American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIAN) Returning to Federal Prison

• In Event: Recidivism & Desistance: Predictors & Prevention

Abstract

Using data from the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program, this presentation investigates the rate of return to federal prison for American Indian and Alaska Native(AIAN) persons by age and gender. Forty-two percent of AIAN persons released from federal prison in 2010 were returned to federal prison within 3 years (BJS, 2015). This is compared to a rate of 15% for all inmates released in the same year. Moreover, 88% of AIAN returning to federal prison within 3 years of release were returned to federal prison for a violation of supervision. We examine several explanations for the relatively higher rates of failure on supervision and returns to federal prison for AIAN men and women and the implications for policies seeking to change these patterns.

Author

• Mark Motivans, Bureau of Justice Statistics