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Connections Program Patients: A Descriptive Analysis of the Reintegration Needs of Incarcerated Substance Users

Kristy A Martire, Mark VA Howard, Malindi A Sayle and Sandra S Sunjic

Re-entry into the community following a period of incarceration is typically a stressful transition. This paper reports the past and present transition needs of 829 prisoners participating in the Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network Connections Program from September 3, 2007 to November 15, 2008. Connections accept individuals who have at least one-month to their first eligible release date and who have a demonstrable illicit drug problem. The data suggest that these patients represent a group with high service provision needs in social, financial, general and mental health domains who are generally serving short sentences (less than 12 months). Of the 285 patients interviewed approximately one-month post-release, those who did not return to custody in that period were significantly more likely to have engaged in education or training, to have remained longer in arranged accommodation, to have continued required physical and mental health treatment and were less likely to have used drugs, to have used more types of drugs and to have experienced more transitional issues. The implications of these results for prisoner reintegration approaches are discussed.