Relapse or temporary regressions into anti-social behavior do not necessarily correspond to an increased likelihood that a person will commit new crimes. Supervision officers should recognize and seek to distinguish behaviors that are shown to be affiliated with the risk of future transgression (abuse) from behaviors that are considered part of the process of reintegration and recovery (relapse). Though adjustment issues vary from inmate to inmate, most people face anxiety and take time to build up their sense of accountability. This period of adjustment will vary in length and can depend on the amount of time for which the person was incarcerated, the process by which the person was released, his or her mental stability, the environment to which he or she was released, and the type and amount of support provided to him or her.

The supervising officer and the transition team should incorporate responses into the supervision strategy that anticipate the possibility of relapse or the failure to meet goals. (See Policy Statement 25, Design of Supervision Strategy, for more on anticipating modifications that may be necessary after release; see Policy Statement 29, Graduated Responses, for more on using a spectrum of sanctions and incentives to promote compliance and successful reintegration.) Working with community partners such as police, family members, community-based organizations, and prosecutors, supervision offices can implement responses designed to promote public safety and successful reintegration without automatically returning the person to prison or jail.