DOI•
Tough Life after Prison: An Analysis of 19 Former Prisoners in Malaysia
29 Dec 2020-Vol. 14, Iss: 1, pp 24-36
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was conducted to understand the challenges and obstacles faced by former prisoners during reintegration process using protective factor as an indicator, and the recommendation of this study is to introduce a community-based post-release program as a social intervention in Malaysia criminal justice system.
Abstract: Undeniably, some former prisoners have succeeded in reintegrating themselves back into society and have also ceased any further criminal activities. However, this journey is difficult for former prisoners, particularly when their families do not welcome their return or when they fail to secure a steady job. This study was conducted to understand the challenges and obstacles faced by former prisoners during reintegration process using protective factor as an indicator. A qualitative approach was adopted in this study, whereby 19 former prisoners were interviewed to enhance the understanding of this issue. Based on the findings obtained, it was revealed that only three respondents met the characteristics of a person who had successfully desisted from committing a crime. This finding proved that desistance from crime among former prisoners is challenging. Thus, the criminal justice system in Malaysia towards the reintegration of former prisoners should be improved accordingly to prevent any failure or potential issue for the betterment of former prisoners. The recommendation of this study is to introduce a community-based post-release program as a social intervention in Malaysia criminal justice system. The limitation of this study is in the discussion done only from the perspective of former prisoners. There is a need to conduct studies from the perspective of social workers, counsellors and volunteers in the NGOs involved in helping former prisoners throughout the process of reintegration.
Keywords: Desistance, Recidivism, Former Prisoner, Reintegration, Risk Factor, The Protective Factor
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Posted Content•
TL;DR: The authors found that ex-offenders are one-half to one-third as likely to receive initial consideration from employers relative to equivalent applicants without criminal records, and that even blacks without a criminal record fare no better-and perhaps worse than do whites with criminal records.
Abstract: Over the past three decades, the number of prison inmates has increased by more than 500 percent, leaving the United States the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. With over two million individuals currently incarcerated, and over half a million prisoners released each year, the large and growing numbers of men being processed through the criminal justice system raises important questions about the consequences of this massive institutional intervention. This paper focuses on the consequences of incarceration for the employment outcomes of black and white job seekers. The manuscript is comprised of two studies: the first, a large-scale experimental audit of employers in Milwaukee, used matched pairs of young men to apply for real entry-level jobs to measure the extent to which employers use information about criminal histories and race to screen out otherwise qualified applicants. Indeed, the results of the audit study provide clear evidence for the dramatic impact of both a criminal record and race on employment opportunities: Ex-offenders are one-half to one-third as likely to receive initial consideration from employers relative to equivalent applicants without criminal records. Perhaps most striking, the results show that even blacks without a criminal record fare no better-and perhaps worse-than do whites with criminal records.The second study, a telephone survey of these same employers, gathered self-reported information about the considerations and concerns of employers in hiring entry-level workers, with a specific focus on employers' reactions to applicants with criminal backgrounds. By linking results from the audit study to those of the employer survey, I find that employers' self-reports vastly understate the barriers faced by both blacks and ex-offenders seeking entry-level employment. Though employer surveys can tell us a great deal of useful information about the relative preferences of employers, extreme caution should be used in generalizing these results to estimates of actual behavior. The findings of this project reveal an important, and much under-recognized, mechanism of stratification. A criminal record presents a major barrier to employment, with important implications for racial disparities.
186 citations
TL;DR: In this article , the authors investigated the challenges faced by teachers in prison schools and found that serving time in prison does not deter the inmates from pursuing their education because they deserve a second chance to reclaim their life post-prison term.
Abstract: Prison is often perceived negatively due to its purposes such as retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation for people who are legally held for a crime they have committed. However, the prison institutions are serving a larger-than-life mission to transform the inmates’ life which includes correctional education. This study investigated the challenges faced by teachers in prison schools. Utilizing a qualitative research design, this case study involved seven teachers from the prison Integrity School for young inmates. The interview data were analyzed based on Braun and Clarke’s thematic framework. Findings showed teaching challenges such as pedagogy, teaching and learning materials, policy and opportunities. Another emerging theme points to the hopes harbored to further improve educational attainment in prison. This has led to several suggestions such as (1) modules and skills-based course development to focus on young inmates serving short prison terms (minimum of 3 months); and (2) fluid and organic pedagogical approaches. Drawing upon Nelson Mandela’s famous quote, ‘education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’, this study is addressing more insights to add value to the young inmates’ educational opportunities in prison school. Serving time in prison does not deter the inmates from pursuing their education because they deserve a second chance to reclaim their life post-prison term.
