A comparison of recidivism rates for the state of Georgia and the Rome Day Reporting Center

Georgia prisons house more than 60,000 inmates with 55% of them being individuals who have a history of substance abuse. It has become imperative that other alternatives or types of diversion programs be explored. Recidivism is a major problem for many of these offenders. The recidivism rate for Georgia's inmate population is 39%. The Rome Day Reporting Center (RDRC) research compared the recidivism rate of graduates at 90- and 180-day intervals with Georgia's inmate recidivism. The records of 89 participants in the RDRC were evaluated. Eighty had not recidivated at the 180-day interval. The results indicated that the recidivism rate for the successful graduates at the 180-day interval was .10%. Chi square test showed a significant difference in the graduates of the RDRC and the overall recidivism rate for the State of Georgia. This indicates there is a potential monetary savings to the state, and suggest that the state may consider the establishment of more day reporting centers.