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Research Proposal

Research Proposal
Diego Reyes
California Baptist University
ENG 123
Prof. Alzen
Fall 2016

Research Proposal

Introduction
In recent years, there has been an increase in incarcerations in the United States, there are
over 700,000 inmates being released from incarceration each year and About two-thirds of the
inmate population, are re-arrested for new crimes or re-incarcerated within 3 years (Durose et al.
2014). Loretta lynch sharing similar notions With the increased of imprisonment rates in the
United States, studies have shown that reentering society is a process, with important
implications for communities and solutions must be made to create opportunities for those
reentering society after serving a sentence. (Lynch,2016) There are many solutions being
implemented or being proposed with todays current issues to prepare inmates from the
difficulties of mass incarceration and preventing recidivism in California.
In this essay I will review a brief history of the increase in recidivism rates by reviewing
and explaining some of the sources which revolve around recidivism today. I will review The
Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994 a report conducted by The Bureau of Justice
Statistics, which proved to be one of the most comprehensive national-level recidivism studies
conducted. By using the report, I will explain some of the issues and statistics of inmates, who
are highly susceptible to incarcerated upon their release from incarceration. In addition, to the
risks of reoffending upon their release. I will also review some of the disadvantages of
incarceration, issues which has accompanied inmates while incarcerated and upon their release.
Disadvantages such as psychological consequences that follow after serving a sentence and the
difficulties inmates face when transition from prison to returning to society using sources from
Craig Haney from the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. And scholars
such as Robert D. Crutchfield and Gregory A. Weeks.

Research Proposal

In this research essay I will also include some of the private organizations which are
setout to help inmates by providing assistance and support when transitioning from prison
tosociety. Private organizations such as California Forward and Back on Track Los
Angeles,which are aimed at improving the recidivism rates in the state of California, by
providing workassistance, rehabilitation, counseling and life skills that are necessary when reentering society. Iwill also introduce proposition 47 which was presented in 2014, which was set
to release lowlevel offenders to jail and provide assistance by using external and internal
organizations,exemplifying the response of the high recidivism rates and mass imprisonment. I
will argue thatusing external organizations such as California Forward and Back on Track Los
Angeles willhelp in providing assistance to those inmates being released on to society which will
be morebeneficial, in contrast to proposition 47 which is set to release low level offense inmates
to bereleased on to society with misdemeanors. Where in the community is now put at risk
becauserepeat offenders no longer face serious consequences and removes the motivation for
drugaddicts to get treatment.
Review of Sources
For the history portion of on my project I will introduce to my audience, to a study which
was conducted in 1994 by Patrick A. Langan, Ph.D. and David J. Levin, Ph.D. which was
published on June 2, 2002. The study consisted of tracking the rearrests rates of inmates upon
their release in 1994. The study showed two-thirds of released prisoners were rearrested within
three years. This study tracked 272,111 prisoners who were released from prison in 15 States and
gave an accurate national recidivism rate. The study provided statistics that proved that out of
272,111 offenders discharged in 1994 had eventually accrued about 4.1 million arrest charges
before their most recent imprisonment and another 744,000 charges within 3 years of release

Research Proposal

(Langan, Levin). Using the study conducted in 1994 will demonstrate the rising rates of
recidivism in the U.S.
I will include a study conducted by Craig Haney where he expressed some of the
psychological consequences that follow after serving a sentence, which may represent some of
the significant disorders to post-prison adjustment when released to society (Haney, 2001). Craig
Haney from the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, best demonstrated the
issues that are correlated along with incarceration and the additional consequences attached to
the inmate upon their release. Haney states Thus, in the first decade of the 21st century, more
people have been subjected to the pains of imprisonment, for longer periods of time, under
conditions that threaten greater psychological distress and potential long-term dysfunction, and
they will be returned to communities that have already been disadvantaged by a lack of social
services and resources (Haney, 2001). This indicates the transition from prison to home can be
difficult for those inmates returning to society to resume to his or her role with family and the
community. The psychological issues associated with incarceration have shown to have been
one of the main causes of increased recidivism in California. By using Craig Haneys study on
some of the consequences of prison will show that there are consequences to incarceration.
Similarly, Robert D. Crutchfield and Gregory A. Weeks emphasized comparable notions
to those of Craig Haney. By using both authors studies will ensure that I get my point across that
incarceration is not always key and that there are repercussion and reasons why people reoffend.
The authors reported that the majority who were incarcerated often had drug related, alcohol, or
mental problems. The authors also argued that inmates being released often received little to no
treatment or counseling during their incarceration sentence because of reduced funding for
rehabilitation programs as well as the closing or scaling back of state mental facilities

