The process of reintegration: from prison to parole

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

Abstract

Despite all the research on desistance, we still lack a solid knowledge on how imprisoned individuals can succeed in the reintegration process. With the aim of advancing insight on this topic we have selected sample of individuals who after imprisonment are serving out their sentences on open regime or conditional release with a positive evolution. The sample is composed of 60 former incarcerated individuals from different profiles related with the presence or absence of three factors (first imprisonment in early life; drug abuse and antisocial family, partner or colleagues) that could make reintegration more or less challenging. The qualitative analysis of the narrative interviews shows that reintegration starts in prison when individuals develop important cognitive transformations (assuming responsibility for their offences and developing a prosocial identity) and continues while in open regime or conditional release in which, thanks to the support and control received, they may reestablish social bonds, which prevent reoffending. The work suggests an integrative theoretical framework to understand the continuity of the reintegration process from prison to conditional release but with rational choice and cognitive transformation theories being more relevant during imprisonment, and informal social control in the life course being more explanatory during open and conditional release. The theoretical and practical implications of the research will be explained in the presentation.

Authors

• Jose Cid, Universidad Autónoma Barcelona

• Esther De la Encarnación, Universidad Autónoma Barcelona