The Spread and Availability of Reentry Resources Across Montana Communities

• In Event: Incarceration and Reentry in Context: The Removal, Return, and Supervision of Offenders in Rural and Urban Areas

Abstract

This study examines the spread and potential availability of community-based resources for Montana citizens under correctional supervision. Current and former offenders are disadvantaged across a number of indicators of well-being, and connecting probationers and parolees with needed services can facilitate reentry and foster desistence from crime. Establishing these connections can be particularly challenging in rural areas, where needed services may be few and far between. I examine the potential availability of service providers in Montana by combining two data sources. The first is address information for all offenders under community supervision (probation and parole) in Montana as of July 1, 2015. The second is address information on identified community-based providers throughout the state. I examine potential resource availability by calculating the average number of service providers that fall within varying distances of offender locations. Preliminary results indicate that Montana citizens being supervised in rural areas face particular barriers with service availability. Indeed, a significant portion of individuals under community supervision in Montana lacks potential access to important reentry-related resources. These findings have important implications in light of efforts foster continuity-of-care between prisons and communities.

Author

• Cody Warner, Montana State University