Social integration after release from prison: Narratives of work and desistance

• In Event: Narrative Criminology 3: Desistance and behaviour

Abstract

Many individuals face significant challenges in social integration after being released from prison. Compared to the general population, formerly incarcerated individuals face higher unemployment rates, greater housing instability, and significant challenges in education, health, and other aspects of reintegration. While desistance research acknowledges the role of social integration, the connection between desistance and employment remains insufficiently explored.

This study examines employment as a key aspect of social integration. Using qualitative longitudinal interviews with 22 formerly incarcerated individuals, we narratively explore how they perceive the meaning and role of work in their reintegration and desistance processes. Rather than viewing employment solely as a factor affecting recidivism, we argue for a broader understanding of its significance in shaping meaning, agency, and life trajectories. Furthermore, we argue that understanding the liminal phase of integration experienced by people released from prison is essential for making sense of narratives of desistance and societal integration.

Authors

• Emma Villman, University of Helsinki

• Elsa Saarikkomäki, University of Turku