The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) announced today a notable reduction in the state’s recidivism rate, with the most recent figure for the FY22–25 cohort standing at 32.8%. This represents a 3% decrease from last year and marks the lowest recidivism rate observed in the last decade.
Recidivism is defined as the return of an individual to an Iowa prison within three years following a previous term of incarceration.
Under Director Beth Skinner’s leadership, the DOC has demonstrated a consistent decline in recidivism. When her tenure began in 2019, the three-year recidivism rate was 38.9%. Today’s rate of 32.8% reflects a total decrease of 6.1 percentage points during her appointment…