Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants
Release, Mentorship and Returning to the Community: Former Inmate Perspectives of the Reintegration Experience
Department
School of Criminal Justice
College
College of Community and Public Service
Date Range
2014-2015
Abstract
Interview and ethnographic research surrounding the challenges of successful reintegration for returning citizens illustrate the many issues associated with parolees forming new post-prison identities while confronting issues of stigmatization. This research examines weekly community based mentorship meetings in a mid-size Midwestern city between successfully reintegrated citizens, local police, and current parolees at differing stages of the parole experience. Through the use of qualitative thematic analysis, this research explores the reality of life in the community for these former inmates. After release from prison, having served sentences ranging from months to decades, these former inmates discuss their challenges as well as their triumphs, as they attempt to stop the revolving door of Americas prisons. In their own words, the participants explore topics such as the role of religion in their lives, the cause of their former crimes, stigmatization, and other obstacles they face as they attempt to successfully reintegrate into society.
Conference Name
Annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology
Conference Location
San Francisco
ScholarWorks Citation
"Release, Mentorship and Returning to the Community: Former Inmate Perspectives of the Reintegration Experience" (2015). Faculty Scholarly Dissemination Grants. 601.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/fsdg/601
