Strategies for successful reentry: Results from a Second Chance Act: Statewide Recidivism Reduction grant

• In Event: Examining Recidivism and Improving Reentry

Abstract

The last two decades have seen many state and local community supervision agencies spend considerable resources in implementing evidence-based practices, programs, and initiatives. The federal government has also provided considerable resources through the Second Chance Act (SCA) among other initiatives. This paper describes results from an outcome evaluation of a SCA: Statewide Recidivism Reduction grant that took place between the year 2016 – 2021 in a northeastern state. The grant was awarded to a centralized state parole agency and implemented statewide through district parole offices. Through funds made available by the grant, the state parole agency was able to implement several evidence-based practices including a risk assessment tool, a cognitive behavioral method of supervising individuals, and implement a quality assurance system for the new practices. Discussion will offer insight on how practices were implemented and describe their impact on recidivism for parolees served during the grant years through a quasi-experimental evaluation design.

Authors

• Mirlinda Ndrecka, University of New Haven

• Christopher Sedelmaier, University of New Haven

• David Rentler, Connecticut Department of Correction, Parole & Community Services