AMES, Iowa – Matt DeLisi, a professor of sociology at Iowa State University, will testify this week before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about proposed recommendations by the Urban Institute for reducing federal prison populations and recidivism rates. DeLisi, who is also coordinator of the criminal justice studies program, will talk about the consequences of releasing a large number of prisoners and the likelihood they will reoffend.
The hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. If you would like to view his testimony, a live webcast of the hearing is available at: http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=5fa8a4fcfd512d43b3816f1ee70590ab&.
DeLisi says it would be a mistake to reduce prison populations as a cost-savings measure. In the past, crime rates have gone up when prison populations have declined, he added. Moreover, many prisoners have an array of antisocial personality features that makes reoffending likely upon release.
