Prisoner Reentry

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The transition from incarceration to life in the community has implications for public safety at large and for the communities into which the former prisoners are introduced. RAND research has explored how to prevent recidivism through correctional education, the public health issues of prisoner reentry, and the question of prisoner rehabilitation.

Explore Prisoner Reentry

  • prisoner graduating holding a diploma

    Report

    Prison-Based Education Declined During Economic Downturn

    Large states cut spending on prison education programs by an average of 10 percent between the 2009 and 2012 fiscal years, while medium-sized states cut spending by 20 percent. While the drop appears to have resulted from budget cuts prompted by the economic downturn, evidence suggests that the curtailment of prison education could increase prison system costs in the longer term.

    Mar 18, 2014

  • Pencil and notebook with crumpled paper

    Research Brief

    How Correctional Education Could Move Forward

    Correctional education improves the chances that inmates released from prison will not return and may improve their chances of postrelease employment. A survey of U.S. state correctional education directors and a review of programs offers recommendations for improving correctional education.

    Mar 4, 2014

  • Congressional Briefing Podcast

    Multimedia

    Correctional Education: How Effective Is It and What Can We Do to Make It Better?

    In this February 2014 Congressional Briefing, Lois M. Davis shares results from a new RAND study on correctional education, conducted for the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice and funded under the Second Chance Act of 2007.

    Feb 18, 2014

  • News Release

    News Release

    Prison-Based Education Declined During Economic Downturn; More Work Is Needed to Better Focus Spending

    State-level spending on prison education programs declined sharply during the economic downturn, with the sharpest drop occurring in states that incarcerate the most prisoners.

    Feb 18, 2014

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Effectiveness of Multisystemic Therapy for Minority Youth: Outcomes Over 8 Years in Los Angeles County

    This paper examines juvenile justice outcomes and costs for 757 Multisystemic Therapy (MST) participants and 380 comparison group youth over an 8-year period in Los Angeles County.

    Jan 1, 2014

  • male patient wearing white shirt talking to psychiatrist

    Commentary

    Medicaid Access for the Formerly Incarcerated Under the ACA: Helping the Oft-Forgotten

    America's prison population tends to be sicker than the general population. While Medicaid eligibility under the ACA offers an historic opportunity, enrolling the formerly incarcerated into the health exchanges or Medicaid will be neither simple nor straightforward.

    Oct 3, 2013

  • Inmates sit in a classroom at the Orange County jail

    Commentary

    To Stop Prisons' Revolving Door

    If California wants to reduce its prison population, it needs to address recidivism, and the best way to do this is through education and job training. Cutting education and vocational training may seem like a tempting way to plug short-term budget gaps, but it actually ends up costing the system more over time.

    Sep 16, 2013

  • prisoners attending a class

    Report

    Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook

    Inmates who participate in correctional education programs have a 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. Employment after release is 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than those who did not.

    Aug 22, 2013

  • prison

    Research Brief

    How Effective is Correctional Education?

    One strategy to counter recidivism is to provide education to inmates while incarcerated so that they have the knowledge, training, and skills to support a successful return to their communities.

    Aug 22, 2013

  • News Release

    News Release

    Education and Vocational Training in Prisons Reduces Recidivism, Improves Job Outlook

    Inmates who participate in correctional education programs have a 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than those who do not. Employment after release is 13 percent higher among prisoners who participated in either academic or vocational education programs than those who did not.

    Aug 22, 2013

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    Report

    Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Report

    This annual report for the California Board of State and Community Corrections measures the success of Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act programs and initiatives for six state-mandated outcome measures and county-mandated supplemental measures.

    Aug 12, 2013

  • Teens working together at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

    Commentary

    Advancing Social Outcomes: Private Investors Could Be Part of the Solution

    Under a Social Impact Bond, private investors — rather than the government — provide up-front funding for programs that tackle such challenges as recidivism or homelessness. If these programs succeed, the government pays some of the savings back to the investors.

    May 14, 2013

  • gavel and anvil

    Journal Article

    Racial Disparities in Criminal Court Referrals to Drug Treatment

    The U.S. prison population grew nearly fivefold between 1980 and 2009, at least partially due to the “War on Drugs.” Racial disparities in criminal justice referrals to drug treatment potentially affect access to treatment for hundreds of thousands of individuals arrested for drug offenses each year.

    May 13, 2013

  • Lois Davis speaking at a RAND Policy Forum on Calfornia's prisoner dilemma on January 24, 2012, with Greg Ridgeway, J. Clark Kelso, and R. Steven Tharratt

    Announcement

    Lois Davis's Prisoner Re-Entry Work Earns Recognition from California Assembly

    RAND congratulates senior policy researcher Lois Davis, whose work on the public health consequences of prisoner re-entry in California earned RAND the 64th Assembly District's AB 109 Re-Entry Award.

    Jan 23, 2013

  • los angeles,los,angeles,night,city,downtown,skyline,cityscape,illuminated,sky,black,copyspace,glow,california,landmark,horizon,la,yellow,pink,gradient,scenic,landscape,travel,buildings,nightlife,square

    Report

    Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Report

    The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2010-2011, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.

    Sep 17, 2012

  • Congressional Briefing Podcast

    Multimedia

    Prisoner Reentry and Public Health: Is Your State Ready?

    In this June 2012 Congressional Briefing, Lois Davis discusses the health care needs of prisoners who reenter the general population; the roles that health care providers, other social services, and family members play in successful reentry; and recommendations for improving access to care for this population in the current fiscal environment.

    Jun 21, 2012

  • Los Angeles area map

    Report

    Los Angeles County Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act: Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Report

    The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2009-2010, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.

    Jan 24, 2012

  • Events @ RAND Audio Podcast

    Multimedia

    California's Prisoners Dilemma

    At this January 2012 Policy Forum, experts discuss the public health implications of a U.S. Supreme Court order to reduce the prison population by more than 30,000.

    Jan 24, 2012

  • Periodical

    Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 3, Winter 2011-2012

    Stories discuss world demographic trends, Afghan peace prospects, U.S. health care spending, California prisoner reentry, Latin American inequalities, global health, veterans' mental health, highway investments, teacher bonuses, and charter schools.

    Jan 13, 2012

  • Research Brief

    Research Brief

    What Are the Public Health Implications of Prisoner Reentry in California?

    Examines the health care needs of released California prisoners, communities most affected by reentry, safety net capacity, and provider experiences with ex-prisoners, given California's Public Safety Realignment Plan and federal health care reform.

    Dec 7, 2011

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