More people are leaving prisons across the country to return to their families and
communities than at any other time in our history. Nationally, over 600,000 individuals (or
1,700 a day) were released from state and federal prisons in 2000, a fourfold increase
over the past two decades. From a number of perspectives, the issue of how people fare
after they exit the prison gates has received renewed attention. Not only are more
prisoners returning home than ever before, but they are also returning less prepared for
life on the outside. Many will experience difficulty managing the most basic ingredients of
successful reintegration—reconnecting with jobs, housing and their families, and
accessing needed substance abuse and health care treatment. Most will be rearrested
within three years, and many will be returned to prison for new crimes or parole
violations. The cycle of incarceration and reentry into society carries the potential for
profound adverse consequences for prisoners, their families and communities. But just as
the potential costs are great, so too are the opportunities for interventions that could
enhance the public safety, health and cohesion of the communities at the center of this
cycle.
