RATE OF FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO
CALIFORNIA PRISONS
CALENDAR YEAR 2008

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Offender Information Services Branch
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Data Analysis Unit

Sacramento, California
April 2009

Reference Number: PVRET-2

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION
MATTHEW L. CATE
Secretary

SCOTT KERNAN
Undersecretary, Operations

KATHRYN P. JETT
Undersecretary, Programs

MARY S. FERNANDEZ
Undersecretary, Administration

ADULT OPERATIONS
SUZAN L. HUBBARD
Director, Division of Adult Institutions

THOMAS G. HOFFMAN
Director, Division of Adult Parole Operations

STEVEN F. CHAPMAN, Ph. D.
Assistant Secretary, Office of Research

RUDY HAAPANEN, Ph. D.
Chief, Offender Information Services Branch

JAY R. ATKINSON
Research Manager II, Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section

DATA ANALYSIS UNIT
LORI ASUNCION
Staff Services Manager I
STEPHEN KRIMETZ
Associate Information Systems Analyst

DAVID WEISHAHN
Assistant Information Systems Analyst

RAVINDERPAL VAID
Research Analyst II

CINDY WAGSTAFF
Research Analyst II

1515 S STREET

SACRAMENTO, CA 95811

TELEPHONE: (916) 445-1310

Internet:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Offender_Information_Reports.html

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Research/Offender_Information_Services_Branch/Contact_DAU.aspx

Data Analysis Unit
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Offender Information Services Branch

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
State of California
April 2009

RATE OF FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO
CALIFORNIA PRISONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Table 1

Total Felon Parolees Returned to California Prisons (CY 1976-2008) ........... 1

Table 2

Male Felon Parolees Returned to California Prisons (CY 1976-2008) ........... 2

Table 3

Female Felon Parolees Returned to California Prisons (CY 1976-2008)........ 3

Definitions and Formulas................................................................................................... 4

Contact Person:
Cindy Wagstaff
Research Analyst II
Data Analysis Unit
(916) 324-8805

PVRET-2

Data Analysis Unit
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Offender Information Services Branch

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
State of California
April 2009

TABLE 1
TOTAL FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA PRISONS
NUMBER AND RATE* PER 100 AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION (ADP)**
CALENDAR YEAR 1976 THROUGH 2008
TOTAL FELON
PAROLEES RETURNED
WITH A NEW TERM
(PV-WNTs)
NUMBER
RATE*

AVERAGE DAILY
TOTAL FELON
CALENDAR
FELON
PAROLEES RETURNED
YEAR
PAROLEE/PAL
(PV-RETs)
POPULATION** NUMBER
RATE*

TOTAL FELON PAROLEES
RETURNED TO CUSTODY
WITHOUT A NEW TERM ***
(PV-RTCs)
NUMBER
RATE*

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

15,302
14,428
12,401
10,455
11,061

2,233
2,031
2,585
2,558
2,995

14.6
14.1
20.8
24.5
27.1

1,255
1,243
1,574
1,362
1,393

8.2
8.6
12.7
13.0
12.6

978
788
1,011
1,196
1,602

6.4
5.5
8.2
11.4
14.5

1981
1982
1983
1984
1985

11,883
13,609
18,223
24,390
28,888

3,885
6,009
8,435
11,409
16,311

32.7
44.2
46.3
46.8
56.5

1,772
2,231
3,160
3,988
5,042

14.9
16.4
17.3
16.4
17.5

2,113
3,778
5,275
7,421
11,269

17.8
27.8
28.9
30.4
39.0

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990

33,615
39,878
50,054
58,731
69,164

23,849
31,597
42,424
51,016
54,379

70.9
79.2
84.8
86.9
78.6

5,790
6,390
8,410
11,040
14,070

17.2
16.0
16.8
18.8
20.3

18,059
25,207
34,014
39,976
40,309

53.7
63.2
68.0
68.1
58.3

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995

80,905
87,940
90,628
93,536
102,181

57,344
52,871
54,681
62,480
69,884

70.9
60.1
60.3
66.8
68.4

16,010
17,939
19,150
17,009
17,454

19.8
20.4
21.1
18.2
17.1

41,334
34,932
35,531
45,471
52,430

51.1
39.7
39.2
48.6
51.3

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000

109,659
115,299
122,981
129,709
134,821

75,419
85,497
87,645
87,729
89,346

68.8
74.2
71.3
67.6
66.3

17,435
17,593
17,385
17,064
16,016

15.9
15.3
14.1
13.2
11.9

57,984
67,904
70,260
70,665
73,330

52.9
58.9
57.1
54.5
54.4

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005

136,932
136,133
131,693
128,501
131,087

88,806
85,551
78,058
76,565
80,935

64.9
62.8
59.3
59.6
61.7

14,531
14,363
15,703
17,840
19,755

10.6
10.6
11.9
13.9
15.1

74,275
71,188
62,355
58,725
61,180

54.2
52.3
47.3
45.7
46.7

2006
2007
2008

133,118
141,231
139,747

89,872
92,819
94,549

67.5
65.7
67.7

20,777
20,825
19,945

15.6
14.7
14.3

69,095
71,994
74,604

51.9
51.0
53.4

Note: Components may not add to totals due to independent rounding.

