The Influence of Social Bonds on Recidivism: A Study of Texas Male Prisoners.

The present study examines the influence of social bonds on recidivism for a random sample of 250 male offenders released from Texas prisons since 2001. Recidivism is a continuous variable, in which the researcher measured months between release from prison and reincarceration. Based on life-course theory, the researcher hypothesized that offenders released from prison who become employed or were married would have lower hazard ratios than offenders who were not employed or married. Results from survival analyses indicate recidivists who obtained employment upon release had longer crime-free periods before recidivating than recidivists who did not obtain employment. This is potentially important when considering desistance from crime as a process, since the offenders exhibited initial motivation, commitment, and behavioral change.