Rearrest Rates Research Articles

Get Jailed, Jump Bail? The Impacts of Cash Bail on Failure to Appear and re-Arrest in Orleans Parish

Cash bail has come under increasing scrutiny because of the high number of defendants who remain detained pretrial when they are unable to afford their release. According to critics, this amounts to punishment on the basis of poverty, not crime. As a result, releasing defendants on their own recognizance (ROR) is becoming an increasingly popular reform implemented by cities and states. In this paper, we study individuals released pretrial by Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office between December 2018 and November 2019 to understand the role and impacts of cash bail and ROR on failure to appear (FTA) and re-arrest rates. We find that ROR does not increase an individual’s likelihood of FTA, but drug tests, a common condition attached to ROR, do increase the chances of FTA. Additionally, larger cash bail amounts and longer times spent awaiting release are correlated with increased rates of re-arrest. We also find substantial disparities in pre-release conditions based on a defendant’s race. These results indicate that reducing or eliminating cash bail will not have a substantial impact on public safety and may have other benefits associated with justice and equity.

A systematic review of criminal recidivism rates worldwide: 3-year update.

Background: Comparing recidivism rates between countries may provide useful information about the relative effectiveness of different criminal justice policies. A previous 2015 review identified criminal recidivism data for 18 countries and found little consistency in outcome definitions and time periods. We aimed to update recidivism rates in prisoners internationally. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of criminal recidivism rates in prisoners and followed PRISMA guidelines. Using five bibliographic indexes, we carried out non-country-specific and targeted searches for 50 countries with the largest total prison populations. We included reports and studies of released prisoners that reported re-arrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. Meta-analysis was not possible due to multiple sources of heterogeneity. Results: We identified criminal recidivism information for 23 countries. Of the 50 countries with the largest prison populations, 10 reported recidivism rates for prisoners. The most commonly reported outcome was the 2-year reconviction rate. We were able to examine reconviction between different time periods for 11 countries and found that most reported small changes in official recidivism rates. Overall, for 2-year follow-up period, reported re-arrest rates were between 26% and 60%, reconviction rates ranged from 20% to 63%, and reimprisonment rates varied from 14 to 45%. Conclusions: Although some countries have made efforts to improve reporting, recidivism rates are not comparable between countries. Criminal justice agencies should consider using reporting guidelines described here to update their data.

Effects of pretrial risk assessments on release decisions and misconduct outcomes relative to practice as usual

PurposeWe conducted a multi-site, quasi-experimental investigation of the effects of pretrial risk assessments on pretrial release decisions and misconduct outcomes relative to practice as usual. MethodsUsing a multiple non-equivalent comparison group design, we matched 2631 pretrial defendants who received a risk assessment during a 1-year pilot period to two comparison groups of defendants who did not receive a risk assessment and were processed in the same year (n = 1580) or in the year prior to the pilot period (n = 3185). Weighted multilevel regression analyses were conducted separately for each comparison to examine effects of the pilot risk assessment condition on pretrial release and pretrial misconduct outcomes. ResultsRelative to comparison groups, defendants with risk assessments were more likely to receive non-financial release. When risk assessment-guided decisions adhered to structured guidelines, defendants with risk assessments had higher rates of pretrial release and spent less time in pretrial detention. Risk assessments were associated with slightly higher rates of non-violent and new re-arrests, but not failure to appear, relative to comparison conditions. ConclusionsPretrial risk assessments can facilitate non-financial release, though with a potentially higher rate of pretrial re-arrest. Structured guidelines may help maximize pretrial release while minimizing misconduct.

Employing standardized risk assessment in pretrial release decisions: Association with criminal justice outcomes and racial equity.