*These rates should not be considered to be CDC's recidivism rates.
**The Average Daily Felon Parolee/PAL Population (ADP) includes the average daily population of felon parolees supervised in California,
plus the average daily felon parolee-at-large (PAL) population. California releases to parole who were under supervision in other states
and absconded from supervision were included in the PAL population prior to 1988.
***Beginning in 1986, the Total Felon Parolees Returned to Custody Without a New Term includes parolees who were returned to CDC custody
pending a revocation hearing.
PVRET-2
1

Data Analysis Unit
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Offender Information Services Branch

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
State of California
April 2009

TABLE 2
MALE FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA PRISONS
NUMBER AND RATE* PER 100 AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION (ADP)**
CALENDAR YEAR 1976 THROUGH 2008
MALE FELON

MALE FELON PAROLEES

AVERAGE DAILY

MALE FELON

PAROLEES RETURNED

RETURNED TO CUSTODY

CALENDAR

MALE FELON

PAROLEES RETURNED

WITH A NEW TERM

WITHOUT A NEW TERM***

YEAR

PAROLEE/PAL

(PV-RETs)

(PV-WNTs)

RATE*

NUMBER

(PV-RTCs)

POPULATION**

NUMBER

RATE*

NUMBER

RATE*

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

14,394
13,632
11,750
9,882
10,392

2,189
1,982
2,510
2,472
2,901

15.2
14.5
21.4
25.0
27.9

1,222
1,212
1,538
1,325
1,354

8.5
8.9
13.1
13.4
13.0

967
770
972
1,147
1,547

6.7
5.6
8.3
11.6
14.9

1981
1982
1983
1984
1985

11,098
12,684
17,009
22,731
26,793

3,725
5,730
8,040
10,796
15,414

33.6
45.2
47.3
47.5
57.5

1,714
2,141
3,022
3,814
4,778

15.4
16.9
17.8
16.8
17.8

2,011
3,589
5,018
6,982
10,636

18.1
28.3
29.5
30.7
39.7

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990

30,959
36,589
45,738
53,616
62,872

22,343
29,537
39,583
47,399
50,408

72.2
80.7
86.5
88.4
80.2

5,433
6,042
7,919
10,341
13,194

17.5
16.5
17.3
19.3
21.0

16,910
23,495
31,664
37,058
37,214

54.6
64.2
69.2
69.1
59.2

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995

73,191
79,465
82,012
84,854
92,896

53,017
49,122
50,678
57,457
64,216

72.4
61.8
61.8
67.7
69.1

14,994
16,862
17,935
15,767
16,217

20.5
21.2
21.9
18.6
17.5

38,023
32,260
32,743
41,690
47,999

52.0
40.6
39.9
49.1
51.7

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000

99,403
104,198
110,528
116,264
120,493

68,816
78,040
79,724
79,734
81,313

69.2
74.9
72.1
68.6
67.5

16,057
16,181
15,831
15,472
14,574

16.2
15.5
14.3
13.3
12.1

52,759
61,859
63,893
64,262
66,739

53.1
59.4
57.8
55.3
55.4

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005

121,979
121,200
117,412
114,630
116,837

81,383
78,535
71,779
70,472
74,133

66.7
64.8
61.1
61.5
63.4

13,379
13,240
14,409
16,309
18,118

11.0
10.9
12.3
14.2
15.5

68,004
65,295
57,370
54,163
56,015

55.8
53.9
48.9
47.3
47.9

2006
2007
2008

118,219
125,301
124,333

82,315
84,880
86,554

69.6
67.7
69.6

18,917
18,899
18,175

16.0
15.1
14.6

63,398
65,981
68,379

53.6
52.7
55.0

Note: Components may not add to totals due to independent rounding.

*These rates should not be considered to be CDC's recidivism rates.
**The Average Daily Felon Parolee/PAL Population (ADP) includes the average daily population of felon parolees supervised in California,
plus the average daily felon parolee-at-large (PAL) population. California releases to parole who were under supervision in other states
and absconded from supervision were included in the PAL population prior to 1988.
***Beginning in 1986, the Total Felon Parolees Returned to Custody Without a New Term includes parolees who were returned to CDC custod
pending a revocation hearing.

