Speakers
Workshop Session
The Israel Prison Service's "Prison to Community" program aims to reduce high recidivism rates among criminal prisoners not granted conditional release. The program focuses on providing a comprehensive support system through collaboration with community organizations, as legal restrictions prevent direct contact between IPS staff and released prisoners. The research branch of the IPS is conducting an ongoing evaluation to identify factors contributing to successful reintegration and desistance from crime. Preliminary results, comparing program participants released in 2023 with a matched group, show that the matched prisoners were arrested 2.9 times more often than the research group over an average release period of three months. Although early, these preliminary findings suggest the program's approach of addressing multiple needs during reintegration may be effective in reducing recidivism. The "Prison to Community" program offers valuable insights and potential strategies for the field of corrections and prisons, highlighting the importance of community collaboration and comprehensive support in promoting successful community reentry.