GITNUXREPORT 2026

Prisoner Reentry Statistics

High recidivism, unemployment, and housing instability plague prisoner reentry despite proven solutions.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Only 12% of released prisoners find stable employment within first year

Statistic 2

Formerly incarcerated individuals earn 52% less than never-incarcerated peers

Statistic 3

75% of ex-prisoners are unemployed one year after release

Statistic 4

Ban the Box policies increase callback rates by 10% for ex-offenders

Statistic 5

60% of employers unwilling to hire those with criminal records

Statistic 6

Vocational training in prison boosts post-release employment by 28%

Statistic 7

Ex-inmates with GED have 42% higher employment rates

Statistic 8

Recidivism drops 24% with post-release job placement

Statistic 9

27% of formerly incarcerated men employed full-time after 1 year

Statistic 10

Women ex-prisoners face 50% higher unemployment due to childcare

Statistic 11

Criminal record reduces wages by 40% over lifetime

Statistic 12

55% of employers conduct background checks

Statistic 13

Apprenticeship programs increase ex-offender employment by 40%

Statistic 14

Black ex-prisoners unemployment rate: 33% vs. 18% for whites

Statistic 15

Post-release employment services reduce unemployment by 15%

Statistic 16

70% of ex-inmates want jobs but face licensing barriers

Statistic 17

Median wage for ex-prisoners: $11,000/year vs. $25,000 general

Statistic 18

Work-release participants 20% more likely employed post-release

Statistic 19

45% of reentering individuals report employment as top need

Statistic 20

Expungement increases job offers by 25%

Statistic 21

Texas ex-offenders employment rate: 40% within 6 months

Statistic 22

SSI recipients among ex-prisoners: 30% unable to work

Statistic 23

Job training ROI: $5 saved per $1 spent on reentry employment

Statistic 24

65% of parolees violate supervision due to unemployment

Statistic 25

College education in prison: 67% employment rate post-release

Statistic 26

55% of children of incarcerated parents experience housing instability

Statistic 27

Only 25% of released parents live with children post-release

Statistic 28

51% of state prisoners have minor children

Statistic 29

Father-child contact post-release: only 40% regular visits

Statistic 30

Family support reduces recidivism by 11%

Statistic 31

62% of women prisoners primary caregivers pre-incarceration

Statistic 32

Mentoring programs boost family ties by 35%

Statistic 33

70% of ex-prisoners report family strain upon reentry

Statistic 34

Child welfare involvement triples for incarcerated parents

Statistic 35

Visitation during incarceration increases post-release family unity by 25%

Statistic 36

45% of children of prisoners live in poverty post-release

Statistic 37

Reentry programs with family focus: 20% higher stability

Statistic 38

Grandparents raising 2.7 million children of incarcerated

Statistic 39

Domestic violence risk rises 24% post-partner incarceration

Statistic 40

80% of prisoners desire family reunification

Statistic 41

Sibling bonds weaken for 60% of juvenile offenders post-release

Statistic 42

Family therapy reduces re-incarceration by 28%

Statistic 43

35% custody loss permanent for mothers post-prison

Statistic 44

Texas family reunification rate: 30% live with kids after 1 year

Statistic 45

Emotional distress in 75% of families during reentry

Statistic 46

Financial support to families cuts recidivism 15%

Statistic 47

50% of ex-prisoners estranged from at least one child

Statistic 48

Ohio family mentoring: 40% improved relationships

Statistic 49

Incarcerated dads: 46% pay child support post-release

Statistic 50

65% of reentering women need childcare to succeed

Statistic 51

Community family programs serve 10% of need

Statistic 52

28% of released prisoners return to family homes

Statistic 53

55% of health issues untreated upon release

Statistic 54

65% of prisoners have substance use disorder history

Statistic 55

HIV rate in prisoners: 10x general population

Statistic 56

40% of ex-prisoners relapse to drugs within 3 months

Statistic 57

Mental illness prevalence: 37% among state prisoners

Statistic 58

Medication-assisted treatment cuts overdose 50%

Statistic 59

95% lose health insurance upon release

Statistic 60

Opioid overdose death rate 10x higher first weeks post-release

Statistic 61

26% of released have serious mental illness

Statistic 62

TB rate in prisons: 17x national average

Statistic 63

Post-release treatment engagement: only 11% for SUD

Statistic 64

Chronic conditions: 40% diabetes/hypertension untreated

Statistic 65

Suicide rate post-release: 3.7x higher first week

Statistic 66

Hepatitis C in prisoners: 10-30%

Statistic 67

Medicaid enrollment delays cause 27% ER visits spike

Statistic 68

Trauma history: 70% of incarcerated women

Statistic 69

