Abstract
In his book Purgatory Citizenship Reentry, Race, and Abolition, Calvin Smiley argues the contradictory nature of reentry and how those newly released from incarceration find themselves caught up in a web of confusion and complexity when trying to restart their lives as free individuals. Smiley relies upon ethnographic fieldwork, life-history interviews, informal conversations, and focus groups to explore how reentry does not always equal redemption. Those who were formerly incarcerated must endure the stress of society’s social stigmas and the diminishment of their legal rights. Caught up in this cycle, they attempt to navigate the lingering results of the carceral system. This state of virtual nonexistence prolongs their access to support and deprives them of opportunities as their seemingly never-ending punishment continues. Smiley champions abolitionist views for those who suffer through this Purgatory Citizenship.
Published Version
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