The book “On the Outside: “Prisoner Reentry and Reintegration” focuses on the challenges released inmates face. David J. Harding, Jeffrey D. Morenoff, and Jessica J. B. Wyse examine problems associated with the release of inmates reintegrating into society hereafter. It examines the individual, communal, and economic difficulties to a smooth exit and gives outlooks on the problems formerly detained face as they attempt to begin again. Through investigation and analysis, the book seeks to shed light on the reintegration process and propose workable strategies and solutions that will help the former detainees smoothly transition back to normal life in society.
These highlight problems people experience while rejoining the community after completing their sentence. Initially, the study highlights that most people do not return to their former neighborhoods after the prison spell. This usually happens because they choose to leave their old homes or live with friends and family who relocated. These shifts in dwellings suggest that these persons had previously been different from their residences, thus complicating the issue of reintegration and restoring social contacts (Harding et al., 2019). Also, it shows high levels of post-release residential instability. Homelessness is aggravated by various aspects such as proximity to job centers, exposure to drugs, previous social circles, and poor settlements in general. This combination of factors has become a blockade to people struggling to begin afresh out of prison.
This study unequivocally demonstrates that family assistance is vital for the reintegration process. However, being incarcerated has great implications for home dynamics because it introduces new logistic, financial, and emotional stresses, which are an obstacle to effective reintegration back into society. Finding a job suitable for one’s qualifications after release is also a hard nut to crack, making employment post-release very challenging. There are more positions in the lower-paying secondary labor market. Good job opportunities are few, making it easier for ex-offenders to stabilize economically (Harding et al., 2019).
Economic and Social Integration
Multiple issues exist regarding reintegration into life and the economy following imprisonment; these stem from socially rooted, institutional, and private matters. These complexities are put in the spotlight by scholarly studies and publications drawing attention to the difficulties of individuals rejoining the community following the release. More importantly, they make economic reintegration difficult with lots of barriers. According to Goodstein & Petrich (2019), stigma and discrimination prevent ex-convicts from getting employed. Their battle for financial stability is compounded by their poor education and job skills, coupled with inadequate avenues to gain employment. Moreover, Goodstein & Petrich (2019), on incarnation in economics, have shown that on release, people often get lower income opportunities and poverty cycles.
The second challenge is that social networks have been broken due to fragmented social support systems, and hence, it will be hard for one to be integrated into society again. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, families are broken off for a prolonged period when an individual is incarcerated, and this hinders successful reintegration (Harding et al., 2019). Familial financial strain, interruption of contacts, and stigma of one’s family member being imprisoned are factors that cause difficulties for a family and prevent it from building a critical supportive network to support the reentry process. Smith (2021) further examines how social alienation and isolation make re-socialization in society harder after getting out of prison. The stigma associated with incarceration makes it difficult for incarcerated people to re-enter society.
Besides reintegration issues, the criminal justice system has many systemic challenges. According to research carried out by the Urban Institute, the resettlement population faces a set of institutional challenges that include the lack of accommodation, medical facilities, schools, and so forth (Andersen et al, 2020). This hinders the successful integration of society and economy as there are inadequate necessary resources and supporting policies for dealing with those cyclical problems. The concept that accompanies this is highly intricate because such ex-offenders are subjected to social and economic stigmatization, low availability of jobs, breakdown of family support, as well as hindrance by societal and judicial institutions (Harding et al., 2019).
Keys to Successful Entry
Having secure housing is critical to smoothing the reentry process. Accessing safe and secured housing after coming out of prison is critical in giving people a stable ground on which they base their new lives. The second critical element is the chances for real jobs. Throughout the book, it points out that workers must have jobs that pay well and promote employees. Besides securing their living, they offer a great deal of self-esteem, objective, as well as responsibility.
Lastly, emphasis is placed on effective social support systems. This includes reuniting with friends and relatives as well as linking up with other positive support systems within the community. Through social relationships, people return to society and get necessary emotional support together with guidance and encouragement on their way to going back to society. Healthcare services, education, mental health care, and drug addiction programs are also crucial in ensuring a successful reentry. Such specific programs and resources help people break through barriers and give them tools for lasting reintegration into society.
Reflection
The successful reentry for former inmates requires a total shift towards the society and a complete revamping of the policies. The elements mentioned in “On the Outside” are important; however, their implementation encounters systematic obstacles in most modern societies. Barriers include stigma, limited resources, and discriminating acts that block access to secure housing and proper employment services. Familial strains and societal prejudices usually break social support networks; hence, no effective reintegration is achieved. Besides that, punishment rather than rehabilitation is emphasized in criminal justice, which makes reintegration difficult and maintains recycling patterns. Still, this can be achieved by combined efforts. These measures may include community-driven initiatives, policy changes that ensure fairness in the hiring process, better social service provisions as well and provision of interventions that focus on the rehabilitation process. This will take a collectivist will to destroy systemic walls and produce enabling, comforting surroundings conducive to the successful remission of the previously imprisoned members in our community.
References
Andersen, T. S., Scott, D. A. I., Boehme, H. M., King, S., & Mikell, T. (2020). What matters to formerly incarcerated men? Looking beyond recidivism as a measure of successful reintegration. The Prison Journal, 100(4), 488-509.
Goodstein, J. D., & Petrich, D. M. (2019). Hiring and retaining formerly incarcerated persons: An employer-based perspective. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 58(3), 155-177. (Goodstein &Petrich, 2019)
Harding, D. J., Morenoff, J. D., & Wyse, J. J. B. (2019). On the Outside Prisoner Reentry and Reintegration. University Of Chicago Press.
Smith, J. M. (2021). The formerly incarcerated, advocacy, activism, and community reintegration. Contemporary Justice Review, 24(1), 43-63.
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