How Do Reentry Court Work? Findings from NIJ’s Multi-State Research on Reentry Courts

• In Event: Examining the Effect of Reentry Programming on Returning Individuals: Reentry Research and the Second Chance Act

Abstract

This presentation provides key findings from NIJ’s Evaluation of the Second Chance Act (SCA) Adult Reentry Courts. This is the first large scale study that examines the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of eight SCA reentry court programs that includes over 500 reentry court participants and other formerly incarcerated individuals. Findings include implementation challenges and solutions; organizational partnerships and interagency communication; recidivism outcomes; costs and benefits; and the results from participant interviews. Results suggest a majority of participants had family members and friends who were currently or formerly incarcerated. New program participants struggled to find and maintain housing and employment. After experiencing reentry court, participants expressed positive feelings about rentry court staff.

Author

• Shannon Carey, NPC Research