New PA. State Study Finds Little Evidence that Halfway Houses are Reducing Recidivism Rate

[JPZenger]

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/pennsylvania-department-of-corrections-releases-landmark-state-recidivism-study-193839961.html

Excerpt from the State's press release that accompanied the report:

"Approximately 6 in 10 released inmates recidivate, meaning they are either rearrested or reincarcerated within three years of release from prison.

The statewide three-year rearrest rate was 50 percent for inmates released from state prison in 2008.

The statewide three-year reincarceration rate was 43 percent for inmates released from state prison in 2008.

Approximately 10 percent of all police arrests in Pennsylvania involve released state inmates.

Per capita arrest rates for violent crimes are 14 times higher among released inmates compared to the general public.

More than half of those who return to prison do so within the first year after release, which is by far the highest risk period for returning to prison."

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Recent WHYY Phila. interviews on the subject:

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2013/04/09/the-problem-with-pennsylvanias-system-of-halfway-houses-for-paroled-inmates/
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NY Public Radio Interview on this subject. There have also been plenty of problems with halfway houses in New Jersey, some of which are run by the same companies that have weak track records in PA.:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2013/mar/26/do-halfway-houses-work/

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I'm a little concerned that this study is being promoted in a way that will support a future Corbett administration effort to eliminate state funding for halfway houses, instead of efforts to make them effective.
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New York Times article on this study

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/25/nyregion/pennsylvania-study-finds-halfway-houses-dont-reduce-recidivism.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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Here is the full study:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1324154/2013_pa_doc_recidivism_report_pdf

Page 32 shows the wide range of re-arrests by facility. Some of the worst are facilities in Philadelphia, Scranton, Harrisburg, Erie and Allentown. The Dept. of Corrections directly runs 14 of the facilities (including some with the worst records) while 40 are contracted out.
The most prominent provider of halfway houses in PA. and NJ is the Community Education Centers, Inc.