The impact of supported accommodation on health and criminal justice outcomes of people released from prison: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Background Supported accommodation intends to address challenges arising following release from prison; however, impact of services, and of specific service components, is unclear. We describe key characteristics of supported accommodation, including program components and outcomes/impact; and distil best-evidence components. Methods We conducted a systematic review, searching relevant databases in November 2022. Data were synthesised via effect direction plots according to the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines. We assessed study quality using the McGill Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and certainty in evidence using the GRADE framework. Results Twenty-eight studies were included; predominantly cross-sectional. Program components which address life skills, vocational training, AOD use, and mental health appear to positively impact criminal justice outcomes. Criminal justice outcomes were the most commonly reported, and while we identified a reduction in parole revocations and reincarceration, outcomes were otherwise mixed. Variable design, often lacking rigour, and inconsistent outcome reporting limited assessment of these outcomes, and subsequently certainty in findings was low. Conclusion Post-release supported accommodation may reduce parole revocations and reincarceration. Despite limitations in the literature, the findings presented herein represent current best evidence. Future studies should clearly define program components and measure their impact; use analyses which reflect the high risk of adverse outcomes, such as time-to-event analyses; and consider outcomes which reflect the range of challenges faced by people leaving prison. Registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42020189821.

A systematic review of interventions that impact alcohol and other drug-related harms in licensed entertainment settings and outdoor music festivals

“…Given this, and the inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative studies in this review, we could not systematically extract included studies’ effect sizes, nor conduct a meta-analysis. Instead, a narrative synthesis was employed to systematically identify common themes and findings (see, e.g., 48 , 49 ). Herein, this review’s results are structured around intervention type, as suggested in the guidelines provided by the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group [ 40 ].…”

Associations Between Supported Accommodation and Health and Re-offending Outcomes: a Retrospective Data Linkage Study

“…Supported accommodation may take different forms, including group homes or scattered site housing, coupled with case management or other therapeutic activities [ 10 ]. Despite the role supported accommodation may play for people released from prison, a 2023 systematic review found only seven evaluations of these services [ 10 ], five of which were conducted in the USA [ 11 – 15 ].…”

“…Supported accommodation may take different forms, including group homes or scattered site housing, coupled with case management or other therapeutic activities [ 10 ]. Despite the role supported accommodation may play for people released from prison, a 2023 systematic review found only seven evaluations of these services [ 10 ], five of which were conducted in the USA [ 11 – 15 ]. In these evaluations, the lack of standardisation across both service delivery and evaluation design was evident, with 15 different outcome measures used to demonstrate the impact of supported accommodation.…”