Recidivism: A Fruit Salad Concept in the Criminal Justice World
May 2001
Statisticians produce seemingly “scientific” studies of recidivism. Correctional administrators sometimes brag about new programs that drastically reduce recidivism. Program staff present reports to their bosses that describe the success and failure of their programs in terms of recidivism. Politicians have had occasion to use the public pulpit to express dismay about recidivism. But in reality, the numbers to which they refer are often as dissimilar as apples, oranges, and grapes. Recidivism is a fruit salad concept in the criminal justice world.
“Recidivism” and “failure” are not always synonymous when talking about offender programs. “Recidivism,” as defined by Webster’s Dictionary is “a tendency to slip back into a previous criminal behavior pattern.”1 “Failure,” on the other hand, is a broad term that often encompasses both relapse into criminal behavior and the exhibition of non-criminal behavior that is unacceptable in correctional programs. For example, an offender may fail in a drug treatment program because he or she refuses to participate appropriately in group counseling. Although no crime involved, the person may be dropped from the program and counted as a failure. The discussion that follows only deals with recidivism.
In developing an understanding of recidivism, three concepts should be examined: (1) what is counted as recidivism, (2) what is time frame of recidivism, and (3) what is the basis for making sense of the information on recidivism? ..more.. by Allen R. Beck, Ph.D.
