Reentry and the American Dream: People returning to the community share the same dream but lack the same access

Abstract

Criminal justice researchers and professionals often define successful reentry using one measure: recidivism. However, current recidivism rates suggest something might be missing from this limited definition of successful reentry. Additionally, research reveals that reintegration is a reflexive process between the individual and the community. To fully understand the various perspectives regarding reentry, and the potential pitfalls, this study used semi-structured interviews and a survey experiment derived from the interviews. Qualitative analysis reveals that people reintegrating into the community have the same goals as everyone else: they aspire to own a house, have a family, enjoy their job, and feel like productive members of society. However, the quantitative results suggest that people in the community view certain aspects of success as less important for people who have been incarcerated. Because successful reintegration in the community lowers recidivism and improves public safety, a variety of policy implications are discussed.