Narrative Analysis Tool
Instructions
The Narrative Report responses below can be further filtered by one or more states, as well as keywords.
For more information on Narrative Reports please see the technical assistance documents.
| State | What was the relative rate of recidivism for criminal offenders served? Please describe the methods and factors used in calculating the rate for this reporting period. |
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| Alabama | Alabama uses both federal and state funds to serve correction and institutionalized individuals by offering classes in prisons, local jails, day reporting centers, and substance abuse centers. While the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Adult Education Division has moved to a single provider for all state correctional centers, several other providers allocate funds to serve individuals in local jails, day reporting centers as well as substance abuse centers. During 2020-2021, Alabama served 1,470 students identified as correctional students throughout the state. Based on the information matched with the Alabama Department of Corrections, 1,001 were identified as being in a state correctional institution and 51.6% (517) were released. Recidivism is defined as the tendency of a convicted criminal to repeat or reoffend a crime after already receiving punishment or serving their sentence. According to the National Institute of Justice, almost 44% of criminals released return before the first year out of prison. Alabama defines the recidivism rate as returning to custody within three years of release. Alabama Department of Corrections reported in 2023 that the prisons' recidivism rate is 28.7%. Of those participants identified as being served with adult education services and released (517), only one (1) was reported as being readmitted through a new or repeat offense resulting in a conviction and sentencing, resulting in a recidivism rate of 0.193%. |
| Alaska | Recidivism The Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) measures recidivism as the percentage of individuals convicted of felonies who are released from DOC custody within a given year and who return to DOC custody within three years for any remand due to conviction (felony or misdemeanor) or probation/parole violation. Therefore, recidivism rates are looked at retroactively each year to measure the rate of those releasing three years prior. Inmates are either referred by their Probation Officers to education based on risk-needs assessment or they voluntarily enroll in the program. All participation in programming is voluntary. The DOC Reentry Unit reviewed data from adult education participants from Program Year 2019 (July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020) to study if a correlation existed between program involvement, credential achievement, and recidivism. PY 2019 data is the most recent data set available for analysis as it incorporates the three-year threshold required by Alaska statute to measure the recidivism rate. Full-time and part-time student participants’ information was extracted from AlaskaJobs, GED Manager, and the Alaska Corrections Offender Management System (ACOMS) to determine what education achievement was attained prior to, during, and post their adult education period of participation while incarcerated in PY 2019; in addition, credential achievement and participation was compared to their custody status over the three-year period to analyze what correlation may exist between the high school equivalency achievement and the rate of remand post-release. Those rates of recidivism are then compared to the known state recidivism rate of the general population of releasing offenders. Some individuals captured within the dataset were released at various times within the three subsequent years, not having completed a full three-year post-release period. Thus, the reported rate could potentially be higher. Chart located on published report located at https://jobs.alaska.gov/aae/documents/Alaska_Narrative_Report_PY22.pdf The cohort data reflected in the chart above reflects the 295 individuals who participated in Adult Education in PY 2019. Of those, 58 have remained incarcerated with 12 having earned GEDs in PY 2019 and 9 earning GEDs in subsequent years. Of the 295 participants, 238 individuals were released from custody with 175 of those individuals recidivating, which represents an overall 74 percent rate of recidivism for program participants. Chart located on published report located at https://jobs.alaska.gov/aae/documents/Alaska_Narrative_Report_PY22.pdf The data also revealed that those who had released and had earned a GED while incarcerated had a recidivism rate (49 of 72) of 68 percent, to those who had not earned a GED while incarcerated (126 of 166) at 76 percent. The 68 percent rate of recidivism for those earning a GED was higher than the previous two years (PY17 - 52 percent, PY18 - 64 percent), whereas the overall program recidivism rate of 73 percent was an increase of 10 percentage points from the previous two years which each recorded a rate of 63 percent. The Department of Corrections 2022 Offender Profile (Alaska Department of Corrections, 2023) details how Alaska’s general recidivism rate has ranged from 58 percent to 63 percent from 2015-2019 fiscal years. Alaska DOC has yet to release the statistics from Fiscal Year 2020, which represents Program Year 2019, the cohort reflected in this report. There are statistical indicators showing that Adult Education program participants who earned a GED while incarcerated were 8 percent less likely to recidivate than those who had not earned a GED. The factors attributed to higher rates of recidivism for Adult Education participants, as compared to the general population of reentrants, haven’t been fully explored; however, it may be deduced that the general releasing population has a higher percentage of offenders who have already attained a high school equivalency credential, post-secondary education, or have had formal training in skilled trades, which would afford them more opportunities for employment and stability upon release. It is not fully understood why there is an increase in rates of recidivism for Adult Education program participants in Program Year 2019 as compared to the previous program years of 2017 and 2018; however, the intervening three years in which remands were recorded and factored into the PY 2019 recidivism rate occurred during the peak of the global pandemic, July 2020 through June of 2023, a time period where reentrants would have faced more limited social service access and higher rates of unemployment (Abraham et al., 2020) and potentially higher rates of drug use (Abrahamson 2021), all of which could have contributed to an increased risk for recidivism. |
| American Samoa | AELEL is in the process of partnering with non-profit organizations in providing adult education literacy program to individuals housed at the the Correctional Facility. Services are prioritized for those who are likely to leave the correctional institution within 5 years of participation in the program. It is a challenge to work with the Tafuna Correctional Facility officials who handles the data for the criminal offenders because they do not have a permanent person handling files and records at the institution. We are working on a proper solution to the problem and continuing to provide educational services to the participants. I am confident to say that if there is a rate of recidivism of people whom the program serves; it would probably be very low. This past year, we were not able to work with the TCF for classes. |
| Arizona | One ADE/AES-funded program provides services in a correctional facility and other locations. Gila County Adult Education program held classes for detainees at the San Carlos Apache Tribe Rehabilitation and Detention Center. The program provided instructional services for twenty-one individuals housed in this facility, however, no information on recidivism was available. |
| Arkansas | The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC), which operates prison units, released a report based on the findings from the 2018 Release Cohorts, which included all offenders released from ADC facilities. The report indicated that the ADC’s 3-year recidivism rate is 50.0% out of 11,360 offenders released during Correctional Year 2018. In Arkansas, recidivism is calculated based on three major areas: re-arrest, re-conviction, and re-incarceration within three years of intake to supervision during a three-year period following release from custody. It is important to know that Arkansas, which counts re-arrests within a three-year period in the total state's recidivism rate, leads to Arkansas having a higher recidivism rate than other states that do not count re-arrests within a three-year period. Recidivism rates are calculated using the nationwide correctional standard timeframes of 6-, 12-, and 36-month follow-up periods. When examining recidivism rates, in addition to personal characteristics, factors such as the released inmate’s inability to obtain employment, difficulty in finding a place to live, lack of support, association with other criminals, and lack of transportation influence the likelihood of a successful return to society, making the services provided by ADWS/AES critical. Currently, ADWS/AES provides correctional services in 40 centers, including county jails, state and federal prisons, detention centers, reentry facilities, and community corrections centers. During the last three years, 369 incarcerated individuals passed the GED®. In 2022-23, ADWS/AES served 1,299 correctional students. Of those students, 55% of them made a measurable skill gain. |
| California | According to the Recidivism Report for Offenders Released from the California Department of Corrections in Fiscal Year 2015-16, published by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in September 2021, the recidivism rate for the 33,756 offenders released between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, was 44.6 percent. After reaching a high of 54.3 percent with the FY 2011-12 release cohort and subsequently declining to a low of 46.1 percent with the FY 2012-13 release cohort, the three-year conviction rate has been markedly stable. Following a slight increase with the FY 2014-15 release cohort (46.5 percent), the three-year conviction rate decreased to the current rate of 44.6 percent. CDCR and other corrections agencies are now open, with many still operating on a limited basis and many opening later than other facilities. Incarceration rates decreased because of COVID-19; therefore, many education programs have undergone consolidation. In PY 2020-21, most facilities resumed pre- and post-testing, and all were running by PY 2021-22 (though many still on a limited basis). More recently, CDCR has undertaken considerable efforts to increase access to educational technology by adding approximately 5,000 computers across all schools expressly for ABE and ASE courses. Online instructional tools include Reading Horizons Elevate, Spark3000, Achieve3000 Math, and Aztec Plus. Teachers receive training and support from academic coaches and participate in professional development in the use of the adopted textbooks and resources and how to integrate them as part of daily instruction to support students. All Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and Department of State Hospital (DSH) facilities continue to face challenges as the result of COVID-19, especially in managing close living arrangements. All facilities have reopened their training/education programs outside the living residences; however, students are required to attend classes with their residential cohorts which limits the availability of educational offerings. Education program offerings continue to be expanded with the goal of reaching pre-pandemic levels, although vocational classes continue to be offered on a limited basis. Despite a surge of COVID-19 cases, because of the omicron variant, facilities successfully completed a majority of the WIOA Title II pre- and post-testing. State hospitals continue to operate on a more limited basis as compared to the developmental centers. COVID-19 rates have been much higher for state hospitals; consequently, the level of restrictions have been correspondingly higher, with most state hospitals continuing more restrictive quarantine measures as necessary to ensure the health and safety of the individuals served. |
| Colorado | Community Education Outreach (CEO) was the only provider using Section 225 funds in 21-22. Their programs only offered Adult Basic Education services in 22-23. CEO’s services are provided within the community corrections system. Though CEO has access to overall recidivism rates for specific program sites, they are unable to disaggregate data to the subset of their program’s AEFLA participants. AEI has not been able to track rates of recidivism on correctional education participants in 22-23 or in prior years. The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) defines recidivism as a return to prison or inmate status in Colorado within three years of release, which can be for either new criminal activity or a technical violation of parole, probation or non-departmental community placement. The team has met with CDOC but has not yet been able to execute data sharing agreements that would allow the tracking of prior year participants at this three-year mark to determine how many recidivated. Based on exit exclusions reported in LACES for correctional education participants in 20-21, 21-22, and 22-23, so far seven percent of correctional education participants recidivated. |
| Connecticut | The Request for Proposal for the Program Enhancement Projects (PEP) for Adult Education for the Program Year 2022-2025 grant cycle was due on May 20, 2021. The CT Department of Correction did not apply for 225 funds, nor did any other agency in CT. As a result, the State cannot respond to the question. |
| Delaware | The National Institute of Justice when defining recidivism refers to an individual’s relapse into criminal behaviors, measured by subsequent rearrests, reconvictions or returns to prison over a 3-year period following release. Annually, the Delaware Statistical Analysis Center (the Center) evaluates recidivism events by rearrest, recommitment, and return to prison.
