A Church-Based Private Prison and its Impact on Reentry

• In Event: Roundtable: Reentry

Abstract

Despite many criticisms against private prison operations, private prisons still provide a vital function within the correctional system. Generally, the primary goals of prison privatization are to reduce costs and maximize rehabilitation through self-management. Around the world, Australia is a leading nation to have 23% of inmates housed in private prisons, followed by England with 10% of inmates, the U.S. with over 8%, Japan with 8%, and Germany with 2%. South Korea has about 0.7% of inmates in a church-based private prison, Somang Prison. Research on Somang Prison is very rare. This study presents a preliminary result of survey research with 150 post-released inmates from Somang Prison since 2010. The survey research focuses the impact of religious-centered rehabilitation programs available to the inmates on the process of reentry into society and on post-release life adjustments. Policy implications and broader reentry issues are discussed.

Authors

• Seungmug (Zech) Lee, Texas A&M International University

• Hyeonna Bak, Somang Correctional Institution

• InnKi Chang, Somang Correctional Institution

• David J. Lyou, Somang Correctional Institution

• Robert D. McCrie, John Jay College of Criminal Justice