We examined efforts by a Mississippi court to base pretrial release decisions on risk assessment rather than primarily on bond. (a) Pretrial detention will be shorter than that associated with prevailing bond practices in the same counties. (b) Rearrest rates will be lower than a similar pretrial population in a nearby southern state. (c) False positive rates for predicting rearrests will be higher for African American than Caucasian participants. (d) Pretrial detention will be longer for African American participants because of higher risk scores or assessment overrides. Pretrial defendants (N = 521) completed the Risk and Needs Triage (RANT) within 2 weeks of arrest, and outcomes examined included the length of pretrial detention, index case dispositions, and rearrest rates. (a) Pretrial detention averaged approximately 60 days compared with prevailing detentions averaging approximately 90 and 180 days in the same counties. (b) Pretrial rearrest rates were 17 percentage points higher than a similar pretrial population; however, representative comparison data are unavailable to confidently measure recidivism impacts. (c) Positive predictive power did not differ by race in predicting pretrial rearrests, SE = .04, 95% CI [.11, -.06], z = .61, p = .54, d = .08. (d) Despite comparable risk scores, African American participants were detained significantly longer than Caucasian participants (M = 60.92 vs. 45.58 days), p = .038, d = .18, 95% CI [.01, .36], and were less likely to receive a diversion opportunity (11% vs. 23%), p = .009, V = .17. The observational design precludes causal conclusions; however, risk assessment was associated with shorter pretrial detention than prevailing bond practices with no racial disparities in risk prediction. Greater attention to risk assessment may reduce racial inequities in pretrial conditions. Representative comparison data are needed to measure the recidivism impacts of pretrial reform initiatives. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Role of Mandated Community Treatment for Justice-Involved Individuals With Serious Mental Illness.

Research has suggested that increased length of mandated community treatment for individuals with a serious mental disorder leads to better outcomes, but few studies have described whether these outcomes are maintained after treatment ends. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of court-mandated treatment on outcomes for individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and released to the community. Ninety-three patients who were found to be NGRI participated in this study. Rearrest rates were compared for three groups: patients released to the community with court-mandated treatment (conditional release), patients who were conditionally released but later "restored to sanity" with no further court supervision, and patients released from the hospital to the community by the court with no court-imposed conditions. Patients were followed for an average of 4.83 years after discharge. Nearly half (43.8%) of the patients released to the community without court-mandated supervision were arrested for another offense in the study period, compared with 8.2% of patients released under the supervision of the conditional release program. In contrast, those who were restored to sanity and ultimately released unconditionally had higher arrest rates (25%). This study suggests that court oversight on an ongoing basis may be necessary to help justice-involved individuals with a serious mental disorder avoid the criminal justice system and remain engaged in community treatment. More research is needed to determine whether these findings can be extrapolated to civil commitment procedures.

Impact of defelonizing drug possession on recidivism

Research SummaryCalifornia's Proposition 47 (Prop 47), passed in November 2014, sought to scale back punishment for selected drug and property offenses, making them misdemeanors rather than felonies. Although others have examined the impacts of Proposition 47 on crime rates, here we examine the impacts on a range of recidivism outcomes specifically for individuals convicted for drug possession offenses. We focus on the defelonization of drug possession because nationally evidence suggests that public and policy maker sympathy for reducing incarceration use is greatest for nonviolent drug offenders. Thus, the greatest relevance of Proposition 47 to the nation lies in its strategy of defelonizing drug possession. We draw on an ongoing data collection effort on criminal justice populations in 12 California counties and link these data to rearrest and reconviction data from county and state‐level sources. We find people who received drug possession convictions after Prop 47 had lower overall rearrest and reconviction rates than people with comparable convictions and criminal histories released prior to the proposition. Overall reductions in recidivism rates for Prop 47 drug offenders were driven by reductions in rearrest and reconviction for drug possession offenses. These findings are robust to a variety of specifications and sensitivity analyses. When we complicate the narrative of declines in nonviolent recidivism, however, we find evidence of a 2.8‐percentage‐point increase in rearrest for crimes against persons, mainly assaults and domestic violence. Reconviction rates for crimes against persons for drug possession offenders also increased by 1.1 percentage points.Policy ImplicationsThese findings add to the growing body of evidence that a targeted reform like Prop 47 does not result in increases in most measures of reoffending for people convicted of drug possession. Although we cannot rule out that the declines we observe in rearrest and reconviction are the result of behavioral change among offenders, it seems likely that those declines are partly, perhaps mostly, the result of changing decision‐making among law enforcement and prosecutors. Converting drug possession to be chargeable only as a misdemeanor has significantly reduced the likelihood individuals convicted of drug possession will return to jail or prison once they have been released and therefore stemmed some of the flow of people with such offenses through the system. Evidence from California, however, shows that there can be small increases in crimes against persons, which provides a cautionary note and points to the need to consider interventions that do not involve criminal justice responses in response to the negative aspects of drug use. Our conclusion discusses considerations in applying our findings to other states that have defelonized drug possession.

