No Halo News · Sourced development
MDRC study reported fewer parole violations among participants in a Center for Employment Opportunities cash-assistance program
MDRC compared participants in the Center for Employment Opportunities’ Returning Citizens Stimulus program in Los Angeles and Alameda counties with a statistically matched comparison group. Participants, who could receive three monthly payments totaling up to $2,750 for completing reentry milestones, had fewer parole violations during the first six months and first year after release, including fewer violent violations. Estimated reductions in reincarceration at 18 to 30 months were described as promising but not yet reliable. The broader program has served more than 10,000 people in 28 cities.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The study provides early evidence for a practical reentry innovation that gives recently released people meaningful short-term financial support rather than minimal gate money. Reduced violations could benefit participants, families and public systems.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
MDRC reported the findings from a propensity-score-matched study conducted by researcher Megan Schwartz. The study was sponsored by the Center for Employment Opportunities with funding from Blue Meridian Partners on behalf of the Justice and Mobility Fund.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not independently reproduced the analysis. Participants were not randomly assigned, so unmeasured differences may have affected the results. The study did not establish effects on employment, housing or health, and longer-term reincarceration estimates require further research.
Right of reply
Organization response
Center for Employment Opportunities chief executive Sam Schaeffer said the research supports providing people with autonomy and tangible assistance immediately after incarceration and strengthens the case for cost-effective, data-driven reentry support.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Independent Impact Evidence. Current state: Reported. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published April 22, 2025 · Last verified September 16, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.