Post-Incarceration Mortality: A Qualitative Examination of Parole Agent's Experiences with Client’s Deaths

• In Event: Reintegration Gatekeepers in Parole and Probation Systems

Abstract

Research has consistently shown that the process of transitioning back to the community after a period of incarceration is difficult and that many challenges exist in the reentry process. One especially damaging side effect of these challenges is the death of newly released inmates. Post-incarceration mortality research primarily focuses on the approximate time to death after release, rate of death compared to the general population, demographic characteristics of the deceased, and causes of death. However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths have not yet been studied. This study utilizes interviews with over 20 parole agents employed by the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services to connect the prominent causes of mortality to the experiences of individuals under supervision. Insight from the parole agents is used to gain a better understanding of why individuals are dying following incarceration.

Author

• Nicola Pasquire, University of South Carolina