Recidivism Among Federal Career Offenders

• In Event: The Effects of Imprisonment on Recidivism

Abstract

The United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) recently published Recidivism Among Federal Offenders: A Comprehensive Overview. This study is part of an on-going, comprehensive multi-year study of recidivism among federal offenders documenting the extent of recidivism among federal offenders who are citizens. This research greatly expands on previous USSC recidivism study cohorts, constituting over 30,000 valid cases. After a brief recapitulation of the recent report, the presentation will focus on recidivism of repeat offenders released from prison using an eight-year follow-up period. These Career Offenders were sentenced under USSG § 4B1.1, the career offender guideline. Each individual was convicted of felony crime of violence or felony controlled substance offense, and had at least two prior felony convictions for one or both of these offenses. The particular focus of this analysis will be on the nature of each offenders’ prior crimes, and the impact of distinct pathways (drug trafficking or violence) on the recidivism outcomes.

Author

• Kim Steven Hunt, U.S. Sentencing Commission