Methods: We identified sixty-two reentry programs. Fifty-four are included in this analysis. When ever possible telephone interviews with key program staff were used as the primary source for program information. Interview probes were used to elicit information about the programs’ structure, target population, location, staffing, and service strategies with special emphasis on strategies of engagement and retention. Interview notes were transcribed immediately after each interview. Other sources of program information included conference presentations, program brochures, published articles, and Internet websites. A constant comparison of information gathered from programs was used to develop variables that operationalized important program characteristics. These characteristics were used to develop a typology of the reentry programs for mentally ill offenders.

Results:  Reentry programs vary based on their location relative to the criminal justice and mental health systems, types of professionals staffing the treatment programs, and degree of collaboration between the two service systems. These findings led to a typology of reentry programs for mentally ill offenders that includes four categories of services which are principally based on the extent and nature of mental health and criminal justice system interaction.

Implications: Social work is a professional presence in both community mental health and criminal justice services. Differing approaches to prisoner re-entry have implications for organization culture of agencies/programs as well as how outcome effectiveness may be measured.