Of Jobs and Jail: Outcomes for Washington State Property Offenders

• In Event: The Role of Post-Releaes Employment and Reentry

Abstract

Recent discussion of criminal justice in the media and politics has increasingly centered on what is termed the “Era of Mass Incarceration”. Rising numbers of inmates are putting a growing financial burden on states nationwide, causing many officials to examine new approaches to dealing with offenders and classifying crime. Current research in the state of Washington has indicated that abnormally high rates of low-level property offenses coupled with frequent usage of incarceration as a sentence are driving corrections costs upwards statewide.
This study examines the effects of jail or prison time on property offender outcomes in the last 10 years, with a focus on recidivism, employment, and wages. In addition to describing the range of outcomes, analysis will concentrate on searching for connections between types of offenses, offender risk level, and outcomes. This study will build on prior research conducted in Washington concerning the effects of prison time on offender wage levels. Policy recommendations for Washington and other states dealing with high rates of low-level property offending will also be discussed.

Authors

• Matthew Landon, Washington State Statistical Analysis Center

• Thea Mounts, Washington State Statistical Analysis Center