California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office of Research

March 22, 2006

Recidivism Rates* within One and Two Year Follow-up Periods for All
Felons Paroled to California Supervision California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation Released from Prison for First Time in 20031
By Principal Commitment Offense

Principal Commitment Offense
Murder First (old law)
Murder First (new law)
Murder Second (old law)
Murder Second (new law)
Manslaughter
Vehicular Manslaughter
Robbery
Assault/Deadly WP
Attempted Murder First
Attempted Murder Second
Other Assault/Battery
Rape
Lewd Act With Child
Oral Copulation
Sodomy
Sexual Penetration with Object
Other Sex
Kidnapping
Burglary First
Burglary Second
Grand Theft
Petty Theft With Prior
Receiving Stolen Property
Vehicle Theft
Forgery/Fraud
Other Property
CS Possession
CS Possession for Sale
CS Sales
CS Manufacturing
CS Other
Hashish Possession
Marijuana Possession for Sale
Marijuana Sale
Marijuana Other
Escape
Driving Under Influence
Arson
Possession Weapon
Other Offenses
TOTAL

Number
Paroled
0
2
0
13
280
159
2,614
2,667
2
201
4,228
245
1,076
112
35
69
952
151
1,807
3,621
1,876
3,331
2,112
3,054
2,040
437
7,546
5,759
1,704
1,239
336
20
565
210
94
95
1,608
149
2,585
1,850
54,877

Returned to Prison Within: 2
One Year
Two Years 3
Number
0
0
0
0
49
19
942
908
0
36
1,682
64
186
31
9
15
434
30
716
1,629
709
1,536
1,045
1,723
658
182
3,336
1,560
509
237
124
10
147
46
25
44
354
50
1,170
696
20,936

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
0.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
17.50%
11.95%
36.04%
34.05%
0.00%
17.91%
39.78%
26.12%
17.29%
27.68%
25.71%
21.74%
45.59%
19.87%
39.62%
44.99%
37.79%
46.11%
49.48%
56.42%
32.25%
41.65%
44.21%
27.09%
29.87%
19.13%
36.90%
50.00%
26.02%
21.90%
26.60%
46.32%
22.01%
33.56%
45.26%
37.62%
38.15%

Number
0
0
0
0
95
31
1,348
1,288
0
69
2,336
86
279
48
14
20
563
48
977
2,103
944
1,976
1,297
2,080
903
235
4,416
2,212
687
339
172
11
218
67
38
59
507
72
1,519
952
28,034

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
0.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
33.93%
19.50%
51.57%
48.29%
0.00%
34.33%
55.25%
35.10%
25.93%
42.86%
40.00%
28.99%
59.14%
31.79%
54.07%
58.08%
50.32%
59.32%
61.41%
68.11%
44.26%
53.78%
58.52%
38.41%
40.32%
27.36%
51.19%
55.00%
38.58%
31.90%
40.43%
62.11%
31.53%
48.32%
58.76%
51.46%
51.09%

* See back page for definitions and formula
1

First releases to parole include those paroled for the first time from prison on a new admission to
prison and paroled for the first time following return to prison with a new court commitment.

2

Returns to prison on new court commitments following discharge on this parole are not included.
Returns within two years include returns within one year.
Percentages not computed for less than 20 releases to parole.

3
4

Recidivism2yrs_2003.xls

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office of Research

March 22, 2006

Recidivism Rates* within One and Two Year Follow-up Periods for Female
Felons Paroled to California Supervision California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation Released from Prison for First Time in 20031
By Principal Commitment Offense

Principal Commitment Offense
Murder First (old law)
Murder First (new law)
Murder Second (old law)
Murder Second (new law)
Manslaughter
Vehicular Manslaughter
Robbery
Assault/Deadly WP
Attempted Murder First
Attempted Murder Second
Other Assault/Battery
Rape
Lewd Act With Child
Oral Copulation
Sodomy
Sexual Penetration With Object
Other Sex
Kidnapping
Burglary First
Burglary Second
Grand Theft
Petty Theft With Prior
Receiving Stolen Property
Vehicle Theft
Forgery/Fraud
Other Property
CS Possession
CS Possession for Sale
CS Sales
CS Manufacturing
CS Other
Hashish Possession
Marijuana Possession for Sale
Marijuana Sale
Marijuana Other
Escape
Driving Under Influence
Arson
Possession Weapon
Other Offenses
TOTAL

Number
Paroled
0
2
0
3
14
19
137
143
0
5
243
0
9
2
0
2
23
5
112
455
336
644
253
211
623
51
960
628
193
112
68
0
28
10
2
10
107
24
63
144
5,641

Returned to Prison Within: 2
One Year
Two Years 3
Number
0
0
0
0
0
4
32
38
0
0
65
0
1
1
0
0
7
2
31
148
64
184
86
88
149
10
331
117
40
15
16
0
4
1
0
3
25
8
14
34
1,518

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
0.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
0.00%
21.05%
23.36%
26.57%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
26.75%
#DIV/0!
11.11%
50.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
30.43%
40.00%
27.68%
32.53%
19.05%
28.57%
33.99%
41.71%
23.92%
19.61%
34.48%
18.63%
20.73%
13.39%
23.53%
#DIV/0!
14.29%
10.00%
0.00%
30.00%
23.36%
33.33%
22.22%
23.61%
26.91%

Number
0
0
0
0
1
7
44
53
0
0
93
0
1
2
0
0
8
2
42
208
92
279
116
111
215
15
472
183
70
23
23
0
7
2
0
4
36
14
22
49
2,194

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
0.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
7.14%
36.84%
32.12%
37.06%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
38.27%
#DIV/0!
11.11%
100.00%
#DIV/0!
0.00%
34.78%
40.00%
37.50%
45.71%
27.38%
43.32%
45.85%
52.61%
34.51%
29.41%
49.17%
29.14%
36.27%
20.54%
33.82%
#DIV/0!
25.00%
20.00%
0.00%
40.00%
33.64%
58.33%
34.92%
34.03%
38.89%

* See back page for definitions and formula
1

First releases to parole include those paroled for the first time from prison on a new admission to
prison and paroled for the first time following return to prison with a new court commitment.

