Post-Release Success among Paroled Lifers

Marieke Liem,Jennifer Garcin

doi:10.3390/laws3040798

Marieke Liem, Jennifer Garcin

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/laws3040798

Copy DOI

Abstract

Previous research suggests that social relations, in particular the forming of family ties and employment (social factors), self-efficacy (personal factors), and therapeutic interventions (institutional factors) constitute main contributors in post-release success. These studies, however, have largely been based on general delinquents serving relatively short prison terms. This study aims to shed light on the influence of social, personal, and institutional factors on post-release success versus failure among paroled lifers. We conducted in-depth life-history interviews with 64 individuals who had served a life sentence, who were either re-incarcerated for another crime or parole violation, or were currently out on parole. The role of social factors in desistance among long-term incarcerated offenders was minimal. Rather, self-efficacy appeared to be a key element in post-release success. These findings suggest that research based on short-term incarcerated offenders cannot be directly translated to long-term incarcerated offenders. This group does not experience the same traditional turning points, such as establishing family ties and employment. Accordingly, long-term prisoners may go through a different process post-release that determines their success versus failure compared to general delinquents who serve shorter sentences.

Highlights

95 percent of the 1.6 million US prison inmates will eventually be released and return to their communities
Previous qualitative research on desistance emphasizes the role of identity change, or a cognitive transformation from a criminal career to a conventional life, as key to desistance from criminal behavior [6,7]
With the term “social factors” we refer to intimate partner relationships, the role as a parent, pre-existing family ties, and social relationships associated with steady employment

Summary

Introduction

95 percent of the 1.6 million US prison inmates will eventually be released and return to their communities. One of the significant challenges the justice system faces when releasing this particular group from prison is the inability to predict their probability of desistance. These long-term prisoners constitute a unique population. Mainly quantitative studies, have pointed to various factors including the role of interpersonal relationships [8,9], employment [9,10,11,12], or treatment programs [13] as causal agents in such change These factors can roughly be clustered into social, institutional, and personal factors. With personal factors we refer to one’s own sense of mastery and competence, the self-perceived capacity to use good judgment and exercise agency

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion