U.S. Reincarceration Rates Fall To 28%, With 30,000 Fewer Annual Returns To Prison

National three-year reincarceration rates declined from approximately 35% to 28% over the past decade, according to a new report from the Council of State Governments Justice Center. This shift translates to an estimated 30,000 fewer people returning to prison each year.

Several states reported substantial declines. Eight states—California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon—saw reductions of 30% or more in reincarceration rates. In New York, rates declined from 42% for those released in 2010 to 19% for those released in 2020. In New Jersey, rates fell from 35% to 22% over the . . .