Excessively confined: lengthy sentences unnecessary as recidivism is rare among people convicted of violent crimes
Locking people up for violent crime for decades isn't necessary to keep them from reoffending, a new report from the Sentencing Project found.
We go to The Sentencing Project for this week’s report, “A New Lease on Life,” by Ashley Nellis.
1% of people who served time for murder were arrested for another murder.
17% of people who served time for murder were rearrested for another violent crime.
28% of people who served time for a violent crime were rearrested for another violent crime.
People who were released after a homicide charge were rearrested 27% less than people with other convictions.
Since 2004, New York has been decreasing its use of life sentences and the violent crime rate has dropped over the same time period.
Less than two percent of people convicted on murder in New York between 1985 and 2012 were reimprisoned.
The Sentencing Project offers recommendations to the media, prison and policymakers on how to change the false narrative surrounding people released after serving time for violent crimes and how to make prison release more fair and efficient.
Read the whole report here.
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