Utah is expected to spend over $1.4 billion this year on incarceration, probation, and parole. Are there ways to reduce that cost? Perhaps. Reducing recidivism is an important consideration.
Recidivism, the tendency for someone to re-offend and end up back in prison after release, is one of the clearest ways to measure whether the criminal legal system is meeting its goals.
The Utah Foundation’s newest report examines how Utah defines and tracks recidivism, what it costs the state, and how Utah’s rates and policies compare with those of its Mountain State neighbors and leading states nationwide. It also highlights the programs, partnerships, and policy changes Utah has adopted to help people successfully reenter their communities.