Smoking cessation post-release fails 90%

Statistic 70

Integrated SUD/mental health treatment: 40% better outcomes

Statistic 71

50% overdose deaths among recently released

Statistic 72

Dental care access: 20% post-release

Statistic 73

PTSD rates: 30% in returning prisoners

Statistic 74

Naloxone distribution reduces overdose 46%

Statistic 75

Vision/hearing needs unmet in 60%

Statistic 76

40% of formerly incarcerated homeless due to no job

Statistic 77

Only 10% of released prisoners have stable housing upon release

Statistic 78

25% of ex-offenders experience homelessness within first year

Statistic 79

Housing vouchers reduce recidivism by 20% via stability

Statistic 80

60% denied public housing due to criminal records

Statistic 81

Formerly incarcerated: 1.5x more likely homeless

Statistic 82

Reentry housing programs serve only 5% of need

Statistic 83

Sex offenders face 90% housing denial rates

Statistic 84

50% of unsheltered homeless have incarceration history

Statistic 85

Eviction rates for ex-prisoners: 2x higher

Statistic 86

Rapid rehousing cuts homelessness by 88% for ex-offenders

Statistic 87

70% of prisoners released without home address

Statistic 88

Mental illness increases housing instability by 40%

Statistic 89

Fair housing reforms could house 100,000 more ex-offenders

Statistic 90

California: 20% of homeless have recent incarceration

Statistic 91

Halfway houses recidivism reduction: 10-20%

Statistic 92

33% of ex-prisoners couch-surfing first month

Statistic 93

HUD's Housing First model: 85% stability for ex-offenders

Statistic 94

Rental discrimination: 15% lower callback for criminal records

Statistic 95

New York supportive housing: 75% retention rate

Statistic 96

Substance abuse correlates with 50% housing loss post-release

Statistic 97

PSH programs: 80% avoid homelessness for 2 years

Statistic 98

65% of jail releases lack housing plans

Statistic 99

Family reunification rates drop 30% without stable housing

Statistic 100

82% of returning citizens prioritize housing

Statistic 101

Incarceration history: 2.5x risk of eviction

Statistic 102

In 2018, 83% of state prisoners released in 2005 were rearrested within 9 years

Statistic 103

Among prisoners released in 2005 from 30 states, the 5-year recidivism rate was 76.6% for rearrest

Statistic 104

Black former prisoners have a 3-year recidivism rate of 34% compared to 27% for whites

Statistic 105

68% of released drug offenders were rearrested within 3 years

Statistic 106

In a study of 404 parolees, 67.5% recidivated within 3 years with a new felony conviction

Statistic 107

Florida's 3-year recidivism rate for released inmates in 2018-2019 was 24.7%

Statistic 108

55% of California parolees returned to prison within 3 years for any reason in 2019

Statistic 109

Veterans released from prison had a 42.6% recidivism rate within 3 years vs. 49.3% for non-veterans

Statistic 110

In New York, the 3-year recidivism rate dropped from 41% in 2007 to 37% in 2012 cohorts

Statistic 111

Sex offenders had a 14% rearrest rate for a new sex crime within 5 years post-release

Statistic 112

37% of released prisoners in Ohio returned to prison within 3 years in 2016 cohort

Statistic 113

Women prisoners had a lower 3-year recidivism rate of 32.7% vs. 46.7% for men

Statistic 114

In Texas, 3-year recidivism rate was 35.9% for 2017 releases

Statistic 115

Property crime offenders recidivated at 82% within 9 years

Statistic 116

49% of state prisoners released in 2010 were rearrested within 1 year

Statistic 117

Georgia's 2019 recidivism rate was 29.9% within 2 years

Statistic 118

Juvenile justice system alumni have adult recidivism rates up to 55%

Statistic 119

In Michigan, 3-year recidivism for 2019 releases was 28.4%

Statistic 120

Drug offenders rearrest rate within 3 years: 45%

Statistic 121

Federal prisoners recidivism rate: 67.8% within 3 years for 2005 cohort

Statistic 122

Pennsylvania 3-year recidivism rate: 47.1% for state inmates

Statistic 123

Violent offenders: 71% rearrested within 5 years

Statistic 124

In 2020, U.S. average state recidivism rate was 44% within 3 years

Statistic 125

Age 24 or younger at release: 50% recidivism rate within 1 year

Statistic 126

North Carolina 5-year recidivism: 58% for 2017 releases

Statistic 127

Hispanic prisoners recidivism rate: 30% within 3 years vs. others

Statistic 128

Education reduces recidivism by 43%

Statistic 129

Illinois 3-year rate: 34.7% for 2018 cohort

Statistic 130

Mental health treatment lowers recidivism by 20-25%

1/130

Sources

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While the statistics paint a stark picture—like the fact that within nine years of release, a staggering 83% of former prisoners are rearrested—the story of reentry is not one of inevitable failure, but of systemic hurdles in housing, employment, health, and family support that we can and must address.

