From a related Economist article [0]: "Oregon, which insists that programmes to reform felons are measured for effectiveness, has a recidivism rate less than h

From a related Economist article [0]: "Oregon, which insists that programmes to reform felons are measured for effectiveness, has a recidivism rate less than half as high as California’s." Assuming it's not a statistical blip, I wonder why Oregon is so different to California. Seems to me that a politician who promises to reduce the recidivism rate and thereby save taxpayer dollars would get more votes. [0] http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21722642-lot-known-about-how-reform-prisoners-far-too-little-done-americas-prisons-are http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21722642-lot-known-abo...