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- Title
EXAMINING INCARCERATION / RECIDIVISM AND EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS PRISON SYSTEM.
- Authors
Harney, Suzy; Ferrol-Hawley, Janney
- Abstract
The islands of the Caribbean feature prominently in the world's prison population. Within the top ten countries for imprisonment rate per 100,000, four Caribbean islands are included. Ranked at fifth place in the world, the US Virgin Islands leads the Caribbean. Crimes against persons, predominantly murder, dominate. Drug-related crimes accounted for only 1.6% of the prison population during the time frame of this study. The characteristics of the typical inmate in the USVI Prison System was found to be black, male, a non-high school graduate, under the age of 26; reflecting similar characteristics as in the USA. However, the stigma commonly associated in the USA with being a young, black, male who is undereducated is less prevalent in a black majority island community such as in the USVI. For example, nearly 40% of USVI residents had less than a high school education, according Census data. As well, when race is removed as a stigmatizing factor, such as in this territory, it can be seen what factors contributing to recidivism remains. The study investigated the relationship between recidivism and the level of education of inmates in the United States Virgin Islands Prison System. It is the first data-based recidivism study for the territory, as the data for this information was not digitally systemized, reviewed and analyzed. The records for 127 sentenced inmates were reviewed over a three-year period. It indicated that the average recidivism rate for the years 2007-2009 was at 55.5%. This rate is much higher than reported by most 3-year recidivism studies in the USA in this century. The results showed that recidivism in the USVI is highest among individuals with less than a high school level of education (p.<001). The study found that if inmates leave the educational system at an early age, they are more likely to recidivate. However, when only inmates identifying either as Black/Hispanic or as born in the USVI are examined, no relationships between educational attainment and offense status were found.
- Subjects
VIRGIN Islands; UNITED States; RECIDIVISM; UNITED States education system; IMPRISONMENT; PRISONS; CRIME; EDUCATION of prisoners
- Publication
Journal of Global Intelligence & Policy, 2012, Vol 5, Issue 9, p1
- ISSN
1942-8189
- Publication type
Article