Key Takeaways

In 2018, 83% of state prisoners released in 2005 were rearrested within 9 years
Among prisoners released in 2005 from 30 states, the 5-year recidivism rate was 76.6% for rearrest
Black former prisoners have a 3-year recidivism rate of 34% compared to 27% for whites
Only 12% of released prisoners find stable employment within first year
Formerly incarcerated individuals earn 52% less than never-incarcerated peers
75% of ex-prisoners are unemployed one year after release
40% of formerly incarcerated homeless due to no job
Only 10% of released prisoners have stable housing upon release
25% of ex-offenders experience homelessness within first year
55% of children of incarcerated parents experience housing instability
Only 25% of released parents live with children post-release
51% of state prisoners have minor children
55% of health issues untreated upon release
65% of prisoners have substance use disorder history
HIV rate in prisoners: 10x general population

High recidivism, unemployment, and housing instability plague prisoner reentry despite proven solutions.

Employment Outcomes

Only 12% of released prisoners find stable employment within first year
Formerly incarcerated individuals earn 52% less than never-incarcerated peers
75% of ex-prisoners are unemployed one year after release
Ban the Box policies increase callback rates by 10% for ex-offenders
60% of employers unwilling to hire those with criminal records
Vocational training in prison boosts post-release employment by 28%
Ex-inmates with GED have 42% higher employment rates
Recidivism drops 24% with post-release job placement
27% of formerly incarcerated men employed full-time after 1 year
Women ex-prisoners face 50% higher unemployment due to childcare
Criminal record reduces wages by 40% over lifetime
55% of employers conduct background checks
Apprenticeship programs increase ex-offender employment by 40%
Black ex-prisoners unemployment rate: 33% vs. 18% for whites
Post-release employment services reduce unemployment by 15%
70% of ex-inmates want jobs but face licensing barriers
Median wage for ex-prisoners: $11,000/year vs. $25,000 general
Work-release participants 20% more likely employed post-release
45% of reentering individuals report employment as top need
Expungement increases job offers by 25%
Texas ex-offenders employment rate: 40% within 6 months
SSI recipients among ex-prisoners: 30% unable to work
Job training ROI: $5 saved per $1 spent on reentry employment
65% of parolees violate supervision due to unemployment
College education in prison: 67% employment rate post-release

Employment Outcomes Interpretation

The statistics paint a grimly efficient machine that transforms a person's past crime into a future of systemic poverty, then charges them rent to live in it, despite clear evidence that simple interventions like a job, a GED, or even just removing a box on a form can dramatically short-circuit the entire cruel and expensive process.

Family Reunification

55% of children of incarcerated parents experience housing instability
Only 25% of released parents live with children post-release
51% of state prisoners have minor children
Father-child contact post-release: only 40% regular visits
Family support reduces recidivism by 11%
62% of women prisoners primary caregivers pre-incarceration
Mentoring programs boost family ties by 35%
70% of ex-prisoners report family strain upon reentry
Child welfare involvement triples for incarcerated parents
Visitation during incarceration increases post-release family unity by 25%
45% of children of prisoners live in poverty post-release
Reentry programs with family focus: 20% higher stability
Grandparents raising 2.7 million children of incarcerated
Domestic violence risk rises 24% post-partner incarceration
80% of prisoners desire family reunification
Sibling bonds weaken for 60% of juvenile offenders post-release
Family therapy reduces re-incarceration by 28%
35% custody loss permanent for mothers post-prison
Texas family reunification rate: 30% live with kids after 1 year
Emotional distress in 75% of families during reentry
Financial support to families cuts recidivism 15%
50% of ex-prisoners estranged from at least one child
Ohio family mentoring: 40% improved relationships
Incarcerated dads: 46% pay child support post-release
65% of reentering women need childcare to succeed
Community family programs serve 10% of need
28% of released prisoners return to family homes

Family Reunification Interpretation

The statistics paint a bleak but mendable picture: our prisons are breaking families, but every number also proves that rebuilding those families is the most effective glue for putting lives back together.

