Date of Award
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Dr. Melissa Spencer
Second Advisor
Dr. Maia Linask
Abstract
Recidivism in the United States is at an all-time high and significantly higher than in other developed nations. Past literature examines how conditions present in prisons and the criminal justice system affect recidivism and other outcomes of formerly incarcerated persons. Recognizing the need for reform, the Second Chance Act was passed in 2007, which aims to create or improve reentry programs by giving state, county, and tribal governments and nonprofit
organizations funding. Few studies have examined the effect of Second Chance Act grants,
though two studies published in 2016 and 2017 found that the grants generally decrease recidivism. This study examines the effectiveness of Second Chance Act grants in reducing recidivism and improving post-release outcomes for formerly incarcerated persons in Arizona, Michigan, Oregon, and Oklahoma. Using difference-in-difference estimations and event studies, this research examined the impact of receiving a grant at the county level compared to counties that did not receive grants. With data from 2005 to 2016, this study determines that Second Chance Act grants reduce recidivism by 5-12% depending on the category of recidivism and improve employment and poverty outcomes by 3.1% and 3.9% respectively.
Recommended Citation
Hall, Alexandra, "From Prison to Progress: Evaluating the Impact of Second Chance Act Grants on Recidivism" (2025). Honors Theses. 1824.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1824
