Panel approves change to recidivism measure, shifts calculation to Statistical Analysis Center
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Summary
The Senate Judiciary committee heard testimony from the Crime Research Group and voted 5–0 to report a bill revising recidivism measurement (H410), replacing the term "clock" with a clearer recidivism calculation/measurement period and moving calculation responsibility to the Statistical Analysis Center, with a small appropriation noted.
The Senate Judiciary committee advanced a bill to revise the state’s recidivism measure and move responsibility for its calculation from the Department of Corrections to the Statistical Analysis Center.
Monica of the Crime Research Group, introduced to the committee on the record, told members the current statutory measure (in title 28, as discussed) is not useful in practice and misses large groups of people involved in the justice system. She recommended simplifying the definition and shifting the administrative responsibility to the SAC to ensure more consistent, transparent calculations.
"Instead of the word 'clock,' we can change that to 'measurement period' or 'recidivism calculation,'" Monica said when describing the staff-proposed language change. Committee members agreed on a small, technical edit to replace the term and asked for the clarified wording to be incorporated.
Monica said the Crime Research Group can produce the measure with existing contracts and will work with the Department of Corrections for necessary data. She described the proposal’s planned reporting schedule (3‑ and 5‑year follow‑up windows were discussed as standard lookback periods) and noted an appropriation attached to the bill to fund the added annual reporting work.
Members pressed whether the bill could also capture 'assistance' or 'desistance' — measures of services provided or reductions in risk — and Monica cautioned that while a statutory definition of desistance exists from prior legislation (Act 40), administrative data do not currently support reliably operationalizing that measure. She said researchers are seeking further federal funding and Department of Labor data to pursue desistance research in a future phase.
The committee also asked whether proposed reports would show whether bail was posted; Monica said the data will indicate whether bail was posted (yes/no) but will not record the reason why bail was not posted (for example, inability to pay).
After agreeing to the technical language change, the committee took a motion to report the bill as amended. The roll call was recorded and the committee reported the bill out by a recorded vote of 5–0–0.
Staff will circulate the edited language and related reports as the committee finalizes the bill text.
