With regard to the drug treatment practices implemented within prisons, a 2012 systematic review concluded that, overall, this type of intervention can reduce criminal recidivism and relapse to substance use by 15% to 17% on average [1]. When taking a more in-depth look at the efficacy of each specific type of intervention, that review identified therapeutic community programs as the most consistent type of intervention, both in terms of relapse and criminal recidivism prevention among adults (although they were not effective to reduce juvenile recidivism, specifically) [1]. These findings (and nuances) were reaffirmed by a second systematic review that found similar results [2]. On the other hand, synthetic opioid prescription therapies are only effective to reduce drug use, but not to reduce the likelihood of criminal recidivism [1].
A more recent systematic review (2018) re-examined the impacts on substance use and recidivism of substance use treatment and prevention programs in correctional settings. The results suggest that therapeutic communities are effective in reducing recidivism and, to a lesser extent, substance use after release. The review also presents evidence suggesting that opioid maintenance treatment is effective to reduce the risk of drug use after release for opioid users. In addition, post-release care appears to increase treatment effects for both types of intervention [3].
Finally, another systematic review evaluated “Swift, Certain, and Fair” (SCF) sanctioning strategies used by community supervisors to treat parolees with a history of drug addiction. Based on this review, the Crime Solutions platform rated this practice as promising in terms of reducing recidivism [4].