Week 13: Special Populations and Reentry

How many people are released yearly in the U.S.?

~600,000 from prisons + ~9 million from jails

What is the recidivism rate?

• ⅔ rearrested within 3 years

• ½ reincarcerated

Key barriers to reentry?

Housing, employment, transportation

What are employment services?

• Job readiness

• Vocational training

• Transitional jobs

• Employer partnerships

What are housing services?

• Transitional housing (halfway houses)

• Help finding housing

• Vouchers/subsidies

What are substance use services?

• Treatment programs

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

• Counseling/peer support

What are wrap-around services?

• Case management

• Mental health care

• IDs, transport, childcare

• Family reunification

• Legal aid

What are collateral consequences?

Legal penalties after conviction (not part of sentence)

Examples of collateral consequences?

• Loss of rights

• Housing limits

• Job restrictions

• Public benefit limits

What are invisible punishments?

Social/economic struggles (informal, not legal) (

• Society implements them

Examples of invisible punishments?

• Job discrimination

• Stigma

• Housing denial

• Family strain

• Low wages

• Limited banking/services

How common is trauma in incarcerated populations?

Up to 99% experienced trauma

Two types of trauma?

• ACEs ( adverse childhood experiences)

• Lifetime trauma

Key ACE stat (youth)?

Justice-involved youth = 12x more likely to have ACEs

Women & trauma stats?

• 80% experienced ACEs

• High rates of abuse + neglect

• ¾ experienced IPV before prison

Men & trauma stats?

• 99% experienced trauma

• High exposure to violence, death, weapons

Trauma during incarceration?

89% experienced or witnessed violence

Post-release trauma?

• 47% experienced trauma within 8 months

• Limited research available

NJ homelessness stat?

~1.5% of U.S. homeless population

NJ release stats?

• ~4,815 prison releases

• ~118,749 jail releases

Link between incarceration & homelessness?

~5.5% were recently incarcerated before homelessness

What is the Fair Chance Hiring Initiative?

Removes “The Box” → improves job access

What is Down North Foundation / Down North Pizza?

Employs formerly incarcerated people → provides jobs + support

What is Last Prisoner Project?

Frees people incarcerated for marijuana + clears records

What is Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA)?

Uses arts/theater for rehabilitation → reduces recidivism

Main takeaway about reentry?

• Barriers are systemic

• Punishment continues after release

• Trauma is widespread

• Support systems reduce recidivism