The incarceration rate in our nation is by far the highest in the world at over 700 per 100,000 citizens. Most European nations have rates less than 175. The impact on communities—and the hardest hit are communities of color—is devastating. High incarceration rates often lead to prison overcrowding. One way to address this overcrowding is through accelerated release programs.
In accelerated release programs, eligible prisoners may be released ahead of their sentenced release dates through the application of good time credit, intense community supervision, or other methods. Accelerated release programs have been implemented throughout the country in different ways and at different times.
They have always been confronted with opposition by critics who claim that accelerated release poses a threat to public safety.
NCCD conducted a review of published studies to examine the accuracy of that assumption. This FOCUS presents the fi ndings of this literature review.