Criminal Recidivism in Inmates with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders.

The relative contributions of mental illness and substance use disorders to criminal recidivism have important clinical and policy implications. This study reviewed 36 months of postrelease data for nearly 10,000 New Jersey state inmates released in 2013 to ascertain the rearrest rate of those diagnosed with mental illness, substance use disorders, both, or neither. We also examined whether certain characteristics suggestive of higher risk of psychiatric decompensation were associated with higher rates of rearrest. Released inmates who were diagnosed with a substance use disorder (without a mental illness) while incarcerated had the highest rate of rearrest upon release, followed by inmates diagnosed with both mental illness and substance use disorder together, inmates with neither a substance use disorder nor a mental illness, and lastly by inmates diagnosed with mental illness alone. These differences were statistically significant only between inmates with substance use disorders and those without a substance use disorder. Among those with a diagnosed mental disorder, there were no statistically significant differences in recidivism based on diagnosis or based on prescription of antipsychotic medication, injectable antipsychotic medication, or involuntary antipsychotic medication. These results support correctional institutions assertively addressing substance use disorders, especially for individuals returning to the community.

A systematic review of criminal recidivism rates worldwide: 3-year update.

Background: Comparing recidivism rates between countries may provide useful information about the relative effectiveness of different criminal justice policies. A previous 2015 review identified criminal recidivism data for 18 countries and found little consistency in outcome definitions and time periods. We aimed to update recidivism rates in prisoners internationally. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of criminal recidivism rates in prisoners and followed PRISMA guidelines. Using five bibliographic indexes, we carried out non-country-specific and targeted searches for 50 countries with the largest total prison populations. We included reports and studies of released prisoners that reported re-arrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. Meta-analysis was not possible due to multiple sources of heterogeneity. Results: We identified criminal recidivism information for 23 countries. Of the 50 countries with the largest prison populations, 10 reported recidivism rates for prisoners. The most commonly reported outcome was the 2-year reconviction rate. We were able to examine reconviction between different time periods for 11 countries and found that most reported small changes in official recidivism rates. Overall, for 2-year follow-up period, reported re-arrest rates were between 26% and 60%, reconviction rates ranged from 20% to 63%, and reimprisonment rates varied from 14 to 45%. Conclusions: Although some countries have made efforts to improve reporting, recidivism rates are not comparable between countries. Criminal justice agencies should consider using reporting guidelines described here to update their data.

A systematic review of criminal recidivism rates worldwide: 3-year update

Background: Comparing recidivism rates between countries may provide useful information about the relative effectiveness of different criminal justice policies. A previous 2015 review identified criminal recidivism data for 18 countries and found little consistency in outcome definitions and time periods. We aimed to update recidivism rates in prisoners internationally. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of criminal recidivism rates in prisoners and followed PRISMA guidelines. Using five bibliographic indexes, we carried out non-country-specific and targeted searches for 50 countries with the largest total prison populations. We included reports and studies of released prisoners that reported re-arrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. Meta-analysis was not possible due to multiple sources of heterogeneity. Results: We identified criminal recidivism information for 23 countries. Of the 50 countries with the largest prison populations, 10 reported recidivism rates for prisoners. The most commonly reported outcome was the 2-year reconviction rate. We were able to examine reconviction between different time periods for 11 countries and found that most reported small changes in official recidivism rates. Overall, for 2-year follow-up period, reported re-arrest rates were between 26% and 60%, reconviction rates ranged from 20% to 63%, and reimprisonment rates varied from 14 to 45%. Conclusions: Although some countries have made efforts to improve reporting, recidivism rates are not comparable between countries. Criminal justice agencies should consider using reporting guidelines described here to update their data.

A systematic review of criminal recidivism rates worldwide: 3-year update.

