NCJ Number
239694
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 40 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2012 Pages: 386-393
Date Published
October 2012
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined the factors that would be important to an inmate's perceptions about how difficult life would be after incarceration as they prepared to leave prison and reenter their communities.
Abstract
The study found that several factors affected inmates' perceptions of how difficult life would for them once they were released from prison. The results indicate that 1) length of time served and involvement in prison activities and programs did not reduce a prisoner's sense of optimism regarding life after incarceration, 2) participation in substance abuse treatment programs while in prison increased an inmate's degree of optimism, 3) having strong family relationships and continued family support while incarcerated tended to increase inmates' levels of optimism, and 4) having positive self-esteem and a sense of safety of the neighborhood to which they were returning were related to an inmate's increased sense of optimism. This study examined the factors that could affect an inmate's degree of optimism about successfully leaving prison and reenter their community. Data for the study were obtained from self-report surveys and interviews with 800 men and women preparing to leave prison. The independent variables that were analyzed for their effect on prisoners' levels of optimism included demographic variables, length of time served, marital status, number of children, number of hours worked while in prison, participation in prison education programs, pre-prison drug use, and negative family environment. The findings suggest that policies that encourage factors such as strong family support and prison substance abuse treatment programs can have a positive impact on increasing optimism among inmates returning to their communities after incarceration. Policy implications are discussed. Tables and references