were modified last year, yet they do not have any new statistics.  These websites could have collaborated into one piece of written information instead of two different sites.


Quotes:

"The Bureau of Justice Statistics tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states in the year 2005." ("Matthew, Cooper, and Snyder") "Within 3 years 67.8% of criminals were rearrested." ("Matthew, Cooper, and Snyder") "Within 5 years 76.6% were rearrested." ("Matthew, Cooper, and Snyder") "56.7% were rearrested by the end of the first year." ("Matthew, Cooper, and Snyder") "One nearby county near Portland Oregon recidivism rates went from 40% to 12%." ("M.W. Finigan") "Another nearby county near Portland went from 50% to 35%." ("M.W. Finigan") "Ten year old statistics dating from 1991-2001 from The National Institute of Justice suggest that drug courts lowered recidivism and costs." ("M.W. Finigan") "It turns out the Oregon public could possibly save around $6,744 per participant if they are treated properly." ("M.W. Finigan")  


Key Words and Phrases:

Drug Courts, recidivism, Multnomah County, Portland Oregon, The Bureau of Justice Statistics, The National Institute of Justice


Work Cited:

Durose, Matthew R., Alexia D. Cooper, and Howard N. Snyder, Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States in 2005: Patterns from 2005 to 2010 (pdf, 31 pages), Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, April 2014, NCJ 244205.

Office of Justice Programs. NIJ, The National Institute of Justice. Recidivism. Date Modified June 17,2014

See Impact of a Mature Drug Court Over 10 Years of Operation: Recidivism and Costs, by M.W. Finigan et al., July 2007, NCJ 219225. Executive summary (NCJ 219224).

Office of Justice Programs. NIJ, The National Institute of Justice. Do Drug Courts Work? Findings From Drug Court Research.  Impact of Drug Courts on Recidivism and Cost. Date Modified: May 12, 2008