First let’s consider some facts. According to the research of the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center:

• More people are leaving prison and many parolees are eventually returned to prison.
• Due to conditions resulting from the high volume of incarceration, returning prisoners are not well prepared for re-entry to the community.
• Over half of all released prisoners have been convicted of a drug or violent offense.
• Significant infectious disease, substance abuse, and other health issues complicate the challenges facing returning prisoners.
• Released inmates are 5-7 times more likely to be HIV-positive than the overall U.S. population, 9-10 times more likely to have hepatitis C infection, and 2-4 times more likely to experience serious mental health disorders.
• Returning prisoner concerns occur disproportionately among racial and ethnic minorities.
• Returning prisoners are often homeless or concentrated in specific neighborhoods.
• The consequences for families and communities include many risks.
• Collaboratively formed circles of support are needed for these returning inmates.

A substantial proportion of returning prisoners are drug offenders with a history of going from prison to supervision to revocation and back to prison numerous times. They pose re-entry issues that involve many different concerns and perspectives, including health and mental health status, labor market participation, substance abuse, housing, gender issues, and problems related to children, family, neighborhood, and community.