Reintegrating into the community: Knowledge from post-release case managers with lived experience

• In Event: DCS Handbook on Lived Experience: Lived Experience as a Research Tool

Abstract

Reentry programs led by individuals with lived experience have the potential to challenge and transform conventional approaches to reintegration. These initiatives are increasingly supported by scholars, practitioners, and policymakers who recognize the importance of incorporating the perspectives of formerly system-impacted individuals into public policy and academic discourse. Centering these voices is essential for reimagining traditional reentry strategies and redefining success. In this context, we present a qualitative study of a reentry program primarily staffed by male case managers with lived experience. Through direct consultation with case managers in a focus group setting, this study demonstrates how lived experience enhances credibility and improves the coordination of essential social support for reentrants, highlighting the pivotal role of case managers in the reentry process. By integrating the perspectives of case managers with scholarly literature on peer mentoring in reentry, the analysis offers recommendations for more effective and culturally responsive practices in corrections and reentry.

Authors

• Tim Goddard, Florida International University

• Wendy Dressler, The GEO Group, Inc.