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Recidivism statistics

FY 2023 Criminal History Record Assessment and Research Program

Closing Date
The CHRARP furthers BJS's mission to produce accurate and timely criminal history and recidivism statistics. BJS collects the national criminal history data to support the CHRARP from the FBI and state repositories. Through a competitive solicitation in 2019, NORC was selected as the data processing agent for the 2020 CHRARP. NORC has developed computer programs and crosswalk tables to efficiently convert the federal and state...

National Recidivism and Reentry Data Program

BJS studies are the primary source of national statistics on recidivism and reentry for policymakers and practitioners. BJS has conducted recidivism research throughout its history, with the first publications released in the 1980s. Since then, BJS has expanded the program to include more data sources and improved data collection systems. 

BJS uses a combination of surveys and administrative records to study recidivism and reentry. The administrative data include criminal history, probation and parole, state unemployment insurance, wage, and death records. Some research includes linking survey...

Recidivism Survey of Felons on Probation

The one-time survey provided national estimates of the recidivism rate of felons sentenced to probation in selected years. In the survey, samples of convicted felons placed on probation were tracked for three years, and data were compiled on the percentage of them who were are rearrested, reconvicted, or reimprisoned for new crimes within the three-year follow-up period. The various recidivism measures were based on official...

Recidivism of State Prisoners

BJS uses criminal history records to study the number and types of crimes committed by state prisoners both prior to and following their release. The first study tracked a sample of state prisoners released in 11 states in 1983, and the second study followed a sample of state prisoners released in 15 states in 1994. Both studies had a 3-year follow-up period. The latest study...