PVRET-2
2

Data Analysis Unit
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Offender Information Services Branch

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
State of California
April 2009

TABLE 3
FEMALE FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA PRISONS
NUMBER AND RATE* PER 100 AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION (ADP)**
CALENDAR YEAR 1976 THROUGH 2008

CALENDAR
YEAR

AVERAGE DAILY
FEMALE FELON
PAROLEE/PAL
POPULATION**

FEMALE FELON
PAROLEES RETURNED

FEMALE FELON
PAROLEES RETURNED
WITH A NEW TERM

FEMALE FELON PAROLEES
RETURNED TO CUSTODY
WITHOUT A NEW TERM ***

(PV-RETs)
NUMBER
RATE*

(PV-WNTs)
NUMBER
RATE*

(PV-RTCs)
NUMBER
RATE*

1976
1977
1978
1979
1980

908
796
651
573
669

44
49
75
86
94

4.8
6.2
11.5
15.0
14.1

33
31
36
37
39

3.6
3.9
5.5
6.5
5.8

11
18
39
49
55

1.2
2.3
6.0
8.6
8.2

1981
1982
1983
1984
1985

785
925
1,214
1,659
2,095

160
279
395
613
897

20.4
30.2
32.5
36.9
42.8

58
90
138
174
264

7.4
9.7
11.4
10.5
12.6

102
189
257
439
633

13.0
20.4
21.2
26.5
30.2

1986
1987
1988
1989
1990

2,656
3,289
4,316
5,115
6,292

1,506
2,060
2,841
3,617
3,971

56.7
62.6
65.8
70.7
63.1

357
348
491
699
876

13.4
10.6
11.4
13.7
13.9

1,149
1,712
2,350
2,918
3,095

43.3
52.1
54.4
57.0
49.2

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995

7,714
8,475
8,616
8,682
9,286

4,327
3,749
4,003
5,023
5,668

56.1
44.2
46.5
57.9
61.0

1,016
1,077
1,215
1,242
1,237

13.2
12.7
14.1
14.3
13.3

3,311
2,672
2,788
3,781
4,431

42.9
31.5
32.4
43.5
47.7

1996
1997
1998
1999
2000

10,256
11,101
12,452
13,444
14,328

6,603
7,457
7,921
7,995
8,033

64.4
67.2
63.6
59.5
56.1

1,378
1,412
1,554
1,592
1,442

13.4
12.7
12.5
11.8
10.1

5,225
6,045
6,367
6,403
6,591

50.9
54.5
51.1
47.6
46.0

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005

14,953
14,934
14,281
13,871
14,250

7,423
7,016
6,279
6,093
6,802

49.6
47.0
44.0
43.9
47.7

1,152
1,123
1,294
1,531
1,637

7.7
7.5
9.1
11.0
11.5

6,271
5,893
4,985
4,562
5,165

41.9
39.5
34.9
32.9
36.2

2006
2007
2008

14,899
15,930
15,414

7,557
7,939
7,995

50.7
49.8
51.9

1,860
1,926
1,770

12.5
12.1
11.5

5,697
6,013
6,225

38.2
37.7
40.4

Note: Components may not add to totals due to independent rounding.

*These rates should not be considered to be CDC's recidivism rates.
**The Average Daily Felon Parolee/PAL Population (ADP) includes the average daily population of felon parolees supervised in California,
plus the average daily felon parolee-at-large (PAL) population. California releases to parole who were under supervision in other states
and absconded from supervision were included in the PAL population prior to 1988.
***Beginning in 1986, the Total Felon Parolees Returned to Custody Without a New Term includes parolees who were returned to CDC
custody pending a revocation hearing.

PVRET-2
3

Data Analysis Unit
Estimates and Statistical Analysis Section
Offender Information Services Branch

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
State of California
April 2009

DEFINITIONS AND FORMULAS USED TO PRODUCE THE ANNUAL
RATE OF FELON PAROLEES RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA PRISONS
The annual rate of total felon parolees returned to prison is calculated by dividing
the number of California felon parolees returned to prison within the calendar
year by the average daily felon parole/parolee-at-large (PAL) population. The
result is multiplied by 100 to calculate a rate per 100 average daily population.
Similar formulas are used to calculate return rates for specific types of returns.
Offenders in or returned from Interstate Parole Units (ISPU) or California Youth
Authority parole are not included.
Rate of Total
Felon Parolees
Returned to Prison

=

(PV-WNTs + PV-RTCs) X 100
(ADP)

PV-WNTs:

Number of Parole Violators Returned to Prison With a New
Term, i.e., parolees who have received a court sentence for
a new crime and have been returned to prison.

PV-RTCs:

Number of Parole Violators Returned To Custody, i.e.,
parolees who have violated the conditions of parole and
have been returned to prison pending a revocation hearing
or to serve parole revocation time.

ADP:

Average Daily Parole/PAL Population is the calculated
average parolee population per day for the year specified.
This figure includes felon parolees supervised in California,
plus the average daily felon parolee-at-large (PAL)
population. California releases to parole who were under
supervision in other states and absconded from supervision
were included in the PAL ADP population prior to 1988.

These rates should not be considered to be CDCR’s recidivism rates. For
more information on recidivism, please contact :
Paula Agostini
CDCR Research Branch
P.O. Box 942883, Rm 508-S
Sacramento, CA 95811-7243
E-Mail: OAR@cdcr.ca.gov

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