Successful Reentry Research Articles

Mini-IRENE, a Successful Re-entry Flight of a Deployable Heatshield Capsule

Mini-IRENE, a Successful Re-entry Flight of a Deployable Heatshield Capsule

Have my back as I get back to work-Experiences of stakeholder support in returning to work after sick leave due to chronic pain: A qualitative interview study.

Chronic pain (pain > 3 months) is a disabling condition affecting around one fifth of the population. Chronic pain significantly affects a person's psychological and physical health and often interferes with the ability to work. It is one of the most common reasons for extended sick leave and persons with chronic pain often have difficulties returning to work. Interpreting the experiences of currently available is necessary in order to facilitate a return to working life. Therefore, this study aimed to describe and interpret the meaning of support during the return-to-work process for persons on sick leave due to chronic pain. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 14 participants (12 women and 2 men) who experienced sick leave due to chronic pain. The participants were recruited through patient organizations focusing on pain or pain-related conditions. Collected data was analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Have my back as I get back to work was the theme of the analysis, along with six subthemes. Being able to work was important for the participants. However, they often experienced returning to work was a battle for support, dealing with fragmentized backing from the involved stakeholders. Participants with access to collaborative support involving competent care, recognition and the possibility to influence their work felt valuable and capable as persons and workers. Thus, they were provided conditions allowing a successful re-entry into the workplace. Our findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of the importance of stakeholder support in persons with chronic pain re-entering the workplace after an extended break due to sick leave. Through an inclusive, collaborative and flexible approach involving all stakeholders working towards the same goal, a person with chronic pain can feel supported in developing and cultivating the capabilities necessary to manage life and work.

“I feel like I'm always on edge”: Perceptions of parole supervision by parolees with substance use disorders

IntroductionWhile extant research has looked at parole and its various actors as an institution, few studies recount the parole experience from the perspective of parolees. Additionally, despite the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) within the criminal justice system, research that assesses the additional challenges this population faces throughout parole supervision is even scarcer. MethodsTo address this gap, we analyze in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 51) conducted with reentering men with SUDs as they navigate parole in Pennsylvania. Three independent coders identified all narratives relating to a broad theme of “parole and probation experiences.” The authors then completed iterative rounds of more fine-grained independent coding within that theme. ResultsOur results emphasize that SUDs present a significant barrier to reentry success, and the tension of surveillance and revocation is amplified for those enduring simultaneous reentry and recovery. Importantly, our respondents regard parole officers more positively than they view parole as an institution, yet this perception of officers does not equate to provision of reintegration and recovery support. Respondents perceive that parole presents unnecessary additional hurdles to their reentry success, and their perceived risk level impacts their surveillance intensity. ConclusionsThe information gleaned through inclusion of perspectives from those enduring parole supervision calls for a critical assessment of current parole practices. Further, the current approach to SUDs within community supervision criminalizes relapse without provision of treatment resources or support.

Examining Perceptions and Attitudes of Prison Visitation on Behavior Change and Recidivism in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study investigates the impact of prison visitation on perceptions, attitudes, behavior change, and recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data was gathered through surveys, interviews, and official records from a sample of incarcerated individuals and their visitors. The analysis focused on understanding the role of visitation in shaping attitudes towards rehabilitation and family support and its influence on post-release behavior. Findings reveal a significant correlation between the frequency and quality of visitation and positive behavioral changes among inmates. Inmates who received regular visits reported higher levels of motivation for rehabilitation, improved mental health, and increased feelings of connection with their families and communities. Moreover, visitation played a pivotal role in strengthening family bonds and social support networks, which are crucial factors in successful reintegration post-release. Furthermore, the study explored the perceptions and experiences of both inmates and visitors regarding the visitation process, including logistical challenges, emotional dynamics, and barriers to maintaining contact. Understanding these perspectives is essential for enhancing visitation programs and addressing systemic issues that hinder family engagement in the correctional system. The study also examined recidivism rates among participants and found a notable decrease among those who received frequent and meaningful visitation compared to those who did not. These findings underscore the significance of visitation programs in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reentry into society. In conclusion, this research highlights the importance of fostering supportive relationships through visitation programs to facilitate positive behavior change and reduce recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals. Implementing policies that prioritize and improve access to visitation can contribute to more effective rehabilitation efforts and ultimately lead to safer communities.