Delaware’s 2022 Recidivism Report examined cohorts 2016 – 2018 of released individuals, focusing on those released in 2018. Delaware maintained a unified correctional system, with all prisons existing within the jurisdiction of the State. The Center’s 2022 report tracked 1,021 unique individuals (approx. 90% male) for up to three years following their release from a prison term in 2018. Improved measures were used to analyze recidivism; however, conclusions were drawn with caution as considerations such as understanding criminal behaviors were not included in the analysis.
Rearrests events were removed from this report, as they were associated with behaviors established by offense date, and not arrest with and intent to signify a return to criminal behavior. Recommitment events were based on secure custody readmissions (detained or sentenced) irrespective of sentence length and return to prison events were recommitments with a sentence of 1 year or more. The findings revealed the recommitment rate for individuals in the 2018 cohort during year one was 36.7% and by year three was 55.9%. The return to prison rate for cohort 2018 during year one was 2.8% and 7.9% by year three.
The formula used to generate the findings was:
Interval Recidivism Rate = Recidivists_______________ *100%
(Recidivists + Non-Recidivists)
Similarly, the Prison Education Program was able to identify students with 12 or more instructional hours during FY23 who were released between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023. From this data, a relative rate of recidivism for individuals in Prison Education was obtained. The DOE MIS system found 66 students that met these criteria. The Department of Correction’s MIS system was used to identify whether students recidivated between July 2, 2022 and November 30, 2023. Separate statistics were kept for male (N=46), and female (N=20) individuals who are justice involved.
The formula used by Prison Education to generate the findings was:
ABE Recidivism Rate = FY 23 ABE Recidivists *100%
(FY 23 ABE Recidivists + FY 23 ABE Non-Recidivists)
Given a limited sample size for the reporting period described above, caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions on the relative rate of recidivism. In performing an initial analysis, the data revealed:
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| District of Columbia | There was consistency in the number of students participating in correctional education in FY23 (n=18) in comparison with FY22 (n=18). As noted in the FY22 DC Annual Performance Report, students previously receiving correctional education services in halfway houses in the District of Columbia were and continue to be relocated to facilities outside the city. Additionally, in FY23, state staff searched the Federal Bureau of Prison (FBOP) Inmate Locator, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (MD PSCS) Inmate Locator and the Virginia Department of Corrections Inmate (VA DOC) Locator to find out whether any of the students who exited the program during the reporting period had recidivated. Of the 18 students served in FY23, three students appeared in the Inmate Locator search results. Therefore, OSSE AFE estimates that the relative rate of recidivism is 17 percent (n=3 of 18) of the students served. The methods and factors used in calculating the rate for the reporting period include the following: Methods - An analysis of 1) students populating NRS Table 10 – Outcome Achievement for Adults in Correctional Education; 2) employment and wage data via student follow-up survey data in the Literacy Adult and Community Education System (LACES), the state’s management information system; and 3) student enrollment data and instructional hours in FY23 in LACES. A search for students who exited the program during the reporting period in the FBOP Inmate Locator, MD PSCS Inmate Locator and the VA DOC Locator. Factors - 1) The total number of students served in FY23 was 18 per NRS Table 10 – Outcome Achievement for Adults in Correctional Education; 2) Of the 18 students, 15 students (total number of students who left or completed the program) exited, achieving an outcome or median earning value in FY23 (based on aligned survey and data matching results); 3) Of the 18 students, zero (total number of students enrolled) students who did not exit from the program in FY23 re-enrolled and have instructional hours in FY23; 4) 18 (number of students in number 2 above) + 0 (# of students in number 3 above who did not re-enroll in FY24) = 15 students that did not recidivate; 5) 15 (total number of students in number 5 that did not recidivate)/18 = 83 percent of students did not recidivate; 6) 100 percent (n=18) of students minus 83 percent (n=15) of students = 17 percent (n = 3) of students recidivated. Additionally, the three students being reported as recidivating appeared in the Inmate Locator search results. Several variables may confound the validity of the recidivism rate when relevant data sets are missing. |
| Florida | The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) defines recidivism as a return to prison resulting from either a new conviction or a violation of post-prison supervision within three years of the prison release date. The follow-up periods are calculated from the prison release date to the date of readmission to prison. FDC's assessment and ranking system for academic education focuses on inmates deemed higher risk to recidivate. FDC incarcerated approximately 108,493 individuals during the 2022-2023 year and released 27,209 during that time. Academic programs offered include Adult Secondary Education (ASE) programs which are staffed by academic teachers who provide instruction in ABE and GED® subjects. Other staff at ASE programs may include special education teachers, special education aides, Title I teachers, Title I aides, education supervisors and placement and transition specialists. In Inmate Teaching Assistant Programs (ITA), one teacher provides instruction in Literacy, ABE and GED® subjects, along with the assistance of trained inmate teaching assistants, peer tutors and education aides. Some ITA programs also have education supervisors and placement and transition specialists. There are no special education students assigned to institutions that utilize the ITA program model. All individuals exiting FDC are required to have a minimum of ten hours of transitional programming by state mandate. FDC utilizes the Compass 180 program to provide training in career exploration, generate work-ready documents, plan for ongoing education and training, increase financial literacy and prepare for reunification with their families and communities. Statewide, FDC releases, including those who were granted emergency release, have a Compass 180 completion rate of 99 percent. FDC continues to increase access to technology in its correctional facilities. The FDC delivered TABE assessments on Chromebooks via a secure internet connection. Aztec instruction and GED® testing are provided via intranet on desktop systems. In addition, many individuals have tablets that can access specific software including continuing education courses, transition materials and basic first aid training through a kiosk request and download system. The FDC was also successful in piloting virtual learning labs during PY 2022-23. These labs provided monitored and secured access to virtual Academic, Career and Technical Education, Workforce Development and Higher Educational programming. |
| Georgia | The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) operates its own education program for offenders, but its funding isn't sufficient to accommodate all offenders and facilities. To bridge this gap, local adult education providers offer classes in various correctional settings like prisons, local jails, day reporting centers, and substance abuse centers. In PY22, 24 adult education programs served 2,155 correctional students. From PY21 to PY22, programs reopened classes in correctional facilities and enrollment grew 21%. Throughout this period, correctional students achieved 984 measurable skills gains across 2,176 periods of participation, with 45% of participants achieving the outcome across all participation periods. Four local adult education providers offered Integrated Education and Training (IET) in corrections. 193 inmates approaching re-entry participated in IET offerings, including IET Forklift Operator and Welding. 186 inmates earned industry-recognized credentials. GDC calculates its recidivism rate using the number of new arrests or parole violations that result in a person returning to prison within three years of release. Recently, GOAE and the Technical College System of Georgia’s Data and Research established a data sharing agreement with GDC to calculate recidivism rates for adult education correctional students. GOAE now collects GDC numbers for its adult education students to support the data match. GOAE is exploring how to improve the match rate to better report recidivism. The most recent data for individuals released in FY18, indicate a 12% recidivism rate for adult education students (who matched the GDC data) and a 29% recidivism rate for incarcerated individuals that did not participate in adult education. |
| Guam | This program year, GCC offered four (4) classes to the Department of Corrections (DOC) inmates, which were ABE Level 4 Mathematics (1), ABE Level 4 Reading (2), and ABE Level 2 Mathematics (1). Of the 23 inmates participating in the program, one inmate was able to complete the program and receive the General Education Development (GED) Diploma. The Department of Corrections (DOC) reported Guam's recidivism rate between July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, at 34%. There were 262 inmates released. Of this number, 90 were re-confined. The Guam Department of Correction had seen its highest prison population in 29 years, which could explain the increased recidivism. Compared to the last two years (19.3% and 19.7%) the increase may be due to the challenges faced by DOC for pretrial confinement and courts willing to detain offenders. Another notable challenge faced by DOC is operating at 50% of correction staff and overcrowding. Guam is committed to reducing the recidivism rate and addressing DOC's challenges. The reduction will allow inmates to become productive community citizens and help them acquire marketable skills to improve their readiness for post-released education and employment. |
| Hawaii | The local program corrections education services served felony offenders in all jails and prisons in Hawaii. Felonies, jails, and prisons are defined as follows:
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| Idaho | The recidivism rate for criminal offenders served by IDOC ABE programs during FY23 was 15.7% compared to the overall recidivism rate of 31.1% This data was provided by the Idaho Department of Correction's Evaluation & Compliance Research Analysts. Recidivism is calculated as any new re-incarceration event as a parole violator, Termer or Rider within six months to one and a half years post release. Included in the recidivism rate are adult education participants in PY22 who were released in PY 22. Participants released from a jail or an out-of-state facility were not counted as having recidivated. |
| Illinois | The Illinois Department of Corrections has a current recidivism rate of 36.7% for the fiscal year 2019. This is the most current data available. IDOC tracks recidivism rates on a three-year track. The individuals released in fiscal year 2019 are tracked for re-incarceration the following three fiscal years to determine the rate of recidivism. The next recidivism calculation results for the Illinois Department of Corrections for FY20 will not be calculated or published until late Spring of 2024. The recidivism rate for the Illinois Department of Corrections does not separate students served in the Adult Education program from individuals not served in the academic or vocational areas. |
| Indiana | Indiana measures recidivism by criminal acts resulting in rearrests, reconviction, and/or return to prison with or without a new sentence during a three-year period following the offender’s date of release from an Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) facility.