Background: Comparing recidivism rates between countries may provide useful information about the relative effectiveness of different criminal justice policies. A previous 2015 review identified criminal recidivism data for 18 countries and found little consistency in outcome definitions and time periods. We aimed to update recidivism rates in prisoners internationally. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of criminal recidivism rates in prisoners and followed PRISMA guidelines. Using three bibliographic indexes, we carried out non-country-specific and targeted searches for 50 countries with the largest total prison populations. We included reports and studies of released prisoners that reported re-arrest, reconviction and reincarceration rates. Meta-analysis was not possible due to multiple sources of heterogeneity. Results: We identified criminal recidivism information for 23 countries. Of the 50 countries with the largest prison populations, 10 reported recidivism rates for prisoners. The most commonly reported outcome was the 2-year reconviction rate. We were able to examine recidivism over different time periods for 11 countries and found that most reported small changes in official recidivism rates. Overall, for 2-year follow-up period, reported re-arrest rates were between 26% and 60%, reconviction rates ranged from 20% to 63%, and reimprisonment rates varied from 14 to 45%. Conclusions: Although some countries made efforts to improve reporting, recidivism rates are not comparable between countries. Criminal justice agencies should consider using reporting guidelines described here to update their data.

The impact of the Cook County state’s attorney’s office deferred prosecution program

This article analyzes the impact of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Deferred Prosecution Program (DPP) on participation outcome patterns and compares recidivism rates between a sample of DPP participants (695) and a comparison group (991) of defendants found guilty through traditional adjudication from February 28, 2011 and December 5, 2012 with recidivism rates through June 6, 2014. Binary logistic and Cox proportional regressions were utilized to evaluate the program. No statistically significant difference in rearrest rates was found for a sample of DPP participants and a comparison group of defendants found guilty through traditional adjudication. However, DPP did have a statistically significant effect on rearrest rates for women charged with theft; in such cases, DPP reduced the likelihood of rearrest by roughly 76%. DPP has the potential to reduce the future collateral consequences of a criminal conviction for individuals who complete the program. Although DPP seems to have limited impact of rearrest rates overall, the program may be revised to target certain types of defendants.

Places Not Cases? Rethinking Probation: The Effects of Nonprofit Organizations on Rearrest Rates of Probationers

Although scholars have theorized that nonprofit organizations (NPO) contribute to social control in communities, the relationship between NPO and rates of misconduct on the part of certain at-risk groups has received little empirical attention. The current study extends the literature by adopting a place-based approach to understanding differences in probationer misconduct that highlights the role of NPO in communities. Using longitudinal data from New York State counties, we analyze the linear and nonlinear influences that different NPO have on rearrest rates of probationers. Whereas most criminological theories suggest that NPO have a linear and salutary influence, we find evidence of a more nuanced process: NPO unexpectedly show evidence of exerting both salutary and deleterious influences on probationer outcomes.

Effects of intra-resuscitation antiarrhythmic administration on rearrest occurrence and intra-resuscitation ECG characteristics in the ROC ALPS trial

BackgroundIntra-resuscitation antiarrhythmic drugs may improve resuscitation outcomes, in part by avoiding rearrest, a condition associated with poor out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes. However, antiarrhythmics may also alter defibrillation threshold. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between rearrest and intra-resuscitation antiarrhythmic drugs in the context of the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) amiodarone, lidocaine, and placebo (ALPS) trial. HypothesisRearrest rates would be lower in cases treated with amiodarone or lidocaine, versus saline placebo, prior to first return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). We also hypothesized antiarrhythmic effects would be quantifiable through analysis of the prehospital electrocardiogram. MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of the ROC ALPS trial. Cases that first achieved prehospital ROSC after randomized administration of study drug were included in the analysis. Rearrest, defined as loss of pulses following ROSC, was ascertained from emergency medical services records. Rearrest rate was calculated overall, as well as by ALPS treatment group. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between treatment group and rearrest, as well as rearrest and both survival to hospital discharge and survival with neurologic function. Amplitude spectrum area, median slope, and centroid frequency of the ventricular fibrillation (VF) ECG were calculated and compared across treatment groups. ResultsA total of 1144 (40.4%) cases with study drug prior to first ROSC were included. Rearrest rate was 44.0% overall; 42.9% for placebo, 45.7% for lidocaine, and 43.0% for amiodarone. In multivariable logistic regression models, ALPS treatment group was not associated with rearrest, though rearrest was associated with poor survival and neurologic outcomes. AMSA and median slope measures of the first available VF were associated with rearrest case status, while median slope and centroid frequency were associated with ALPS treatment group. ConclusionRearrest rates did not differ between antiarrhythmic and placebo treatment groups. ECG waveform characteristics were correlated with treatment group and rearrest. Rearrest was inversely associated with survival and neurologic outcomes.

