In and Out of Prison: Re-entry Preparedness and Perceptions of Rearrest Likelihood

• In Event: PWG - Reintegration: Perceptions, preparedness, and post-release outcomes

Abstract

Re-entry into society after release from prison is a critical phase in a person’s life. Much of our knowledge on re-entry stems from studies based on those returning to communities after serving longer sentences in federal prisons, leaving unanswered questions about the experiences of those incarcerated for shorter periods. Research highlights numerous barriers to successful reintegration, including challenges related to access to housing, employment, healthcare, and sobriety support, alongside inadequate release planning. However, large-scale, longitudinal research on the re-entry experiences of individuals released from remand centres remains scarce. To address this gap, the University of Alberta Prison Project (UAPP) Reentry Study is a mixed-methods, longitudinal project tracking incarcerated individuals as they transition out of Alberta’s correctional institutions and back into their communities. Using a disproportionate stratified random sampling approach, we randomly select participants on their release day to ensure an accurate representation of the reentry population. This present study draws on baseline data from over 500 participants released from the Edmonton Remand Centre—Canada’s largest jail—to examine how reentry preparedness shapes self-perceptions of rearrest likelihood. Findings reveal that individuals who feel unprepared for life after incarceration—especially in terms of securing housing, employment, healthcare, and sobriety support—are significantly more likely to anticipate being rearrested. Notably, individuals' self-assessments of their likelihood of rearrest align closely with their actual reincarceration outcomes over the course of our study, underscoring the importance of perceived readiness as a meaningful predictor of reentry success. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive reentry programs that address both psychological preparedness and broader institutional support, offering evidence-based insights for policymakers aiming to reduce recidivism and support successful reintegration.

Authors

• Philip Badawy, University of Alberta

• Bucerius Sandra, University of Alberta