Prisoner Reentry Research From 2000 to 2010

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of 35 evaluations on community-based prisoner reentry programs that have been published in the past decade, between 2000 and 2010, evaluating 29 different programs. We were surprised by the small number of studies available in the literature considering the magnitude of the problem and its implications for correctional budgets, community safety, and prisoner rehabilitation. The most commonly found reentry program features were life skills and substance abuse treatment. Programs with aftercare and housing assistance were most likely to produce favorable outcomes. Most studies located in this narrative analysis used quasi-experimental designs; few employed random assignment. The vast majority of studies found in peer-reviewed journals reported favorable outcomes. Quasi-experimental studies were also far more likely to find positive outcomes than studies using random assignment. We conclude by offering some suggestions for future research.