The United States faces significant challenges within its criminal justice system, including high incarceration and recidivism rates. As of midyear 2022, the United States had 663,100 individuals in local jails and 1,230,100 in state and federal prisons, collectively accounting for a significant incarceration population. Furthermore, a 2021 Bureau of Justice Special Report on recidivism shows that 66 percent of released prisoners were re-arrested within 3 years, and 61 percent returned to prison within 10 years. These stark figures illustrate the urgent need for effective reentry programs to help individuals transition back into society more successfully.
As the United States strives to evolve its reentry strategies, a wealth of knowledge can be drawn from select reentry strategies from countries with legal systems akin to the United States, including Canada, Norway, and Australia. By examining the role of mental health and substance use treatment and highlighting innovative models like Norway’s restorative justice and Australia’s “throughcare,” this article aims to provide insights and potential directions for enhancing reentry programs in the United States. For policymakers, practitioners, and vested partners, the challenge lies in learning from these programs and adapting them to fit the United States’ unique social, cultural, and institutional contours.
The Importance of Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment in the United States
The intersection of mental health, substance use disorders, and the criminal justice system in the United States is a compelling issue that requires urgent attention. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 43 percent of adults in federal prisons and 23 percent in state prisons report a history of mental health problems. Moreover, the prevalence of substance use disorders is alarmingly high among incarcerated populations, while treatment engagement is low. In a 2017 BJS Special Report on data from 2007 to 2009, 58 percent of people in state prisons and 63 percent of people who were sentenced to jail met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria for drug dependence or abuse. Yet only 26 percent of people in state prisons and 19 percent of people in jail participated in a drug treatment program during their incarceration.
Untreated mental and substance use disorders perpetuate a vicious cycle of re-arrest and reincarceration, placing an untenable burden on criminal justice resources. Fortunately, some strides have been made to address these challenges. Programs funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, such as the Offender Reentry Program offer evidence that targeted mental health and substance use treatment may reduce recidivism rates. Similarly, SAMHSA publications, such as the recently released the Best Practices for Successful Reentry, an evidence-based guide of successful reentry interventions for supporting individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Aimed at reducing recidivism and improving well-being, these evidence-based reentry models include medication assisted treatments, specialized case management, and peer support services.
However, while these initiatives serve as a valuable foundation, there is room for continued innovation. A global scan of reentry programs can provide an opportunity for inspiration. Countries with comparable legal systems, but very different demographics and cultural landscape, have developed a range of strategies for reducing recidivism and improving successful reentry into society. Examining these international models might inform the ongoing advancement of reentry practices in the United States.
Inspiration from Abroad
Restorative Justice: Learning from Norway
In contrast to many Western countries that have tended towards punitive measures, Norway has adopted a fundamentally different approach. With one of the lowest incarceration rates globally—53 individuals per 100,000 in the country—and an astonishingly low recidivism rate of 20 percent, Norway sets a benchmark in restorative justice and rehabilitation. This is a result of years of work begun in Norway after the country saw prison riots, high recidivism, and the death of correctional officers in the 1980s and 1990s.
One of the guiding principles behind Norway’s success is its “principle of normality,” whereby the prison environment mimics life outside of prison as closely as possible. In adopting this approach, the correctional system aims to facilitate an easier transition for individuals back into society. Incarcerated individuals are provided with homelike housing, and correctional officers engage with them in a more community-minded manner.
Furthermore, Norway employs the “import model,” where local and community service providers offer myriad services directly within prison walls, including educational, medical, and religious services. This results in seamless continuity of care and service provision from incarceration to reentry, mitigating some of the most significant barriers that often contribute to recidivism.
Throughcare: Australia’s Holistic Approach
Australia has confronted its rising incarceration rates—climbing from 143 per 100,000 in December 2000 to 218 per 100,000 in December 2019— by implementing throughcare, a seamless and coordinated reentry process. The throughcare model is predicated on the idea that the reentry support should be continuous at all points from incarceration to community reintegration. It comprises various services, including needs-based assessments, pre-release planning, and day-of-release support services.
One particular strength of the throughcare model is its focus on intensive outreach support for up to a year post-release by a throughcare officer or an intensive case manager trained and hired by community-based programs. This offers a sustainable framework for reentry by addressing individual needs long-term. This contrasts with reentry programs provided by corrections officers, who may face challenges in maintaining contact with individuals after release.
Australia also has specialized throughcare programs for its Indigenous populations, who experience higher incarceration rates. These culturally responsive programs collaborate closely with families and communities to develop robust, culturally sensitive, practical support systems.
Community Reentry Circles: Canada’s Circles of Support and Accountability Model
Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) is a noteworthy reentry support program for individuals with a sex offense conviction. Originating in Canada, the CoSA model has successfully aided the reentry of individuals, particularly those at high risk for reoffending. According to data from Correctional Service Canada, participants in CoSA programs are 70 percent less likely to engage in sexual reoffending than those who do not participate. The CoSA program involves a circle of trained community volunteers and staff engaging with the returning individual, offering both emotional and practical support. Rooted in restorative justice principles, the program aims for community safety and the successful reintegration of the individual involved.
Since its inception in 1995, CoSA has spread globally, including the United States. The approach in the United States often involves partnerships between the government and community justice agencies, differing from the grassroots origin seen in Canada. For example, Vermont began implementing CoSAs in 2005. In Vermont, the CoSA model has been integrated into the state’s community justice infrastructure utilizing a network of Community Justice Centers (CJCs), which the Department of Corrections partially funds. All 20 Vermont CJCs run CoSAs, and the state has offered circles to more than 150 individuals.
Concluding Remarks: The Global Tapestry of Reentry Strategies
After traversing the international landscape of reentry programs, it becomes evident that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to address the complex needs of individuals reintegrating into society. Whether Norway’s restorative justice principles, Australia’s “Throughcare” initiative, or Canada’s community-centric CoSA program, each country offers valuable insights that could inform and enrich strategies for successful reentry in the United States.
Significantly, these countries, like the United States, recognize that the reentry process is multifaceted, involving not just housing and employment but also mental health, substance use treatment, and community support. For those invested in the U.S. criminal justice system, these international case studies support the trends exhibited in reentry programs across the country and serve also to provide additional guidance for improvement. After all, the end goal is universal: to facilitate a successful transition that minimizes recidivism and maximizes the quality of life and societal contribution of those reentering the community.
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