“So many forms of loss”: Cumulative grief among formerly incarcerated people

Objectives: The review aims to explore nuanced phenomena, compound loss and cumulative grief that previously incarcerated individuals experience because of their incarceration. Hypothesis: Compound loss and cumulative grief manifest in multiple ways that differ based on the individual and their experiences before, during, and after incarceration. Methods: The study adopted a secondary research design using transcripts from interviews with individuals on parole that were collected from a previous study conducted by Dr. Susan Dewey and reanalyzed for the present study. Results: The review presents the findings from the first author’s analysis of multiple transcripts focusing on topics from a previous study relating to life before, during, and after prison. The findings showed three primary forms of compound loss: positive loss – loss of problematic relationships, negative loss, and transformative loss. Participants of the present study experienced one or more forms of loss, resulting in experiencing compound loss. Positive loss encompassed losing a fractious romantic relationship and or substance misuse. Negative loss encompassed losing reputation, time, relationships, trust, and freedom/independence. Transformative loss encompassed improved relationships, improved self-worth and self-awareness, and advocacy for others or self. Cumulative grief and compound loss can have negative impacts on reentry success for many, as they are unable to properly cope with the pile-on effects of loss.

Examination of factors that influence rural residents’ beliefs regarding the dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness

ABSTRACT Barriers experienced by justice-involved persons with a mental illness are exacerbated by structural issues inherent to rural areas, such as limited employment, housing, and healthcare, making rural residents’ beliefs integral to re-entry success. Concerningly, what shapes rural residents’ beliefs is largely unexplored. This study examined what factors (sources, emotions, and familiarity) influenced 284 rural residents’ beliefs regarding the dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness. Rural residents were most influenced by friends and family. Approximately one-quarter were influenced by social media, one-fifth by the news, one-sixth by academia, and one-seventh by movies/TV. A factorial ANCOVA revealed that even when residents had familiarity with the stigmatized group, if they felt fear, they had significantly higher levels of stigmatizing beliefs regarding dangerousness of justice-involved persons with a mental illness. The relationship between familiarity and stigma may be U-shaped and depend on the emotions experienced during interpersonal interactions. The results suggest that familiarity alone may not reduce stigma. Rather, evoking sympathy may have stigma reducing potential. If family are experiencing negative emotionality, it may help to offer them support and empathy. Alternatively, peer specialists may serve as a substitute, artificially supplying the social capital necessary to assist with re-entry efforts.

Sentenced to shame: Moral injury exposure in former lifers.

A significant increase in the release of individuals who served life sentences (i.e., lifers) in California has created the opportunity to study aspects of their psychological wellness for the first time. Moral injury may be a particularly relevant factor to consider in this population but has not been previously studied. This study is the first to explore the concept of moral injury within a currently or formerly incarcerated population. Former lifers currently in reentry in California (N = 41) completed a survey that measured their moral injury exposure (MIE), MIE-related guilt, MIE-related shame, MIE-related rumination, religiosity, attempts at making amends, and flourishing. As expected, a high rate of lifetime MIEs was endorsed (97.6%). Events linked to life sentence crimes (75.6%) and time in prison (56.1%) were very common. Lower levels of MIE-related shame (r = -.58, p < .01) and higher levels of religiosity (r = .35, p < .05) were significantly associated with greater flourishing. By contrast, degree of MIE exposure, MIE-related guilt, and MIE-related rumination, and making amends were all weakly associated with flourishing. Our results highlight that MIE is pervasive in this population and extends beyond life sentence crimes. Moreover, our findings suggest that it is lifers' self-concept following MIEs that appears to affect well-being upon release, rather than the extent and nature of moral injury exposure. Further research exploring moral injury in incarcerated and formerly incarcerated populations is needed to improve their well-being and chances of successful reentry. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Reframing the debate on legal financial obligations and crime: How accruing monetary sanctions impacts recidivism

