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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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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify 30 states with state-level residence restrictions and conduct a content analysis of each state's legislation and conduct geographic and other assessments of these states' residence restrictions.
Abstract: Releasing a sex offender from prison or placing the offender on community-based sanctions, only to have the offender commit a new sex crime, is a policy-maker’s worst nightmare. Fueled by misperceptions and public fear, sex offender laws have developed piecemeal and without rigorous empirical insight and testing. While policies and practices are well-intended, they are unlikely to resolve the very real social problem of sexual violence and may inadvertently increase victimization. Such is the possibility with residence restrictions. This type of law is among the newest in an ever-growing barrage of legislation designed specifically for sexual criminals yet what little research that exists suggests there is no correlation between residence and sexual recidivism. This article identifies 30 states with state-level residence restrictions and conducts a content analysis of each state’s legislation. Geographical and other assessments are also conducted.
116 citations
Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."
...that deleterious outcomes on these influential factors are likely to increase reoffending and decrease offender success (Braithwaite 1989; Hanson and Harris 1998; Kruttschnitt et al. 2000; Meloy et al. 2006; Petersilia 2003 )....
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...... Hern 2007; Minnesota Department of Corrections 2003, 2007; Sample and Streveler 2003; Tewksbury and Lees 2006; Zandbergen and Hart 2006; Zevitz 2006), in addition to the information on sexual recidivism and the science on criminal desistance of sex offenders (Alexander 1999; Aos et al. 2001; ATSA 2007; Greenfeld 1997; Hepburn and Griffin 2004; Kruttschnitt et al. 2000; Langan et al. 2003; Losel and Schmucker 2005; Meloy et al. 2006; ......
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TL;DR: The federal "Second Chance Act of 2005" calls for expanding reentry services for people leaving prison, yet existing policies restrict access to needed services for those with criminal records.
Abstract: The federal "Second Chance Act of 2005" calls for expanding reentry services for people leaving prison, yet existing policies restrict access to needed services for those with criminal records. We examined the interaction between individual-level characteristics and policy-level restrictions related to criminal conviction, and the likely effects on access to resources upon reentry, using a sample of prisoners with Axis I mental disorders (n=3073). We identified multiple challenges related to convictions, including restricted access to housing, public assistance, and other resources. Invisible punishments embedded within existing policies were inconsistent with the call for second chances. Without modification of federal and state policies, the ability of reentry services to foster behavioral health and community reintegration is limited.
114 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that a majority of sex offenders would be unable to live in their current homes if residence restrictions were in place, and that few options for housing exist outside of common buffer zones.
Abstract: This study explores the potential impact of residence restrictions on housing availability for registered sex offenders in Camden County, New Jersey (N = 211). The proportion of registered sex offenders who live within typical exclusionary zones of 1,000 and 2,500 ft of schools, day care centers, churches, and parks is determined using the Geographical Information System mapping technology. The majority of sex offenders live within 2,500 ft of schools (71%) and day care centers (80%), and 88% live within 2,500 ft of any of four hot spots. Comparatively, 80% of nonoffending citizens live within 2,500 ft of such places. Offenders of adult victims live significantly closer to schools compared to those with child victims. The results suggest that a majority of sex offenders would be unable to live in their current homes if residence restrictions were in place, and that few options for housing exist outside of common buffer zones.
114 citations
Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."
...Securing and maintaining housing is a challenge for probationers convicted of a variety of crimes (La Vigne, Visher, & Castro, 2004; Petersilia, 2003; Travis, 2005)....
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...Barriers to employment lead to financial instability, and affordable housing is often elusive, especially given limitations on eligibility for subsidized housing for those with a criminal past (Petersilia, 2003; Travis, 2005)....
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TL;DR: This paper found that visits from parents are influential in improving prisoners' relations with their families and that those prisoners that experience improved family relations were significantly less likely to reoffend whilst also being more likely to find work and desist from class A drug use.
Abstract: Strong family support networks are regularly identified in the search for effective inhibitors of criminal behaviour but have rarely been empirically examined in the context of the prison population. Furthermore, we know little about the factors that may weaken or indeed enhance these bonds during a prison sentence. Using data from a longitudinal survey of male prisoners in England and Wales, we address this deficit. We show that visits from parents are influential in improving prisoners’ relations with their family. Furthermore, those prisoners that experience improved family relations are significantly less likely to reoffend whilst also being more likely to find work and desist from class A drug use.
114 citations
Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."
...2005), increasing the chances of ‘going straight’ upon release (Maruna 2001; Petersilia 2003; Maruna and Toch 2005; Travis 2005)....
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TL;DR: This article used identity theory to conceptualize how incarceration influences how fathers think of themselves and explored how the unique context of prison interrupts the paternal identity confirmation process, which subsequently affects familial relationships and reconnection.
Abstract: With incarceration and recidivism rates escalating and the failure of many former prisoners to reconnect with family post release, the cost to society and to children of incarcerated parents is quickly rising. While intervention on the family level is thought to have great promise in reducing recidivism, in order to effectively guide research and intervention, current theory must be evaluated for its sensitivity to the context of incarceration and additional theoretical work is needed to conceptualize how incarceration affects paternal identity. This paper proposes using identity theory to conceptualize how incarceration influences how fathers think of themselves. Using Burke’s 1991 Identity Theory conceptualization, this paper explores how the unique context of prison interrupts the paternal identity confirmation process, which subsequently affects familial relationships and reconnection.
111 citations
Cites background from "When Prisoners Come Home: Parole an..."
...Each year approximately 600,000 men are released from prison, and many will attempt to reconnect with spouses, former spouses, partners, and children (Petersilia, 2003)....
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