Exploring The Role Of Concentrated Reentry In The Relationship Between Halfway Houses And Recidivism

• In Event: Community Context and Prisoner Reentry

Abstract

Despite their widespread use in prisoner reentry, research on the effectiveness of halfway houses has been largely mixed, with many studies indicating that halfway houses may actually increase the likelihood of recidivism rather than reducing it. One aspect of halfway houses that has received little attention is the possibility that they expose reentering prisoners to offender concentration, both by congregating recently-released prisoners in halfway houses and by being located in neighborhoods with high concentrations of released prisoners. Given the existent literature linking offender concentration to higher recidivism, this new angle on the effects of halfway house warrants empirical attention. Using parolee data from Pennsylvania, this study examines the relationship between halfway houses and recidivism by exploring the direct and indirect roles of parolee concentration.

Authors

• Rochisha Shukla, University of Maryland

• Kiminori Nakamura, University of Maryland