Recidivism Down 23% Across the Nation Over 15 Years Since 2008

For people exiting prison between 2008 and 2019, state-level three-year reincarceration rates have declined by 23%, according to an analysis by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center. Among those released in 2008, the three-year reincarceration rate was 35%, which dropped to 27% among those released in 2019.

During this 15-year span after the Second Chance Act was enacted, the number of states with three-year reincarceration rates above 45% has declined from 11 states to six states. In 10 states, recidivism rates declined by more than 23%, and in nine states the recidivism rate . . .