Of the 64,124 cases reported to the Commission in fiscal year 2023, 303 involved escape (up 2.4% since FY 2019). [1], [2]
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Individual and Offense Characteristics
- 90.7% of individuals sentenced for escape were men.
- 33.1% were Black, 28.8% were Hispanic, 27.8% were White, and 10.4% were Other races.
- Their average age was 37 years.
- 96.3% were United States citizens.
- 35.1% were in the highest criminal history category (Criminal History Category VI);
- 4.0% were CHC I;
- 0.3% were CHC II;
- 14.9% were CHC III;
- 24.2% were CHC IV;
- 21.5% were CHC V.
- The top five districts for individuals sentenced for escape offenses were:
- Western District of Texas (27);
- District of Arizona (24);
- Eastern District of Missouri (21);
- District of New Mexico (17);
- Southern District of Iowa (15).
- 0.7% of cases involved the use or threat of force against any person.
- 63.2% of cases involved an individual escaping from the non-secure custody of a community corrections center, community treatment center, “halfway house,” or other similar facility.
- 7.3% of cases involved an individual escaping from non-secure custody and returning voluntarily within 96 hours.
- 2.0% of individuals recklessly endangered another person during flight from law enforcement.
- None of the individuals sentenced for escape received an increase for aiding or abetting the offense while serving as a law enforcement or correctional officer or employee, or as an employee of the Department of Justice.
Punishment
- The average sentence for individuals sentenced for escape was 14 months.
- 98.3% were sentenced to prison.
Sentences Relative to the Guideline Range
- 71.5% of individuals who escaped were sentenced under the Guidelines Manual:
- 28.5% received a variance; of those individuals:
- 84.9% received a downward variance.
- Their average sentence reduction was 42.2%.
- 15.1% received an upward variance.
- Their average sentence increase was 64.4%.
- 84.9% received a downward variance.
- The average guideline minimum and average sentence imposed remained steady over the past five years.
- The average guideline minimum increased from 13 months in fiscal year 2019 to 14 months in fiscal year 2023.
- The average sentence imposed increased from 13 months in fiscal year 2019 to 14 months in fiscal year 2023.
- The average guideline minimum increased from 13 months in fiscal year 2019 to 14 months in fiscal year 2023.
[1] Escape offenses include cases in which the individual was sentenced under §2P1.1 (Escape, Instigating, or Assisting Escape). This offense includes failing to report to custody to serve an incarceration sentence and failing to return to custody after being released temporarily, such as for unsupervised work release.
[2] Cases with incomplete sentencing information were excluded from the analysis.
SOURCE: United States Sentencing Commission, FY 2019 through FY 2023 Datafiles, USSCFY19-USSCFY23.