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When Prisoners Come Home: Parole and Prisoner Reentry

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
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Gunnison et al. as mentioned in this paper conducted interviews with 40 ex-offenders and community corrections officers in Washington State to find out what is needed to assist exoffenders as they reenter society, particularly as it relates to substance abuse and mental health treatment.
Abstract: Over the past several decades, all facets of institutional and community corrections have been growing. This growth has resulted in increased numbers of ex-offenders reentering society. While research has emerged on reentry, much of the research has focused on examining reentry failure as opposed to reentry success. Interviews of 40 ex-offenders and community corrections officers were conducted in Washington State to pinpoint what is needed to assist ex-offenders as they reenter society--particularly as it relates to substance abuse and mental health treatment. Results from interviews revealed that ex-offenders need assistance to address substance abuse and mental health issues while incarcerated and in the community. Interview results indicated that lack of access to treatment providers or quality treatment to assist ex-offenders are key hindrances identified by ex-offenders in the reentry process. Policy implications of the results are provided Keywords: Reentry, Ex-Offenders, Success, Community Corrections Officers, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Narrative Analysis Research on offender reentry over the past thirty years has demonstrated that offenders' ability to reintegrate successfully is hindered by numerous obstacles such as difficulty in obtaining employment, acquiring housing, and being admitted to higher education (Allender, 2004; Cowan & Fionda, 1994; Delgado, 2012; Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; Harlow, 2003; Harris & Keller, 2005; Hunt, Bowers, & Miller, 1973; James, 2015; Nagin & Waldfogel, 1998; Paylor, 1995; Rodriguez & Brown, 2003; Starr, 2002; Whelan, 1973) along with serious social and medical problems (Petersilia, 2003). Newly released offenders encounter stigmatization (Bahn & Davis, 1991; Funk, 2004; Steffensmeier & Kramer, 1980; Tewksbury, 2005), lose social standing in their communities (Chiricos, Jackson, & Waldo, 1972), and are in need of social support (Cullen, 1994; La Vigne, Visher, & Castro, 2004; Lurigio, 1996) and substance abuse and mental health treatment (Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; James, 2015; Mallik-Kane & Visher, 2008; Petersilia, 2003). Substance abuse, in particular, not only plays a pivotal role in the onset of criminal involvement for many offenders, it also poses a significant hurdle to reentry success for ex-offenders--especially since offenders suffer from substance abuse or dependence at higher rates than those in the general U.S. population (Solomon, Osborne, LoBuglio, Mellow, & Mukamal, 2008; Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001; Wodahl, 2006). Travis and colleagues (2001) estimate that up to 75% of all ex-offenders have a history of substance abuse or addiction. It is also estimated that two-thirds of individuals in the criminal justice system have a substance abuse problem and are in need of treatment services (Taxman, Young, Wiersema, Rhodes, & Mitchell 2007). It is clear that for ex-offenders reentering society from jails or prisons or who are serving sentences, such as probation in the community, need assistance beyond having their basic needs met (i.e., housing, food, and employment). One critical key to their successful reentry is obtaining substance abuse treatment. Unfortunately, many ex-offenders suffer from co-occurring problems such as mental illness which further stymies their ability to successfully reintegrate back into society. Persons with mental illness are overrepresented in jails and prisons. A 2006 Bureau of Justice Report on mental health problems of prison and jail inmates found that an estimated 56% of state prisoners, 45% of federal prisoners, and 64% of jail inmates had mental health problems (James & Glaze, 2006). It is estimated that of those incarcerated 6-8% have a serious mental illness in state prisons, 7.2% suffer from serious mental illness in jails, and many more that have had contact with the criminal justice system but were not incarcerated suffer from mental health problems (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2008). …

14 citations


Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."

  • ...…standing in their communities (Chiricos, Jackson, & Waldo, 1972), and are in need of social support (Cullen, 1994; La Vigne, Visher, & Castro, 2004; Lurigio, 1996) and substance abuse and mental health treatment (Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; James, 2015; Mallik-Kane & Visher, 2008; Petersilia, 2003)....

