A new research study published online in the American Journal of Public Health has found that aftercare is a critical component of a woman’s support system after she leaves prison. The study, conducted by researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital and Correctional Services Canada (CSC), evaluated the effectiveness of CSC’s Community Relapse Prevention and Maintenance (CRPM) program, a program that assists female offenders with addictions issues.
The study investigated the association between exposure and non-exposure to CRPM and return to custody among female offenders. The research sample size included female offenders released from one of six federal institutions across Canada during the period May 1, 1998 to August 31, 2007. Results revealed that women who were not exposed to CRPM were ten times more likely to return to custody one year after release, with more than a third returning to prison in the first six months, than were women exposed to CRPM. Based on the findings, the research study states that strategies to improve access to community aftercare are imperative for improving the life chances and health of female offenders.
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