Research by Author & Topic

Publications by Christy Visher on Crime and Justice

While a large body of empirical research indicates that marriage is associated with criminal activity, to date little research exists on the effects of relationship status on a population of offenders returning to their communities. This study uses data on over 650 former prisoners to examine the impact of relationships on recidivism, substance use, and employment during this critical period of re-entry. Findings suggest that marriage cut the odds of recidivism and drug use in half when compared to those in casual relationships.

This testimony before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies focused on an evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. Funded by the Justice, Labor, Education, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services departments, SVORI supported innovative reentry programs at the state and community levels. As part of this effort, the National Institute of Justice funded a comprehensive process, impact, and cost evaluation of SVORI programs by RTI International and the Urban Institute. Preliminary results of the evaluation were presented to the subcommittee.

In this brief, we explore the reality of finding employment after prison from the perspective of 740 former male prisoners in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. Interviews were conducted as part of a comprehensive, longitudinal study entitled Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry. Eight months after prison, 65 percent of respondents had been employed at some point, but only 45 percent were currently employed. Those who held a job while in prison or participated in job-training programs had better employment outcomes after release. Respondents who were employed and earning higher wages after release were less likely to return to prison the first year out.

This report presents findings from the Multi-site Evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI). The results of our initial in-prison interviews with SVORI participants and comparison respondents are included, in addition to an overview of the SVORI programs observed. The report describes the characteristics of the adult male prisoners we interviewed, the services they reported needing, and the services they reported receiving prior to release. Overall, SVORI participants reported receiving more services of a variety of types than members of the comparison group, although there was considerable variation in the levels of services among the sites.

This brief analyzes data from 145 men released from Illinois prisons (2002-2003) and tracked for three years afterwards through personal interviews and reincarceration records, as part of the study Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry. Three years after release, 59 percent were reincarcerated-up from 34 percent at 16 months out. Those successful at avoiding reincarceration were older first-time releases with no illegal income or family violence prior to prison, and those who found employment and housing after release, reintegrated into new, less disorganized neighborhoods, avoided antisocial peers, and had a physical/mental health condition (which may have restricted activity outside the home).

Using data from the Urban Institute's Returning Home study, this brief examines post release supervision experiences in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. The authors focus on addressing three questions: What are the parole experiences of those being released from prison? How do experiences on supervision affect post release outcomes? Does supervision benefit some groups more than others? Overall, parolees reported positive relationships with their parole officers but received relatively little tangible assistance finding a job or drug treatment program. Parole supervision was associated with increased employment and reduced substance use among former prisoners, but had almost no impact on self-reported crime or rearrest.

Crime may not be the heated campaign issue it was during election cycles in the 1980s and early 1990s. But news headlines last week made it clear that crime prevention has become anything but a small task for federal, state, and local officials. Listen to Christy Visher, Urban Institute expert on prisoner reentry, describe the challenges facing ex-prisoners as they return to free society.

More than 8 in 10 returning prisoners have chronic physical, mental, or substance abuse conditions. This research report demonstrates how each of these health conditions is associated with distinct reentry challenges and service needs. Using a representative sample of men and women from the Urban Institute’s multistate Returning Home study, we assessed health status at release and gathered data on reintegration experiences through multiple postrelease interviews. We present typologies of reentry experiences by health status, detailing individuals' success finding housing and employment, reconnecting with family, abstaining from substance use and crime, and avoiding reincarceration. Using these typologies, we conclude with targeted strategies to improve service delivery and reentry outcomes.

This policy brief presents findings from interviews with stakeholders-specific persons or organizations-familiar with issues affecting individuals transitioning from prison to the community in Cleveland, Ohio. We interviewed service providers, local government officials, criminal justice practitioners, and civic leaders. The brief expands the prisoner reentry dialog to incorporate the voices of those in the community who are dedicated to improving reentry for men and women returning home. We discuss their perceptions of barriers and issues affecting successful reentry, solutions and suggested changes to policy and practice, and the role that government agencies can play in successful reentry.

The Judicial Oversight Demonstration (JOD) was designed to test the feasibility and impact of a coordinated community response to intimate partner violence (IPV) that placed the courts and justice agencies in a central role. The Urban Institute conducted a detailed process and impact evaluation in three sites. The demonstration received mostly positive responses from justice system agencies, service providers, offenders, and victims. However, reductions in repeat violence did not occur in all sites. The mixed results indicate that the most effective justice system responses to IPV must include a focus on protecting victims, close monitoring of offenders, and rapid responses with penalties when violation of court-ordered conditions are detected.