142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

310968
Providing wrap-around services to the highest risk ex-offender populations in the most violent crime areas of New Orleans: Re-entry Outcomes of 484 target offenders

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Sonita Singh, MPH, PhD(s) , School of Law, Payson Center for International Development, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Rebecca Lipschutz, BS Candidate 2014 , Department of Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Ashley Campbell, MAPC , LA Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections, Baton Rouge, LA
Alexandra Priebe, PHD (c), MPH, MA , Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Frank Palestina , New Orleans District (NOD), LA Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections, New Orleans, LA
Rhett Covington , LA Dept. of Public Safety & Corrections, Baton Rouge, LA
Peter Scharf, EdD , Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Background: Few cities report a sustained homicide rates as high as New Orleans, nor do they have the number of citizens with substantial arrest, conviction and incarceration histories. Recent studies suggest that a high percentage of crime, especially violent crime, in New Orleans involves repeat and ‘untreated’ released offenders.

Study aims are to 1) To assess the enhanced Probation and Parole supervision on offenders released to high versus low crime risk areas; 2)To determine the impact of wrap-around services on recidivism outcomes for high risk offenders; 3) to determine the interaction between enhanced P&P with DRC.

Methods: A pilot project places 484 offenders with the highest risk for recidivism and violent crime in Probation and Parole (P&P) with enhanced quality and contact of supervision, with or without Day Reporting Center (DRC) comprehensive wrap-around services. Bivariate and multivariate analysis, utilizing propensity score matching, was used to assist in determining the incremental effects of enhanced P&P, DRC on outcomes of recidivism, technical violations, new charges and success outcomes, such as prolonged employment.

Results: The positive outcomes including prolonged employment and lack of recidivism was significantly increased for ex-offenders who received DRC services compared to those who did not. Rates of incarceration and crimes of violence were significantly higher for those in the non-DRC group. Enhanced P&P was associated with increased violations but decreased incarceration.

Conclusion: Preliminary finding suggest Day Reporting center and enhanced P&P services had a profound protective effect on decreasing multiple aspects of negative future outcomes and increasing positive outcomes.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the impact of enhanced quality and quantity of Probation and Parole supervision on offenders with high risk for recidivism and violent crime Describe the impact of Day Reporting Center wrap-around services on recidivism outcomes for high risk offenders

Keyword(s): Criminal Justice, Violence & Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal of several federally or privately funded grants specific to HIV, international infectious disease prevention and currently reentry for offenders and offenders with co-occurring disorders. I also function as the research coordinator and am responsible for the bulk of analysis, authoring report, monitoring program fidelity and overall program evaluation for the aforementioned projects. My interests include pro-poor policy development based on quantitative and qualitative research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.