Special to The Journal

AI-assisted summary High recidivism rates in Rhode Island demonstrate a need for a public health approach to reentry.

Reentry programs should focus on restorative practices like vocational training and therapy.

Rhode Island must invest resources and challenge traditional views on punishment to achieve meaningful change.

The intersection of incarceration, poverty, mental illness and substance use in Rhode Island is both clear and urgent. Too often, individuals entangled in the criminal legal system struggle with serious, unmet health needs that are compounded by systemic barriers and social inequities. Upon release, those same challenges, if left unaddressed, can result in reincarceration.

The numbers speak for themselves. Over the last decade, more than 14,000 individuals have been released by the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. Of those, 43% ended up incarcerated again – half of whom reoffended within just one year. Worth noting, recidivism rates are higher among young adults and those with lower educational attainment, underscoring how this cycle is fueled by a lack of opportunity and insufficient services and supports.

To break this cycle, Rhode Island must adopt a new vision for reentry – not solely as a criminal justice issue, but as a public health imperative. We need to shift from a punitive mindset to a restorative one rooted in care, compassion and evidence-based solutions. Programs like vocational training, educational support and cognitive behavioral therapy don’t just reduce recidivism – they promote health equity and long-term stability.

The Rhode Island General Assembly has taken an important step by prioritizing the evaluation of recidivism patterns and the effectiveness of correctional programs designed to rehabilitate and reduce reoffending. But evaluation alone isn’t enough. We must act on what works – by expanding community-driven models like those of the Center for Health and Justice Transformation at Brown University Health.

Rhode Island has the opportunity to lead by example, but it will require resources, community support and a willingness to challenge outdated narratives surrounding punishment and safety. Transforming justice through health not only will mean fewer people returning to prison because their needs were not met, but also will create a safer, stronger future for us all.

Larry Warner is the chief impact & equity officer at the United Way of Rhode Island.