Florida Strikes Again: The Effect of Post-Release Supervision on Offender Recidivism

• In Event: Issues in Parole Supervision

Abstract

Current research shows that supervision has little effect on recidivism when supervision entails surveillance only approaches and lacks long-term rehabilitation goals. Using a sample of 1000 inmates released in 2008 from Florida prisons, this study examines the effects of post-release supervision on recidivism rates. Recidivism is examined over two years, which includes the typical time spent under active supervision. The results of the bivariate cross-tabulation and multivariate logistic regression show a significant relationship between supervision and recidivism such that prisoners released from prison who are under supervision are more likely to be re-incarcerated than those without supervision. Recommendations for policy are made which include suggestions for eliminating supervision for low-risk offenders, who are more likely to return to prison for a technical violation, including more long-term assistance for offenders to re-integrate more smoothly into the community, and the implementation of a Boundary Spanner to bridge gaps between the community opportunities and the offender.

Author

• Jessica Chase, University of Central Florida