In the United States, an increase of crime in the 1980s and the War on Drugs (which began in the 1970s) led to the passage of criminal laws that strengthened punitive measures for violent and drug crimes. Those laws have led to drastic increases in incarceration. As a result, the number of prisoners released from prison has also increased. This process of leaving prison after a period of incarceration is known as prisoner reentry.

With a growing number of prisoners being released, communities are faced with the challenge of assisting returning prisoners with a range of needs. Preparing returning prisoners for release, identifying needs and services, and supervising them while in the community are all part of the reentry process. The aim of prisoner reentry is ...