Virginia among top states in nation for low rate of re-incarceration

The number of convicted criminals who return to prison for another crime in Virginia is at its lowest level in more than two decades.

The Virginia Department of Corrections recently reported a 19 percent recidivism rate, improving on the 20.6 percent rate from the 2018 fiscal year.

It is also one of the lowest recidivism rates for re-incarceration in the nation. The rate is tied for the second lowest in the U.S. with Minnesota.

Virginia measures its three-year re-incarceration rate by waiting at least four years to allow all court information to be received and logged. The recidivism rate is compared to 33 other states that have made their comparable rates publicly available.

“I am pleased to see that Virginia’s recidivism rate has dropped yet again,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terrance Cole. “This shows that so many returning Virginians are making the most of their opportunities to succeed, and that our public safety agencies are working hard to keep Virginia safe and improve lives in the process.”

Full reports are available on the Virginia Department of Corrections website.