Presentation by: Andrew Clark Director of the Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice and the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at CCSU Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University Overview of Connecticut Correctional Re-entry and Recidivism Statistics

Prison Population Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Prison Population CT’s prison population increased 242% from 1986 to This led the state to undertake a series of initiatives to stem the steady growth in the number of people incarcerated. Some of these initiatives involved increased funding for DOC and CSSD. This increased funding enhanced programs and services that allowed more inmates to be released to community supervision or helped them to successfully remain in the community. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Common Misconceptions More people live in Connecticutonly 11% Increase More CT residents are of prime crime committing12% Decrease age (18-24 yrs old) More people are being arrested10% Decrease More people are being arrested only 10% Increase for drug offenses More violent crimes are being30% Decrease committed Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Common Misconceptions Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Accused vs. Sentenced Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Accused vs. Sentenced DOC houses both accused offenders who are awaiting trial and sentenced offenders. While the accused prison population has more immediate effects on the overall prison population, the significant increase in the prison population is primarily due to increases in the sentenced population. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism in Connecticut 2001 Prepared by: Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism 2001 Conducted by: the Program Review Committee Definition: New criminal activity by a person after a criminal conviction that resulted in either imprisonment or another sanction (i.e., probation, diversionary sentence, or fine). Methodology: Three measures were used: re-arrest for a new misdemeanor or felony offense; reconviction on those new charges; and re-imprisonment or sentence to another court-imposed sanction such as probation, a diversionary program, or a fine. They examined re-arrest, reconviction, and sentencing data for all convicted felons discharged from prison or sentenced to probation from Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism 2001 Findings: Within 3 yrs of discharge, 70% were rearrested at least once for a new crime. Almost half of the discharged inmates were reconvicted of a new crime. Felony inmates had significantly higher rates of re-arrest, reconviction, and re-incarceration than felony probationers. Males had significantly higher recidivism rates than females. Young offenders were more likely to reoffend than older inmates. Age, race, and gender were significant predictors of repeat criminal activity. Purpose and Recommendation Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Annual Report 2007 & 2008 Connecticut Recidivism Studies Prepared By: Office of Policy & Management Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division & Central Connecticut State University Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism 2007 & 2008 Conducted by: the ISCJ under OPM Findings: offenders released to post-release supervision were less likely to return to prison. Offenders released with no community supervision were more likely to be arrested, convicted, and incarcerated for a new offense. Offenders released end of sentence with no post-release supervision had the highest recidivism rate: 56% were rearrested, 39% were convicted, and 21% received a new prison sentence. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Annual Report 2009 Connecticut Recidivism Study Prepared By: Office of Policy & Management Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism 2009 Conducted by: OPM Methodology: the study tracked 16,486 sentenced inmates for 3- yrs following their discharge from prison or release to a community program in Using data provided by the DOC, CSSD and the DPS, the study captured any subsequent arrests, readmissions to prison, convictions and re-incarcerations for new offenses for each offender in the cohort. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Recidivism 2009 Findings: 67% of offenders were arrested for new offense (new arrest) 56% of offenders were incarcerated (any re-incarceration) 55.6% were convicted of a new offense (new conviction) 36.7% of offenders received a new prison sentence for a new offense. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline of Significant CJ Initiatives 1981 Supervised Home Release (SHR) was created which produced Indeterminate Sentencing. Parole was abolished for those currently serving a determinate sentence. “Good time” was reduced from 15 to 12 days a month. 1983Sentence length increased by 25% 1986To accommodate the state’s growing prison population the DOC began its expansion project, creating new facilities as well as expanding existing ones. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 1987 The General Assembly enacted mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug sale offenses DOC facilities experienced a serious overcrowding issue. At that time, SHR program phase-out begins; parole was reinstated for all inmates serving a sentence of more than 2 years “Time served” increased by 25% for court imposed sentences 1992“Time served” increased by 40% for court imposed sentences Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 1993P.A established the Board of Parole which now had discretionary release and supervision authority over inmates who received a sentence of more than 2 years “Truth in Sentencing”- time served was increased to 85% for serious violent offenders. 1996Prison expansion project was completed. DOC added 12 new prisons and renovated 13 existing facilities to increase capacity Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 1999 DOC contracted with the VA DOC to transfer 484 inmates from CT to a maximum security prison 2001 P.A authorized judges to depart “for good cause” from mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug offenses 2003Building Bridges: From Conviction to Employment CT’s Justice Reinvestment Initiative was presented and issues relating to reentry were discussed. The creation of additional community correction programs became the primary focus of these discussions. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 2003The Board of Parole and the Board of Pardons were merged into DOC. This increased DOC authorization to transfer an additional 2,000 inmates for a total out-of-state contract of 2,500 beds for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (PA 03-6). 2004P.A An Act Concerning Prison Overcrowding enacted a new offender reentry strategy based on the justice reinvestment model. This contained many initiatives to help control the state’s prison overcrowding issue. One of its major goals was to decrease the prison population by 20%. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 2004In July, Governor Rell ordered the DOC to: Return all inmates transferred out-of-state back to CT. Develop a comprehensive offender re-entry strategy intended to control prison overcrowding and assist offenders as they transition from prison to the community while maintaining public safety and supporting victims’ rights (PA ). 2005By November, all 500 out-of-state inmates were returned to CT. $13 million was invested into DOC and CSSD for initiatives outlined in the comprehensive offender re-entry strategy (PA ). Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Timeline 2006July 1 st, the Criminal Justice Policy & Planning Division was created within OPM and tasked with developing a plan to promote a more effective and cohesive state criminal justice system (PA ) The Connecticut Sentencing Task Force was created (PA ) effective to review CT’s criminal justice and sentencing policies and laws; and make recommendations to create a more just, effective and efficient system of criminal sentencing. Sources: P.A Compliance Project: Program Review and Investigations Staff, 01/12/06. Connecticut Correctional Population Projections Study. The Office of Policy and Management, Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Justice Reinvestment In 2003, Rep. Dyson, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, gathered policy makers and CJ agency representatives to discuss re-entry at “Building Bridges: From Conviction to Employment” held at CCSU. The justice reinvestment initiative was presented, and policy makers were proposing ways to balance the state’s budget without having to lay-off any state employees. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Justice Reinvestment The funding DOC received annually far surpassed the budget of any other state agency, so efforts to balance the state’s budget were directed toward DOC expenditures. This created additional community correction, and re-entry programs became a primary focus of these discussions. Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Contact Information Community Based New Haven Re-entry Roundtable Contact: Deborah Marcuse Bridgeport Re-Entry Roundtable: Contact: Dan Braccio, Program Director CO-OP Center/ The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport Juvenile: The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance website: Institute for the Study of Crime & Justice Central Connecticut State University

Contact Information Statewide Office of Policy and Management (OPM)CriminalJustice Policy & Planning Division website: