NSW prisoners who receive parole supervision after their release reoffend less than similar prisoners who are released unconditionally, according to the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).
Releasing its Report, The effect of parole supervision on recidivism, BOCSAR said the study followed over 50,000 prisoners released from custody between January 2010 and March 2019.
BOCSAR said that, compared with equivalent unsupervised prisoners, prisoners released to supervised parole were 10 percentage points less likely to be convicted within a year (a decrease of 17.5 per cent) and five percentage points less likely to be imprisoned within a year (a decrease of 18.2 per cent).
“Parole was particularly effective in reducing serious reoffending among high-risk prisoners and Aboriginal prisoners,” it said.
“Importantly, lower than expected reoffending rates were still observed 24 months after release from prison.”
Commenting on the findings, Executive Director of BOCSAR, Jackie Fitzgerald said that, each year in NSW, about 8,000 people were released from prison.
“Nearly half will record a new conviction within a year and a quarter will receive a new prison sentence,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“This study suggests that community supervision can help to break the cycle of reoffending among this high-risk group,” she said.
BOCSAR’s 22-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
