Evaluation of the Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative

In November 2005, 30 faith-based and community organizations received grants to implement a prisoner re-entry initiative demonstration, which aimed to strengthen communities affected by large numbers of formerly incarcerated individuals through employment-centered projects that incorporate education, job training, housing referrals, mentoring, and other transitional services. This report provides findings from an evaluation that analyzed demographic, programmatic, output, and recidivism information from grantee operations and participants, as well as costs to participating communities. Grantees continued to make progress toward placing participants in employment, with two-thirds placed in unsubsidized employment and about half of these placed within three weeks of enrollment. In addition, recidivism rates across all grantees appear low. Women, older participants, non-Black participants, those with at least a high school diploma or GED at the time of their enrollment, those released from federal institutions, and those who served longer terms in prison or jail had more success than their counterparts on a range of employment and recidivism outcomes.