2015 ISRB Release Decisions

Abstract

This research evaluates the Washington State ISRB and its release determinations for community custody offenders. Documents relating to offender custody and the release hearing process are analyzed for content and variables are checked for internal patterns and correlations. The focus is offender characteristics that may be relevant to current methodologies of risk determination. The findings suggest that patterns form around stated ISRB factors, which are not necessarily related to release. Correlations suggest that release determinations are procedurally based and form strong relationships around perceptions of offender change. This information may be useful for applications in public safety, resource allocation, and board accountability.