Objectives <p>To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic communities (TCs) in terms of reducing post-prison recidivism for individuals with substance use disorder.</p> Methods <p>Propensity score matching was used to create statistically balanced groups of individuals released from (a) minimum- and medium-security TCs in Illinois and (b) non-TC prisons. Logistic regression models then estimated the effect of TC treatment on several types of post-release arrest and reincarceration.</p> Results <p>Treatment at both the minimum- and medium-security TCs led to reductions in general arrests and reincarceration at one and three years post-release. The medium-security TC also had significant effects on each arrest subtype measured (i.e., violent, drug, and domestic violence). For all outcomes, the effects of treatment at a TC diminished over time.</p> Conclusions <p>The results align with prior literature showing that TCs can reduce recidivism. However, more research is needed on the moderating and mediating mechanisms that account for these effects.</p>