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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2010 Mar 29;21(5):380–394. doi: 10.1016/j.jana.2010.01.004

Table 2. Summary of Prison Release Interventions for At-Risk and HIV-Infected Women Prisoners.

Study Sample Size Control Group Site (state) Design/Purpose Outcome Measures Results
Kim et al. (1997) “Prison Release” N = 41 Yes RI HIV-positive women. Designed to link women to medical care, financial assistance, substance abuse treatment, family support, sex abuse counseling, and housing after release. Reduced recidivism, improved access to medical care and housing, decrease in drug use. Women were successfully linked to housing, financial assistance, and medical and drug rehabilitation. A 12-month evaluation indicated 50% lower recidivism for the intervention group compared to other inmates. Retention in the program was 95%.
Freudenberg, Wilets, Greene, & Richie (1998)1 “Health Link” N = 193 Yes NY At-risk and infected women. Designed to reduce recidivism and drug use through case management and discharge planning. Reduced re-arrest, drug use, improved health status, less dependency. Initial evaluation indicated 46% retention at 6 months and 35% retention at 12 months. Re-arrest rate was 21% lower than for other inmates.
Vigilante et al. (1999)2 “WHPPP” N = 78 Yes RI HIV-uninfected women. Aimed to reduce recidivism and HIV risk. Pre-release planning with physician and social worker; discharge plan. Post-release care by same physician and social worker; also outreach worker for indefinite period of time. Reduced re-arrest, drug use, and HIV risk as indicated by fewer drug arrests. Lower recidivism rates than other inmates at 3-month and 12-month intervals (12%). HIV risk behavior reduced, but results were inferred from lower arrest rates for drug use and prostitution rather than from actual HIV measures.
Needels, James-Burdumy, & Burghardt (2005)1 “Health Link” N = 704 Yes NY At risk and infected women. Purpose was to determine if continuity of care from prison to community had a positive effect on HIV risk, drug use, and re-arrest rates. Linked prisoners to community services through case management after release. Reduced re-arrest, drug use, and HIV risk as determined by more condom use and fewer partners. At 12-month follow-up, weak beneficial effects on soft drug use and use of drug treatment programs. No positive effect on partner reduction, hard drug use, condom use, or recidivism compared to other prisoners.

NY = New York, TX = Texas, RI = Rhode Island

1

These articles reviewed outcomes of the Health Link program at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility in New York. The first article provided preliminary results (see also Richie, Freudenberg, & Page, 2001). The second article provided more comprehensive data on the study proper.