Pathways Into Prison in New York State

• In Event: California Prison Realignment and Pathways into Prison in New York

Abstract

We aim to understand patterns of individuals’ involvement with the criminal justice system prior to their first prison sentence. Using a sample of 30,000 individuals admitted to New York State prisons for the first time in 2009-2012, we look back at their arrest experiences for ten years prior to prison entry. Group-based trajectory models are estimated to examine how pre-prison criminal involvement changes over time and varies across individuals in the population. Several key patterns emerge, including the fact that a sizeable minority of the sample are heavily involved in the criminal justice system for the entire 10 year period prior to their first incarceration. These individuals appear to cycle in and out of jail, with little community supervision. We also find that a surprising number of people have little or no contact with the criminal justice system before their first incarceration, which is usually the result of a very serious crime.

Authors

• Jing Liu, NY Division of Criminal Justice Services

• Shawn Bushway, University at Albany, SUNY

• Sarah Tahamont, University at Albany, SUNY