Item 393 #3c of the 2013 Budget Bill directed that the Department of Criminal Justice Services “shall review jail prisoner reentry and substance abuse programs that have demonstrated a record of effectiveness in reducing offender recidivism. The review shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, an assessment of the effectiveness of the Kingdom Life Ministries program at the Richmond City Jail, and a determination of the costs and benefits associated with this program and consideration of whether jail prisoner reentry and substance abuse programs that have a demonstrated record of effectiveness should be expanded. Copies of this review shall be provided to the Secretary of Public Safety and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by January 1, 2014."

Reentry programs were discussed in more detail in a separate report, Review of Virginia’s Pre- and Post-Incarceration Services, https://rga.lis.virginia.gov/Published/2013/RD338/PDF . This report will focus more specifically on jail-based substance abuse programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing offender recidivism.