But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry

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But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry

12 Apr 2005-

TL;DR: Travis as mentioned in this paper proposes organizing the criminal justice system around five principles of reentry to encourage change and spur innovation, and argues that the impact of returning prisoners on families and communities has been largely overlooked.

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Abstract: As our justice system has embarked upon one of our time's greatest social experiments?responding to crime by expanding prisons?we have forgotten the iron law of imprisonment: they all come back. In 2002, more than 630,000 individuals left federal and state prisons. Thirty years ago, only 150,000 did. In the intense political debate over America's punishment policies, the impact of these returning prisoners on families and communities has been largely overlooked. In But They All Come Back, Jeremy Travis continues his pioneering work on the new realities of punishment in America vis-a-vis public safety, families and children, work, housing, public health, civic identity, and community capacity. Travis proposes organizing the criminal justice system around five principles of reentry to encourage change and spur innovation.

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Journal Article•DOI•

A Spanish Window on European Law and Policy on Employment Discrimination Based on Criminal Record

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Elena Larrauri¹, James B. Jacobs²•Institutions (2)

Pompeu Fabra University¹, New York University²

21 Nov 2012-Social Science Research Network

TL;DR: In the U.S., conviction-based employment discrimination (CBED) is attracting a great deal of attention on account of intense concern about enhancing ex-offender chances for post conviction, especially post-imprisonment, successful reentry as mentioned in this paper.

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Abstract: In the U.S., conviction-based-employment discrimination (CBED) is attracting a great deal of attention on account of intense concern about enhancing ex-offender chances for post conviction, especially post-imprisonment, successful “reentry.” Europe seems unconcerned about CBED. It is not a hot policy issue in Europe and attracts very little research or commentary. Why? Is it because European employers do not discriminate against job applicants or employees with criminal convictions? This Article seeks to address the relevance of a criminal record to employment opportunity in Europe.

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10 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

The Effect of Penal Legitimacy on Prisoners’ Postrelease Desistance

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Daniel McCarthy¹, Ian Brunton-Smith²•Institutions (2)

University of Surrey¹, University of Warwick²

01 Jun 2018-Crime & Delinquency

TL;DR: The authors found that prisoners who perceive their experience of prison as legitimate are more likely to believe that they will desist from crime, despite the existence of desistance beliefs, these do not translate into similar effects of legitimacy on proven reconviction rates a year post release.

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Abstract: Studies of procedural justice and legitimacy have shown that where legal actors use formal rules in ways that are perceived to be fair and consistent by those policed, greater compliance with the law can be achieved. A number of studies have assessed how legitimacy and compliance are related using general population samples, but few have tested these links among offending groups. Drawing on data from a longitudinal survey of prisoners across England and Wales, we find that prisoners who perceive their experience of prison as legitimate are more likely to believe that they will desist from crime. However, despite the existence of desistance beliefs, these do not translate into similar effects of legitimacy on proven reconviction rates a year post release.

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10 citations

Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

...Limited job opportunities, greater access to drugs, antisocial community networks and peer connections, and limited finances may all play a role in prompting recidivism, even among those who demonstrate a willingness to change (Nagin et al., 2009; Travis, 2005)....
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...Transitions to life post incarceration are also notoriously challenging, with potential limits placed on the capacities for personal change and desistance once offenders are released (Travis, 2005)....
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...…be sowed in prison for some inmates (in terms of changes in self-identity and McCarthy and Brunton-Smith 923 remorse for the offenses committed), these cognitive changes are impeded by the well-documented structural challenges of readapting to life during reentry (Petersilia, 2003; Travis, 2005)....
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...Whereas the seeds of desistance may be sowed in prison for some inmates (in terms of changes in self-identity and remorse for the offenses committed), these cognitive changes are impeded by the well-documented structural challenges of readapting to life during reentry (Petersilia, 2003; Travis, 2005)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Restoring Rights, Restoring Trust: Evidence that Reversing Felony Disenfranchisement Penalties Increases Both Trust and Cooperation with Government

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Victoria Shineman¹, Victoria Shineman²•Institutions (2)

University of Pittsburgh¹, New York University²

25 Oct 2018-Social Science Research Network

TL;DR: This paper found that restoring voting rights to disenfranchised citizens helps those citizens develop the types of pro-democratic attitudes commonly associated with successful post-prison re-entry, reduced tendencies to commit crime, and lower rates of recidivism.

