The United States maintains the largest incarcerated population in the world, with over 1.8 million individuals held in federal, state, and local facilities. In Illinois, there are about 150,000 individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including those on probation or parole. Although recent reforms have slowed incarceration rates, arrests remain high for survival crimes and nonviolent offenses, particularly drug-related offenses. Incarceration is often accompanied by serious challenges, including poor physical health, an increased risk of relapse among individuals with substance use disorders, and other adverse outcomes. 

Through our criminal legal portfolio, the University of Chicago Health Lab seeks to improve the overall well-being of incarcerated individuals and returning citizens by: 1) conducting rigorous studies to understand the current health challenges faced by individuals involved in the carceral system and designing strategies to promote a continuum of care post-release; 2) designing and implementing interventions such as Reducing Opioid Mortality in Illinois. Health Lab works at the forefront of the field, developing and evaluating innovative new interventions to inform changes in our country’s criminal justice system.