Beyond Recidivism: An Outcome Evaluation of A Federal Reentry Court and A Critical Discussion of Outcomes that Matter

Abstract

Relatively little empirical research has documented reentry courts’ effectiveness. Even less scholarship has critically evaluated their varied goals. A quasi-experimental outcome evaluation of a federal reentry court reveals that the program increases access to social services, decreases probation revocations, and increases future employment. However, the program does not reduce the likelihood of new arrests. These findings are interpreted in the context of the collateral consequences of mass incarceration, a desistance from crime lens, and a human rights perspective.

Keywords:

• Problem-solving courts
• recidivism
• reentry
• reentry courts

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the STAR working group, the U.S. Probation Office for the Eastern District of PA (EDPA), and the U.S. Courts for the EDPA for fully supporting a research partnership.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 While the process evaluation identified the key components of the STAR program, no follow-up evaluation has measured program adherence to this original model. Anecdotal input from key stakeholders suggests that these continue to be the central features of the program, but no formal evaluation has assessed program fidelity.

2 See Eaglin, Gilbert, Hooper, and Lombard (1997) for information on the predictive validity of the RPI.

3 Although there are not significant differences between RPI values, it is possible that the STAR and comparison groups differ on individual items used to construct the RPI. Unfortunately, data were not available on individual items so it was not possible to match based on these individual items or assess group differences on the individual items.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Caitlin J. Taylor

Caitlin J. Taylor, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice at La Salle University in Philadelphia. Her research investigates the collateral consequences of mass incarceration as well as challenges faced by returning citizens. Her research has been published in The Prison Journal, Violence & Victims, Criminal Justice Policy Review, Probation Journal, The Journal of Offender Rehabilitation and several other outlets. She has worked on a number program evaluations with justice system partners at local and federal levels. Valuing the voices and actions of people currently incarcerated in criminal justice reform strategies, Dr. Taylor is an active member of the LIFERS’ Public Safety Initiative at the State Correctional Institute at Phoenix.