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Abstract: More than six million American citizens were denied the right to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election because they had been convicted of a felony crime. Beyond the effects of these laws on voter turnout and electoral outcomes, how do felony disenfranchisement laws affect the citizens who are being disenfranchised? This study estimates the effects of restoring voting rights on the level of political trust among citizens who were formerly disenfranchised. Two field experiments are embedded within panel surveys conducted before and after statewide elections in Ohio and Virginia. The survey population is composed of American citizens with a felony conviction who were once disenfranchised, but now are either eligible to vote, or are eligible to have their voting rights restored. Both experiments leverage misinformation about voting rights policies as an opportunity to estimate how people respond when they receive new information about more lenient voting rights restoration policies. Experimental treatments randomly increase awareness about restored voting rights, along with varying encouragements and assistance with registration and voting. In both experiments, treated subjects report stronger trust in government and the criminal justice system, perceive government as being more fair and representative, and report an increased willingness to cooperate with law enforcement. The results suggest that restoring voting rights to disenfranchised citizens helps those citizens develop the types of pro-democratic attitudes commonly associated with successful post-prison re-entry, reduced tendencies to commit crime, and lower rates of recidivism.

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9 citations

Posted Content•

Incarceration and Paternal Involvement among Non-resident White, African American and Latino Fathers

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Raymond R. Swisher, Maureen R. Waller

01 Jan 2007-Research Papers in Economics

TL;DR: The authors examined the consequences of incarceration for non-resident White, Latino, and African American fathers' contact with children and their formal and informal child support agreements three years after the child's birth.

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Abstract: This paper examines the consequences of incarceration for non-resident White, Latino, and African American fathers' contact with children and their formal and informal child support agreements three years after the child?s birth. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, fathers' current incarceration is found to present serious obstacles to maintaining contact with children, as well as to interfere with the establishment of informal but not formal financial support agreements with mothers. The effects of past incarceration, however, vary significantly by race and ethnicity. Fathers' recent and past incarceration is found to be strongly and negatively associated with the frequency of contact among non-Latino White fathers, while having little to no effect on contact for African American and Latino fathers. As African American and Latino families have been disproportionately affected by policies associated with mass incarceration, we speculate that they may attach less stigma to fathers? incarceration than White families, perceive the criminal justice system as unjust, or exhibit greater resilience. Contributing to this interpretation is the additional finding that incarceration does little to undermine mothers? trust of African American and Latino fathers, whereas it strongly erodes trust of White fathers. Implications for incarceration and family policy are discussed.

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9 citations

Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

...…stable commitments after prison for reducing recidivism (Laub, Nagin, & Sampson, 1998), more widespread access to these types of comprehensive reentry and reunification programs offers the potential for improving outcomes for previously incarcerated fathers and their families (Travis, 2005)....
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...Given the importance of reestablishing stable commitments after prison for reducing recidivism (Laub, Nagin, & Sampson, 1998), more widespread access to these types of comprehensive reentry and reunification programs offers the potential for improving outcomes for previously incarcerated fathers and their families (Travis, 2005)....
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...Many states and local governments have also transformed the parole process, in some cases abolishing it altogether or imposing stricter conditions and monitoring of parolees (Garland, 2001; Travis, 2005)....
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...The collective result of these policies has been longer sentences, fewer opportunities for parole, a more difficult reentry process, increased recidivism, and burgeoning rates of incarceration (Garland, 2001; Travis, 2005; Western, 2006)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Role accumulation theory and prisoner reintegration: The pursuit of transformative social roles:

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Damian J. Martinez¹•Institutions (1)

Arizona State University¹

01 Jun 2010-Probation Journal

TL;DR: This paper examined role accumulation theory as it pertains to the prisoner reentry and reintegration process and argued that this is a relevant lens through which to guide appropriate measures and mechanisms to assist with the acquisition and accumulation of non-criminal social roles for former prisoners.

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Abstract: Former prisoners encounter many challenges upon release from prison, accompanied by ample suggestions as to what they should do to manage and/ or conquer those challenges. Yet, the actual process of interaction between former prisoners and their pursuits of transformative roles have not been guided by a theoretical lens. In particular, little is known about the underlying rationale and process of directing former prisoners into and selecting positive social roles to reduce criminality, increase community safety, and lead them on a pro-social path. Offering an underlying theoretical framework for understanding this process, this article examines role accumulation theory as it pertains to the prisoner reentry and reintegration process. It argues that this is a relevant lens through which to guide appropriate measures and mechanisms to assist with the acquisition and accumulation of non-criminal social roles for former prisoners. In so doing, the article presents an analysis of role accumulation theory, a de...

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9 citations

Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

...What can be even more problematic and complex is having the added characteristic and identity of 139 being a former prisoner (Harris and Keller, 2005; Petersilia, 2003; Travis, 2005)....
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But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry

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Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

Cites background from "But They All Come Back: Facing the ..."

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