Safe Streets, Second Chances
Improving Reentry Services
Our Partnership
Through the Safe Streets, Second Chances project, we worked to develop a model of reentry services that reduces recidivism, decreases costs and fosters productive citizenship. This collaborative project between DU and partners like Florida State University sought to create effective near- and long-term strategies to help individuals who were formerly incarcerated to reestablish their lives.
About DU Research
We leverage cross-institutional collaboration to address some of today’s most pressing challenges, producing interdisciplinary solutions that influence policymakers to effectively serve the public good. From Stanford to UChicago to NYU, we’ve refined our collaborative process through years of mutually beneficial relationships with institutions nationwide to understand and address challenges like climate change, HIV and youth homelessness.
DU’s current research efforts have been featured in news outlets like The New York Times. They include…
- exploring the effects of felony disenfranchisement.
- employing lasers as the medium for quantum science.
- using theatre to heal and rehabilitate inmates.
About the Project
The Safe Streets, Second Chances project aims to improve reentry services to benefit both formerly incarcerated individuals and the communities in which they participate. We focused on reducing recidivism and costs while fostering productive citizenship through improved occupational status, interpersonal relationships, thinking patterns, coping skills and social activities.
The project was spread across eight sites in four states (Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Texas). Within each state, a random 50 percent selection of participants received the Safe Streets, Second Chances services, while the other half received reentry services typically provided in that state.
Data was collected at multiple points: upon enrollment, immediately upon release, and then three, nine and 15 months after release to asses impacts and cost savings.