In 2022, of the 29.79 percent of offenders who recidivated, approximately 35.45 percent returned to IDOC for the commission of a new crime, compared to approximately 64.6 percent for a technical rule violation of post-release supervision. For the 2019 release cohort, of male offenders released in 2018, 31.7 percent returned to the IDOC, versus 18.5 percent of female releases.
Indiana’s recent experience reveals that a returning citizen who has not completed the HSE is 2.8 times more likely to become a recidivist than one who has achieved the HSE. Interestingly, research specific to Indiana regarding the 2019 release cohort revealed –
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| Iowa | The Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) developed definitions and terms used in Iowa’s reporting on recidivism to establish standard performance measures. They defined a measure of recidivism—the return rate to prison—as the percent of offenders released from prison who return within three years. The releases tracked include parole; discharges due to end of sentence; and sex offender releases to special sentence supervision. The recidivism rate for FY 2023 in Iowa was 34.3 percent — a lower recidivism than the recidivism rate observed in FY2022. Iowa’s AEFLA funded providers enroll participants at state correctional institutions and local correctional and institutionalized facilities. Based on the terms of an MOU and the use of shared state leadership funds, all correctional education programs are accountable to the required WIOA performance, except when excluded, and they are subject to Iowa’s assessment policies. Corrections and institutionalized individuals constituted 1,371 of the total periods of participation in adult education reported in Iowa and 56% of them achieved a measurable skill gain. Access to post testing opportunities due to closures during the pandemic continued to impact performance.
Future Directions in PY 2023-2024
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| Kansas | Adult Education participants who have been released generally show a much lower recidivism rate, which is calculated as the percent of individuals released during a particular fiscal year who were readmitted within 36 months post release. Duplicates were avoided by using the most recent release dates. These recidivism rates have been provided through a partnership with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and represent a change in data-collection procedure from last year. The Kansas Board of Regents believes the information provided by KDOC to be more updated and accurate than previous methods of calculation and plans to continue annually reviewing partner data. The Adult Education participant recidivism rate for Program Year 2020, which includes individuals released up to 36 months prior, was 16.08%, compared to an overall rate that year of 29%. The recidivism rate among Adult Education participants rose in PY2021 to 19.34% but dropped again in PY2022 to 15.52%. These rates continue to be lower than overall recidivism rates, which were 25% in PY2021 and 17% in PY2022. Eight Adult Education providers serve individuals in nine state correctional facilities. Two providers also offer services in coordination with city or county jails, with a third provider entering a partnership in PY2023. Services include secondary-diploma preparation; English language acquisition; reading and numeracy skills; digital literacy; Integrated Education and Training; employability and workforce skills; and transition to postsecondary education. Each state facility has a Career Navigator to assist students in exploring careers, practicing job skills, and accessing necessary training and education. Starting in PY2021 and continuing in PY2022, the Kansas High School Equivalency State Administrator ran a “3 of 4” campaign, contacting over 900 individuals who had successfully completed three out of the four GED® tests to encourage students to finish the final test and earn the credential. The most common remaining subject was Math at 77% of testers, with Reasoning through Language Arts next at 15%. In addition to facilitating Reading Horizons training, which included instructors working in facilities, Kansas provided training in fall 2022 for structuring a “Math Boot Camp,” a short-term intensive course focused on the most necessary competencies for the GED® math test. Multiple programs have run one or more of these “boot camps,” including inside facilities, which increased passing rates for the math test. This contributed to nearly 20% of the “3 of 4” individuals completing the final test and earning a diploma. Of these, over 30% were Corrections testers. |
| Kentucky | The relative rate of recidivism for criminal offenders served in Kentucky is 27.15% (per KY DOC 2022 Annual Report, pg. 33) which is measured every two years. 27.15% is a historic low. The following methods and factors were used in calculating the rate for this reporting period: Recidivism is measured by criminal acts that resulted in rearrest, reconviction, or return to prison with or without a new sentence during a two-year period following the participant’s release. The recidivism rate for the population served under KRS Chapter 533 will be measured by: (a) The number of defendants assessed who did not meet the eligibility requirements for the program following the clinical assessment; (b) The specific offenses charged for each defendant and the classification of offenses charged; (c) The percentage of defendants participating in the program who successfully completed the program; (d) The percentage of defendants discharged from the program for noncompliance; and (e) The percentage of defendants who are arrested, convicted and incarcerated within six (6) months, one (1) year, and two (2) years of successful completion of the program. In PY22, Corrections instruction was improved from the previous PY, but challenges remained due to staffing shortages; security and operational concerns; and intermittent lockdowns. OAE facilitated Corrections-focused Professional Learning elective courses. The courses emphasized reading, vocabulary, mathematical operations, algebraic reasoning, instructional strategies, and deepening understanding of Corrections-specific instructional technology including Online Proctored GED (OP GED) and Brainchild Study Buddies. The adoption of the Putting Kentuckians First (PKF) Initiative and establishment of the Targeted Services Branch within the OAE has contributed to the enhancement of overall adult education services in the corrections space by focusing on pre-release instruction and training as well as transitional services in support of continued education at the postsecondary level and or employment. Additionally, in PY22, KYAE served 1,860 participants in 76 local correctional facilities and state adult institutions. During this period of participation, 961 participants earned an MSG; 518 participants earned an MSG through making a level gain; and 443 earned an MSG through obtaining their GED. Further, in PY22, OAE will work with the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS) to assess data collected and track the recidivism rate for program participants. The data collected will be shared with WIOA core partners to strengthen partnerships and guide processes and policies for Corrections education. Consistent with PKF, Kentucky statute KRS 533.270-290 (Senate Bill (SB) 90) established a Behavioral Health Conditional Dismissal Program to provide qualifying participants treatment and education/training opportunities in lieu of incarceration. The OAE, Lifelong Learning Branch administers the education and training component per KRS 533.286. |
| Louisiana | Due to high incarceration rates, Louisiana has focused on bipartisan criminal justice reform aimed at steering individuals away from prison for less serious crimes, reducing prison terms, and facilitating re-entry. Savings from these reforms were reinvested in reentry initiatives, particularly strengthening educational programs within the state's prison systems. Funded providers collaborated with parish prisons to extend educational services to offenders, emphasizing rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. The recidivism rate, a crucial metric, is tracked by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections (LDPS&C). This rate considers the return to custody following a conviction for a new felony or technical revocation of supervision. Education classes offered during incarceration play a role in reducing recidivism, with various programs focusing on adult education, post-secondary programming, workforce preparation, peer tutoring, and reentry and transitional services at multiple state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and day reporting centers. Total Releases 1st Year Returns % 2nd Year Returns % 3rd Year Returns % 4th Year Returns % 5th Year Returns % 2008 3,165 553 17.5% 944 29.8% 1,227 38.8% 1,387 43.8% 1,486 47.0% 2009 3,140 494 15.7% 885 28.2% 1,100 35.0% 1,208 38.5% 1,317 41.9% 2010 3,615 538 14.9% 1,025 28.4% 1,334 36.9% 1,483 41.0% 1,604 44.4% 2011 3,284 468 14.3% 940 28.6% 1,188 36.2% 1,351 41.1% 1,446 44.0% 2012 3,080 441 14.3% 873 28.3% 1,105 35.9% 1,240 40.3% 1,337 43.4% 2013 3,271 444 13.6% 849 26.0% 1,108 33.9% 1,246 38.1% 1,353 41.4% 2014 3,096 407 13.1% 776 25.1% 992 32.0% 1,120 36.2% 1,215 39.2% 2015 3,029 363 12.0% 765 25.3% 1,009 33.3% 1,160 38.3% 1,241 41.0% 2016 2,410 301 12.5% 598 24.8% 790 32.8% 873 36.2% 908 37.7% 2017 2,197 243 11.1% 516 23.5% 650 29.6% 712 32.4% 775 35.3% 2018 2,028 238 11.7% 420 20.7% 509 25.1% 587 28.9% 2019 2,024 193 9.5% 363 17.9% 504 24.9% 2020 1,625 124 7.6% 286 17.6% 2021 1,352 128 9.5% Recidivism is defined as a return to custody following conviction for a new felony or technical revocation of supervision after having been released from incarceration through completed sentence, released on parole, conditional release, or split probation sentence. Offenders released to a detainer, released in error, deceased, or transferred to another jurisdiction are omitted. An offender may be released multiple times but is only counted once per release year. The figures above are state offenders released from adult institutions. Inmate tutors, selected and trained by certified education staff, contribute to the success of these programs. Their role in providing one-on-one instruction to adult learners aligns with the goal of preparing individuals for career advancement post-release. The DOC strives to integrate adult education and literacy with workforce preparation activities, facilitating a smooth transition for offenders upon release. Efforts also extend to collaborating with employers willing to hire individuals with felony convictions, contributing to successful reintegration into society. DPS&C works with several LCTCS colleges that provide programming in various facilities across the state. These programs range from associate’s degrees to various Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that result in industry-based credentials (IBCs) upon completion. DPS&C partnered with the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) and three training providers to run job skills training programs in three Regional Reentry Centers. Wagner Peyser funded this programming and is an example of a partnership that should be replicated in other areas of the state. DPS&C continues to expand and enhance educational programming statewide to include integrating academic and employability skills instruction into CTE curricula, post-secondary programming utilizing various state and federal funding sources, and access to technology throughout the state. An Integrated Education Training (IET) Program will be implemented in winter 2024 in two state facilities. Louisiana was one of four states selected to participate in the IET in Corrections Pilot funded by OCTAE. The Louisiana team was provided the resources to implement this program through a design camp. The first IET program implemented will be Heavy Equipment Operator. DPS&C has engaged with hundreds of employers across the state at over 30 job fairs, employer engagement forums, and various other events. They are working with Geographic Solutions and LWC to deploy a Virtual One-stop platform so that the incarcerated population can engage with employers and vice versa before release. Post Release, 85% of their population is assigned to the office of Probation and Parole, with many of them assigned to a Day Reporting Center (DRC). The DRCs are responsible for the continuation of programming that the participant needs. These programs range from social programs to reentry and transition programs, and education. The DRCs provide a support system for the participants to aid in learner success, such as transportation and employment. DPS&C services include high school equity programming and industry-based Credentials (IBC). DPS&C also collaborates with the Community Incentive Grant (CIG), which works with various community partners to assist inmates post-release. DPS&C faces serious challenges at the local level with instructional space, staffing, and funding. There are DOC inmates at over 100 local jails without proper staffing to oversee programs in these facilities. |
| Maine | According to the most recent Post-Release Yearend Report from the Maine Department of Corrections: Residents in Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) facilities have the opportunity to take HiSET preparation courses and HiSET tests to be awarded a State of Maine High School Equivalency diploma. The return to custody rates for those residents by release year are as follows:
2019- 6%
2020-2.8%
2021- 0%
None of the 42 clients released in 2021 who received their High School Equivalency Diplomacy while in a facility returned within one year of release.