Research Proposal

(Crutchfield & Weeks, 2015). The Authors used concepts from criminologist that suggested that
mass incarceration and the issues of those who are being released in to society have shown to be
harmful to communities. Some examples of the harmful side effects are raising crime rates,
victimization, criminalization of the community populace, and the lack of resources. (Crutchfield
& Weeks, 2015) Using both authors exemplify issues which are also shared and similar to Craig
Haney.
I will use Assembly Bill 109 which is a part of the 2011 Public Safety Realignment which
is an initiative partnered with California Forward (CA FWD) a California-based nonprofit
organization that aims to reform counties to identify ways to assist with drug treatment, mental
health and health services for released offenders. By using this bill will exemplify some of the
solution which are being implemented by congress. The bill was implemented to mandate
individuals who were sentenced to non-serious, non-violent or non-sex offenses to serve
sentences in county jails instead of state prison. What Bill 109 also offered counties funding and
ways to explore alternatives solutions rather than locking criminals up, throwing away the key.
Similarly, in 2013 Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that she will create an
anti-recidivism program. Later in 2015 Kamala launched the pilot anti-recidivism program in
Los Angeles called Back On Track Los Angeles (BOT-LA). The program is intended to
reduce recidivism and provide the ex-offender with the proper resources to reenter society. BOTLA focuses on the individuals entry and release from incarceration, by providing unified reentry services, which are important for success. Some of the services BOT-LA included was
employment skills, trades, and life skill services. In the picture below shows the amounts of
participants who completed BOT-LA program which has shown a decrease in recidivism.

Research Proposal

High incarceration rates have been proven to have led to high recidivism rates nationally.
In response, to prevent recidivism California passed proposition 47 in 2014, which converted six
nonviolent offenses related to drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, which
made early release possible for inmates. The proposition allowed for inmates to be considered for
resentencing based on the offense. The law proved to have lowered incarceration by 13,000
inmates and saved the state of California about 150 million dollars.
Every year there are 600,000 inmates being released from incarceration to re-enter
society and the chance of reoffending within the first three years has opened the eyes of many
scholars and political figures to find some solution for ex-inmates to prevent recidivism. In 2013
Attorney General Kamala Harris has begun an anti-recidivism program. The program is intended
to aid in the overcrowding in prisons by sending low-level offenders to county jail instead of
prison. Kamalas program is in support of assisting those who are at risk to reoffend again.
Reentry to society has been shown to be a process with enormous implications for communities
across the United States. The program will focus on the individuals release from jail, by
providing unified re-entry services which are important for success when re-entering society,.
Some of the services included employment skills, trades, and life skill services.
High incarceration rates have been proven to have led to high recidivism rates nationally.
In response, to prevent recidivism California passed proposition 47 in 2014, which converted six
nonviolent offenses related to drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, which
made early release possible for inmates. The proposition allowed for inmates to be considered for
resentencing based on the offense. The law proved to have lowered incarceration by 13,000
inmates and saved the state about 150 million dollars.

Research Proposal

One of the most debatable policy solutions to one of todays current problem is The
Recidivism Risk Reduction Act. This is policy solution was implemented by Representative Jason
Chaffetz and congress who set out to reduce the sentence of inmates with possible parole, for
those who are found eligible to the program. In contrast, to 1984s, The Sentencing Reform Act
which eliminated parole for federal prisoners, requiring that they serve no less than 85% of their
original sentence regardless of time earned for good behavior. Since 1984, Recidivism reduction
and reentry programs have become a priority instead of harsher sentences.

Research Proposal

References
Durose M, Cooper A, Snyder H (2014) Recidivism of prisoners released in 30 states in 2005:
patterns from 2005 to 2010. Special report. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington.
http://www.bjs.gov/content/ pub/pdf/rprts05p0510.pdf
Langan, Patrick A., and David J. Levin. "Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994." Federal
Sentencing Reporter 15.1 (2002): 58-65. Web.
Haney, Craig "The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison
Adjustment." ASPE. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 06 Mar. 2016. Web.
03 Dec. 2016. <https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/psychological-impact-incarcerationimplications-post-prison-adjustment#V>.
Crutchfield, Robert D. & Weeks, Gregory A. The Effects of Mass Incarceration on Communities
of Color. Issues in Science & Technology, Vol. 32 Issue 1, p46-51. 6p.(2015)