Crime puts significant strain on U.S. tax-financed resources, and the high recidivism rates amplify these costs. Over 75% of State offenders are rearrested within 5 years of release, while in the Federal prisons, the rate is just over 50% within 10 years of release. This would mean the reducing recidivism would result in a much lower burden of crime.
Over the decades, numerous programs have been tested that mostly focused on mental health, substance abuse, and education. The ones that show they could save at least one dollar for every dollar spend are considered cost-effective. According to an analysis done by the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), the most cost-effective programs have been the ones focused on mental health and substance abuse, with a return of $1.47 to $5.27 per taxpayer dollar.
Unfortunately, the cost-effectiveness of programs focused on education is more uncertain, and the evidence base is inconsistent.
Mental Health
Mental health programs geared towards CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and MST (multisystemic therapy) have shown good results, especially when it comes to juvenile participants. CBT can be used for mental health disorders like depression and anxiety disorder, including addiction and substance abuse. The purpose of CBT programs is to change an individual’s behavior by using psychotherapy to make them aware of dysfunctional thought and behavioral patterns and teach them healthier, more productive ways to handle difficult emotions.
CBT programs can be expensive, but research shows they can reduce recidivism by 20 to 30%.
MST or multisystemic therapy programs are an alternative to CBT programs that involve the families and communities of inmates. Through a United States inmate locator, you can find out what programs are available for specific inmates. MST treatments tend to be more cost-effective and have been shown to reduce recidivism by as much as 70%.
Substance Abuse Programs
Drug-related offenses make up about half of total crimes at the Federal level, and it’s estimated that approximately 60% of prisoners have problems related to the abuse of drugs or alcohol. At the same time, less than a quarter of Federal prisoners are formally diagnosed with a substance use disorder and receive treatment.
At the State level, less than 10% of prisoners receive treatment even though more than 50% of them meet the criteria for a substance use diagnosis.
Substance abuse treatment programs focus on teaching inmates techniques for behavioral change while providing drug testing, counseling, and relapse prevention training.
The effectiveness of such programs has been evaluated by looking at the results of past programs. One study found a reduction in recidivism of around 30%. On the other hand, modified therapeutic programs that target both substance abuse and mental health show a reduction in recidivism of around 50%.
Ban the Box
Unless they receive a life sentence, all inmates will eventually get out of prison and have tried for years to reduce costs by shortening sentences. Unfortunately, once they do get out of prison, inmates find it extremely difficult to find work and reintegrate.
The purpose of “ban the box” laws is to prevent public employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal history before they have the chance to come in for an interview. This doesn’t prevent employers from running a background check, but it gives applicants that have been arrested or convicted a better chance to make their pitch and explain their story to the potential employer.