Democratic Recovery Housing and Criminal History: Outcomes in Peer Self-Governed Recovery Homes

Individuals with violent criminal histories are frequently excluded from recovery housing because of concerns about safety and stability. This study compared Oxford House residents with no criminal history, nonviolent criminal histories, and violent criminal histories. The full sample included 627 residents; a matched subsample included 38 participants per group matched on sex and race. The groups did not differ significantly in length of residence, exit status, or friendship density, although the small violent-crime group limited the ability to detect small or moderate differences. Composite recovery-factor scores were significantly higher among participants with violent criminal histories than among those without criminal histories, although the contributing domains could not be identified. These findings demonstrate that some individuals with violent criminal histories can participate successfully in peer-run recovery housing, challenging assumptions that such histories necessarily preclude successful residence while underscoring the need for larger studies.