Coming home with a felony record, you may not know where to start. Reentry programs for felons fall into three types: help inside prison, help around release, and long-term support in your community.
This page sits within the wider topic of prison reentry and explains the main kinds of programs you may come across.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| People released from prisons and jails each year | More than 600,000 |
| People serving a community supervision sentence | More than 4.5 million |
| State prisoners rearrested within three years of release | 68% |
| Second Chance Act awards made since 2009 | More than 1,100 |
| People reached by Second Chance Act grant funds | More than 182,000 |
| Second Chance Act reentry investments | Over $1.2 billion |
These figures come from the National Institute of Justice’s October 2019 article and the Federal Program Inventory entry for the Second Chance Act, whose latest results are dated 2024. Figures can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
The three phases of reentry programs
Reentry programs are easiest to understand by when they happen. A Congressional Research Service report, last revised in March 2016, describes three phases of programming, and you may meet any of them.
- During incarceration: programs that prepare you for your eventual release.
- Around release: programs that connect you with the services you may need.
- Long term: programs that offer support and supervision as you permanently reintegrate into your community.
The same Congressional Research Service report notes that researchers suggest the best programs begin during incarceration and extend through release and reintegration. If you are still inside, that is a reason to ask about programs early rather than waiting for your release date.
Common services reentry programs offer
Programs differ widely in range, scope and method, but many draw on the same menu of help. The Federal Program Inventory says Second Chance Act grantees provide a set of core services, including:
- Employment training and assistance
- Substance use treatment
- Education
- Housing
- Family programming
- Mentoring
- Victims support
These services target the barriers people face on release. According to the National Institute of Justice, some people have substance abuse issues, others have no place to live, and a criminal record makes it difficult for many to find a job.
If work is your first priority, the guide to jobs for felons covers that side in more detail.
What does the research say about what works?
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) says its research has shown there is no one-size-fits-all model for successful reentry. Every person has different needs, and so does every community they return to.
One large test was the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI), implemented in 2002 across five areas: criminal justice, employment, education, health and housing. NIJ’s review notes that 89 SVORI programs operated in prisons, juvenile facilities and communities. A 2012 follow-up found that participation was associated with longer times to rearrest and fewer arrests in general.
The detail matters more than the headline. In that follow-up, services aimed at individual change, such as substance abuse treatment, cognitive-focused programs and education, had modest beneficial effects. Services aimed at practical needs, including reentry preparation, life skills and employment services, did not improve postrelease outcomes for men.
The Congressional Research Service report takes a broader view. Despite the relative lack of highly rigorous research on some programs, it says the emerging evidence suggests programs focused on the following have proven effective:
- Work training and placement
- Drug and mental health treatment
- Housing assistance
How the Second Chance Act funds reentry programs
Many local programs are paid for through the Second Chance Act, which was signed into law in April 2008. As NIJ explained in June 2018, it authorizes federal grants to government agencies and nonprofit organizations for employment and housing assistance, victim support and substance abuse treatment.
As of the Federal Program Inventory’s 2024 entry, more than 1,100 awards had been made since 2009 to grantees across 49 states. The same entry reports over $1.2 billion in reentry investments and says grant funds have reached more than 182,000 justice-involved people.
Reach is not the same as results. NIJ’s two evaluations found that Second Chance Act participation increased access to services and improved partnerships with community agencies, but did not significantly reduce the likelihood of recidivism. The studies covered only the first group of 14 sites, so later evaluations may paint a clearer picture.
How to choose a program that fits your situation
No program is guaranteed to work for everyone, so use these steps to narrow the field. This site is independent and does not run programs or take enrolments, so look to local agencies and nonprofits for the programs themselves.
- Name your biggest need. Housing, work, treatment, education and family support are different services.
- Ask when the program starts. Programs that begin before release and continue afterward match what researchers suggest works best.
- Look for treatment, education, work training or housing help. These are the areas the research links most often to better outcomes.
- Check the rules you live under. Your supervision conditions affect what you can attend, and parole vs probation explains how the two differ.
- Be realistic. Some services, such as basic life skills courses on their own, showed little benefit for men in the SVORI follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
What are reentry programs for felons?
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They are services that help people returning from prison or jail rebuild their lives. They can happen during incarceration, around release, or over the long term, and they cover areas such as work, housing, treatment and education.
Do reentry programs reduce recidivism?
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The evidence is mixed. NIJ’s June 2018 review found Second Chance Act participation did not significantly reduce recidivism, while the SVORI follow-up linked participation to fewer arrests in general.
Who pays for reentry programs?
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Many are funded through federal grants, such as those under the Second Chance Act, which go to government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Other federal agencies also fund reentry-related services, so what you can access depends on where you live.
Is there one best reentry program?
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No. NIJ-supported research has shown there is no one-size-fits-all model, because individual needs and community resources differ.
