By the numbers: Real crimes send paroled offenders back to prison — not ‘over-criminalization’
The article discusses the reasons for the reincarceration of parolees, emphasizing that many are sent back to prison for technical violations rather than for new crimes. Research indicates that a significant portion of those reincarcerated for technical violations had also committed new offenses. The authors argue that the system often favors quicker parole violation hearings over pursuing formal criminal charges, which can lead to a lack of due process for parolees.
- ▪The Prison Policy Initiative claims that technical violations are the main reason for the incarceration of people on probation and parole.
- ▪In a study of Pennsylvania parolees, 58.8% were returned to prison for technical violations, with 18.7% of those also having been arrested for new offenses.
- ▪Nearly half of technical violators returned to prison either showed criminal behavior or were absconding before their return.
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Opinion By the numbers: Real crimes send paroled offenders back to prison — not ‘over-criminalization’ By Barry Latzer and Kristofer Bret Bucklen Published May 28, 2026, 7:58 p.m. ET NYPD officers at a crime scene in The Bronx on May 25, 2026. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google The Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit focused on “over-criminalization,” declares that “non-criminal (or ‘technical’) violations are the main reason for incarceration of people on probation and parole.” Other advocacy groups, like the Council of State Governments and the Vera Institute, agree.
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