14.4 FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS WHO HAVE COMMITTED MAJOR CRIMES

BackgroundFor individuals who have a psychiatric disorder and have committed a major crime, the rate of re-offending is twice as high in the US compared to nine other countries for which there is comparable data. For such individuals the average five-year rearrest rate is approximately 40% for those released from psychiatric hospitals and 60% for those released from jails or prisons. The use of treatment modalities such as extended conditional release, Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams, and Psychiatric Security Review Boards can reduce the rearrest rate from 40–60% to 10% or less.MethodsAll 50 states were surveyed to assess how they were doing in providing follow-up treatment for such individuals.ResultsSixteen states were found to be making a moderate effort to provide follow-up treatment, and another 13 states are making a minimal effort. However, the other 21 states, 42% of the total, are making virtually no effort, lending to an unnecessarily high rate of re-offending.DiscussionUsing proven treatment approaches the re-arrest rate of individuals with serious mental illness can be reduced from 40–60% to 10% or less.

14. VIOLENCE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: PREVALENCE, MEASUREMENT, PREDICTION AND PREVENTION

Overall : Most patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (severe mental illness, SMI) are not violent in their lifetimes, however, a minority of patients are violent at some points in the course of their illness. As the illness appears relatively early in life, and typically runs a chronic course, the number of violent incidents caused by patients can be considerable in some cases. Due to the stigma toward SMI, the media often emphasize reporting of these incidents, which fuel the stigma even more. Although violent behavior is a common cause of concern for patients, their families and clinicians, it is not often discussed in scientific meetings. The purpose of this symposium is to bring this relatively neglected, but very important topic into the spotlight in SIRS, in order to summarize the latest evidence for clinicians and researchers, and to foster new work on reducing these risks of violence.Dr. Weiser will present an overview of the prevalence of violent behavior in patients with SMI, and will present a population-based, case-control study from Israel, showing increased rates of violent crime in patients with SMI, particularly in female patients and patients who abuse drugs. Secondary analyses will show increased rates of violent behaviour in siblings of patients as well.Dr. Fazel will present a systematic review on the prognostic (or predictive) accuracy of structured ways to assess violence risk in patients with severe mental illness, and present new work on a scalable and potentially useful predictive model of violent behaviour based on 75,000 patients in Sweden.Dr. Nijman will present a model based on patient, ward and staff variables focused on the causes and triggers of aggressive behavior on (locked) psychiatric wards. Based on this model, a number of preventive measures can be formulated. At the patient level, the administration of anti-psychotic medication is used to reduce the negative cognitive schemes and delusional thoughts that are depicted in the center of the model. A more novel intervention at the patient level may be the additional administration of nutritional supplements with (among others) high levels of omega 3 fatty acids. The results of two Dutch studies on this topic will be briefly presented in the lecture, among which a RCT on the effects of the use of nutritional supplements on aggressiveness. On the staff level, the use of short-term (daily) risks assessments by the ward nursing staff, among others by means of the six item BrØset Violence Checklist (BVC), has been found to reduce aggressiveness as well as the use of coercive measures on psychiatric wards in two cluster randomized RCTs. On the ward level, studies indicate that aggression on psychiatric wards can be reduced by preventing overcrowding on psychiatric wards, and by providing more space and privacy to the patients.Dr. Torrey will present data on rates of re-arrest in patients with SMI, showing that the average five-year re-arrest rate is approximately 40% for those released from psychiatric hospitals and 60% for those released from jails or prisons, and will present comparison data from other countries. He will then present data on the effect of extended conditional release, Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams, and Psychiatric Security Review Boards on re-arrest rates.

