The Impact of Social Support on Recidivism

• In Event: Roundtable: Reentry and Support

Abstract

Prisoner reentry is an important social challenge, given the sizeable population of individuals incarcerated. Between 1975 and 2010, the population of people in jail, prison, and on parole or probation steadily increased from approximately 380,000 to 2.4 million. This resulted in the United States leading the world in incarceration, with a per capita level six to ten times greater than that of Europe (Garland 2001). Given the rising rate of incarceration, a growing number of individuals will be released from jails/prisons within the next decade. Specifically, more than 90 percent of all individuals currently incarcerated will eventually be released. A disconcerting reality for many ex-offenders is that a significant proportion of them will ultimately be readmitted following their release. Yet, few studies examine the effect of social supports on reentry outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between social supports and recidivism.

Author

• Zimife Umeh, Duke University