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors discuss the types of rehabilitation and care to provide in-depth understanding of the homeless issue in Malaysia and the existence of a policy that strives to ensure the safety and welfare of the Homeless will be a starting point that allows these groups to be assisted more efficiently.
Abstract: The issue of the homeless is a social issue which requires discussion to find a solution for what is currently happening. Though the government and the non-government agencies have done their best to provide the rehabilitation and care centres for the homeless, these efforts have been described as a temporary solution and not something permanent. The issue to be focused is the significant factor which serves as the background such as the homeless welfare policy, the increase of the minimum wage as well as the provision of low-cost homes. These matters should be implemented first by the government. The existence of a policy that strives to ensure the safety and welfare of the homeless will be a starting point that allows these groups to be assisted more efficiently. The increase of the number of rehabilitation centres provided by the government and non-government agencies may indicate that the homeless issue is not improving but it seems to be getting worse. This is because the increase of the centres is a lens that shows that the number of homeless people is increasing in Malaysia. The situation involves a demand and supply, and the high demand causing the occurrence of high supply clearly shows the state of homelessness in the country. As such, the government needs to cooperate with the government scholars to find a more comprehensive solution in curbing this homelessness problem. This concept paper will discuss the types of rehabilitation and care to provide in-depth understanding of the homeless issue in Malaysia.
30 Aug 2021
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a phenomenological approach involving 15 homeless ex-prisoners to explore the personal factors that led them to choose Kuala Lumpur and resigned to living on the streets.
Abstract: The concentration of homeless ex-prisoners in the capital city raises personal choice factors for them to migrate repeatedly. Kuala Lumpur is the chosen destination for migration for ex-prisoners after their release from prison. The lack of place to go makes Kuala Lumpur a destination of choice despite living as a homeless person. This qualitative study uses a phenomenological approach involving 15 homeless ex-prisoners to explore the personal factors that led them to choose Kuala Lumpur and resigned to living on the streets. The personal factors identified were self-choice, finding job, having friends, easy access to food, migrating, and being familiar with Kuala Lumpur. The study's findings have confirmed the migration factors brought about by the Migration Theory by Everett S. Lee. This study recommends that the social services and welfare agencies involved, such as the Social Welfare Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and the Prisons Department, to implement more comprehensive and consistent interventions towards assisting homeless ex-prisoners via necessary services, welfare, and appropriate social support.
References
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Book•
01 Oct 2000
TL;DR: Maruna as discussed by the authors argues that to truly understand offenders, we must understand the stories that they tell - and that in turn this story-making process has the capacity to transform lives, and provides a fascinating narrative analysis of the lives of repeat offenders who, by all statistical measures, should have continued on the criminal path but instead have created lives of productivity and purpose.
Abstract: Can hardened criminals really reform? "Making Good" provides resounding proof that the answer is yes. This book provides a fascinating narrative analysis of the lives of repeat offenders who, by all statistical measures, should have continued on the criminal path but instead have created lives of productivity and purpose. This examination of the phenomenology of "making good" includes an encyclopedic review of the literature on personal reform as well as a practical guide to the use of narratives in offender counseling and rehabilitation.The author's research shows that criminals who desist from crime have constructed powerful narratives that aided them in making sense of their pasts, finding fulfillment in productive behaviors, and feeling in control of their future. Borrowing from the field of narrative psychology, Maruna argues that to truly understand offenders, we must understand the stories that they tell - and that in turn this story-making process has the capacity to transform lives. "Making Good" challenges some of the cherished assumptions of various therapy models for offenders and supports new paradigms for offender rehabilitation. This groundbreaking book is a must read for criminologists, forensic psychologists, lawyers, rehabilitation counselors, or anyone interested in the generative process of change.