Health and Substance Abuse

55% of health issues untreated upon release
65% of prisoners have substance use disorder history
HIV rate in prisoners: 10x general population
40% of ex-prisoners relapse to drugs within 3 months
Mental illness prevalence: 37% among state prisoners
Medication-assisted treatment cuts overdose 50%
95% lose health insurance upon release
Opioid overdose death rate 10x higher first weeks post-release
26% of released have serious mental illness
TB rate in prisons: 17x national average
Post-release treatment engagement: only 11% for SUD
Chronic conditions: 40% diabetes/hypertension untreated
Suicide rate post-release: 3.7x higher first week
Hepatitis C in prisoners: 10-30%
Medicaid enrollment delays cause 27% ER visits spike
Trauma history: 70% of incarcerated women
Smoking cessation post-release fails 90%
Integrated SUD/mental health treatment: 40% better outcomes
50% overdose deaths among recently released
Dental care access: 20% post-release
PTSD rates: 30% in returning prisoners
Naloxone distribution reduces overdose 46%
Vision/hearing needs unmet in 60%

Health and Substance Abuse Interpretation

The system meticulously funnels people from cages to coffins by treating reentry not as a transition to care but as a lethal abandonment of every human need.

Housing Stability

40% of formerly incarcerated homeless due to no job
Only 10% of released prisoners have stable housing upon release
25% of ex-offenders experience homelessness within first year
Housing vouchers reduce recidivism by 20% via stability
60% denied public housing due to criminal records
Formerly incarcerated: 1.5x more likely homeless
Reentry housing programs serve only 5% of need
Sex offenders face 90% housing denial rates
50% of unsheltered homeless have incarceration history
Eviction rates for ex-prisoners: 2x higher
Rapid rehousing cuts homelessness by 88% for ex-offenders
70% of prisoners released without home address
Mental illness increases housing instability by 40%
Fair housing reforms could house 100,000 more ex-offenders
California: 20% of homeless have recent incarceration
Halfway houses recidivism reduction: 10-20%
33% of ex-prisoners couch-surfing first month
HUD's Housing First model: 85% stability for ex-offenders
Rental discrimination: 15% lower callback for criminal records
New York supportive housing: 75% retention rate
Substance abuse correlates with 50% housing loss post-release
PSH programs: 80% avoid homelessness for 2 years
65% of jail releases lack housing plans
Family reunification rates drop 30% without stable housing
82% of returning citizens prioritize housing
Incarceration history: 2.5x risk of eviction

Housing Stability Interpretation

These statistics reveal the brutal math of reentry: society builds a revolving door at the prison gate, then acts surprised when people, denied the basic dignity of a home, cycle right back through it.

Recidivism Rates

In 2018, 83% of state prisoners released in 2005 were rearrested within 9 years
Among prisoners released in 2005 from 30 states, the 5-year recidivism rate was 76.6% for rearrest
Black former prisoners have a 3-year recidivism rate of 34% compared to 27% for whites
68% of released drug offenders were rearrested within 3 years
In a study of 404 parolees, 67.5% recidivated within 3 years with a new felony conviction
Florida's 3-year recidivism rate for released inmates in 2018-2019 was 24.7%
55% of California parolees returned to prison within 3 years for any reason in 2019
Veterans released from prison had a 42.6% recidivism rate within 3 years vs. 49.3% for non-veterans
In New York, the 3-year recidivism rate dropped from 41% in 2007 to 37% in 2012 cohorts
Sex offenders had a 14% rearrest rate for a new sex crime within 5 years post-release
37% of released prisoners in Ohio returned to prison within 3 years in 2016 cohort
Women prisoners had a lower 3-year recidivism rate of 32.7% vs. 46.7% for men
In Texas, 3-year recidivism rate was 35.9% for 2017 releases
Property crime offenders recidivated at 82% within 9 years
49% of state prisoners released in 2010 were rearrested within 1 year
Georgia's 2019 recidivism rate was 29.9% within 2 years
Juvenile justice system alumni have adult recidivism rates up to 55%
In Michigan, 3-year recidivism for 2019 releases was 28.4%
Drug offenders rearrest rate within 3 years: 45%
Federal prisoners recidivism rate: 67.8% within 3 years for 2005 cohort
Pennsylvania 3-year recidivism rate: 47.1% for state inmates
Violent offenders: 71% rearrested within 5 years
In 2020, U.S. average state recidivism rate was 44% within 3 years
Age 24 or younger at release: 50% recidivism rate within 1 year
North Carolina 5-year recidivism: 58% for 2017 releases
Hispanic prisoners recidivism rate: 30% within 3 years vs. others
Education reduces recidivism by 43%
Illinois 3-year rate: 34.7% for 2018 cohort
Mental health treatment lowers recidivism by 20-25%

Recidivism Rates Interpretation

The prison system seems to function as a grimly efficient revolving door, where a released inmate is statistically more likely to be reacquainted with handcuffs than with lasting freedom, and where your chances of staying out depend disturbingly on your crime, race, gender, and whether the state invested in your education or mental health.

Sources & References

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