How to read KOOL's sentencing and recidivism data (what it means and what it doesn't)

KOOL's sentencing information is statistical - not a court file. The site's own disclaimer says the numbers are meant to provide useful statistical information, and that the output is not an official document "for or of the court." If you're trying to understand a loved one's case, KOOL can give you context. But don't treat it as the final word on what a judge ordered. The disclaimer also states that unauthorized use of the information is strictly prohibited, so keep your use focused on legitimate, personal decision-making.

When KOOL shows an "average" prison sentence, that number comes from Department of Corrections calculations using data going back to 2007. Why so far back? It helps ensure enough sentences in the dataset to produce a meaningful average. The tradeoff: the "average" you're seeing may span many years, not just recent cases. It's a broad summary, not a prediction for any one person's situation.

KOOL's recidivism rates come from Department of Corrections sentencing and supervision data. The site defines recidivism as returning to incarceration for a new offense or supervision violation within a set time window after release. Here's the key: these rates summarize outcomes for groups of people. They describe patterns - they don't label any one individual as "likely" to return.

KOOL is designed to provide statistical information, not replace official records. That's why the sentencing pages include a clear disclaimer: the information is not an official document for or of the court, and unauthorized use is prohibited. The way the numbers are built creates natural limits. Sentencing "averages" pull from DOC data since 2007 to reach a reasonable sample size - so they blend many years of sentences into one figure. Recidivism rates come from DOC sentencing and supervision data, useful for understanding group outcomes but not every detail that matters in an individual case. If you need something for decisions with legal consequences, go back to official court documentation. Don't treat KOOL's statistical outputs as definitive.

Families Use

• ✓ Use KOOL’s sentencing and recidivism numbers as background context, not as an official court record.
• ✓ Treat what you see as statistical information - avoid presenting it as a final answer about a specific person’s sentence.
• ✓ Keep your use lawful and appropriate; KOOL says unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.
• ✓ Never use KOOL information to contact, target, or harass an offender; the site warns that harassment misuse is a criminal offense punishable by law.

If you're trying to make sense of what your loved one might be facing, KOOL can give you a general frame of reference. But it's not an official court document, and it's not a substitute for official paperwork or legal advice tied to the actual case. Use it to understand the system and ask better questions - not to "prove" a specific outcome from an average. Be careful with what you find. KOOL explicitly warns that using its information to harass an offender is a criminal offense punishable by law, and unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Use the data responsibly, privately, and for legitimate purposes only.