Recidivism, the act of relapsing into crime, is defined and managed differently by most states. This research examines the policies and/or laws that help to define recidivism for states in the western region. Specifically, we examine changes in the definitions over time, and why these changes were made state to state. It is important to understand these differences in definitions, as each state’s recidivism rate is directly affected by how their definition of recidivism is defined. Additionally, this work reviews state budget expenditures on punishment/management of offenders. Thus, we also explore how these relationships influence recidivism rates, and future policy.