This fact sheet discusses what has been learned about reentry from decades of research evidence.
In 2021, state and federal correctional facilities released approximately 443,740 individuals. It’s essential to understand how research can inform each stage of the reentry process as individuals navigate the complex process of reentry, increasing the odds that people returning home can successfully and productively remain in their community. In this publication, NIJ discusses the following five things about reentry: 1) Programs and services should be tailored to the unique needs and risk factors of an individual, to the extent possible; 2) Support services should be holistic in nature; 3) Cognitive behavioral therapy benefits all facets of reentry-preparation and post-release programs; 4) Community supervision works best when it includes robust support functions; and 5) Employ more nuanced measures of recidivism that present the individual as a whole.