Creating programs that successfully rehabilitate former inmates is hard to do. Many are unsuccessful as they do not have a strong enough impact on inmates to keep them out of prison. An article highlights NIJ-Funded research that examines programs based on how successful they are for reentry. After being incarcerated for so long, individuals have a hard time readjusting to life outside of prison. They face many challenges when they are released which are not always addressed in prison systems. Budget cuts usually include programming such as reentry, mental health and substance abuse. Every inmate is different and requires different services which can pose as a challenge when designing programs and funding them.
The NIJ is dedicated to performing rigorous research on recidivism and reentry. Two huge projects that NIJ has invested in are the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) and the Second Chance Act. They both aim to improve reentry outcomes and help reduce recidivism. With $40 billion being spent by state governments annually on corrections, it is necessary for programs and services to be created to maximize the effectiveness of money being spent. The SVORI project has been dedicated since 2002 to improving reentry outcomes in the criminal justice, employment, education, health, and housing area. Their programs offer services that include life skills training, dental and medical care, needs and risk assessments, treatment and release plans, and job placement. From a study done about the results of the SVORI project, they found that substance abuse treatment, cognitive-focused programs, and education programs had the most beneficial outcomes and effects on the inmates. It especially helped women and had more positive outcomes in areas of employment and substance abuse.
The Second Chance Act was enacted in 2020 again and aims to increase reentry programming and improve outcomes for inmates returning to their families and society. The Second Chance Act has been able to give federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programs, mentoring, victim support and other services to inmates being released. Both of these programs have helped with recidivism and moving forward they are hoping to keep conducting studies to see what programs are effective and where to focus more resources and energy on improving the criminal justice system. It is critical to prepare inmates for life after prison and to help reduce recidivism rates.