The Association of Geographic Congruence With Postrelease Substance Use and Reincarceration

• Published date: 01 April 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241227545
• Author: Amanda M. Bunting,Martha Tillson,Michele Staton
• Date: 01 April 2024

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2024, Vol. 51, No. 4, April 2024, 608 –619.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241227545

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

608

THE ASSOCIATION OF GEOGRAPHIC

CONGRUENCE WITH POSTRELEASE

SUBSTANCE USE AND REINCARCERATION

AMANDA M. BUNTING

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

MARTHA TILLSON

MICHELE STATON

University of Kentucky

This research examined consistency in living in the same geographical area pre- and post-incarceration as a predictor of

postrelease substance use and recidivism. Data from a 2018–2020 cohort of the Criminal Justice Kentucky Treatment

Outcome Study (n = 935) were analyzed. Rural–urban congruence compared the county an individual reported living in prior

to incarceration to the county they reported living in at the time of their follow-up. Logistic regressions examined the relation-

ship between postrelease reentry supports and rural–urban congruence with outcomes. Postrelease, 41% of individuals were

urban–urban congruent, 43% rural–rural congruent, and 16% incongruent. No differences were found for postrelease sub-

stance use. Congruent individuals were more likely to be reincarcerated during follow-up. For rural-congruent individuals,

this relationship was influenced by employment. Specifically, they were less likely to be employed postrelease, which

increased risk of reincarceration. The current research suggests that postrelease employment challenges may be partially

driving recidivism risk among rural-congruent individuals.

Keywords: longitudinal; prisoner reentry; recidivism; substance use; employment

INTRODUCTION

In 2021, more than 400,000 individuals were released from state and federal prisons

(Carson, 2022). Despite a large number of individuals reentering communities, these indi-

viduals often face myriad challenges that can impede reentry success, such as a high preva-

lence of health needs, systemic barriers to housing and employment opportunities, or social

stigma and discrimination (Feingold, 2021; Li, 2018; Visher & Travis, 2003). Previously

incarcerated individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) may also face difficulties

related to ongoing needs for treatment or recovery supports, compounded by the intersecting

stigmas of addiction and criminal justice system involvement (Hartwell, 2004; van Olphen

AUTHORS’ NOTE: This research was initially conducted as part of a subcontract with the Department of

Corrections. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Amanda M. Bunting, Department

of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York 10016, NY; e-mail:

amanda.bunting@nyulangone.org.

1227545CJBXXX10.1177/00938548241227545Criminal Justice and BehaviorBunting et al. / Geographic Congruence Postrelease

research-article2024