Lack of Treatment Increases Recidivism

Scott over at Grits for Breakfast points us to this study done by the Urban Institute about people who are returning to community from jails and prisons in Texas.

This research brief presents highlights from a study of prisoner reentry in
Texas. Its purpose is to inform state-level decisionmakers about how to allocate
scarce correctional resources to yield the best outcomes for people released
from prison and state jail and to increase the safety of the communities to which
they return. Our findings indicate that those who participate in job training,
educational programs, and substance abuse treatment while incarcerated have
better reentry outcomes and are less likely to return to prison. However, large
shares of prisoners—particularly those housed in state jails—do not have
access to these programs and services.

URBAN INSTITUTE