The Role of Intensive Case Management Services in Reentry: The Northern Kentucky Female Offender Reentry Project

Abstract

The Northern Kentucky Female Offender Reentry Project was designed to work with female state inmates returning to the Northern Kentucky area. The program specifically targets women who have substance abuse– and/or mental health–related reentry barriers, with the majority of the participants having a dual diagnosis. The program's mission is to provide intensive case management that starts during incarceration and continues after release, helping clients to successfully reenter their communities. The program's goals are to improve quality-of-life outcomes, such as education, employment, and housing; increase participation in mental health and substance abuse treatment after release; and reduce recidivism. Data were collected from program documents as well as the state of Kentucky's Department of Corrections database; CourtNet, a statewide database of the Kentucky Court of Justice and Administrative Office of the Courts; and the database for the Hamilton County (Ohio) Clerk of Courts. The findings suggested that intensive case management may help to reduce recidivism, particularly for new convictions, and increase treatment participation for those involved in intensive case management both before and after release. However, the results were mixed for quality-of-life outcomes.