SOURCE- Maine Department of Corrections Website, Return to Custody Report One Year Post Release 2021 – 2021.
The one-year return to custody rate is defined as the release of an incarcerated individual from a Maine Department of Corrections facility followed by a subsequent return of the released individual within one year to an MDOC facility, with or without a new criminal record within one year.
For comparison, the return to custody rate for all incarcerated individuals is:
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| Maryland | Maryland defines an incarcerated individual as an individual who has been committed by a judge to state prison and is in the custody of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Recidivism is in part an evaluation of the effectiveness of rehabilitation and deterrence after justice involvement. However, it is equally impacted by transition stability during the re-entry period, access to housing and necessary resources, and the availability of employment opportunities. Recidivism trends are often used to target interventions more effectively as the relationship between over-involvement in the justice system and poor recidivism outcomes has been explored. The Maryland DPSCS measures recidivism as the earliest return to the DPSCS’s custody due to conviction for a new prison sentence, conviction to a new probation sentence, or return from community supervision (parole, probation or mandatory supervision post release) due to revocation. In Maryland, consistent with national models, recidivism is highest in the first year following release. Recidivism approximately halves with each continued year after incarceration. There are fewer cohort members remaining and those remaining have demonstrated longer periods of compliance and avoided significant justice involvement. On average, since FY 2016, 19.73% of releases from State incarceration in Maryland have returned within the first year after release. This is consistent with broader research on the difficulty of the initial re-entry period, which is closely tied to success and decreased recidivism. (In Maryland, FY 2016 refers to July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016. FY 2016 is analogous to WIOA PY 2015.) The recidivism chart below (2016-2019) is the most recent recidivism data available. Recidivism Rates From 2016-2019 Release Year Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Cumulative 3-Year Recidivism FY 2016 20.74% 10.54% 5.85% 37.13% FY 2017 17.77% 13.62% 5.76% 37.15% FY 2018 20.98% 12.28% 3.29% 36.55% FY 2019 19.44% 7.16% 4.95% 31.55% The FY 2017 cohort still provides the most reliable baseline for Maryland’s recidivism trends. Inmates released in FY 2017 were the first to be sentenced and supervised under the current structure established by the Justice Reinvestment Act of 2016. Subsequent cohorts are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption of regular criminal justice functions that impact measurable events. Impacted cohort years in the chart above are Year 3 for FY 2017, Years 2 and 3 for FY 2018, and all three years for FY 2019. Because the pandemic may have delayed adjudication of recidivism activities or suppressed normal activity within the community, these years warrant a more longitudinal 5-year recidivism calculation to provide a more comprehensive measure of release outcomes over this period. FY 2019 is the first cohort year where the entirety of the recidivism period occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Within the FY 2019 cohort, first year recidivism was largely in line with previous years and was minimally impacted by the pandemic. The trend of subsequent decreases in recidivism was exacerbated through the second year post release, as a record low percentage of individuals recidivated. This time period saw 6.6% lower recidivism compared to the year prior, and roughly corresponds with the period between April 2020 and April 2021. While this gap narrowed slightly in the third year post release, the resulting recidivism rate is still the largest single year decline in 3-year recidivism outcomes the state has recorded since 1990. Deferred adjudication of events occurring during this period and a larger number of individuals persisting into the third year post release may account for the higher recidivism rates in year three. It is also possible given the robust intake rates of FY 2022 that some recidivism events occurring during this period may still be pending final adjudication or were more likely to be resolved without sentence to the State, underrepresenting the prevalence of new offenses in this cohort. While the most recent recidivism measure is initially promising, the heavy impact of the COVID-19 pandemic limits how indicative this will be of future sustained recidivism rates after case backlogs are resolved, and social and economic engagement return to pre-COVID rates. The large decrease in the release cohort size is another significant co-occurring difference beginning with the FY 2019 cohort that is expected to continue for years given the multi-year trend in depressed intakes. As intakes to state sentenced custody remain decreased by 22% from 2019 to 2022, the persistent shrinking on future release cohorts may have a significant impact on the demographics of release cohorts until at least 2031, given the current average length of stay of 5.39 years. |
| Massachusetts | Unfortunately, Massachusetts is not able to calculate a relative rate of recidivism for offenders served by adult education or any other program or intervention. While a statewide data system is not yet in place, the research division of the Department of Correction (DOC) and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) one- and three-year recidivism reports (https://www.mass.gov/lists/one-year-recidivism-rates; https://www.mass.gov/lists/three-year-recidivism-rates) are increasingly detailed. Moreover, EOPSS, the Department of Corrections, 13 county sheriffs have agreed on common definitions for programs and has developed a dashboard (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/cross-tracking-system-programs) that can show inmate registrations and exits by program type. We hope that these will eventually produce statewide intervention outcome and recidivism data. Since PY2018-2019, eight state agencies received WIOA and state match funds to provide adult basic education programs: the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MADOC) and seven county houses of corrections (CHCs). In PY21-22, MADOC ran ABE programs in four of its 18 prisons: Concord, Norfolk, Shirley, and Gardner. Similarly, ABE programs were offered in four county houses in western Massachusetts, one in the central region, one in Boston and one in the southeast. Of the 1,353 participants receiving Title II adult education in Massachusetts correctional institutions in PY22-23, 203 were incarcerated at MADOC while 1,144 were confined in the seven CHCs. Anecdotally, the county houses of correction report that between 70% and 75% of the population are pretrial detainees, many of whom are incarcerated longer than sentenced inmates. In most facilities, there are fewer incentives for detainees to participate in programming. Education directors are working with their sheriffs to review policies that may inhibit access to education. |
| Michigan | In PY 2022, there were 30 adult education providers in Michigan that were approved for Institutional funding, including the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC); one federal prison - Milan Area Schools; and 27 school districts and 1 Michigan Works! Agency that provided services in county jails across the state. Most all providers were able to deliver services in the jail or prison during PY 2022, although some still reported disruptions in programming due to segregation and/or quarantines for COVID. The data that is collected and available at the institutions on recidivism varies widely, as does the relationship between the school districts and each of the county jails. Of the recipients that operated in PY 2022, the majority reported not having any data related to recidivism currently available due to a lack of access to data or ability to determine whether an individual was housed at another facility. Other challenges shared were that the jail houses inmates from other areas of the state that are overcrowded, so it is difficult to track those individuals after their release, and areas of the state that border other states do not have a way to share data across states. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), which served more than 75% of the correctional education participants in PY 2022, reported a recidivism rate of 22.1%. This rate captures the percentage of men and women that return to prison within three years of being released of all inmates released. |
