The effects of OUD among justice-impacted populations can be devastating. Internationally, drug overdose is the leading cause of death among people recently released from jail or prison.
From public housing to grant programs to welfare assistance, having a felony record can prevent you from accessing government support programs. For people reentering society, these obstacles only exacerbate other difficulties in life after prison.
Homelessness after reentry remains one of the biggest obstacles for formerly incarcerated people, though. Without a safe place to live, many end up back in prison.
Under the Emergency Community Supervision Act, the government would release vulnerable individuals from prison. Then, it would place them in community supervision while COVID-19 continues to present a national health emergency.
The North Carolina Second Chance Act gives people with nonviolent criminal records an opportunity to have misdemeanors and low-level felonies expunged from their records.