In recent years, there has been a significant and growing focus across the country on addressing substance use prevention and treatment for justice-involved individuals, including efforts to support their successful reentry into communities. Many people leaving custodial settings face heightened risks that can be reduced through earlier identification of substance use disorders, coordinated treatment, and stronger connections to community-based services. Providers and system leaders are increasingly working to improve care continuity, strengthen supportive environments, and use evidence-informed approaches that address both substance use and co-occurring mental health needs. This resource highlights key opportunities, recent policy approaches, and examples from states working to improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals and their communities.

Opportunities and Outcomes of Interest

• Reduce recidivism and overdose risk by promoting successful community reintegration, including by establishing reentry services, such as substance use treatment, housing, and employment support.
• Improve identification and treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) among justice-involved youth and adults.
• Use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches for co-occurring mental health disorders.
• Enhance continuity of care between custodial settings and community-based providers.
• Strengthen family and social support systems to improve reintegration and long-term recovery.

Recent Policy Approaches

• Example Approaches
  • Community responder models have been tailored to local needs and use data to inform decision-making.
  • MOUD programs in carceral facilities have been associated with positive health and social outcomes. Many states have introduced or expanded programs to provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder within correctional facilities, aiming to reduce overdose deaths and support recovery, during and after incarceration.
  • Six states participated in Medicaid and Corrections Policy Academy to develop multisector approaches (e.g., leveraging telehealth) “to improve health coverage, care, and reentry outcomes”.
• Recent State Policy Examples
  • Maryland H.B. 1162 (introduced 2026)
    • Requires the state to reimburse counties for the costs of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs in local correctional facilities, using the Opioid Restitution Fund and other funding sources.
  • Florida S.B. 168 (introduced 2025)
    • Enhances mental health diversion programs and data management in the criminal justice system. Expands grants for mental health and substance abuse programs.
  • Ohio H.B. 393 (introduced 2025)
    • Requires community-based correctional facilities to assist incarcerated persons in obtaining state identification cards prior to their release.
  • New York S.4974 (introduced 2025)
    • Creates a fund to support reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals, with funding decisions in part prioritizing evidence-based programs and services
  • Vermont H.32 (introduced 2025)
    • Aims to provide coordinated and evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment for incarcerated persons, ensuring continuity of care from incarceration through reentry
  • Alabama S.B.322 (enacted 2024)
    • Amends the Joint Prison Oversight Committee duties, creates the Families of the Incarcerated Advisory Board, and directs study of mental health issues for re-entering individuals.
  • Colorado H.B. 24-1045 (enacted 2024)
    • Sets deadlines for medication-assisted treatment authorization, establishes a stimulant use disorder treatment grant program, and mandates reporting on the unmet health needs of justice-involved individuals.
  • Utah H.B. 413 (enacted 2022)
    • Outlines criteria for Medicaid eligibility for adults in the expansion population, prioritizing chronically homeless individuals and those involved in the justice system needing substance abuse or mental health treatment including coordination of coverage upon release.

Additional Resources

• Virtual Panel – Approaches to Addressing SUD in Justice-Involved Populations
• Research Translation Platform Fact Sheets (includes additional policy considerations and examples)
  • Supporting Justice-Involved Youth and Their Families
  • Improving Outcomes for Justice-Involved Individuals with SUD
  • Preventing Overdose Deaths During High-Risk Transition Periods
• Implementing Evidence-Based Strategies to Reduce Overdose Risk during Reentry (Council of State Governments)
• Roadmap to Reentry: 3 Things States Can Do to Get Started (Council of State Governments)