NCJ Number
205548
Date Published
March 2004
Length
16 pages
Annotation
As part of a larger four-State, longitudinal study of prisoner reentry entitled, "Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry," this report focuses on the second phase of a pilot study, which involved a series of interviews with prisoners returning to Baltimore (Maryland), once before and twice after they were released.
Abstract
Also, interviews were conducted with family members of some of the returning prisoners. The initial sample consisted of 324 respondents (235 males and 89 females). The median age of respondents was 34. Most of the ex-inmates were optimistic about their lives after release, but also anticipated challenges and obstacles that would require assistance. This suggests that they recognize their need for and are receptive to both prerelease and postrelease programs and services. Families were found to be an important source of housing, emotional support, financial resources, and overall stability for the returning prisoners. Services designed to facilitate such family support are recommended. Returning inmates who were employed after release relied on personal connections to find jobs, and they were also more likely to have participated in work-release jobs while incarcerated. A significant proportion of returning inmates were clustered in a few neighborhoods with high levels of social and economic disadvantage. Younger ex-inmates with drug-abusing family members and friends were more likely to use drugs after release, and those who participated in substance abuse treatment while in prison were less likely to use drugs after release than those who did not. Respondents reported various physical and mental health conditions but did not have health insurance to cover needed services. One-third of the respondents were rearrested within 6 months. They tended to be younger and with more extensive criminal histories; they were also more likely to have been involved in drug abuse prior to going to prison. Given these findings, recommendations are offered for addressing the various inmate needs that apparently are related to maladjustment and recidivism after release. 9 figures, 11 notes, and 7 suggestions for further reading