Impact of Forensic Peer Support on Probation and Parole Outcomes

Criminal legal-involved individuals on probation or parole face complex and multifaceted challenges associated with community reentry, including mental disorders, substance use disorders, and collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement. Forensic peer support (FPS) has emerged as a promising strategy for reentry support. Key objectives of FPS target common reentry hardships, especially behavioral health, and previous studies have identified positive outcomes. However, few studies have compared outcomes among groups that share demographic and other salient characteristics but differ in FPS receipt.

Using propensity score matching on sociodemographic, criminal legal, and behavioral health characteristics, the authors examined differences in criminal legal- and substance use-related outcomes between propensity score-matched groups of FPS recipients and nonrecipients (N=150) in Georgia to assess FPS outcomes.

Receipt of FPS was associated with significantly lower rates of reconvictions (60.0% for recipients vs. 81.3% for nonrecipients) but was also associated with significantly increased positive drug screens among FPS recipients (mean±SD=23.6 ± 72.4), compared with nonrecipients (mean=4.7 ± 24.1). FPS recipients tended to have higher reincarceration rates and lower probation or parole revocations, but these differences were not statistically significant.

These results indicate mixed support for FPS services, contrasting findings of previous studies. Future research may address the specific needs of heterogeneous criminal legal-involved subgroups as well as assess direct linkages of FPS to criminal legal and recovery outcomes.