Recidivism Rates By State

Last updated May 23, 2025

Recidivism Rate
Prison Population
Imprisonment Rate
Top
Last
Recidivism RateQuestion Mark
1DelawareDelaware64.5%
2AlaskaAlaska63.2%
3ArkansasArkansas57%
4ColoradoColorado50%
4Rhode IslandRhode Island50%
6New MexicoNew Mexico49.1%
7KentuckyKentucky46.4%
8PennsylvaniaPennsylvania46%
8North DakotaNorth Dakota46%
10VermontVermont45%
10New HampshireNew Hampshire45%
12MissouriMissouri43%
12New YorkNew York43%
14MontanaMontana42.2%
15MarylandMaryland40.5%
16South DakotaSouth Dakota40%
17IllinoisIllinois39.9%
18ArizonaArizona39.8%
19WisconsinWisconsin38%
20ConnecticutConnecticut37%
21KansasKansas36%
22North CarolinaNorth Carolina35.8%
23IowaIowa34.2%
24IndianaIndiana34%
25MississippiMississippi33%
26WashingtonWashington32%
26LouisianaLouisiana32%
26MassachusettsMassachusetts32%
29AlabamaAlabama31.5%
30MaineMaine31%
30IdahoIdaho31%
32OhioOhio30.7%
33New JerseyNew Jersey30%
34NevadaNevada28.6%
35WyomingWyoming28%
35MichiganMichigan28%
37NebraskaNebraska25.5%
38OklahomaOklahoma25%
38MinnesotaMinnesota25%
40FloridaFlorida24.5%
40South CarolinaSouth Carolina24.5%
42West VirginiaWest Virginia24%
43VirginiaVirginia23.4%

An Examination of Recidivism Rates by State

Delving into the complex maze of the United States justice system, this article explores recidivism rates across different states. Recidivism, or the tendency of a convicted criminal to re-offend after serving a sentence, is a persistent issue that points towards systemic failures and underlines the need for enhanced crime prevention strategies and rehabilitation programs.

A study of regional data reveals that recidivism rates greatly vary from state to state, from a towering 64.5% in Delaware to a lowly 23.4% in Virginia. This variability begs the question: what are the determining factors triggering such stark contrasts, and how can societies across the country learn from best practices to reduce recidivism in their own environments?

  • Delaware, Alaska, and Arkansas, with recidivism rates of 64.5%, 63.2%, and 57%, respectively, have the highest rates in the country.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, Virginia, West Virginia, and Florida, boasting the lowest recidivism rates at 23.4%, 24%, and 24.5%, respectively, may have valuable lessons and strategies to share on reducing reoffending.
  • Interestingly, regional clustering does not appear to be a significant factor – the five states with the highest recidivism levels are spread across different regions of the U.S., suggesting that there may be more localized factors at play.
  • The fact that even the states with the lowest recidivism rates still exceed a 20% mark hints towards structural limitations within the U.S. criminal justice system.

Region ↕Recidivism Rate↕Prison Population 2022↕Imprisonment Rate 2022↕
Delaware64.5%4,996497.92
Alaska63.2%4,587626.06
Arkansas57%17,432576.09
Colorado50%16,743288.07
Rhode Island50%2,315211.30
New Mexico49.1%5,414255.87
Kentucky46.4%19,861440.44
Pennsylvania46%39,286303.04
North Dakota46%1,767228.02
Vermont45%1,360210.67
New Hampshire45%2,051147.66
Missouri43%23,608382.74
New York43%31,099156.78
Montana42.2%4,370395.74
Maryland40.5%15,317248.45
South Dakota40%3,401379.84
Illinois39.9%29,577233.41
Arizona39.8%33,584461.55
Wisconsin38%21,152358.76
Connecticut37%10,088279.79
Kansas36%8,430287.26
North Carolina35.8%30,264286.83
Iowa34.2%9,345292.66
Indiana34%23,257341.71
Mississippi33%19,399657.60
Washington32%13,373172.81
Louisiana32%27,267589.68
Massachusetts32%6,19088.62
Alabama31.5%26,290521.64
Maine31%1,652120.39
Idaho31%9,138480.71
Ohio30.7%44,732379.73
New Jersey30%12,932139.55
Nevada28.6%10,314328.05
Wyoming28%2,262390.81
Michigan28%32,227320.64
Nebraska25.5%5,557282.99
Oklahoma25%22,871573.69
Minnesota25%7,848137.51
Florida24.5%84,121386.21
South Carolina24.5%14,100271.64
West Virginia24%4,651260.86
Virginia23.4%27,052313.02

States with the Highest Recidivism Rates

Leading the pack is Delaware. Known as 'The First State,' it, unfortunately, ranks first in a less commendable category – holding the highest recidivism rate of a staggering 64.5%.

Close on Delaware's heels is Alaska, reporting a recidivism rate of 63.2%. Arkansas emerges as the third highest in this regard, with a recidivism rate of 57%.

Rhode Island and Colorado follow, each having a recidivism rate of around 50%. Half of the released criminals in these regions tend to relapse into crimes after their sentences, underscoring issues that need immediate attention.

New Mexico, ranking sixth with a recidivism rate of 49.1%, and Kentucky, with 46.4%, do not fare much better. The remaining states in the top ten - North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Vermont - all report recidivism rates that hover around the mid-forties mark.

States with the Highest Recidivism Rates

  1. Delaware - 64.5%
  2. Alaska - 63.2%
  3. Arkansas - 57%
  4. Rhode Island - 50%
  5. Colorado - 50%
  6. New Mexico - 49.1%
  7. Kentucky - 46.4%
  8. North Dakota - 46%
  9. Pennsylvania - 46%
  10. Vermont - 45%

States with the Lowest Recidivism Rates

Leading the way is Virginia with a recidivism rate of 23.4%, magnitudes below the national average. It is closely followed by West Virginia, with a rate of 24%, and Florida, registering a rate of 24.5%. The latter two states share with Virginia a track record of significant effort to create support systems that assist ex-offenders in their reentry into society.

South Carolina's effort is also commendable, showing an equal score with Florida at a recidivism rate of 24.5%. Oklahoma and Minnesota follow, with both states exhibiting a recidivism rate of 25%. Nebraska trails closely behind with a rate of 25.5%.

The final three states rounding up the top ten are Michigan, Wyoming, and Nevada, with recidivism rates of 28%, 28%, and 28.6% respectively.

States with the Lowest Recidivism Rates:

  1. Virginia - 23.4%
  2. West Virginia - 24%
  3. Florida - 24.5%
  4. South Carolina - 24.5%
  5. Oklahoma - 25%
  6. Minnesota - 25%
  7. Nebraska - 25.5%
  8. Michigan - 28%
  9. Wyoming - 28%
  10. Nevada - 28.6%
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