AbstractLegal financial obligations (LFOs) associated with justice system involvement are increasingly a focus for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand sources of inequality and the factors that promote successful reentry. These conversations often rely on an assumption that LFOs are associated with or may even drive higher rates of recidivism. The empirical research in this area, however, has not kept up with the growing strength of these claims. This study reports findings that may offer a new perspective and contribute to an evidence‐based debate. Multisourced administrative data on all individuals released from carceral supervision in an East Coast state (N = 21,301) over 3 years are used to examine the complex relationship between criminal justice debt and reoffending. We detail the results of survival analyses estimating the impact of these debts on various forms of recidivism. Broadly, we find that even though the relationship between case‐level LFO assessments and future offending did not reach statistical significance, the association with the cumulative effect of monetary sanctions over the life course did. Furthermore, the impact of LFO debt is greater for certain racial groups, supporting theoretical and practical inquiries into factors informing structural disadvantage. Implications for policy and future research are considered.

How Prison Dog Programs Challenge the Racial Code in Correctional Settings and Beyond

ABSTRACT As the governing principle of prison dynamics, the racial code is sacrosanct due to the risk of violence that can result if its norms are violated. The setup of these racial arrangements appears immutable, but previous research finds prison-based concepts of race can be temporarily “suspended” during work assignments. This study is the first to draw upon in-depth interviews with formerly incarcerated participants of prison dog programs (PDPs) in a way that not only contributes to the limited body of literature about the racial organization of incarcerated people, but finds that PDP participation results in elemental changes that de-stabilize these racial identities in a lasting way. Specifically, narratives from participants describe how lived experiences in the PDPs lead to internal and interpersonal shifts that dismantle racialized constructs and move toward a humanizing, empathetic view of others. Ultimately, this study finds that changes resulting from participation in the PDP contribute meaningfully to long-term, successful reentry.

"They are usually borderline homeless": Exploring the nexus of homelessness, housing instability, successful reentry, and long-term reintegration

"They are usually borderline homeless": Exploring the nexus of homelessness, housing instability, successful reentry, and long-term reintegration

POSITION STATEMENT: Pass the RESTORE (Re-entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials) Act.

Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), current federal policy mandates a lifetime ban for individuals with a past felony drug conviction from receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Denying nutritional and financial assistance to individuals with a past felony conviction will widen existing structural health inequities, set back individuals' successful re-entry into society, and contribute to recidivism and poorer health outcomes. Therefore, the Society of Behavioral Medicine supports the RESTORE ACT (Re-Entry Support Through Opportunities for Resources and Essentials Act), which would repeal the lifetime ban on receiving SNAP and TANF benefits for individuals convicted of a drug felony.

Equity, Empowerment, and Social Justice: Social Entrepreneurship for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

The high incarceration rate and systemic racism in the United States, along with entrenched social barriers, highlight the need for creative solutions to help formerly incarcerated individuals (FIIs) reintegrate successfully. This paper highlights social entrepreneurial ventures (SEVs) as powerful agents of social change, underscoring the significance of holistic approaches in successful reentry and transformation of FIIs. We delve into the potential of SEVs as catalysts for social justice within the critical HRD (CHRD) framework, examining SEV’s role in advancing learning, challenging power dynamics, empowering marginalized communities, and propelling grassroots-led social change. In doing so, we also emphasize the significance of experiential learning and dialog in cultivating collective knowledge and action within these social movements. We analyze the structural, organizational, and individual factors that demonstrate how HRD and social entrepreneurship complement and broaden modes of engagement. Ultimately, we highlight the promising synergy between SEVs and the CHRD perspective, presenting a transformative approach for both HRD scholars and practitioners and argue that by embracing the values of empowerment, equity, and social justice, HRD can play a pivotal role in fostering more inclusive, equitable, and empowering organizational landscapes.