2

Returns to prison on new court commitments following discharge on this parole are not included.
Returns within two years include returns within one year.
Percentages not computed for less than 20 releases to parole.

3
4

Recidivism2yrs_2003_Female.xls

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office of Research

March 22, 2006

Recidivism Rates* within One and Two Year Follow-up Periods for Male
Felons Paroled to California Supervision California Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation Released from Prison for First Time in 20031
By Principal Commitment Offense

Principal Commitment Offense
Murder First (old law)
Murder First (new law)
Murder Second (old law)
Murder Second (new law)
Manslaughter
Vehicular Manslaughter
Robbery
Assault/Deadly WP
Attempted Murder First
Attempted Murder Second
Other Assault/Battery
Rape
Lewd Act With Child
Oral Copulation
Sodomy
Sexual Penetration with Object
Other Sex
Kidnapping
Burglary First
Burglary Second
Grand Theft
Petty Theft With Prior
Receiving Stolen Property
Vehicle Theft
Forgery/Fraud
Other Property
CS Possession
CS Possession for Sale
CS Sales
CS Manufacturing
CS Other
Hashish Possession
Marijuana Possession for Sale
Marijuana Sale
Marijuana Other
Escape
Driving Under Influence
Arson
Possession Weapon
Other Offenses
TOTAL

Number
Paroled
0
0
0
10
266
140
2,477
2,524
2
196
3,985
245
1,067
110
35
67
929
146
1,695
3,166
1,540
2,687
1,859
2,843
1,417
386
6,586
5,131
1,511
1,127
268
20
537
200
92
85
1,501
125
2,522
1,706
49,203

Returned to Prison Within: 2
One Year
Two Years 3
Number
0
0
0
0
49
15
910
870
0
36
1,617
64
185
30
9
15
427
28
685
1,481
645
1,352
959
1,635
509
172
3,005
1,443
469
222
108
10
143
45
25
41
329
42
1,156
662
19,393

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
0.00%
18.42%
10.71%
36.74%
34.47%
0.00%
18.37%
40.58%
26.12%
17.34%
27.27%
25.71%
22.39%
45.96%
19.18%
40.41%
46.78%
41.88%
50.32%
51.59%
57.51%
35.92%
44.56%
45.63%
28.12%
31.04%
19.70%
40.30%
50.00%
26.63%
22.50%
27.17%
48.24%
21.92%
33.60%
45.84%
38.80%
39.41%

Number
0
0
0
0
94
24
1,304
1,235
0
69
2,243
86
278
46
14
20
555
46
935
1,895
852
1,697
1,181
1,969
688
220
3,944
2,029
617
316
149
11
211
65
38
55
471
58
1,497
903
25,815

Percent 4
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
#DIV/0!
0.00%
35.34%
17.14%
52.64%
48.93%
0.00%
35.20%
56.29%
35.10%
26.05%
41.82%
40.00%
29.85%
59.74%
31.51%
55.16%
59.85%
55.32%
63.16%
63.53%
69.26%
48.55%
56.99%
59.88%
39.54%
40.83%
28.04%
55.60%
55.00%
39.29%
32.50%
41.30%
64.71%
31.38%
46.40%
59.36%
52.93%
52.47%

* See back page for definitions and formula
1

First releases to parole include those paroled for the first time from prison on a new admission to
prison and paroled for the first time following return to prison with a new court commitment.

2

Returns to prison on new court commitments following discharge on this parole are not included.
Returns within two years include returns within one year.
Percentages not computed for less than 20 releases to parole.

3
4

Recidivism2yrs_2003_Male.xls

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Office of Research

March 22, 2006

DEFINITIONS AND FORMULA
Recidivist: A felon who returns to prison for any reason during a specified follow-up
period.
Return to prison: Includes felons who are returned to Substance-Abuse TreatmentControl Units in correctional facilities; returned pending a revocation hearing by the
Board of Prison Terms on charges of violating the conditions of parole; returned to
custody for parole violations to serve revocation time; or returned to prison by a court for
a new felony conviction.
Release period: A calendar year.
First release to parole: The first release to parole for felon with new admissions and
parole violators returned with a new term (PV-WNT).
Recidivism rate: The ratio of the number of recidivists to the number of felons at risk of
recidivating during a particular period.
Recidivism Rate (observation period) =

# of recidivists(observation period)
# of felons at risk of recidivating

For example:
Recidivism Rate (during year xxxx) =

26,092
60,179

x 100 = 43.35%

For more information on recidivism please contact:
Bubpha Chen
CDCR Office of Research
P.O. Box 942883, Rm 450-N
Sacramento, CA 94283-0001
(916) 324-4166
E-Mail: Bubpha.Chen@cdcr.ca.gov

Recividism Definitions and Formula.doc