SACRAMENTO — A new report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) shows the state’s recidivism rate has fallen to its second-lowest level on record, with officials crediting rehabilitative programming under Proposition 57 as a major factor in helping formerly incarcerated people successfully transition back into their communities.
According to CDCR’s latest recidivism report, more than 66 percent of people released from California prisons remained free of new criminal convictions during the three-year follow-up period used to measure recidivism. The report found that individuals who participated in therapeutic, educational, vocational and self-development programs while incarcerated consistently achieved better outcomes after release than those who did not.
For the fourth consecutive year, CDCR data found rehabilitative programming associated with Proposition 57 played a significant role in reducing repeat offenses. The report showed that 66.6 percent of incarcerated individuals who participated in rehabilitation programming successfully reentered society, a success rate nearly 12 percent higher than determinately sentenced individuals who did not participate in similar programs.
Among those released following a parole hearing after participating in Proposition 57 programming, the report found a recidivism rate of just 2 percent for new felony convictions.
The report also highlighted several individual programs that produced particularly strong outcomes.
People who earned Educational Merit Credits while incarcerated achieved a 76.7 percent success rate on parole, while those who earned Rehabilitation Achievement Credits recorded an 81.5 percent success rate in reentry, representing improvements of up to 27 percent over comparable groups.
One of the strongest results came from CDCR’s Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming (STOP) initiative, where participants posted an 82.5 percent success rate after release. The department said the program demonstrates the value of comprehensive, evidence-based treatment in improving long-term public safety.
“The results are clear: when we invest in rehabilitation, public safety improves,” said Amy Casias, director of Rehabilitation Programs. “People who participate in education, career training, and many of the programs CDCR offers while incarcerated come home better prepared for success and far less likely to return to prison.”
The report also highlighted CDCR’s Cognitive Behavioral Interventions (CBI) program, which focuses on addressing behaviors that contribute to criminal activity. Participants receive instruction designed to replace negative thinking patterns with prosocial behaviors, reduce the risk of substance use relapse, improve anger management, and develop healthier family relationships.
Recently, CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs and the Amity Foundation hosted a graduation ceremony recognizing 58 incarcerated individuals who completed the CBI program.
“They can overcome all of their difficulties and those behavior norms that everyone expects of them, and they can change, and they can become productive citizens,” said Myra Goodson, a correctional counselor at California Medical Facility.
CDCR officials said the findings continue to shape the department’s long-term strategy for expanding evidence-based rehabilitation efforts. More than 11 percent of the department’s overall budget is now dedicated to rehabilitation programming, including education, vocational training and behavioral treatment.
Officials also pointed to the development of the San Quentin Learning Center as part of that investment. The center was established to expand educational and career training opportunities while serving as a model for corrections that emphasizes rehabilitation, public safety and successful community reentry.
The report covers individuals released during the 2020-21 fiscal year and represents the fourth full year of data following the implementation of Proposition 57, which California voters approved in 2016. The measure allows eligible incarcerated individuals to earn credits through good behavior and participation in approved rehabilitative programs, creating additional opportunities for parole consideration.
CDCR measures recidivism using a nationally recognized methodology that follows individuals for three years after release, tracking arrests, convictions and returns to prison. The department considers the three-year conviction rate its primary measure of recidivism, while arrests and returns to prison serve as supplemental indicators.
Additional information about CDCR’s rehabilitation programs, recidivism reports and offender outcomes is available on the department’s website.
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