Untapped Potential: The Power of Peer Support Programs in Prisons

At the time this report was drafted, there were more than 70 Peer Support Programs in U.S. carceral facilities identified in operation with a focus on improving health outcomes for incarcerated people with more new programs regularly coming to our attention, in addition to international programs. This project focused on 15 programs across 12 jurisdictions addressing a range of health and well-being areas including mental health, substance abuse, and palliative care. JHA set out to examine how these kinds of programs could fill gaps in care inside Illinois’ prisons. The dysfunctional state of medical and mental health care inside facilities has been an ongoing issue of deep concern as well as the subject of litigation. People inside often report that they cannot access medical and mental health treatment, and staff shortages are creating an untenable and worsening situation.

Peer Support Programs have the potential to address a multitude of the issues that JHA identifies through our monitoring work. Not only is there an enormous need for care, but also a need for productive programming and the opportunity to learn skills that people can use to improve their daily lives while incarcerated, which will ideally also provide them with employment opportunities upon release.

We thank the Michael Reese Health Trust for funding this project. (March 2025)