Independent Study Shows Concordance Participants Are 50% Less Likely to Return to Prison
Concordance is proud to share the findings of a new independent study conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, highlighting the measurable impact of Concordance’s re-entry model.
The study found that individuals who participated in Concordance programming were significantly less likely to return to prison compared to those who did not participate in the program. The findings reinforce the effectiveness of providing comprehensive, individualized support to people transitioning from incarceration back into their communities.
Among the study’s key findings, Concordance participants were 50% less likely to return to prison within the first six months following release compared to the comparison group.
Across every time point measured in the study, Concordance participants consistently experienced lower rates of return to prison than the comparison group, with results demonstrating statistical significance throughout.
The results provide independent validation of Concordance’s approach and the impact it is having on individuals returning to their communities after incarceration.
“This study validates what we see every day through the experiences of our participants,” said Susan Stith, Chief Executive Officer of Concordance. “When individuals are provided with the right support and resources, lasting change is possible.”
“The findings demonstrate a meaningful association between participation in Concordance’s program and reduced returns to prison,” said John K. Roman, Ph.D., Director of the Center on Public Safety & Justice at NORC. “The statistically significant differences observed at both six and twelve months, along with consistently lower rates of return to prison over time, highlight the value of comprehensive re-entry services in supporting long-term success after release.”
Concordance remains committed to evaluating the effectiveness of our work and using data to inform and strengthen our approach to re-entry. The findings from this study provide important insight into the impact of comprehensive support for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration.
We would like to thank the Missouri Department of Corrections, Office of Research, Planning, and Process Improvement for their assistance in reviewing the evaluation plan and provision of the data. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed within this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Missouri Department of Corrections.
