Improving the Success of Reentry Programs

Abstract

Returning citizens face significant barriers to reintegration after incarceration, yet evidence for the effectiveness of reentry programs is limited. A possible explanation is the lack of specificity in matching services to individuals’ unique risk and need profiles. To assess the impact of this “service–need fit” on both self-reported and official recidivism, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) evaluation using propensity score modeling and logistic regression. Increased fit was significantly associated with reduced recidivism for both types of outcome. We also found that fewer than half of the participants received the services they said they needed. Our findings are based on self-reported needs and services rather than clinical risk assessments. However, service–need fit appears to be an important determinant of successful reentry. Future research should focus on optimizing the combination and tailoring of services and integrating perceived need with actuarial assessments.