09/24/2026
People on community supervision who have a substance use disorder are more likely to abscond or commit other violations, per CJI's study on the drivers of absconding.
Drawing on case file reviews, focus groups, and the perspectives of supervision staff, agency leaders, and people on supervision, the research points to other key barriers:
🔷 Behavioral health needs and other population-specific factors make absconding more likely and can compound other challenges.
🔷 Excess conditions of supervision, such as multiple program and housing requirements, place a significant burden on people and may lead to absconding.
🔷 Financial obligations and a lack of transportation make it harder to complete supervision successfully.
CJI's community supervision and reentry work show that jurisdictions with better outcomes tend to coordinate behavioral health care with housing, supervision, and employment rather than addressing each in isolation.
During National Recovery Month, it's worth remembering that for many people, recovery and supervision happen at the same time.
