“Beyond The Prison Bubble.”

Source:
Petersilia, Joan. “Beyond The Prison Bubble.” National Institute of Justice. NIJ, 03 November 2011.

Web. 17 March 2015.http://www.nij.gov/journals/268/pages/prison-bubble.aspx

Summary:
This source is an article published by the National Institute of Justice. The author examines the effectiveness of different rehabilitation programs using statistics such as rearrest and recidivism rates.

Quality:  
The National Institute of Justice is a reliable source for research and information on rehabilitation and recidivism. The NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, and they have a large database of information on crime prevention and control. Joan Petersilia, the author of the article, has over 30 years of experience studying the performance of U.S. criminal justice agencies, and she is also the Adelbert H. Sweet Professor of Law at Stanford University and co-director of the Stanford Criminal Justice Center. She was recently awarded the Stockholm Prize for her work on prisoner reentry and supporting ex-offenders after their release from prison ("Joan Petersilia"). The information presented in the article is from a variety of reputable sources such as the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Petersilia also cites studies from reputable criminologists such as Edward J Latessa, who has "directed over 150 funded research projects including studies of day reporting centers, juvenile justice programs, drug courts, prison programs, intensive supervision programs, halfway houses, and drug programs" ("Edward J Latessa"), and Todd Clear, whose "work has been recognized through several awards, including those of the American Society of Criminology, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, The Rockefeller School of Public Policy, the American Probation and Parole Association, the American Correctional Association, and the International Community Corrections Association"("Dr. Todd Clear").

Issues:  
Although this article considers the arguments against rehabilitation programs and gives readers a fair insight into the counterarguments, most of the information provided was in support of rehabilitation programs.

Key Words and Phrases:  
Prison, Incarceration Rate, Mass Incarceration, Repeat Offenders, Probation, Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Truth-in-sentencing, Measures, Prison, Recidivism Rate, Confinement, Criminal Records, Corrections System, Education, Drug Treatment, Rehabilitation Programs, Recidivism, ISP (Intense Supervision Program), RNR (Risk-Need-Responsivity), BRI (Boston Reentry Initiative)  

Quotes:  
“[W]e are beginning to recognize that our overreliance on locking people up has an especially malign effect on poor urban neighborhoods, where up to 20 percent of the adult male population may be behind bars at any given time.”

“It is no longer justifiable to say that nothing works. There is scientific evidence that prison and parole programs can reduce recidivism.”

“Effective rehabilitation and reentry programs that help offenders go home to stay are good for them, and good for the rest of us, too.”

Source Link:

http://www.nij.gov/journals/268/pages/prison-bubble.aspx

Works Cited:                                                                              

"Dr. Todd Clear." Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. Rutgers School of Criminal Justice, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.

"Edward J Latessa." University of Cincinnati. University of Cincinnati, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.

"Joan Petersilia Adelbert H. Sweet Professor of Law." Stanford Law School. Stanford Univrsity, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2015.

New Figures Prove Reentry Program Is Working in CT

Source:
"Controversial Early Release Program for Inmates Lowering Recidivism in Connecticut" by Ray Hardman

Summary:
This publication delivers a message of measurable success in lowering recidivism due to a state facilitated program in CT. This program known as RREC, or Risk Reduction Earned Credit, reduces a prisoner's sentencing upon the completion of offered programs and other requirements. The Office of Policy and Management's Statistical Analysis Center completed a study which measured the rate of recidivism for "3,279 prisoners who were discharged with at least some RREC credit." The OPMSAC's findings indicate a 11% decrease in recidivism over a period of three years(2011-2014). The results were presented to the public and published on March 25, 2015 by The Research Unit at
OPM/CJPPD(Office of Policy an Managment Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division). 

Quality: 
This article came from WNPR of Connecticut and contains data collected by The Office of Policy and Management's Statistical Analysis Center regarding the declination of recidivism rates after 2011 by the result of the RREC (Risk Reduction Earned Credit) program. The author of this article has also acquired degrees in journalism and broadcasting and has committed more than 20 years to presenting and delivering the news. A portion of a phone interview with Mike Lawlor, OPM's Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, is included, showing his stance on the success of the RREC program and supporting the author's work.

Issues: 
The article shows evidence that indicates the RREC program has been successful in lowering recidivism, but fails to identify what percentage of the CT prison population the 3,279 participants studied represent. More information could have also been offered on the amount of time credited for participation in the program and good behavior, which ultimately resulted in prison sentence reductions. Due to the adolescence of the new program with only one round of participants having matured to the three year mark, weaknesses in the evidence may transpire due to the RREC program's lack of longstanding, potentially discrediting this article in the future. 

Key Words and Phrases:
Risk Reduction Earned Credit, recidivism, reducing recidivism rates, prisoners, discharge, community supervision, parole, probation, reentry, Connecticut, correctional staff, legislature, 

Quotes:
"The goal was: if you do this, you will see crime go down. You will see recidivism go down. Since we've implemented it, recidivism has gone down by eleven percent..." Mike Lawlor 

"Lawlor said that since RREC was adopted in 2011, assaults on staff and inmates in Connecticut prisons 'has gone way down.'" Ray Hardman

Source Link:
http://wnpr.org/post/controversial-early-release-program-inmates-lowering-recidivism-connecticut

Works Cited:

Hardman, Ray. "Controversial Early Release Program for Inmates Lowering Recidivism in Connecticut." Controversial Early Release Program for Inmates Lowering Recidivism in Connecticut. WNPR, 27 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Mar. 2015.