| Minnesota | According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections (MN DOC), the state’s adult prison population was 8,274 incarcerated individuals as of July 1, 2023. Of the new admissions during the year (July 2022–June 2023), 31.4% were release returns. In 2022, MN DOC calculated that 81% of incarcerated individuals did not return to prison (MN DOC 2022 Performance Report). MN DOC utilizes the federal recidivism rate calculation, based on a three-year follow up period after release from prison. Minnesota’s rate of recidivism in 2021 was 34%, which is the latest data available, and the lowest rate during the past five years. In a 2013 study (“The Effects of Minnesota Prison-Based Educational Programming on Recidivism and Employment,” Duwe and Clark), obtaining secondary credentials helped incarcerated individuals enter postsecondary education and gain employment, but diplomas alone were not the primary factor to reduce recidivism. The study found that “obtaining a [diploma] in prison significantly increased the odds of securing post-release employment by 59%” (3). Post-release employment data show that 60% of incarcerated individuals who earned diplomas in prison found employment within the first two years versus 50% in the comparison group. Earning a diploma is also critical as a prerequisite to postsecondary education. Obtaining postsecondary credentials in corrections resulted in reduced recidivism, higher numbers of hours worked, and increased wages (3). Obtaining a postsecondary credential reduced rearrest by 14%, reconviction by 16%, and new offense reincarceration by 24%. The employment rate for incarcerated individuals who earned post-secondary degrees (71%) was slightly higher than that of the prisoners in the comparison group (68%) (3). The study was completed with incarcerated individuals released in 2007 and 2008, which gives enough time to determine meaningful outcomes post-release. For learners served in corrections systems during this program year, it is difficult to determine recidivism rates as many are still incarcerated, and others have been released only recently. Approximately 13% of people in corrections in Minnesota do not have a secondary credential, as reported on July 1, 2023. Between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, enrollees in corrections adult education programs generated 481,971.5 contact hours, and 32.2% of correctional students achieved a measurable skill gain. While adult education contact hours had dropped significantly (40%) between 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, with the decline attributed to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, MN DOC realized a large (17.8%) increase in adult education contact hours between 2021–2022 and 2022–2023. However, contact hours were still down 9% when compared to 2019–2020. MN DOC has an education-first policy, which means individuals who do not have a secondary credential (a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma) are required to enroll in adult education and achieve a secondary credential through one of three options: High School Equivalency (i.e. GED) diploma, credit-based high school diploma, or Standard Adult High School diploma. Once learners complete a secondary credential, they are eligible for work assignments within the facility and/or to enroll into a post-secondary (career technical or credit-based) program. MN DOC is currently working to increase concurrent enrollment options for its population. Eighty-five (85) Standard Adult High School Diplomas and eighteen (18) credit-based high school diplomas were earned by adult education students in Minnesota correctional facilities from July 2022–June 2023. Adult education students in Minnesota’s correctional facilities also performed well on the GED exam test battery, with 230 test-based high school equivalency diplomas issued in 2022–2023. Education within the Minnesota Department of Corrections is based on a vision of inclusive excellence. MN DOC’s intensive educational and training programs provide the opportunity for individuals to bridge into postsecondary career pathways options. MN DOC also offers mental health services and other support services to facilitate stability. These policies and strategies promote a robust system of adult education within Minnesota prisons. MN DOC funds their adult education program with state and federal adult education funding and supplemental corrections funding. |
| Mississippi | The state’s current 36-month recidivism rate is 34.5% (based on FY2020 releases). MDOC tracks recidivism based on the number of inmates returning within a three-year period. The report includes all returns to incarceration and does not distinguish between those who violate supervision for technical reasons and those who commit a new offense. The majority of probationers were African-Americans at 51.2% (14,703) compared to Caucasians at 46.8% (13,440). African-Americans comprised the majority of parolees at 54.6% (4,597) compared to Caucasians at 44.4% (3,736). As of December 7th, there were 717 inmates having less than 180 days until flat-time; another 7,577 are candidates for discretionary release through parole and earned release supervision (ERS) within the next 12 months. This information is for all offenders in the state, and is not a representative for only those served in adult education. Adult education services are provided to offenders at the three state facilities: Parchman, Central MS Correctional Facility, and South MS Correctional Institution. In addition to these facilities, local programs provide adult education services in seven county and 15 regional correctional facilities. An offender is any individual who is charged with or convicted of any criminal offense. |
| Missouri | To determine the recidivism rate for criminal offenders served, Missouri uses a data match to determine all individuals enrolled in Adult Education and incarcerated in the Department of Corrections with a release date of July 2017 through June 2020. The table below shows the de-duplicated recidivism rate through 2023 for those individuals. In all date ranges measured, the AEL student recidivism rate is considerably lower than that of the entire corrections population, averaging 44%. The data demonstrate the capacity of Department of Corrections AEL programs to affect their students’ lives in a meaningful way. Recidivism of Justice-Involved Individuals Exiting the AEL Program 2017-2020 Year of Release Number of Releases Return to DOC 6 months Return to DOC 12 months Return to DOC 2 years Return to DOC 3 years NRS PY17 DESE FY18 308 8.1% 18.5% 32.5% 35.8% NRS PY18 DESE FY19 472 7.8% 15.3% 27.6% 35.1% NRS PY19 DESE FY20 595 6.1% 15.6% 30.6% 36.0% This year, Missouri became the first state to join the national Reentry 2030 movement. With Gubernatorial support, Missouri set goals to make sure all incarcerated Missourians who need them receive career services, for 85% of formerly incarcerated Missourians to be employed within 30 days of release, and for 80% of formerly incarcerated Missourians to maintain their employment for at least nine months after release. DESE AEL is an integral part of this movement, providing the necessary basic skills and access to career pathways to justice-involved individuals. Missouri served 2,262 individuals in congregate corrections facilities and 1,975 ex-offenders in PY22/FY23. |
| Montana | The Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) follows the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) definition of recidivism.
Recidivism rate – the rate at which adult offenders return to prison in Montana for any reason within three years of their release from prison. Each release can have only one corresponding return.
Given this definition, we would need to wait three full years before we could calculate a recidivism rate. With a 6/30/2023 end date, a recidivism rate for this group of participants would not be available until sometime after 6/30/2026.
Some general statistics provided by our WIOA adult education corrections program housed at the Montana State Prison/Montana Women’s Prison:
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| Nebraska | Overall, the recidivism rate in Nebraska was 28.4% down from last year’s report of 29.8% in state corrections with recidivism being defied by the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services as those individuals who return to incarceration within three years of release and in a given fiscal year. An individual's earliest release within the year is the only one considered when calculating recidivism rates. The cited 28.4% is for FY2020 ( July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020). Recidivism data for Fiscal Year 2021 will be calculated with Fiscal Year 2024 ends. |
| Nevada | During the last program year, no AEFLA funds were used for Programs for Corrections Education and the Education of Other institutionalized Individuals. The competitive RFP released in 2023 included the option to apply for corrections funding but there were no applicants for corrections funding. State funding has been used for Corrections Education through the Adult High School Diploma program not reported under AEFLA. We will continue to explore the options for partnering with the existing state funded corrections education program during the coming years. |
| New Hampshire | One of the challenges with this data collection is that frequently the student is still incarcerated when they exit from the adult education program. They become excluded from the outcome indicators and not eligible for follow up. The State Office is working with the State prison to improve data tracking for those exited students, even when they may be excluded from performance indicators because they still need to be included in the recidivism rate.
Recidivism rates are calculated locally by the correctional institute. The State office does not have access to information regarding re-offense or return to a correctional facility for exited adult education participants. In three county jails, the local adult education program provides the adult education services by going into the jails to teach classes. The local adult education program does not have direct access to correctional records and relies on the local correctional institute to provide that information for the subset of adult education students. Each facility determines how they will calculate the recidivism rate and whether they track specific data for individuals who have exited from the adult education program.
