Reentry programming for opioid and opiate involved female offenders: Findings from a mixed methods evaluation

Purpose: This study examined the effectiveness of Second Chance Act Grant funded reentry program for dually diagnosed female offenders involved in opioid and opiate use. Methods: A mixed methods design utilizing qualitative interviews and a quasi-experimental design was used to both determine program effectiveness and explore women's narratives regarding their addiction and incarceration. Results: Findings from a quasi-experimental design indicate that program participation significantly reduced recidivism as did marital status. Qualitative interview findings suggest that the licit use of prescription opioid medication preceded heroin dependency in many cases which resulted in related criminality. Focus group interviews also indicated that participants responded positively to programming but had variable levels of self-efficacy. Conclusions: Reentry programs designed for male offenders can also reduce recidivism among female offenders. America's burgeoning heroin epidemic has the potential for significant costs for local criminal justice systems as more lower level drug offenders are sentenced to jails instead of state prisons. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.