Utilization of Social Services and Impact on Outcomes

The intervention will examine whether higher utilization of social services helps prevent/delay recidivism among ex-inmates.

The goal of this study is to examine whether higher utilization of social services helps prevent/delay recidivism among ex-inmates. According to a study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, out of the 700,000 individuals released annually from prisons, 67% are rearrested within three years and 50% are rearrested within the first year (Durose et al. 2014). Many ex-inmates commit crimes as they struggle to fulfill basic needs or re-associate with deviant peers (Thornberry et al, 2003). Programs that offer a comprehensive menu of material and social support services (e.g. housing, transportation, job counseling, peer support groups, etc.) after release are potentially crucial to reduce the high rate of recidivism.

This intervention will incentivize usage of these type of comprehensive social services by ex-inmates to explore whether this has an effect on re-arrest. Ex-inmates will be recruited to be part of a study and will be randomized into a control group or treatment groups that offer different levels of incentives to increase the frequency of utilization of social services designed to help ex-inmates. Those in the treatment groups will receive $50 if they complete 5 visits to Aftercare. There are two treatment groups, one in which two visits are already account for (so the participant needs to complete 3 more visits) and one in which no visits are accounted for (so the participant needs to complete 5 more visits). Participants are randomized into three groups: (1) Control (2) Incentive 3 visits and (3) Incentive 5 visits.

We will examine whether these incentives help ex-inmates through this crucial post-release period and put them on a pathway of a lower likelihood of re-arrest and the size of the incentives needed to change behavior.

2018-10-22

2023-10-31

Arrests

Arrests (frequency and severity) will be collected from publicly available information.

Usage of social services

Usage will be collected from Aftercare, frequency of visits and what services used

Participants will be randomized into a control group or two treatments groups that provide incentives to increase usage of social services.

Ex-inmates who request to use Aftercare services will be recruited to take part in the study. Participants will provide baseline information on their current economic situation and the challenges they face. They will be randomized into three different treatments: (1) a control group that will be given no incentives to use Aftercare services but are encouraged to complete 5 visits, (2) a treatment group that will be given a monetary incentive of $50 upon completion of 5 visits and (3) a treatment group that will be given a monetary incentive of $50 upon completion of 3 visits. Participants are given a card with contact information on Aftercare services. The control group has a card with a statement encouraging them to complete 5 visits. One of the treatment groups (I5) has a card with 5 places for a signature for each visit and a reminder that upon completion of 5 visits the participant will receive $50. The other treatment group (I3) has a card with 5 places for a signature for each visit with two places already signed (so only 3 more visits are needed to fill the card) and a reminder that upon completion of 5 visits the participant will receive $50.

We will keep a record of each visit, services used and arrest records for up to three years following enrollment into the study.

We partner with Foundation of Hope Aftercare services, a nonprofit comprehensive service center for ex-inmates, located in Pittsburgh, PA. Individuals new to Aftercare who wish to use their services make an appointment for intake. During the intake, a research assistant will ask the individual if he/she would be willing to participate in a study. During recruitment, the research assistant will explain the study and have the individual read an information sheet about the study prior to participation. The RA will collect information from the participant that will permit us to see if our incentives to use more services have an effect on recidivism in the following months (i.e. we will collect state ID number, name, birth date, county in which participant was arrested). A random selection of participants, roughly 2 in 3, will be offered a frequent user card for Foundation of HOPE Aftercare. The frequent user card can be exchanged for a $50 gift card after the number of required visits (3 or 5, depending on the card) have been completed.

A research assistant will recruit ex-inmates at Foundation of Hope Aftercare office, a nonprofit comprehensive service center for ex-inmates, in Pittsburgh, PA during an intake session for new clients. The recruitment procedure will clearly identify that the research is associated with University of Pittsburgh and that participation decisions or responses will kept confidential. If the participant agrees to be part of the study, he/she will be given an information sheet to read. If the individual agrees to participate, the research assistant will collect survey information. Initial information gathered from the participant will be a State ID number, name, birth date, county in which arrest was made. After the survey is complete, a random selection of subjects (roughly 2 in 3) will be offered a frequent user card for Foundation of HOPE Aftercare. The frequent user card can be exchanged for a $50 gift card after the number of required visits to Aftercare have been completed (3 or 5 visits, depending on the card). Regular Aftercare staff members will handle the visits. The frequent user card and the gift cards will be handled by the RA.

Recruitment will be conducted over the course of one year (2018-2019). We anticipate being able to recruit 30 participants per month (roughly 350 a year). Recruited participant's service utilization and re-arrest rates for the next three years will be collected (2018-2021). These data can be obtained by using a State portal to get the participant's record with associated charges (this is public information). This will allow us to track the participant over time.

Our face to face contact with participants ends with recruitment. Initial survey responses will be linked to utilization of Aftercare services and to arrest records through their first and last names and date of birth. Arrest record are publicly available, and hence this project does not expose subjects' criminal record more than the current state of information.

Randomization done by shuffling identical-looking envelopes

Randomization done at the level of the individual.

No

300 individuals

300 individuals

100 individuals control, 100 individuals low usage treatment, 100 individuals in high usage treatment

With roughly 300 individuals we are powered to detect effects of 18 percentage points (two-sided, baseline rate of recidivism in 6 months of 30%, power = 0.8)