New York State Gun Violence Reduction Program

To address the high rates at which formerly incarcerated people return to incarceration for subsequent parole violations or new crimes (“recidivism”), some cities across the country have begun implementing a promising approach to reducing recidivism (and violence) called offender notification forums, or reentry forums.

Led by law enforcement and social service representatives, reentry forums engage former violent offenders who are now on parole with messages of both deterrence and community support in a setting that conveys mutual respect and legitimacy. Although this model holds great promise, there haven’t been any rigorous evaluations of reentry forums to determine if they effectively (and cost-effectively) improve outcomes for returning citizens—until now. 

The Crime Lab is partnering with the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to evaluate the impact of reentry forums on recidivism. Because innovations tested in New York often become models for other cities, lessons learned here about the reentry forums have the potential for outsize impact, helping jurisdictions across the country to both better serve returning citizens and promote public safety.