November 3, 2008 |
2008-R-0596 | |
PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR VIOLATING PROBATION | ||
| ||
By: Christopher Reinhart, Senior Attorney | ||
You asked about the number of people sentenced to prison for violating probation and what their underlying crimes are.
On October 1, 2008, Department of Correction (DOC) facilities held 1,890 sentenced inmates with a violation of probation or conditional discharge as their controlling offense. A violation of probation means an offender was originally convicted of a crime and sentenced to probation either after a prison term or in place of one. During probation, the offender violated a court-imposed condition or committed another crime and was ordered to complete the original sentence or given a new sentence.
Offenders incarcerated for a violation of probation or conditional discharge may have more than one underlying offense. DOC provided us with data on these 1,890 inmates, listing each by his or her most serious underlying offense. The table below groups these inmates into a number of categories based on their underlying offenses.
Underlying Crimes of People Sentenced for Violating Probation | ||
Offense Category |
Inmates |
Percent |
Drug Offenses |
430 |
22. 8% |
Sex Offenses |
233 |
12. 3% |
Assault |
200 |
10. 6% |
Robbery |
177 |
9. 4% |
Larceny |
176 |
9. 3% |
Burglary |
116 |
6. 1% |
Risk of Injury (Non-Sexual) |
108 |
5. 7% |
Failure to Appear |
82 |
4. 3% |
Violate Protective, Restraining, or Criminal Restraining Order |
70 |
3. 7% |
Other Property Crimes |
53 |
2. 8% |
Driving Under the Influence Related Offenses |
51 |
2. 7% |
Firearms/Weapons Offenses |
45 |
2. 4% |
Kidnapping/Unlawful Restraint |
33 |
1. 7% |
Interfering With an Officer |
16 |
0. 8% |
Breach of Peace |
14 |
0. 7% |
Homicide |
9 |
0. 5% |
Violate Probation or Conditional Discharge |
8 |
0. 4% |
Other Motor Vehicle Offenses |
8 |
0. 4% |
Conspiracy/Attempt/Liability for Another |
6 |
0. 3% |
Youthful Offender |
5 |
0. 3% |
Other Offenses |
50 |
2. 6% |
TOTAL |
1,890 |
100. 0% |
A number of offenses could fall under more than one category.
● We included manslaughter with a motor vehicle while intoxicated and assault with a motor vehicle while intoxicated under the category of “driving under the influence related offenses. ”
● We included kidnapping with a firearm in the “kidnapping/unlawful restraint” category.
● The “sex offenses” category includes sexual assault crimes, injury or risk of injury to a minor (sexual), prostitution, child pornography, sex offender registry violations, and similar crimes.
● The “other property crimes” category includes crimes such as trespass, arson, criminal mischief, forgery, and identity theft.
CR: dw