Effectiveness of a longitudinal post-release intervention on reintegration pathways for short term ex-prisoners in India

The reintegration of short-term ex-prisoners remains an under-explored issue within the Indian correctional system, where rehabilitation efforts are primarily directed toward long-term inmates. This study examined reintegration trajectories and evaluated the effectiveness of a structured post-release intervention using a longitudinal controlled design. A total of 60 short-term ex-prisoners (38 men, 22 women), who had served sentences ranging from one month to three years for non-violent offenses, were recruited from Assam. Participants were assessed at three time points (1 month, 6 months, and 12 months post-release) on perceived stigma, psychological distress, family relationships, and employment status. Using a quasi-experimental approach, participants were assigned to either an intervention group ( n = 30), receiving counselling, family mediation, and employment support, or a comparison group ( n = 30), receiving standard post-release conditions. Results indicated that the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in stigma and psychological distress, along with improved family relationships and employment stability over time compared to the comparison group. Early psychological stabilization emerged as a key predictor of successful reintegration. The findings highlight the importance of structured, low-resource interventions in promoting sustainable reintegration among short-term ex-prisoners in India.