Halfway Out: An Examination of the Effects of Halfway Houses on Criminal Recidivism

Abstract

Halfway houses are a form of community supervision and correctional programming that have become a staple intervention in recent years. Despite the ingrained belief in their benefits with respect to successful reintegration, this assumption may not be justified based on the existing literature. The current study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies examining the effects of halfway houses on recidivism. Overall, the findings suggest that halfway houses are an effective correctional strategy for successful reentry (log odds ratio [LOR] = 0.236, z = 9.27, p < .001). Further work is needed to determine best practices for programming and meeting the needs of different participants.