NCJ Number
225740
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 53 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2009 Pages: 29-42
Date Published
February 2009
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the multiple, complex, and dynamic nature of variables influencing successful prisoner reintegration.
Abstract
Findings show that newly released prisoners face multiple challenges, all of which may influence psychological health. When all the variables relevant to reintegration are considered it is clear that many ex-prisoners face real impediments and difficulties in reintegration. These findings supported previous reporting that prisoner health ratings, both while in prison and following release were high, indicative of good to very good physical and psychological health. The finding that the mean physical health rating was highest at 1 to 4 weeks postrelease might reflect a generally positive attitude to “being on the outside.” The contrary finding of a higher rating of physical health and a lower rating of psychological health at 1 to 4 weeks postrelease points to the complexity of processes influencing reintegration. The lower mean psychological health rating at 1 to 4 weeks postrelease may reflect a general level of distress associated with community reentry and reintegration. Substance use is the most prominent condition of ill health among prisoners; although substance abuse may have a significant impact on community reintegration of ex-prisoners, this finding runs counterintuitive with the generally high rating of physical health given the known negative effects of regular drug use on physical and psychological health. These findings point to the complexity and multiplicity of variables affecting the reintegration process. Data were collected from 54 male and 25 female adult prisoners with a project prison release date of approximately 1 month. Tables, appendix, and references