What will they think of me? Stigmatization among a sample of white-collar offenders

• In Event: White-collar offenders after criminal justice involvement

Abstract

Research on stigmatization has received considerable attention in regard to “blue-collar” and juvenile offenders, yet only a small number of studies have examined stigmatization with white-collar offenders during their reentry process. Of these studies, experiences with stigma and relatedly, reintegrative shaming, vary depending on the industry (e.g., in nursing homes), specific offense (e.g., tax offenders), or cultural context (e.g., Japan or Pakistan). Given the increased accessibility to personal information in modern society, this paper explores the social stigma, emotions, and feelings of shame among a U.S. sample of formerly incarcerated white-collar offenders across a variety of backgrounds. Using interview data, this study provides a qualitative approach to these issues and examines the stigmatization process individuals endure during reentry. Findings indicate that the experiences of these offenders are not homogenous. For some individuals, existing social relationships remained in-tact following incarceration. For other individuals, existing social relationships became fractured and perceived social interactions presented heightened social sensitivities.

Authors

• Diana Sun, Florida Atlantic University

• Michael Benson, University of Cincinnati