Reduce Recidivism

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Recidivism, originally tracked under Community Safety, has been trending in the wrong direction since 2014. Recidivism rates are often used to measure the success of policies and programs working to reduce crime and/or support people in re-entering society after incarceration.

Reducing recidivism requires allowing people to re-enter the community and access resources necessary to lead successful lives. A conviction history or criminal record can produce barriers to a successful re-entry, excluding those with criminal histories from securing housing, going to school, voting, getting a job, and getting an occupational license. The impact of these barriers reaches beyond people with criminal records in entire families and the San Antonio community.

National statistics show that men of color, particularly Black men, are arrested and incarcerated and disproportionate rates, and Bexar County statistics align with these findings.

COVID-19 found jails across the country releasing those incarcerated for non-violent offenses early in order to mitigate spread. The Prison Policy Institute tracked which state and local governments were committed to early release, reduced admissions, and necessary reforms to reduce the spread. Their report Mass Incarceration, COVID-19, and Community Spread was released in December 2020.

For more information on the effects of incarceration, read the US Commission on Civil Right's Collateral Consequences: The Crossroads of Punishment, Redemption, and the Effects on Communities, a report from June 2019.