---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 60551"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "60551"
heading: "Offender reentry research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/60551"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Other Crime Control and Law Enforcement Matters"
  - "Chapter 605 — Recidivism Prevention"
  - "Subchapter II — Enhanced Drug Treatment and Mentoring Grant Programs"
  - "Part C — Administration of Justice Reforms"
  - "Subpart 2 — reentry research"
---

# §60551. Offender reentry research

- (a) **National Institute of Justice—** The National Institute of Justice may conduct research on juvenile and adult [offender](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) reentry, including—
  - (1) a study identifying the number and characteristics of minor children who have had a parent incarcerated, and the likelihood of such minor children becoming adversely involved in the criminal justice system some time in their lifetime;
  - (2) a study identifying a mechanism to compare rates of recidivism (including rearrest, violations of parole, probation, post-incarceration supervision, and reincarceration) among States; and
  - (3) a study on the population of [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) released from custody who do not engage in recidivism and the characteristics (housing, employment, treatment, family connection) of that population.
- (b) **Bureau of Justice Statistics—** The Bureau of Justice Statistics may conduct research on [offender](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) reentry, including—
  - (1) an analysis of special populations (including prisoners with mental illness or substance abuse disorders, female [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3), juvenile [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3), [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) with limited English proficiency, and the elderly) that present unique reentry challenges;
  - (2) studies to determine which [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) are returning to prison, jail, or a juvenile facility and which of those returning [offenders](/usc/34/60502.md?p=3) represent the greatest risk to [victims](/usc/34/60911.md?p=3) and community safety;
  - (3) annual reports on the demographic characteristics of the population reentering society from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;
  - (4) a national recidivism study every 3 years;
  - (5) a study of parole, probation, or post-incarceration supervision violations and revocations; and
  - (6) a study concerning the most appropriate measure to be used when reporting recidivism rates (whether rearrest, reincarceration, or any other valid, evidence-based measure).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–199, title II, § 241, Apr. 9, 2008, 122 Stat. 690.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 17551 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.