Cheshire County Department of Corrections
For the inmates served by Keene Community Education in 2022-2023
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| New Jersey | The NJ Department of Corrections (NJDOC) is a Title II provider awarded through the same competitive process for AEFLA funds. The NJDOC provides mandatory education to inmates who do not have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency (HSE) degree. Under the State Facilities Education Act (SFEA) of 1979 (N.J.S.A. 18A:7B1 et seq.), all inmates under the age of 20, as well as those under age 21 with an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), are provided traditional high school coursework. Students earn credits from their home school districts toward the fulfillment of their high school diplomas. NJDOC follows the NJ State Assessment policy, utilizes LACES for tracking/data, and tests Title II students with approved tests. NJDOC staff and directors attend the same meetings and training as all other Title II providers. NJDOC uses a return to DOC custody (i.e., reincarceration) within three years as a measure of recidivism. For the 2015 release cohort, the reincarceration rate was 30.4%. Said another way, 30.4% of persons released in 2015 returned to DOC custody within three years. This is old data, but NJDOC does not collect Title II specific data follow-up of inmates for recidivism and the NJDOL State Director for adult education is working towards an amicable solution with the NJDOC Director and leadership on stronger, more useful data collection. |
| New Mexico | In New Mexico, all eight state prisons and two private prisons provide Adult Education services funded by NMHED-AE. In PY 22, 1,086 Section 225 individuals were served and their enrollment increased by almost 18% compared to PY 21. In PY 22, 193 participants attained a high school equivalency in the prison-based AE programs, which is more than double the number from PY 21. This can be attributed to strong efforts made by NMHED-AE staff and Corrections staff to increase the rate of testing and access to testing. The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) supplied us with the data below, indicating they had taken offenders from the LACES database NRS Table 4 FY 20 and compared them against the offender population released during FY20 to determine the population from NRS Table 4 that were released. They then calculated the recidivism rate for the overall population released in FY 20, defined as individuals who returned to custody within 3 years. Total number of offenders released from NM Corrections during period (FY 20) 3,264 Number of offenders released not meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 2,932 Number of offenders released meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 332 Number of offenders returned within 3 years of release 1,172 Number of offenders returned not meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 1,024 Number of offenders returned meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 148 Baseline recidivism rate for all releases during period (returns/releases) 35.91% Recidivism rate of offenders not meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 34.9% Recidivism rate of offenders meeting NRS Table 4 criteria 44.6% NMCD emphasized many factors impact recidivism including demographics, level of education, participation in other programming pre- and post-release, and employment post-release. In Program Year 2022, our Division’s Education & Workforce Development Systems Specialist, Michelle Ribeiro, continued to spearhead much of our collaborative work with NMCD and with New Mexico’s other Section 225 Adult Education providers and other partners. She also participated in two initiatives on the national level, including COABE’s Prison Education Task Force and the IET in Corrections Design Camp with OCTAE and RTI. New Mexico’s involvement in the latter initiative ended early when the Adult Education Director at NMCD suffered a grave health setback and NMCD leadership changed, leading to different short-term priorities for this agency. |
| New York | The NYSED has not, in the past, collected data on recidivism for Corrections Education and Other Institutionalized Individuals funded under WIOA Title II. In an effort to track the rate of recidivism, with guidance, programs under section 225 and via their case managers, will conduct a post training survey to capture this data. Not only will the data serve to understand the status of each participant, but it will help our programs understand student barriers and provide resources that will significantly help improve our participants’ lives. Agencies that have received WIOA funding for this population have kept data or have provided qualitative information about their specific populations. In anticipation of the need to review data surrounding recidivism, AEPP has designed a student survey that will be implemented in program year 2023 aimed at collecting data from students served under our Corrections Education programming and have exited the program and/or facility. Corrections Education programming was gravely impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic. Program year 2022 marked the new beginning for WIOA Corrections awards that began July 2022. To this day, we remain at the mercy of many correctional facilities that experience bouts of infections and consequently close services for periods of time within the program year. In most cases, during these periods of closure, our programs move to a remote status however, internet connections are not always permitted to students; on those occasions, teachers prepare packets of self-directed educational materials to send into the facilities for students to access and complete. These options afforded our teachers the opportunity to keep students engaged throughout the program year. Our WIOA Corrections programs worked tirelessly in Program year 2022 to keep their incarcerated students engaged and on their continuum toward a high school equivalency diploma. Many funded programs have described systemic barriers to obtaining tracking information on the incarcerated population and express that they cannot report meaningful statistics with confidence. Another consideration is the challenge of a follow-up contact and data gathering as the participants wish to distance themselves from their former connections to the courts and the corrections system. In some cases, the adult education programs are prohibited from contacting inmates upon their release however, while receiving services, inmates are encouraged to contact their case manager even after they exit the facility. In spite of these types of restrictions, New York will work to support these funded programs in the goal of reporting significant data on recidivism. These challenges are ongoing and have been the focus of our technical assistance support to our Corrections Education programs. In total, AEPP funded Corrections programming successfully served 1,136 students in program year 2022; this marks a significant 100% increase from the number served in program year 2021 (542 students). Our corrections programs also provided intense case management and transition services to those inmates released during Program year 2022. Teachers worked hard to transition these inmates back into traditional community programs. Teachers in these programs committed to investing in the NYSED/CUNY CareerKits which are housed electronically and therefore easily accessible to students once they were released. The CareerKits provide some self-paced lessons that students can work through on their own and then confer with teachers for further guidance and support. The CareerKits are also found on either of the two websites: www.CollectEDNY.org and www.TeachingtotheCoreNY.org . |
| North Carolina | In North Carolina, the recidivism rate is calculated by the Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission for adult offenders released in odd fiscal years allowing for a two-year lookback period. The Correctional Program Evaluation released by the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, in conjunction with the Department of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in September 2022, examined recidivism for Structured Sentencing Act (SSA) offenders who were placed on supervised probation or released from prison in FY (Fiscal Year) 2019 (N=46,094). Recidivism was defined broadly as arrests, convictions, or incarcerations during a fixed two-year follow-up period. Official records from police, courts, and correctional agencies are the source of most research on adult recidivism. In its studies of recidivism, the Sentencing Commission uses arrests as the primary measure of recidivism, supplemented by information on convictions and incarcerations, to assess the extent of an offender’s repeat involvement in the criminal justice system. The sample selected for the current study included all offenders released from state prison or placed on supervised probation during FY 2019 with some exceptions; offenders with a most serious conviction for Driving While Impaired (DWI), offenders with a most serious conviction for a misdemeanor traffic offense, and offenders released from prison with a misdemeanor conviction were excluded from the study. The final study sample includes 46,094 offenders sentenced under the SSA. From this study, the recidivist arrest rate for prisoners overall in the FY 2019 sample was 49% with recidivist incarceration rate of 36%. For males who had a positive program outcome from their CCR Academic Education assignment, (n=2,661) the recidivist arrest rate was 45% and recidivist incarceration rate was 29%, a decline of 4% and 7% respectively from their general population figures. For females who had a positive program outcome from their CCR Academic Education assignment, (n=450) the recidivist arrest rate was 32% and the recidivist incarceration rate was 23%, a decline of 17% and 19% respectively from the general population figures. In 2022-23, the College and Career Readiness division served 2,908 offenders in corrections (171 in jails and 2,770 in prisons). Of this number, 2,567 were designated participants as they had 12+ hours. This was 6.1% of the total number of NRS participants for North Carolina (41,859). In the previous year, NC served a total of 1,632 in corrections (65 in jails and 1,567 in prisons) which was 4.3% of NRS participants (37,742). Some CCR programs continued to have limited access to prisons and jails in 2022. Title II personnel were prevented from entering the prisons to provide instruction and testing. The System Office allowed providers to continue using approved paper-based Alternative Learning Packet Courses. This was only allowed for instruction in correctional settings. Members of the NC Community College System (including CCR, curriculum, and continuing education) and NC Department of Adult Correction meet in partnership on a scheduled monthly basis to discuss matters concerning correctional education. |
| North Dakota | Programs for Corrections Education and the Education of Other Institutionalized Individuals (AEFLA Section 225) Federal AEFLA and State funds are provided to the ND Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations (DOCR) for Corrections Education and the education of Other Institutionalized Individuals. In ND, if an individual is incarcerated at a DOCR facility and does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent (as determined by the State), they are (by law) mandated to work towards one. The recidivism rate is calculated by the number of offenders in the release cohort in a calendar year who returned to the NDDOCR for a new conviction or technical violation within 12, 24, and 36 months after release from the NDDOCR divided by the number of offenders in the release cohort. NDDOCR can specifically extrapolate data for adults in custody who were served with state and federal adult education funds. This information may be found on https://dashboard.docr.nd.gov/us-nd/narratives/prison/7. In 2020, the recidivism rate was 16%. In 2021, the recidivism rate was 21%. We are waiting for the 2022 results. This measurement is a return to either adult or juvenile state custody within one year of discharge from court order. It is not a measure of reoffending but could be behaviors that bring youth back to custody. Available for both adults and juveniles are industry specific programs (i.e., welding (adults), FACS (youth), computer drafting/3D printing (adults). Inmate tutoring is offered as paid employment following completion of a training program. Classes in career readiness and reentry planning are available and required by inmates within a year of parole/release. Corrections, although under one state agency, participated in the competition requirements and were scored according to criteria listed above. NDDOCR implemented STAR Reading for reading instruction at the Correctional sites. NDDOCR was awarded an IET grant for CDL and Heavy Equipment Operator programs for residents. Other work preparation programs are also provided for residents at various Correctional sites. Crane Operator is an upcoming addition for training. In addition, ND DOCR Education Department is working toward creating Prison Education Programs (PEP) for post-secondary options for people while incarcerated. The requirements are being finalized and an advisory board has been established and met to review and discuss applications. JSND and Adult Ed. director are part of the advisory board. |
