Criminal justice reform has been a hot topic these days – as prisons have become overcrowded, many have begun to question the connection between long-term imprisonment and crime deterrence.
On December 16, Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia’s recidivism rate (how many ex-prisoners commit crimes again after their release) is the lowest in the country, at just around 23 percent.
The governor cited data from the latest Virginia Department of Corrections report, which states that only 2,687 of 11,496 inmates have been incarcerated again after three years.
The Department of Corrections report defined recidivists as ex-prisoners who have committed new felonies and are now serving prison sentences of over one year. Those who committed misdemeanors and are serving under a year were not counted.
The report also mentioned that it did not count cases in which ex-prisoners committed new felonies within the last three years, but the case has not yet gone to trial.
Governor McAuliffe attributed the low recidivism rate to his administration’s reintegration reforms for former prisoners, with the goal of helping them get back to being productive members of society.
Through a partnership with Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles, the reforms have included skilled work training, education programs, job fairs, and more.
Despite the seemingly low numbers, Virginia law enforcement has noticed a slight upward trend in the past few years, attributing it to an increase in mental illness.
Harold Clark, head of Virginia’s prisons, noted that prisoners with serious mental illnesses are “returning at a greater rate,” which researchers have linked to lack of mental health services, or ability to access those services, within Virginia communities.
In all, the report shows that four out of five felons do not return to prison in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Defense attorney Mary Nerino commented, “This report is a step in the right direction, but it’s just a starting point. There’s still a lot of work to be done, and I hope that more emphasis is placed on providing help to individuals who need mental health assistance as part of reintegration training and support programs, especially in regards to continued access to medication and treatment.”