The efficacy and safety of pre-hospital cooling after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMild therapeutic hypothermia (TH), or targeted temperature management, improves survival and neurological outcomes in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). International guidelines strongly support initiating TH for all eligible individuals presenting with OHCA; however, the timing of cooling initiation remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted with all available randomised controlled trials (RCTs) included to explore the efficacy and safety of initiating pre-hospital TH in patients with OHCA.MethodsThe MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to October 2017. Inclusion criteria for full-text review included RCTs comparing pre-hospital TH with no pre-hospital TH after cardiac arrest, patients > 14 years of age with documented cardiac arrest from any rhythm, and outcome data that included survival to hospital discharge and temperature at hospital arrival. Results of retrieved studies were compared through meta-analysis using random effects modelling.ResultsA total of 10 trials comprising 4220 patients were included. There were no significant differences between the two arms for the primary outcome of neurological recovery (risk ratio [RR] 1.04, 95% CI 0.93–1.15) or the secondary outcome of survival to hospital discharge (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.92–1.11). However, there was a significantly lower temperature at hospital arrival in patients receiving pre-hospital TH (mean difference − 0.83, 95% CI − 1.03 to − 0.63). Pre-hospital TH significantly increased the risk of re-arrest (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.41). No survival differences were observed among subgroups of patients who received intra-arrest TH vs post-arrest TH or who had shockable vs non-shockable rhythms.ConclusionsPre-hospital TH after OHCA effectively decreases body temperature at the time of hospital arrival. However, it does not improve rates of survival with good neurological outcome or overall survival and is associated with increased rates of re-arrest.

Unemployment shocks for individuals on the margin: Exploring recidivism effects

This paper analyzes the impact of unemployment on the likelihood of returning to criminal activity for a sample of individuals with criminal records who are actively seeking employment. I use administrative data from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Health, to track unemployment and arrest outcomes for this sample between 2008 and 2014. To identify the unemployment–arrest relationship, I use industry-specific variation in unemployment trends caused by the recession in 2008–2009, along with individual fixed effects to control for time-constant individual heterogeneity. The 2SLS estimates suggest that increased unemployment has large effects on rearrests for individuals with criminal records who are now active in the labor market, with substantial heterogeneity by race and sex. The results suggest larger estimates than those typically found in literature, indicating that targeting employment programs at those “on the margin” could substantially reduce rearrest rates for such individuals.

Completion and Recidivism Rates of High-Risk Youth on Probation: Do Home Visits Make a Difference?

Probation supervision with and without home visits is an underresearched area for adjudicated higher risk youth. This study compared 287 juvenile probationers receiving police/probation home visits with similar youth ( n = 437) who were supervised on regular probation without home visits. Youth performance was measured during supervision and up to 24 months following probation. The most notable finding was that the rearrest rate for youth who had home visits during supervision was 3 times lower after probation supervision ended than for youth who did not have home visits.

Better to Stay Home: Evaluating the Impact of Day Reporting Centers on Offending

This article reports the findings of a quasi-experimental evaluation of community resource centers (CRCs)—nonresidential, day reporting centers employed for recent parolees. CRC participants ( n = 2,789), drawn from release cohorts in 2008, 2009, and 2010, were matched using propensity scores to similar parolees who did not participate in CRC programming ( n = 16,500). At the conclusion of the scoring and matching process, 2,789 CRC–parolee pairs were identified, including the full population of program participants. Outcome measures, including rearrest, reconviction, and parole revocation rates, after 1, 2, and 3 years are reported. Across all release cohorts, CRC participants were arrested and revoked at significantly higher rates, resulting in higher rates of returns to custody. Implications for correctional policy are considered.

Prosecution, Conviction, and Deterrence in Child Maltreatment Cases

This study examines how decisions made by the criminal justice system in child maltreatment cases affect defendants’ future probability of committing a child maltreatment offense, another offense, or having a child involved in child protective services (CPS). A sample of parents who were arrested on a child maltreatment charge during 2005 to 2010 (N = 6,940) was drawn from North Carolina administrative records from the criminal court, birth certificates, and CPS. Instrumental variables included the prosecutor’s prosecution rate and the judge’s conviction rate. Rearrest rates for child maltreatment offenses were low (3%), but high for other offenses (43%), as were assessments by CPS (43%). Being prosecuted and convicted reduced probabilities of rearrest in some model specifications. However, prosecution only decreased the probability of rearrest for child maltreatment. Neither prosecution nor conviction prevented future CPS involvement, suggesting the need to better understand what supports can prevent adverse outcomes in this population.