| Northern Mariana Islands | We were not able to serve any in the Department of Corrections (DOC). The CNMI is experiencing an economic crisis and state government agencies have instituted austerity measures. There is a new Corrections Commissioner and I have met with him regarding Adult Education offerings. He is in full support of it, but due to budgetary constraints and manpower shortages, we are not able to deliver services yet. Our office, though, continues to work closely with the Drug Court System with them referring clients to our office to comply as a condition in place of being incarcerated. These clients enter the substance abuse rehabilitation center and we work closely with them to give regular reports. Because of our success with providing services to the drug court system, we were identified as a program that can assist clients in re-entering the community as productive citizens. |
| Ohio | As per the Chief at the Bureau of Community Sanctions for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), recidivism is only measured in state prisons, not in CBCFs or county jails. The State of Ohio puts out a Recidivism Report every three years. According to the most recent report, published in May of 2021, the 3-year recidivism rate for those who were returned to prison because of the commission of a new crime was 20.8% down from 21.7 in 2019. The report also states that this represents the lowest recidivism rate for new crimes in over 15 years. In Ohio, 22 out of 52 grantees offered corrections education in PY22. There were adult education classes conducted in 39 different correctional facilities, most of which were community-based or county jails. IETs were offered in corrections by 4 programs. In PY22, Ohio Aspire served 2,211 participants in corrections which represents more than an 8% increase over those served in PY21. During PY22, there were over 93,537 hours of adult education programming in corrections. 739 students made an EFL gain, 246 students earned a high school equivalency diploma, and 158 students received an IET credential. The overall MSG in corrections for PY 22 was 55.65% with a persistence rate of more than 45 hours. |
| Oklahoma | “The Oklahoma Department of Corrections defines recidivism as the percentage of all offenders released in a given year who have returned to DOC incarceration at the end of a three-year period. This corresponds with the definition used by most states, the federal government, and academic research and is the most commonly cited measure of correctional success or failure,” as reported by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The three-year recidivism rate in Oklahoma is 22.6%, one of the lowest in the country. Despite this, Oklahoma has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country, behind Louisiana. In 2021, the Sarah Stitt Act was passed and implemented in 2022. This act requires DOC to ensure that all inmates leaving a correctional facility have a resume, government-issued identification, and be provided work readiness instruction. Oklahoma passed two additional laws to assist offenders exiting incarceration in 2022. The Clean Slate Legislation automatically expunges eligible criminal records starting in 2025. The Occupational Licensing Reform will ensure that ex-offenders are only denied an occupational license if their offense substantially relates to the duties and responsibilities of the occupation and poses a reasonable threat to public safety. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections within the adult education and literacy program serves close to three thousand students a year. While incarcerated, these students are given opportunities to participate in educational courses to assist them in attaining a high school equivalency, college credit, technical training, and career readiness skills. |
| Oregon | Of the 2,135 learners served by the Department of Corrections Title II-funded programs in PY2022-23, 560 earned a GED certificate. Of those, 88 were released from incarceration and 3, or 3.4%, have been re-incarcerated. This information was provided by the Oregon State Department of Corrections using their standard recidivism calculation formula. |
| Palau | The Palau Adult Education Program, under the Palau Ministry of Education, did not provide any services into the correctional institutions. This is due primarily due to lack of resources – inclusive of space and manpower. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania uses both federal and state funds to provide adult education services in correctional facilities. In 2022-23, 14 grantees and five subgrantees provided adult education and literacy activities. Services were provided in 21 county jails and one state prison. While most agencies partnered with a single correctional facility, one agency worked with three jails, and one agency partnered with two. All agencies provided adult education and literacy activities in-person via classes or tutoring. Seven reported using paper-based distance learning options to supplement in-person instruction. In the state prison, the grantee had a peer tutoring program. Programs completed intake and assessments with corrections education students in person. In most corrections education programs, grant-funded staff completed intake, orientation, and assessment. However, two programs reported that county prison staff collaborate on that work. Among corrections education participants, 77% entered at ABE Levels 1-4; the rest at ABE Levels 5-6. There were no ESL students served in corrections education in 2022-23. Fourteen providers reported that they also offered services to help corrections education students prepare for and connect with post-release educational services. Many also provided information about non-educational support services that students can use post-release. An instructor in one corrections education program worked with local one-stop career advisors to create a resource guide to give to students on release. Three programs mentioned formal re-entry programs in their communities to which they can refer students. Recidivism is defined in the Judicial System General Provisions 204 Pa. Code § 305.1 (12) as “a re-offense for any crime, defined as a re-arrest for a felony or misdemeanor in Pennsylvania within three years of the imposition of a sentence to the community or within three years of release from confinement resulting in a conviction. Re-offense does not include out-of-state, federal or foreign charges or technical violations.” However, Pennsylvania does not have a centralized collection of corrections system data that includes state, county, and probation/parole data. As a result, those entities that calculate recidivism rates base their calculations only on re-arrest or re-incarceration to their own facility. In its 2022 Recidivism Report, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) defines recidivism as the first instance of either re-arrest or re-incarceration to a PA DOC facility after previously being released from PA DOC custody. Six of the county jails where grantees provided corrections education services provided their definitions of recidivism. All included only individuals who were recommitted to their facility. One used a 24-month period; the rest used a 3-year period. PDE cannot calculate the relative rate of recidivism for criminal offenders served in corrections education. While PA DOC calculates an overall recidivism rate for its system, (64.7% in the 2022 Recidivism Report cited above), it does not break out the rates for the individual state prisons. Thus, PDE cannot determine a relative rate of recidivism for the participants at the state prison. Six county facilities provided general recidivism rates that ranged from 9%-53%. None provided relative rates of recidivism for corrections education participants. One prison reported anecdotally that no inmates who had enrolled in the adult education program had reoffended. |
| Puerto Rico | The DE-AEP implements an adult education effort for justice-involved persons island-wide in Puerto Rico. During the 2022 program year a total of eight (8) prisons had adult education services for inmates, including the following: Ponce Correctional facility, Guayama, Correctional facility – 1000, Guayama, Correctional facility – 500, Guayama, Correctional facility – 296, Rio Grande, Zaza, Correctional facility, Mayagüez Correctional facility, Aguadilla, Correctional facility, and Arecibo, Sabana Hoyos, Correctional facility-216. During PY 2022 a total of 226 participants were served while in the correctional education program. This share of participants represents a decrease of 31.6% compared to the previous PY 2021, when it reached 683 participants. The three main reasons for the reduction in participants were the closure of four (4) correction institutions, the enactment of legislation for exit on probation for inmates convicted of minor offenses, and the difficult recruitment of English language teachers available for services in prisons. The AEP provides services to the Puerto Rico Correction Department to provide services to these adult participants. The services are provided to inmates expected to leave the correction institution in less than five (5) years. All the academic and career services provided to the regular participants are offered to this population, including ABE, ESL, and High School Equivalency testing and career services. During PY2022, there was zero recidivism rate in justice-involved offenders served. The methods/factors Puerto Rico use to calculate the zero percent recidivism rate of the participants. The program collects the information in the intake form for each participant. The service provider at the local level enters this data in the database system (Student Information System / MIS) that the Puerto Rico Adult Education Program uses to report to the National Reporting System. Then, the central office staff uses this data to estimate the percentage of participants serving that have re-entered recidivism to determine the rate. |
| Rhode Island | In PY 2022, the first year of the current RFP grant cycle, RIDE allocated AEFLA funds to the state’s community college Community College of RI (CCRI), to deliver Integrated Education and Training (IET) programming to inmates at the state Adult Correctional Institution (ACI). CCRI, in partnership with Rhode Island Dept of Corrections (DOC), piloted a new program enrolling women in medium security in the first phase of a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Manufacturing program aligned with a program offered on the CCRI campus. Phase 1 of the program is offered onsite at the women’s facility at the ACI. Participants who complete successfully receive industry-recognized credentials and college credits, connections to employment for work release and re-entry, and can go on to enroll in Phase 2 at CCRI upon release from the ACI. In PY 2022, 14 individuals participated in the AEFLA-funded IET program, with 13 participants completing the program and obtaining measurable skill gains, including post-secondary credits, and industry recognized credentials in CNC manufacturing. The relative rate of recidivism among participants served with AEFLA funds during PY 2022 was 8.33%% for sentenced offenders: one of the AEFLA-funded participants who was released by the end of the program year returned to the ACI a few weeks after release. The relative rate of recidivism was calculated by dividing one (the participant who returned to the ACI) by 12 - the total number of AEFLA-funded participants who were released by the end of the program year. |
| South Carolina | The OAE, in collaboration with the SCDE Grants Program and General Counsel, created and distributed a Corrections Education Request for Proposals (RFP) and five subgrantees were selected statewide. The competition was held in the spring of 2021 and the grant cycle began July 1, 2021, and will continue until June 30, 2025.
Grant monies totaling $500,000.00, were awarded to five programs for fiscal year 2022-23. All programs were school district programs including the statewide school district governed by the SC Department of Corrections’ Division of Programs, Reentry, and Rehabilitative Services. To reduce recidivism, the programs provided incarcerated learners with services to help students obtain secondary credentials before being released. Services provided include:
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| South Dakota | The South Dakota Department of Corrections has the capacity to track recidivism data by program/fiscal year. DOC can isolate its release-data by those inmates who completed their High School Equivalency at any point while incarcerated, and who then were released during a particular program year. Therefore, the relative rate of recidivism for criminal offenders who earned a GED® credential while incarcerated in South Dakota, and who then were released at any point during PY2022-23, was 38.6%. This figure (i.e., 38.6%) includes HSE-completers who served an expired or suspended sentence, as well as those granted parole in PY2022. Releases include those discharges having completed their sentence and those conditionally released to parole supervision; recidivists include those returning to custody upon conviction for a new felony [and resentenced to prison], as well as those with their parole revoked for a technical violation. *The South Dakota Department of Corrections wishes to note this reported rate does not serve as an official measure of recidivism, nor is it predicative of programmatic success. |
| Tennessee | In PY22, TDLWD-funded AE programs were able to increase the number of students served from 1,637 (PY21) to 2,235. Programs continued to expand their reach to jail facilities by working to increase awareness of AE services to jail administrators and jail program coordinators. TDLWD also encouraged local providers to continue developing relationships with the local carceral facilities where there are no adult education services currently.
