The Multi-site Evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative

Book excerpt: In the United States, over 600,000 individuals are released from prisons and jails each year, and it is estimated that approximately two-thirds are re-incarcerated within three years of their release posing serious challenges to communities and the criminal justice system. To address these challenges, in 2003, the US Departments of Justice, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, and Health and Human Services established the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI), The SVORI programs are intended to reduce recidivism, as well as to improve employment, housing, and health outcomes of participating released prisoners.