The first days and weeks after release carry a high risk of overdose. One major study found that, during the first two weeks after release, individuals formerly incarcerated were 12.7 times more likely to die than other residents. The risk of death from a drug overdose was 129 times higher.
For community corrections agencies, these findings reinforce the importance of ensuring that Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment starts before release and continues after release. A referral is one step. Continued care requires access to treatment, essential information, and clear responsibilities. GEO Reentry Services supports this transition through in-custody treatment and reentry planning, individualized SUD services, and referrals to community partners for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) to reduce cravings and lower the risk of overdose or relapse.
Why In-custody Treatment Matters After Release
Medication treatment started in custody is associated with a greater likelihood of starting community-based treatment after release. A study supported by the National Institutes of Health found that 60.2% of individuals who received medication while incarcerated started community-based treatment within 30 days of their release. Among those who did not receive in-custody treatment, 17.6% started treatment in that period.
The study also examined whether individuals remained in treatment. Half of those treated in custody stayed on medication for at least 75% of the first 90 days after release. Six months after release, 57.5% were still receiving treatment in the community, compared with 22.8% of those not treated while incarcerated.
A separate study of prison-based therapeutic communities tracked individuals for up to 25 years and examined long-term rearrest patterns. Prison-based treatment alone was not associated with those patterns, but individuals who completed community-based aftercare went longer before being rearrested and were less likely to be rearrested overall. Among individuals assessed as high risk, those who completed treatment had rearrest patterns similar to those evaluated as low risk.
For community corrections agencies working to reduce recidivism, these findings reinforce the importance of pairing in-custody treatment with structured transition planning and reliable access to community-based care.
GEO Reentry’s in-custody programs for state correctional systems and county jails use clinical assessment results to guide individualized treatment plans for substance use disorder. Group sessions address substance use and relapse prevention, while transition planning helps participants prepare for the next stage of treatment in the community.
Beyond the Referral: Defining Responsibilities and Tracking Care
For agencies, the practical question is not only whether teams made a referral but whether ongoing SUD treatment and relapse-prevention support remain in place to reinforce skills developed in custody. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) transition framework provides a way to organize those responsibilities through four connected tasks:
- Assess the individual’s clinical and social needs and public safety risks.
- Plan for the treatment and services required to address the individual’s needs, both in custody and upon reentry.
- Identify required community and correctional programs responsible for post-release services.
- Coordinate a transition plan to ensure implementation and avoid gaps in care with community-based services.
A clear handoff process puts connected reentry into practice by helping agencies distinguish a referral from a documented connection to care. In one jail reentry program, referrals to some community providers nearly doubled, but only 10-15% of participants successfully contacted a provider. A handoff process can help teams confirm provider capacity, share treatment information in time, document connections, and identify placements that do not progress as planned. Tracking participant engagement alongside changing or unmet needs enables agencies to adjust services during the individual’s transition to the community.
How Non-residential Day Reporting Supports Treatment After Release
GEO Reentry’s non-residential day reporting centers offer a connected reentry approach: coordinating SUD treatment with case management, supervision, housing, employment, and other reentry needs as individuals move from custody into the community. This structured alternative to incarceration provides continued treatment and support as participants build stability. Depending on individual needs, services may include assessments, counseling, relapse-prevention strategies, cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT), alcohol and drug testing, and connections to community-based providers.
Explore SUD Treatment Coordination with GEO Reentry
To discuss your agency’s treatment responsibilities, handoff process, and connections to community-based care and how GEO Reentry can help coordinate and strengthen them, contact our Partnership Development team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can community corrections agencies verify that teams completed a treatment handoff?
Tracking whether treatment begins helps agencies distinguish a referral from a completed connection to care. To verify the handoff, define responsibility for each referral, confirm provider capacity, document information exchange, and flag connections that do not proceed as planned.
How can day reporting support substance use disorder treatment?
Day reporting programs enable supervision teams to identify emerging needs and adjust support by combining structured check-ins, drug testing, documented reporting, clinical assessment, and treatment services.
Why should treatment planning begin before release?
Early planning gives correctional and treatment teams time to identify medication needs, confirm provider capacity, exchange necessary information, and address barriers that could interrupt care after release.
How can substance use testing support treatment decisions?
Testing provides timely information about possible substance use and helps clinicians or supervision teams determine whether they should reassess treatment intensity, support services, or transition plans.