Magistrate Perceptions of Rural Reentry Challenges: An Examination of PA Judges

• In Event: Issues in Offender Reentry

Abstract

The current study explores the issues associated with offender reentry from the perspective of magistrate judges throughout Pennsylvania. The research will examine their unique views of the challenges associated with returning offenders and their attitudes regarding programming for offenders in their area including the services that should be available. This study builds off of previous research by the author (Ward, 2015; Ward & Merlo, 2016) that examined inmate and practitioner perceived challenges. The goal is to identify and further understand prison and jail reentry issues in rural areas and compare perspectives from magistrates from rural areas to those in urban areas.

Authors

• Kyle C. Ward, University of Northern Colorado

• Paul M. Hawkins, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Robert P. Stallings, Lenoir Rhyne University