Bolstering the Safety Net at a Critical Moment: Policy and Programmatic Approaches to Successful Reentry

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

This session explores the critical role of state policies and organizational structures in shaping the reintegration outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals across the United States. As correctional systems face increasing pressure to reduce recidivism and improve post-release stability, these four papers provide rigorous empirical evidence on the impact of safety net access and service delivery models in California, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

The first presentation examines the intersection of healthcare and financial stability in Wisconsin. This study investigates whether expanded Medicaid access—facilitated by pre-release enrollment assistance and policies that suspend rather than terminate benefits during incarceration—improves the credit outcomes and financial wellbeing of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. By linking longitudinal administrative data with consumer credit reports, the research evaluates how healthcare access may reduce debt and delinquencies, potentially narrowing broader racial disparities in financial health.

The second presentation shifts the focus to the delivery of rehabilitation and reentry programming in Minnesota. This study compares the effectiveness of programs administered directly by the Department of Corrections against those delivered by external nonprofit organizations. Utilizing a comparative evaluation framework, the author investigates whether the organizational structure of service provision—specifically the flexibility and community connections of nonprofits—leads to better employment outcomes, lower recidivism, and greater cost-efficiency.

The third presentation evaluates California’s 2015 legislative repeal of lifetime bans on public assistance (SNAP and TANF) for individuals with felony drug convictions. Using a difference-in-differences research design, the authors assess whether removing these structural barriers increased benefit take-up and successfully reduced reincarceration risk during the critical reentry period.

The final presentation provides a deeper look at the mechanisms of healthcare support in Wisconsin by examining the impact of Medicaid-facilitated prescription medication continuity. Utilizing linked administrative data and an instrumental variables approach—leveraging variation in pharmacy proximity and changes to the Medicaid Preferred Drug List—the authors estimate the causal effect of medication access on recidivism, employment, and earnings for adults released from state prisons.

Together, these papers offer a comprehensive look at how financial, nutritional, and medical supports, alongside optimized program delivery and medication continuity, can facilitate successful reintegration and improve long-term outcomes for justice-involved populations. Coupled with valuable discussants who bring expertise in the policy areas and lived experience with the justice system, this panel will provide a rigorous and thoughtful exploration of the impact of these supports on prison reentry.

Policy Area

• Crime, Justice, and Drugs

Chair

• Nefara D Riesch, Center for Policing Equity

Discussants

• Amanda Yvonne Agan, Cornell University

• Vivian Aranda-Hughes, Michigan State University

Organizer

• Johanna Lacoe, University of California, Berkeley

Individual Presentations

• The Effect of Medicaid on Recidivism and Employment after Release from Prison - Presenting Author: Cici McNamara, Georgia Institute of Technology

• Safety Net Access and Reintegration: Evidence from California’s Felony Drug Ban Repeal - Presenting Author: Johanna Lacoe, University of California, Berkeley; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Huizhi Gong, University of California, Berkeley

• Do Nonprofit-Delivered Rehabilitation Programs Improve Reentry Outcomes? Evidence from Minnesota - Presenting Author: Arabella Eileen Velleux, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Assessing the Credit Consequences of Expanded Medicaid Access for Formerly Incarcerated Wisconsinites and Their Families - Presenting Author: Brielle Bryan, Rice University; Non-Presenting Co-Author: J. Michael C Collins, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Non-Presenting Co-Author: Bezankeng Njinju, University of Wisconsin-Madison