Health and Care Needs of Young Adults Exiting Jail.

Reentry is a difficult juncture for young adults (ages 18-24 years), who simultaneously face challenges of emerging adulthood. Although their health-related needs may be substantial, little is reported on young adults' reentry health care and social service needs. Furthermore, empirical measurements of factors affecting their engagement in reentry services after jail are lacking. We sought to describe health needs and predictors of linkages to reentry services for the 2,525 young adult participants in the Whole Person Care-LA Reentry program (WPC Reentry). Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t tests, and logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with linkage to WPC Reentry postrelease compared with only engaging with WPC Reentry prerelease. Most participants (72.6%) were male, 80.2% were Hispanic or Black, and 60.9% had been unhoused. Mental health (57.2%) and substance use disorders (45.8%) were common, physical health was overall good (mean Charlson Comorbidity Index score 0.53), and social needs, especially housing, were high (40.7%). Older age (i.e., closer to 25 years) and history of being unhoused were associated with higher postrelease engagement in WPC Reentry (age: odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, p = .01; history of being unhoused: OR = 1.18, p = .05). Attentiveness to younger clients and to addressing housing needs may be key for successful reentry care linkages.

Jail-based medication for opioid use disorder and patterns of reincarceration and acute care use after release: A sequence analysis

BackgroundTreatment with methadone and buprenorphine medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during incarceration may lead to better community re-entry, but evidence on these relationships have been mixed. We aimed to identify community re-entry patterns and examine the association between in-jail MOUD and a pattern of successful reentry defined by rare occurrence of reincarceration and preventable healthcare utilization. MethodsData came from a retrospective, observational cohort study of 6066 adults with opioid use disorder who were incarcerated in New York City jails and released to the community during 2011–14. An outcome was community re-entry patterns identified by sequence analysis of 3-year post-release reincarceration, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. An exposure was receipt of in-jail MOUD versus out-of-treatment (42 % vs. 58 %) for the last 3 days before discharge. The study accounted for differences in baseline demographic, clinical, behavioral, housing, and criminal legal characteristics between in-jail MOUD and out-of-treatment groups via propensity score matching. ResultsThis study identified five re-entry patterns: stability (64 %), hospitalization (23 %), delayed reincarceration (7 %), immediate reincarceration (4 %), and continuous incarceration (2 %). After addressing confounding, 64 % and 57 % followed the stability pattern among MOUD and out-of-treatment groups who were released from jail in 2011, respectively. In 2012–14, the prevalence of following the stability pattern increased year-by-year while a consistently higher prevalence was observed among those with in-jail MOUD. ConclusionsSequence analysis helped define post-release stability based on health and criminal legal system involvement. Receipt of in-jail MOUD was associated with a marker of successful community re-entry.

Convicting the Innocent: An Analysis of the Effects of Wrongful Convictions and Available Remedies in Canada

The past three decades have seen at least 3,200 exonerations across North America. While this number continues to grow, attention must be turned to facilitating successful re-entry amongst this group. By conducting a content analysis of 57 Canadian exonerees, I gathered demographics and common case characteristics to assess the re-entry success of exonerees. Successful re-entry was incredibly difficult for the majority of exonerees due to a lack of specialized re-entry services, counselling, compensation legislation, and healthcare. Exonerees are suffering in the same ways as legitimate offenders while incarcerated and afterward, all while being offered drastically less assistance from Canada’s institutions and government

When Pre-Release Optimism Meets Post-Release Reality: Understanding Reentry Success Through a Longitudinal Framework Assessing Pre- and Post-Release Perceptions

In the identity theory of desistance, optimism is important to individual transformation. Yet unfounded optimism could be detrimental in reentry. This study developed and tested a typology of the direction and accuracy of pre-release expectations. Using longitudinal data collected pre- and post-release from 369 men and women released from prison or jail in six states, we assessed which patterns (realistic optimism, unrealistic optimism, realistic pessimism, unrealistic pessimism) predict reentry success at 6- and 12-months post-release, including finding employment and housing and avoiding criminal behavior, rearrest, and illicit drug use. Realistic optimism was found to be positively associated with reentry success in some domains. Implications for reentry practitioners are discussed.

