Supervision alone is insufficient to reduce recidivism for people who are at a high risk of reoffending. People also need to participate in treatment and programs that can help reduce recidivism, create pathways to employment, and support stable housing to be successful on supervision.
Although state and local governments may provide funding for programs intended to help people on supervision succeed, far too often, state and local leaders don’t know whether these programs are high quality or implemented with fidelity to evidence-based practices. High-quality programming that is tailored to an individual’s needs can help address criminal thinking, provide incentives to succeed, and help change behavior.
The lack of employment can prevent successful reentry and contribute to the risk of recidivism. Similarly, the lack of stable housing also complicates reentry for people leaving prisons or jails and can increase the risk of recidivism. Addressing the employment and housing needs of people leaving prison or jail requires a multifaceted approach that is tailored to each person’s needs and reduces system barriers to reentry.
To provide people on supervision with the resources they need to succeed, policymakers can take the following steps:
- Action Item 1: Use programming and treatment that works to reduce recidivism.
- Action Item 2: Ensure sufficient availability of treatment and programs.
- Action Item 3: Reduce barriers to employment.
- Action Item 4: Reduce barriers to housing.
States are doing more to provide people on supervision with the resources they need to succeed.
View the video to learn more about providing people on supervision with the resources they need to succeed.