Press Releases
02/18/2018
Gov. Malloy Announces Drop in Recidivism and Projected Prison Population
Newly Released Reports Analyze Crime Trends in the State
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that as a result of Connecticut’s criminal justice reform initiatives, newly available data from two reports that were released today are showing that recidivism rates and the projected prison population are continuing to drop in Connecticut. Recidivism rates have been declining in each of the four categories that are regularly monitored by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) – new arrests, new convictions, returns-to-prison for any reason, and returns-to-prison to begin a new sentence of incarceration – and the prison population is projected to drop by 726 prisoners (approximately 5.25 percent) over the next year, continuing the precipitous drop the state has observed during the course of this administration.
**For the latest OPM report analyzing Connecticut recidivism rates, click here**
**For the latest OPM report analyzing Connecticut’s prison population projection, click here**
“The fact of the matter is, our criminal justice reforms are producing tremendous results for the people of Connecticut,” Governor Malloy said. “We have far fewer people committing crimes and entering our prison system than ever before. The Second Chance initiatives that we’ve put in place are keeping people safe, while offering those that have made mistakes in their past a second chance. There is more work to be done, and I look forward to continuing the progress we have made together over these past seven years.”
“Even slight reductions in recidivism have had significant impacts on our goals and our mission to improve public safety,” Department of Correction (DOC) Commissioner Scott Semple said. “I am proud of the efforts and commitment of Connecticut DOC employees.”
OPM produces recidivism analyses based on the three-year period following an offender’s release from prison. The data used to support the report ran through December 31, 2017.
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Three-year recidivism rates: 2011 through 2014 |
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2011 |
2014 |
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New arrests |
63% |
60% |
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New convictions |
50% |
45% |
|
Returns to prison |
54% |
53% |
|
New sentences |
35% |
34% |
For male inmates, over the three years following release, a total of 1,109 fewer prisoners who were released in 2014 picked up a new arrest than did prisoners released in 2011. Similarly, 718 fewer prisoners who were released in 2014 returned to prison over the next three years compared to those released in 2011.
**Click chart to enlarge**
By January 2019, the state’s prison population is expected to fall to 12,901; dropping below 13,000 for the first time since September 1993. The DOC’s all-time high inmate population was on February 1, 2008 when it reached 19,893.
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