A Second Look at Second Chances: Evaluating Reentry Programs for Women
Second Chance Month marks a time to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those reentering society. As they rejoin their families, communities, and the workforce, the reentering person needs support and resources to ensure that the transition is successful. Effective support includes acknowledging that challenges to reentry vary greatly between each formerly incarcerated person.
Women face particular challenges after prison, with data indicating that childhood trauma, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health disorders are exceedingly common. The Bureau of Justice quantified that over half of women released from prison were rearrested within five years. Moreover, many of these women were mothers to children under the age of 18. The stakes are high for women involved in the justice system, not just for themselves but for their families as well. While reentry programs exist in every state, including Louisiana, they cater primarily to male inmates. Formerly incarcerated women have distinct needs from their male counterparts and even the needs they share often must be addressed differently.
As incarceration rates for women continue to rise, the need for targeted, gender specific reentry programming is exceedingly clear. There is evidence to support this approach, and the Council of State Governments Justice Center continues to present research and recommendations based on successful programs around the country. However, as with all data-driven efforts, an effective program will require the ongoing evaluation and adjustment that only implementation can provide.
In Louisiana, a state where close to 2,000 women are currently in prison, HB168 seeks to do just that. Authored by Representative Barbara Frieberg, HB168 creates a transitional reentry program for female parolees. The bill offers criteria that must be met for female parolees to be considered eligible for the program and assigns the administration to the Department of Safety and Corrections (DPSC). In January, the Louisiana House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee held a meeting to examine the state of reentry in Louisiana. Among the participants were DPSC officials who shared the reentry programs currently available and their commitment to improving them. HB168 is an answer to many of the voices in that January meeting—offering an innovative, evidence-backed, and targeted approach to improving reentry and rehabilitation.
HB168 is not alone. In Maryland’s legislature, SB187 commissions the construction of a female-specific reentry facility along with requiring the Commissioner of Correction to make certain gender-responsive services available. Other state agencies and private groups have also made great strides in advancing second chances for formerly incarcerated women through tailored programs and resources.
Honoring Second Chance Month necessitates acknowledging the complexities of reentry. Smart legislation that responds to pressing gaps in the reentry process is key to ensuring that second chances and opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation are available year-round.