RECIDIVISM

Despite the significant increase in the number of parole grants to inmates serving long sentences (8,000 parole grants in the last 10 years) the recidivism rates for these formerly incarcerated persons remains very low, at two to four percent for general recidivism and less than one percent for recidivism involving felony crimes against persons.45 See Figure 9 below.

Specifically, the Recidivism Report for Offenders Released from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in Fiscal Year 2014-15 found that of the 682 life-term inmates released in fiscal year 2014-15 as a result of a grant of parole by the Board, 16 offenders (2.3%) were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime during a three-year follow-up period. Less than one percent (0.4%) or three persons were convicted of felony crimes against persons.

The CDCR’s 2018 Recidivism Report found that of the 510 life-term inmates released in fiscal year 2013-14 as a result of a grant of parole by the Board, 16 offenders (3.1%) were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime during a three‐year follow‐up period. Less than one percent (0.6%) or three persons were convicted of felony crimes against persons.

The CDCR’s 2017 Outcome Evaluation Report found that of the 478 life-term inmates released in fiscal year 2012-13, 20 offenders (4.2%) were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime during a three‐year follow‐up period. Less than one percent (0.4%) or two persons were convicted of felony crimes against persons.

The CDCR’s 2016 Outcome Evaluation Report found that of the 349 life-term inmates released by the Board in fiscal year 2011-12, 11 offenders (3.2%) were convicted of a new misdemeanor or felony crime during a three‐year follow‐up period. Less than one percent (0.3%) or one person was convicted of felony crimes against persons.

Although persons released from prison after a grant of parole present a low risk of recidivism, the same cannot be said for all persons serving long sentences in prison. In 2019, the Board administered 3,386 Comprehensive Risk Assessments and found that 47 percent presented a moderate risk for future violence and 28 percent presented a high risk.⁴⁶