Do Reentry Courts Reduce Recidivism?: Results from the Harlem Parole Reentry Court

One of our Senior Researchers at the Center for Court Innovation, Zachary Hamilton, has just published the findings of the effects of the Harlem Parole Reentry Court on recidivism. The Taskforce's pilot case management program, which is currently being implemented, shares a home with the Reentry Court at the Harlem Community Justice Center, and will no doubt, share in the many lessons learned by the study. Here is a short summary of the study findings and the link to the full report.

Do Reentry Courts Reduce Recidivism?: Results from the Harlem Parole Reentry Court
By Zachary Hamilton

A growing number of jurisdictions nationwide are seeking to adapt the drug court model to returning ex-offenders. First conceived by Jeremy Travis in 2000, the Reentry Court model was created to address the risks and needs of returning offenders during the riskiest time of reintegration the period immediately following release. In a first-ever rigorous test of a specialized reentry court, the Center found that the Harlem Parole Reentry Court produced a significant reduction in re-convictions for new crimes, yet also led to increased parole revocations for technical violations. While these results indicate a promising court model, policy implications regarding "supervision effects" (seen in higher technical revocation rates) are discussed as well.