"They Are Usually Borderline Homeless”: Exploring the Nexus of Homelessness, Housing Instability, Successful Reentry, and Long-Term Reintegration" (by Emily I. Troshynski and Carolyn Willis): Review 1

"They Are Usually Borderline Homeless”: Exploring the Nexus of Homelessness, Housing Instability, Successful Reentry, and Long-Term Reintegration" (by Emily I. Troshynski and Carolyn Willis): Review 1

"'They Are Usually Borderline Homeless': Exploring the Nexus of Homelessness, Housing Instability, Successful Reentry, and Long-Term Reintegration" (by Emily I. Troshynski and Carolyn Willis): Review 2

"'They Are Usually Borderline Homeless': Exploring the Nexus of Homelessness, Housing Instability, Successful Reentry, and Long-Term Reintegration" (by Emily I. Troshynski and Carolyn Willis): Review 2

Performance of BeBack Crossing Catheter in Chronic Total Occlusion in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: A Single-Center Experience.

To describe a single-center experience in the treatment of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) with the application of BeBack catheter (Bentley InnoMed, Germany) in patients with arterial chronic total occlusion (CTO). A retrospective review of patients who underwent limb revascularizations using the BeBack catheter between 2015 and 2022. All patients had an initial failed attempt using a traditional guidewire and catheter technique. Technical success was considered whenever a successful re-entry or lesion crossing using the study device was achieved. Procedural success was defined as recanalization of the occluded artery with residual stenosis of less than 30%, and improvement in ankle-brachial index (ABI) after 24 hours. A Rutherford score was assigned to each limb and affected anatomical segments and lesion length were documented. Procedural access sites and complications were noted. The study included 72 patients who underwent 78 procedures using the BeBack crossing catheter. Procedural success was achieved in 91% of cases, with a technical success rate of 92.3%. The most frequently involved occluded segments were the femoral and popliteal arteries. The average ABI improved from 0.59 to 0.95 after the procedure. The most used access site was the contralateral femoral, and the BeBack catheter was employed on 85 occasions. Only 1 patient suffered a severe immediate adverse effect, and during the 30-day follow-up period, 2 patients needed reintervention. Unfortunately, 3 patients died during the follow-up period. The BeBack catheter offers a viable option for the treatment of patients with chronic total occlusion, with high procedural success and a low complication rate. The BeBack catheter presents a notable advancement for clinicians managing chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and arterial chronic total occlusion (CTO), showcasing over 90% procedural and technical success rates in this study. Its adept ability to navigate and recanalize occluded segments provides a robust alternative, especially when traditional techniques falter. This innovation may chane clinical strategies in vascular interventions, offering an efficient and reliable option, thereby potentially enhancing patient outcomes in limb revascularizations.

Assessment of Feasibility and Acceptability of the Pathways for Parents After Incarceration Program.

Most incarcerated fathers have connections to their families, and the quality of their family relationships is important not only to their reentry success but also to shaping positive child and family outcomes. However, there is a lack of rigorous evidence about interventions designed to strengthen parent-child and other family relationships among formerly incarcerated parents. The purpose of this study was to develop and assess for feasibility and acceptability an intervention for formerly incarcerated fathers, co-parents, and their children. We created and implemented the Pathways for Parents after Incarceration Program (P4P), a multilevel intervention that focuses on strengthening positive parenting skills, building constructive co-parenting strategies, providing social support, and connecting families to needed specialized services. We delivered P4P virtually to 3 groups of participants, collecting data at several points. Results suggest that while the program was well liked and appreciated by participants and parent coaches and had a positive effect on parenting skills and attitudes, recruitment and retention were challenging. Findings suggest that P4P has the potential to support child and family well-being when fathers reenter by bolstering protective factors, and supporting access to necessary supports associated with improved reentry outcomes. Additional research is needed to address feasibility concerns and establish program efficacy.