Criminal Justice Programs and Services

Peer strength

Empowering Individuals Through Peer-Recovery Support Services In the Criminal Justice System

“Peer-Strength” is SOS Recovery Community Organization’s criminal justice recovery program. This initiative operates in partnership with the Department of Corrections, Strafford County Probation and Parole, Strafford County Community Corrections, and the Strafford County Recovery Court. SOS is also active within the Belknap County Correctional Facility and participates in weekly recovery court sessions across four counties, providing peer recovery support to individuals throughout New Hampshire.

All Peer Strength support workers bring lived experience with both recovery and the justice system

Areas of support:

  • Re-Entry Support
    • Guiding individuals as they transition from correctional settings back into the community, including connections to housing, employment, and benefits.
  • Treatment & Recovery Services
    • Supporting engagement in treatment and peer support, while addressing psychological, social, and financial challenges.
  • Crisis Intervention
    • Offering immediate support and stabilization during times of crisis.
  • Community Outreach
    • Raising awareness about peer support through education, advocacy, and community engagement.
  • In-Jail & Re-Entry Programs
    • Providing peer support inside correctional facilities and continuing care as individuals return to their communities

Benefits of peer support:

  • Reduced Recidivism
    • Peer support lowers the risk of re-offense among participants (NIJ, 2017).
  • Stronger Engagement
    • Participants stay more connected with treatment, court requirements, and supports when guided by peers (JCJ, 2020).
  • Empowerment & Hope
    • Peer support fosters motivation, confidence, and lasting recovery.
  • Advocacy & Navigation
    • Peers help justice-involved individuals understand the system, access needed resources, and build a path toward recovery.

What else do we do?

We facilitate Recovery Capital groups twice weekly in Strafford, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, and Cheshire counties, and once weekly in Rockingham County. These groups focus on reducing barriers to recovery, building community, and fostering peer relationships among participants. SOS also provides one-on-one peer support to currently incarcerated individuals in Carroll and Coos counties through scheduled phone calls. For those in rural areas or without local access to services, our Tele-Recovery program offers secure, web-based one-on-one support via video, phone, chat, or messaging. Participants only need a smartphone to connect.

Our staff help clients develop recovery plans and navigate essential connections to meetings, housing, employment, treatment, behavioral health services, and more. Each week, Peer-Strength staff are available near probation and parole offices for in-person check-ins. Officers often refer participants directly to SOS for crisis navigation and wellness-based recovery coaching, and many individuals now self-refer after hearing about the program’s impact. Our staff also collaborate closely with recovery court case managers and attend court proceedings weekly to provide continued peer support and advocacy.

SOS leadership actively participates in task forces with the National Center for State Courts and contributes to ECHO-based training for superior and district court judges across New Hampshire. These trainings aim to reduce stigma and increase understanding of substance use disorders within the justice system.