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  • ...Research on offender reentry over the past thirty years has demonstrated that offenders’ ability to reintegrate successfully is hindered by numerous obstacles such as difficulty in obtaining employment, acquiring housing, and being admitted to higher education (Allender, 2004; Cowan & Fionda, 1994; Delgado, 2012; Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; Harlow, 2003; Harris & Keller, 2005; Hunt, Bowers, & Miller, 1973; James, 2015; Nagin & Waldfogel, 1998; Paylor, 1995; Rodriguez & Brown, 2003; Starr, 2002; Whelan, 1973) along with serious social and medical problems (Petersilia, 2003)....

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  • ...Newly released offenders encounter stigmatization (Bahn & Davis, 1991; Funk, 2004; Steffensmeier & Kramer, 1980; Tewksbury, 2005), lose social standing in their communities (Chiricos, Jackson, & Waldo, 1972), and are in need of social support (Cullen, 1994; La Vigne, Visher, & Castro, 2004; Lurigio, 1996) and substance abuse and mental health treatment (Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; James, 2015; Mallik-Kane & Visher, 2008; Petersilia, 2003)....

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  • ...In the past decade, researchers have begun to explore the needs and challenges that offenders face during reentry and what factors may pave the way for successful reentry (Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; Petersilia, 2003)....

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  • ...…& Fionda, 1994; Delgado, 2012; Gunnison & Helfgott, 2013; Harlow, 2003; Harris & Keller, 2005; Hunt, Bowers, & Miller, 1973; James, 2015; Nagin & Waldfogel, 1998; Paylor, 1995; Rodriguez & Brown, 2003; Starr, 2002; Whelan, 1973) along with serious social and medical problems (Petersilia, 2003)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
01 Apr 2016-BMJ Open
TL;DR: Among PLWH with a history of incarceration, cancer incidence was elevated relative to the general population, likely related to increased prevalence of oncogenic viral co-infections.
Abstract: Objective Non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs) have emerged as significant contributors to cancer mortality and morbidity among persons living with HIV (PLWH). Because NADCs are also associated with many social and behavioural risk factors that underlie HIV, determining the extent to which each of these factors contributes to NADC risk is difficult. We examined cancer incidence and mortality among persons with a history of incarceration, because distributions of other cancer risk factors are likely similar between prisoners living with HIV and non-infected prisoners. Design Registry-based retrospective cohort study. Participants Cohort of 22 422 persons incarcerated in Georgia, USA, prisons on 30 June 1991, and still alive in 1998. Outcome measures Cancer incidence and mortality were assessed between 1998 and 2009, using cancer and death registry data matched to prison administrative records. Age, race and sex-adjusted standardised mortality and incidence ratios, relative to the general population, were calculated for AIDS-defining cancers, viral-associated NADCs and non-infection-associated NADCs, stratified by HIV status. Results There were no significant differences in cancer mortality relative to the general population in the cohort, regardless of HIV status. In contrast, cancer incidence was elevated among the PLWH. Furthermore, incidence of viral-associated NADCs was significantly higher among PLWH versus those without HIV infection (standardised incidence ratio=6.1, 95% CI 3.0 to 11.7, p Conclusions Among PLWH with a history of incarceration, cancer incidence was elevated relative to the general population, likely related to increased prevalence of oncogenic viral co-infections. Cancer prevention and screening programmes within prisons may help to reduce the cancer burden in this high-risk population.

14 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present evidence that substance use is a key reason for initial offending and recidivism for over one million women on probation and parole in the United States.
Abstract: Substance use is a key reason for initial offending and recidivism for the over one million women on probation and parole in the United States. Social support protects against both recidivism and r...

14 citations


Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."

  • ...Prisoners reentering the community often have limited resources for obtaining housing, employment, child custody, transportation, and assistance with physical and mental illness (Petersilia, 2003)....

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  • ...Incarceration can compromise supportive relationships and connections to prosocial opportunities in the community due to distance, limited interaction, and the stigma associated with imprisonment and criminal activity (Morash, 2010; Petersilia, 2003)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article examined the influence of geographic access to employment opportunities on the likelihood of recidivism and found that more job opportunities and higher paying jobs closer to the parolees' homes increase recidivacy.

14 citations


Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."

  • ...Securing employment can be challenging for parolees, with some studies finding unemployment rates among parolees as high as 70% (Petersilia 2003; Travis 2005)....

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  • ...Unemployment is a significant barrier that can hinder the successful reintegration of ex-offenders back into society (Meredith, Spier, and Johnson 2007; Petersilia 2003; Travis 2005)....

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