Abstract
This chapter focuses on incarceration, communities, and the impact of community reentry programs on recidivism and reintegration. The authors provide demographic data on incarceration and recidivism and present information on community implications of incarceration. The authors also examine challenges facing previously incarcerated individuals as they return to their former communities and components of community reentry programs. The authors provide commentary on the efficacy of community reentry programs, advocacy initiatives, suggestions and recommendations, directions for future research, suggested readings, and a glossary of key terms and definitions.
TopCommunity Perspectives And Experiences
This section discusses the reactions to previously incarcerated individuals reintegrating into communities. Discussed are stigma, support networks, neighborhoods and crime, family, employer attitudes, and police involvement.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Community Reentry Programs: Programs designed to help previously incarcerated people transition successfully into society.
Collateral Consequences: Residual negative impact of incarceration.
Stigma: Pejorative and biased beliefs.
Ex-Offender: A pejorative term referring to an individual who has been released from a correctional institution.
Reintegrate: Adjustment and assimilation of previously incarcerated individuals to their former or another community upon prison release.
Over Policing: A disproportionate level of police presence that impacts the community negatively.
Community Collaboration: Individuals working together to achieve a specific goal.
Mass Incarceration: The pervasive and systemic incarceration of underserved populations.
Recidivism: A relapse into criminal behavior.
Underserved Populations: Individuals representing a marginalized and disenfranchised group.
Inmate: An individual housed in a correctional institution.
Correctional Institutions: Facilities where incarcerated people are housed.