Impact of an intervention for recently released homeless offenders on self-reported re-arrest at 6 and 12 months

Abstract

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 600 paroled men, homeless prior to incarceration, to assess varying levels of peer coach and nurse-partnered interventions on rearrest at six and 12 months. Findings revealed that positive predictors of rearrest at 12 months included having received social support from drug users and non-drug users, as well as having used marijuana at least once a week prior to their most recent incarceration. In terms of protective factors, those who participated in a Substance Abuse Program (SAP) contract within a residential drug treatment (RDT) program or spent 90 days or greater in RDT were less likely to have been rearrested within 12 months.

Drug Use and Multiple Sex Partners Among Homeless Ex-Offenders

“…As presented in a paper focused on reduction of recidivism among this sample, the placement of homeless parolees in RDT programs where nurses are engaged, can further promote a time-sensitive environment where clients can access vital health care resources (Nyamathi et al, 2015). Further, peer coaching by ex-offenders, who serve as positive role models for the recently released individual, could provide a potentially useful method to empower recently released drug-using parolees to continue successful reentry into the community (Nyamathi et al, 2014).…”

“…The parent randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to assess the impact of PC-NCM, PC, and usual care (UC) on completion of hepatitis A and B vaccination series (Nyamathi et al, 2015). Among the 345 participating exoffenders eligible for the Twinrix recombinant vaccine series, the completion rate for three or more doses was 73%; there were no differences by intervention condition, but some personal, social, and coping factors were related to vaccine noncompletion.…”

“…Social support from drug/alcohol users ( p = .004) and having used marijuana at least once a week prior to the last incarceration ( p = .03) predicted rearrest. In terms of protective factors, those who participated in RDT within a substance abuse program (SAP) contract ( p = .02), or spent 90 days or more in RDT ( p = .001) were less likely to have been rearrested within 12 months (Nyamathi et al, 2015). These findings are interesting in that the state of California reports that nearly half (47.5%) of inmates released into the community returned to prison within six months, with 74.1% returning within 12 months (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2013a).…”

“…Ex-offenders are also more likely to suffer mental illness requiring psychiatric hospitalizations, as well as risky sexual encounters with multiple partners as compared to those not incarcerated (Kushel, Hahn, Evans, Bangsberg, & Moss, 2005). This paper reports findings from a planned, secondary analysis of drug use behaviors and multiple sex partners obtained as part of a randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of six months of intensive peer coaching and nursing case management (PC-NCM), intensive peer coaching (PC) or usual care (UC), with minimal PC and nurse involvement, on hepatitis A and B vaccine series completion among homeless men recently released on parole (Nyamathi et al, 2015). …”

Violent Crime in the Lives of Homeless Female Ex-Offenders

“…The Comprehensive Health Seeking and Coping Paradigm (CHSCP) (Nyamathi, 1989) was the framework used to highlight life challenges parolees have faced as they prepare to reenter the community (Nyamathi et al, 2016; Nyamathi et al, 2015) These challenges often include overcoming threats to health, life crises, and to retain or attain optimal health. Types of variables which are thought to influence outcomes, which in this paper is recent incarceration for a violent crime.…”