We constructed the following 10 questions to utilize in interviews with those who work with or are impacted by the reentry/reintegration process:
1.
What are some local
policies that could be changed to better benefit those trying to reintegrate in
society?
2.
What are some of the
most common examples of stigma that you see in the reintegration process?
3.
Are there
services/programs that are not available that would be beneficial in supporting
the reentry/reintegration process?
4.
What funding
initiatives do you think would improve reentry/reintegration?
5.
What are some common
challenges individuals who are recently released from prison face when
searching for stable employment?
6.
Are there specific
programs in place that support and teach job skills to individuals after they
are released from prison?
7.
Do you know of any
mental health services that are available for individuals once they are
released? Are these free services?
8.
What are some things
we can do at the individual level to better support those going through the
reentry/reintegration process?
9.
How long does the
average reentry process take? Do individuals set time related goals, or is it
an open ended process?
10. Do most reentry participants qualify for Medicaid? If not, are there healthcare related services available?
Summary of interview responses:
Some of the common themes the team ran into in our interviews is the overall theme of support in prison, in the pre-release process and in re-integration. The lack of mental health services was a big takeaway from virtually all interviews. Oftentimes there are long waits to get into some good services that should be available for anyone trying to re-integrate. Another topic was the lack of education given to those trying to re-integrate with good programs and other life-skills that one does not learn while in prison. To add insult to injury, many employers are not friendly to background checks and that can contribute to the problem of stigma for those trying to re-integrate in society in a very negative way.
One interview response that stood out in the team was how addiction and
mental health services are given only if requested by an inmate. Another
is how monetary assistance is low for some people and how inmates are often
released from prison with no way of getting home, no money in their pocket, and
very few resources. One that stood out in a few interviews was how many
services for reintegration don’t have a psychologist or behavioral health
specialist available on site to be able to treat people just let out of
prison. Lastly, when applying for jobs, these individuals are often
turned down just for having a conviction on their record without even being
able to justify it for the employers (for example, a conviction might not have
anything to do with being able to carry out specific job duties).
Some major takeaways from our team were how the
funding for rehabilitation should start at the prison level. Even if the
funding is there, it is often not allotted incorrectly to the programs to
guarantee successful re-entry. A few of us also felt skepticism about
some of the “for profit” prisons that provide economic benefit to certain
places and to those who serve it. Overall, we gained a lot of knowledge
from our interviewees and shared a common skepticism of the policymakers' lack
of awareness about the effects of not having good reintegration programs and
how that ties into high recidivism rates. Another important takeaway was
the state of mental illness that being released from prison can leave someone
especially if they went through a traumatic experience while in prison.
There can be long wait lists for treatment that deals with SMI or severe mental
illness. One thing that could help is short-term level care upon
immediate re-integration.
Some topics to look more into for our team were
re-integration success stories. Programs like retention employment can
help someone save money while working in prison so they do have some funds upon
release. Another topic to study more is the privatization of prisons that
function “for profit”. For example, some face harsh time for what are
considered nowadays as petty offenses. An individualistic approach is
something to look into as well for re-integration since different needs are
needed on a case-by-case basis. The stigma was another recurrent theme
throughout the interviews especially when it came to employment. A lot of
employers are not background friendly when it comes to certain things such as
providing multiple forms of valid identification and other basic things that
any other citizen would have. One thing that stood out during the whole
process was the topics of apathy and anomie and how they both coincide to
create negativity for the entire issue of prisoner reintegration. Another
way to move forward when researching this issue is to look into the stigma and
barriers faced by those who are experiencing the problem and listen to what
they have to say.
Some further questions include:
1. What are important stakeholders doing and what
more can be done to generate greater awareness?
2. Why would anyone rent to some who just got out
of prison?
3. What are some financial counseling resources
out there for people trying to reintegrate?
4. Is there technology assistance and training to
educate those who might not be experienced in using up to date
technology?
References
Friesen, A. N. (2020). Christian unity in spite of global diversity. Christian
Leader. https://christianleadermag.com/christian-unity-in-spite-of-global-diversity/
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