Office of Justice Programs Weekly News Brief

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following news brief was issued today by the U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs:

BJS Releases Sexual Victimization Report  -- On Thursday, The Bureau of Justice Statistics released Sexual Victimization Reported by Former State Prisoners, 2008, finding that approximately 9.6 percent of adult former state prisoners reported being sexually victimized during their most recent period of confinement.  About 7.5 percent of former prisoners alleged that they were victimized while in a state prison, 1.8 percent while in a local jail, and 0.1 percent while in a post-release community treatment facility. WWW.BJS.gov

NIJ Study Finds GPS Monitoring of Sex Offenders Reduces Recidivism – The Office of Justice Program's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) recently released a study evaluating the use of global positioning systems (GPS) technology to monitor high-risk sex offenders on parole in California. The study, Monitoring High-Risk Sex Offenders with GPS Technology: An Evaluation of the California Supervision Program, found offenders in the GPS group demonstrated significantly better outcomes than offenders who were monitored in traditional ways.  The evaluation showed that risk for a sex-related violation was nearly three times greater for offenders who received traditional parole supervision than for offenders who received GPS supervision. The risk of committing an offense resulting in an arrest was twice as high for offenders receiving traditional parole supervision as for offenders in the GPS group. 

Upcoming Events:

• Attorney General Eric Holder, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Mary Lou Leary, Bureau of Justice Assistance Director Denise O'Donnell, and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Acting Administrator Melodee Hanes will speak at the Second Chance Act Conference on May 22 in Washington, D.C.  Speakers will discuss the Department's commitment to supporting inmate reentry programs.
• The Department of Justice's (DOJ) annual National Missing Children's Day commemoration will take place Wednesday, May 23, at DOJ's Great Hall, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. at 2 p.m. The event is open to the press. For more information, contact Starr Stepp, 202-514-9870.
• Registration is now open for the 2012 (NIJ?)National Institute of Justice's Conference, "Turning to Science – Enhancing Justice, Improving Safety and Reducing Costs," June 18 -20, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. http://www.nijconference2012.com/

Contact: Office of Justice Programs
Telephone: (202) 307-0703
WWW.OJP.GOV

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs