Impact of Forensic Peer Support on Probation and Parole Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Criminal justice
• Public health
• Behavioral science

Background:

• Individuals involved in the criminal legal system face significant reentry challenges, including behavioral health issues and collateral consequences.
• Forensic peer support (FPS) is a strategy aimed at addressing these reentry hardships, particularly behavioral health needs.
• Previous research suggests positive outcomes for FPS, but comparative studies are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the outcomes of forensic peer support (FPS) by comparing individuals who received FPS with those who did not.
• To examine differences in criminal legal and substance use outcomes between FPS recipients and nonrecipients.

Main Methods:

• Propensity score matching was used to create comparable groups based on sociodemographic, criminal legal, and behavioral health characteristics.
• The study compared outcomes for 150 individuals in Georgia, analyzing criminal legal and substance use-related data.
• Key outcome measures included reconviction rates, positive drug screens, reincarceration, and probation/parole revocations.

Main Results:

• FPS recipients had significantly lower reconviction rates (60.0%) compared to nonrecipients (81.3%).
• However, FPS recipients showed significantly higher rates of positive drug screens (23.6 vs. 4.7).
• Trends suggested higher reincarceration and lower revocations for FPS recipients, though not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

• The findings offer mixed support for the effectiveness of forensic peer support services.
• Results contrast with some previous studies, indicating a complex impact of FPS on reentry outcomes.
• Further research is recommended to explore FPS effectiveness in diverse subgroups and its direct links to criminal legal and recovery outcomes.