2,695 citations
"Tough Life after Prison: An Analysi..." refers background in this paper
...…risk factors that influence former prisoners to recommit crime, crime desistance has become one of the most debated topics amongst researchers in criminology due to the various factors that could protect and prevent former prisoners from repeating criminal activities (Farrall, 2002; Maruna, 2001)....
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...Apart from the risk factors that influence former prisoners to recommit crime, crime desistance has become one of the most debated topics amongst researchers in criminology due to the various factors that could protect and prevent former prisoners from repeating criminal activities (Farrall, 2002; Maruna, 2001)....
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...As such, the increase in age of a former prisoner can lead to the extent of maturity and the tendency to restrain themselves from recommitting a crime (Sampson & Laub, 2003; Maruna, 2001)....
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...The act of desistance happens when former prisoners cease from committing any wrongdoing act, whereby they stop any form of unlawful action or activity (Maruna, 2001)....
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TL;DR: The findings of this study reveal an important, and much underrecognized, mechanism of stratification in the criminal justice system, which presents a major barrier to employment, with important implications for racial disparities.
Abstract: With over 2 million individuals currently incarcerated, and over half a million prisoners released each year, the large and growing number of men being processed through the criminal justice system raises important questions about the consequences of this massive institutional intervention. This article focuses on the consequences of incarceration for the employment outcomes of black and white job seekers. The present study adopts an experimental audit approach—in which matched pairs of individuals applied for real entry‐level jobs—to formally test the degree to which a criminal record affects subsequent employment opportunities. The findings of this study reveal an important, and much underrecognized, mechanism of stratification. A criminal record presents a major barrier to employment, with important implications for racial disparities.
2,352 citations
TL;DR: Laub and Sampson as mentioned in this paper analyzed newly collected data on crime and social development up to age 70 for 500 men who were remanded to reform school in the 1940s and found that men who desisted from crime were rooted in structural routines and had strong social ties to family and community.
Abstract: This text analyses newly collected data on crime and social development up to age 70 for 500 men who were remanded to reform school in the 1940s. Born in Boston in the late 1920s and early 1930s, these men were the subjects of the classic study "Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency" by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck (1950). Updating their lives at the close of the twentieth century, and connecting their adult experience to childhood, this book is arguably the longest longitudinal study of age, crime and the life course to date. John Laub and Robert Sampson's long-term data, combined with in-depth interviews, defy the conventional wisdom that links individual traits such as poor verbal skills, limited self-control and difficult temperament to long-term trajectories of offending. The authors reject the idea of categorizing offenders to reveal etiologies of offending - rather, they connect variability in behaviour to social context. They find that men who desisted from crime were rooted in structural routines and had strong social ties to family and community. By uniting life-history narratives with rigorous data analysis, the authors shed new light on long-term trajectories of crime and current policies of crime control.
1,587 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: In this paper, a profile of returning prisoners is presented, along with a discussion of the changing nature of Parole Supervision and Services, and the role of the victim's role in prisoner reentry.
Abstract: Preface 1. Introduction and Overview 2. Who's Coming Home? A Profile of Returning Prisoners 3. The Origins and Evolution of Modern Parole 4. The Changing Nature of Parole Supervision and Services 5. How We Help: Preparing Inmates for Release 6. How We Hinder: Legal and Practical Barriers to Reintegration 7. Revolving Door Justice: Inmate Release and Recidivism 8. The Victim's Role in Prisoner Reentry 9. What to Do? Reforming Parole and Reentry Practices 10. Conclusions: When Punitive Policies Backfire Afterword
1,520 citations
"Tough Life after Prison: An Analysi..." refers background in this paper
...One of the most profound challenges facing societies today is the reintegration of so many prisoners (Maruna, 2011; Petersilia, 2003)....
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TL;DR: The study of desistance from crime is hampered by definitional, measurement, and theoretical incoherence as mentioned in this paper, and a unifying framework can distinguish termination of offending from the process of desistanc...
Abstract: The study of desistance from crime is hampered by definitional, measurement, and theoretical incoherence. A unifying framework can distinguish termination of offending from the process of desistanc...
1,205 citations
"Tough Life after Prison: An Analysi..." refers background in this paper
...Laub & Sampson (2001) also further describe desistance from crime involves former prisoners withdraw from getting involved in any criminal activity or abstain from displaying any form of criminal behaviour....
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