Association between contact with mental health and substance use services and reincarceration after release from prison.
Emma G ThomasMatthew J SpittalFaye S TaxmanCheneal PuljevicEdward B HeffernanStuart A KinnerPublished in: PloS one (2022)
Although we cannot eliminate the possibility of residual confounding, our findings suggest that infrequent or unsustained contact with community-based mental health and substance use treatment services is not protective against reincarceration, and may even be iatrogenic. Increased investment in high-quality and timely behavioural health services for people released from prison may simultaneously improve health outcomes, and reduce reincarceration.