Releasing individuals from incarceration during COVID-19: Pandemic-related challenges and recommendations for promoting successful reentry.

Abstract

The emergence and rapid growth of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the U.S. criminal justice system as federal and state governments consider allowing the early release of select currently incarcerated individuals to mitigate the pandemic's spread. As a result, the number of incarcerated individuals released into the community is likely to increase abruptly. COVID-19 has drastically altered the communities to which reentering individuals are returning, and the needs of reentry populations are changing accordingly. This article reviews the existing and anticipated criminogenic needs of previously incarcerated individuals as they transition to the community during a pandemic. It also provides recommended adaptations to reentry services in order to promote successful reentry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incarcerated individuals’ experiences of COVID-19 in the United States

“…Although many anecdotal accounts have been featured in the media since March 2020, there are few coinciding empirical articles that document these experiences. The majority of scholarly articles either present prevalence data on the burden of COVID-19 among incarcerated populations at the time of this article's publication (Jime ´nez et al, 2020;Njuguna et al, 2020;Saloner et al, 2020;Solis et al, 2020) or are conceptual in nature (Abraham et al, 2020;Alexander et al, 2020;Barnert et al, 2020;Nowotny et al, 2020;Desai et al, 2020;Franco-Paredes et al, 2020;Henry, 2020;Fair and Justice Prosecution, 2020;Johnson and Beletsky, 2020;Minkler et al, 2020;Nowotny et al, 2020;Vose et al, 2020). Articles which present prevalence data provide a glimpse into COVID-19 mortality among incarcerated individuals and provide a powerful historical timeline of the spread of the virus across multiple state and federal systems.…”

“…Conceptual articles on COVID-19 identified correctional facility settings as potential disease vectors at the very beginning of the pandemic. Scholars offer recommendations to control the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities including performing mass releases to quickly reduce the facility population (Abraham et al, 2020;Desai et al, 2020;Henry, 2020;Fair and Justice Prosecution, 2020;Minkler et al, 2020;Vose et al, 2020). Many authors also suggest quarantining releasing individuals (whether during custody prior to release or in the community after release) to ensure that they will not bring the virus to their next living situation (whether group-based or at home with their families; Johnson and Beletsky, 2020), although no such recommendations have been made to quarantine correctional staff between shifts.…”

“…Although many of the conceptual articles published on the intersection of incarcerated populations and COVID-19 advocate for correctional systems to perform mass releases (Abraham et al, 2020;Desai et al, 2020;Henry, 2020;Minkler et al, 2020), care must be taken to ensure that individuals have access to safe quarantine conditions to reduce the risk of spreading the virus between the correctional facility and community. Likewise, unless mass releases are paired with a major-scale up of community-based reentry services (Fair and Justice Prosecution, 2020), individuals leaving incarceration during the pandemic may not have access to needed supports and resources in the community.…”

Access to Harm Reduction Treatment Among Formerly Incarcerated Individuals During the COVID-19 Era

“…With this surge of unexpected releases, reentry services have been stretched thin or eliminated. 32 When implemented well, reentry services can reduce recidivism and mortality by offering assistance to recently released individuals based on their individual substance use treatment needs, social support, and employment goals. 32 Without these services, recently released individuals have more trouble establishing community ties, gaining financial security, and resisting drug use or criminal activity.…”

Risk and implications of COVID‐19 among the community supervised population

“…Recent reports suggest that nearly 200,000 individuals were added to this population between March and October 2020 through efforts to reduce the number of people in jail and prison during the pandemic (Franco‐Paredes et al., 2020 ). People released from incarceration to community supervision during the pandemic, and especially those with unanticipated releases, likely face particularly high risks for adverse COVID‐19 outcomes due to the additional stress of the pandemic on top of the preexisting challenges associated with the transition from incarceration to the community (Desai et al., 2021 ; Mallik‐Kane & Visher, 2008 ). No study to date, however, has investigated the potential impacts of COVID‐19 among people on probation and parole in the United States.…”