In PY22, TDLWD staff had another opportunity to present to the Tennessee Corrections Institute Summit (TCI), the governing body for local county jails. This presentation served as a catalyst to share the multiple services offered by adult education programs, including the tablet project. We continue to partner with TCI to help with the implementation and expansion of the tablet-based program (via the vendor “Orijin”), which has helped to increase our ability to provide services in facilities that limited our in-person access. The tablets allowed individuals access to educational products, workforce skills, rehabilitation products, personal development along with other services. Tablet implementation, as seen below, is a phased in approach that started in PY20:
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| Texas | Texas AEL has limited engagement with the state prison system with Title II funding, however, AEL providers do provide services for second chance individuals in federal, some state, and several county jails and halfway houses. Eleven providers (29.7%) assisted over 800 individuals in PY 22-23. TWC and AEL support second chance employer pipelines through conferences like Growth through Reentry to Advance Careers & Employment (GRACE), which creates awareness for how AEL and Workforce Solutions Offices (American Job Centers) can support second chance individuals and employers who hire them. Impacting the rate of recidivism is also being addressed from a cross agency and cross systems approach. TWC collaborates with Windham School District (WSD) and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) on re-entry and IET models for incarcerated individuals through a state leadership project, IET in Corrections. The performance indicators of the project include recidivism rates of individuals participating in the Corrections IET project. It will take several years for data to mature. The goal of the project is to share state policy on the criteria for creating IETs with WSD and assist them in creating a robust model to support individuals who are within 3 years of release. State leadership efforts through the IET in Corrections project enables AEL and WSD to develop cross agency protocols. WSD facilities are providing industry-recognized credentials and working with local community colleges to develop articulated pathways for those exiting incarceration. These efforts are underpinned by research that indicates exiting incarceration with job skills and access to employment options impact recidivism most for the newly released. The pathways under development at WSD include Construction Fundamentals, Electrical Technician, and RV Maintenance. Additionally, Commercial Truck Driving has been under review as a pathway to articulate to Logistics with postsecondary partners. The secondary goal of this state leadership project with WSD occurs once individuals are released and the local AEL provider can support the individual in completing any required educational credentials (for example, HSE, industry-recognized credentials, licensing), provide instruction and practice in digital literacy, and facilitate a connection to one-stop partner resources. The initiative is an attempt to build a pre- and post-release pathway that supports individuals through educational opportunities and job placement to reduce recidivism. Regardless of working within “windows of release,” for access to IETs, the release process from the state prison system is clearly the purview of TDCJ and dependent on internal factors. AEL, in collaboration with WSD, has determined there is a critical need for flexible IET delivery models that can adapt to a system of release that is determined by an authorizing agency that must respond to constraints outside the domains of AEL and WSD. Also unique to the WSD and AEL collaboration is a review of changes that have impacted the release process since COVID-19. The TDCJ, in response to the pandemic, began releasing individuals from their point of incarceration versus transporting individuals to a singular point of release. Prior to the pandemic, most individuals were transported to a centralized release facility. Now TDCJ releases residents from their incarceration facility. If training is interrupted due to an early release, the ability to complete or reenter training through a referral to an AEL or Workforce Solutions Center maximizes the transfer of knowledge and skills in real time. This effort is two-fold. First, individuals who are suddenly released but still need to complete training can be referred to an AEL provider and Workforce Solutions office. Both entities can support re-enrollment and continuation. Second, evidence indicates that without continual skill practice and refresh, individuals who complete training and attain a credential but are not released as soon as anticipated benefit from building on existing training and completions through stacking credentials in the program of study. If there is a wide gap between training and practice (using the skill on the job), WSD is reporting that it reduces the impact on being ready for employment. Keeping those pending release engaged in training and education and stacking credentials is proving to be a practice that may yield better results upon release. It is anticipated that, following this three-year project, Texas AEL will be better positioned to report successes of the interagency collaboration and impact on recidivism. |
| Utah | The Utah Department of Corrections (UDOC) defines recidivism as a return to prison for either a technical violation of parole conditions or a new criminal event within 36 months of release. The most recent data from UDOC is for releases to parole supervision in 2018 (n=2883), 21.6% (n=622) returned for a new crime, and 48% (n=1385) returned for a technical violation only within 36 months. This gives an overall parole recidivism rate of 69.6% (n = 2007). |
| Vermont | Per Vermont’s WIOA Combined State Plan, Title II funds are not used to fund corrections education for incarcerated individuals. The Community High School (CHS) of Vermont serves incarcerated individuals through education and access to a diploma. |
| Virgin Islands | The State Director is an active member of the Re-Entry Program Advisory Council, and that council focuses on reduction of recidivism, breaking barriers for the re-entry population such as employment, mental health treatment, counseling, education and training, housing and family related issues. In the USVI, recidivism is an issue due to reasons such as economic barriers, homelessness due to excessive housing rates coupled with mental illness and limited support services. The relative rate of recidivism for criminal offenders served for this reporting period has not been captured due to the turnover of staff in the VI Bureau of Corrections (VIBOC). The State performed monitoring visits to the prison and excessive TA to the VIBOC to train the new staff and the TA for their adult literacy component has been ongoing. The VIBOC have noted considerable results for FY 22 of inmates graduating with HS diplomas and Technical Trade Certifications Territory wide. However, due to staff turnover, this information was not captured in the LACES MIS. The factor for capturing this data moving forward will be determined by the total amount of individuals who are incarcerated and in an adult literacy program versus those who are released into a re-entry adult literacy program, versus the percentage of those released who reoffend. The mandatory requirement for data input into the LACES MIS for FY23 is a priority for the VIBOC as the State have ensured that staff were adequately trained, and all resources have been provided. The VI BOC have begun the move for partnership for a satellite site in the St. Thomas/St. John and St. Croix districts for two new re-entry programs. |
| Virginia | During PY2022-2023, there was no methodology in place for matching the recidivism rate for criminal offenders or released individuals served in programs supported with Section 225 funds. However, the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) has published state definitions and formulas for setting the state rate of recidivism of re-arrest, re-conviction, and re-incarceration at intervals of 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. Virginia continues to have one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country at 20.6 percent. Although correctional education services remained limited in PY2022-2023 again due to pandemic restrictions and severe staffing shortages in the facilities, some regional programs were able to offer educational services in local and regional jails, community institutions, a halfway house, and community re-entry programs, including through distance education materials. IET programming that awarded credentials toward solar installation, was also offered in a state facility through a special arrangement. Enrollment was up from 416 in the previous year to 615 correctional education participants. Of those 615 participants, 143 (23 percent) participated in an IET program in correctional facilities and 84 participants (59 percent) earned an industry recognized credential. This included credentials in Solar Installation, Horticulture, ServSafe Manager, and Certified Logistics Associate. In PY2022-2023, these facilities experienced a 79 percent increase in the number of GED® passers over the prior year as academic preparation and testing volume continued to increase from the pandemic limitations. In total, 120 individuals earned a secondary credential. In addition, the state GED® pass rate for the correctional population increased from 70 percent to 76 percent, which is higher than the national pass rate. |
| Washington | Washington state does not fund corrections education using AEFLA Section 225 dollars. Corrections education is funded solely through a state appropriation in collaboration with the state Department of Corrections. |
| West Virginia | 29.3% WV Schools of Diversion and Transition utilizes AEFLA and state funds to serve students in adult jails and prisons throughout West Virginia. All populations inside the facility are served including misdemeanor, pre-trial felons, and sentenced felons. WVSDT collaborates with The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation for data collection from parole/probation officers also employed through The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Data is also collected from the WVDCR’s annual report with a current recidivism rate of 29.3% of return incarceration. 46% of incarcerated Individuals in WV do not possess a high school diploma or equivalent, 45% do possess a diploma, 8% completed post-secondary education completion and >1% are unknown education level. Mandatory education programs in the GOALS (Getting Over Addicted Lifestyles) class and the WV Legislature allowing for, “Good Time” education days off sentences provides additional incentives for education programs to assist with the reduction in recidivism. 42,701 days of “Good Time” education credit have been awarded for students completing programs as of December 2023. A total of 5,842 education certificates including HSE, Education Level gain, Workplace skills, Soft Skills, have been awarded through WVSDT programs. With over 250 education/training programs including Federal Division of Labor approved Apprenticeship programs reductions in recidivism continue. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin has adopted the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) definition of recidivism for narrative reporting purposes. The Wisconsin DOC defines recidivism as a new offense resulting in a conviction and sentence to the Wisconsin DOC after release. While Wisconsin uses the DOC definition, it is important to note that all students served are in county jails. There are three key components to the Wisconsin recidivism rate calculation: the starting point, the follow-up period, and the recidivism event. The starting point defines the cohort or group of offenders being examined to assess if they were recidivated. For example, offenders released from prison who received services during the 2016-17 program year. Wisconsin has also established that the released individuals must have received 12 hours of service or more in the program year to enter the cohort for tracking. The follow-up period defines the timeframe in which an offender may recidivate. The Wisconsin DOC has established the length of the follow-up period as being three years. If an individual recidivates during that three-year follow-up period, the date upon which the individual committed the recidivating offense is the date that is used to define the recidivism event when reporting. A series of correctional education providers were awarded grant funds through Wisconsin’s recent AEFLA competition. The first year of funding is fiscal year 2021-22. Wisconsin’s AEFLA correctional education providers are currently collecting and tracking recidivism data for the first cohort served under the newly awarded grants. The Wisconsin AEFLA 2021-22 recidivism cohort will report first year recidivism outcomes on September 15, 2023. This data will be reflected in next year's narrative report. Table 7. Wisconsin AEFLA Recidivism % Recidivate within 1 Year % Recidivate within 2 Years % Recidivate within 3 Years WI AEFLA 2021-22 Cohort 46% DNRY DNRY WI DOC Benchmark 2021-22 (2018) 15% DNRY DNRY Data Not Received Yet (DNRY) |
| Wyoming | The Corrections population in Wyoming consists of State correctional facilitates as well as local jails and half-way houses. Instruction at these centers focuses primarily on preparation for high school equivalency with employability skills & digital literacy being integrated as much as possible. Inmates in the pre-release stage are also taught employability skills, resume writing, and interviewing skills.
In FY 22/23 WYDOC was selected as a pilot site for the use of Second Chance Pell which has provided the funding for individuals to enroll in postsecondary education while incarcerated. In addition, WYDOC, in collaboration with DWS, began the implementation of projects under the Pathways Home 3 grant. Through this grant, DWS and DOC will teach foundational skills, such as job readiness, employability, digital literacy, and job search strategies, in addition to providing occupational training leading to industry-recognized credentials and providing access to employment and reducing the likelihood of recidivism.
Recidivism rates in Wyoming are not calculated separately for Adult Education participants. Instead, the rate represents all WY DOC individuals. The relative recidivism rate for Wyoming’s DOC is measured by the number of individuals who are re-arrested and placed into State prison across a three year period. This rate for the period ending in FY 22/23 was 22.9%. The Wyoming FY 22/23 Annual Report for Corrections provides details on the recidivism rates through Performance Indicators in their annual report. WDOC uses the Association of State Correctional Administrators’ measure of recidivism as an indicator of inmate rehabilitation. This performance indicator measures inmate and offender success rates, success rates are the opposite of recidivism. The first metric is focused on:
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