This is an explorative study conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of the criminal life by exploring ex-offenders’ stories and analyzing what possible factors could have had an impact on them. The method used was that of semi structured, narrative interviewing and the theories used to analyze and gain a deeper understanding of the results were those of social constructionist theory, differential association theory, and labeling theory. Firstly, the results showed that the combination of the two factors lack of support and attitudes towards delinquent behavior had markedly contributed to the participants’ way into a criminal life and the misuse of drugs. Secondly, the respondents’ all credited some part of their success in reintegrating to the NGO KRIS, which they stated had significantly helped them during their time in and after prison. Thirdly, the respondents’ attitudes towards life seemed to be an important part of being able to both get clean and stay away from the criminal life. However, all of the respondents had experienced some sort of relapse, being it into drugs or crime.

The purpose of this project was to explore how ex-offenders collectively leverage personal and community assets to transcend passivity and powerlessness in the face of reentry barriers, as well as to identify the personal milestones that signal social and community re-integration, post-incarceration. A qualitative inquiry utilizing interviews and a support group structure modeled on action research was used to generate two distinct products. The first product concerned a peer-group model that could be employed by ex-offenders as a form of community capacity building. The second product sought to identify reentry milestones utilized in the development of effective support programs to aid ex-offenders in the areas of employment and housing. Data collection points included the narratives elicited from participants during the intake and exit interviews, a grounded theory analysis fostered during each support group session with the intent to identify group curriculum, and the life stories revealed in the reflective journals all participants are asked to maintain. Narrative analysis was employed to understand the meaning participants provide to the work of the support group as well as the volunteer work they are asked to do to illustrate their commitment to community building. The participants utilized a grounded theory analysis to examine transcripts of group discussions in an effort to explicate the most important components of a peer-group model. / text

Tidigare forskning har visat att arbete är en viktig del för att före detta kriminella ska kunna bryta med sitt gamla kriminella liv och återintegreras i samhället (Visher, 2005).  I denna studie undersöktes vilka eventuella hinder och avgörande faktorer som påverkade före detta kriminellas arbetssökande. Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med åtta respondenter som alla haft erfarenheter av arbetssökande efter avtjänat straff. Det insamlade materialet analyserades med hjälp av tematisk innehållsanalys. Resultaten visade att hinder på vägen ut i arbetslivet var fördomar, otillräckligt stöd från samhället samt belastningsregistrets påverkan. Avgörande faktorer för att lyckas var egen motivation samt socialt stöd från exempelvis andra före detta kriminella och närstående. Resultatet överensstämde till stor del med tidigare forskning men Kriminalvårdens brister var något nytt som kom fram i denna studie och en praktiskt slutsats är att Kriminalvården bör utveckla sitt stöd för att bättre förbereda och stödja de intagna mot arbete efter avtjänat straff.

For many, literacy is reading and writing- a critical tool for ethos construction. But for a marginalized group of ex-offenders, former prison inmates, who were not accustomed to reading and writing as an agent for character invention, the ability to employ literacy and to construct ethos was a challenging and almost unsuccessful attempt. I discuss in this thesis a community-writing project I designed as a graduate student and my partnership with Boaz & Ruth, a local faith-based non-profit organization working with ex-offenders. Through the collaboration I facilitated writing skills workshop, which objective was to have the ex-offenders to write personal narratives. The writing exercises enabled me to examine implications at work when a marginalized groups like the ex-offenders endeavor to invent ethos, develop rhetorical dialogues and contended with public discourses.

Offenders accepting contraband cell phones in secured facilities violate state corrections law, and the possession of these cell phones is a form of risk taking behavior. When offenders continue this risky behavior, it affects their decision making in other domains where they are challenging authorities; and may impact the length of their incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experience of ex-offenders who had contraband cell phones in secured correctional facilities in order to better understand their reasons for taking risks with contraband cell phones. The theoretical foundation for this study was Trimpop's risk-homeostasis and risk-motivation theories that suggest an individual's behaviors adapt to negotiate between perceived risk and desired risk in order to achieve satisfaction. The research question explored beliefs and perceptions of ex-offenders who chose to accept the risk of using contraband cell phones during their time in secured facilities. Data were collected anonymously through recorded telephone interviews with 8 male adult ex-offenders and analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated participants felt empowered by possession of cell phones in prison, and it was an acceptable risk to stay connected to family out of concern for loved ones. The study contributes to social change by providing those justice system administrators, and prison managers responsible for prison cell phone policies with more detailed information about the motivations and perspectives of offenders in respect to using contraband cell phones while imprisoned in secured facilities.

Due to the lack of literature on social worker involvement with the rehabilitation of previously incarcerated individuals, this study was designed to explore social work student’s views and attitudes towards working with this population in the future. This study used a web-based quantitative survey design containing one open-ended question to survey 77 CSUSB social work students. Findings reveal that most social work students recognize previously incarcerated individuals as a vulnerable and marginalized population that is deserving of services and expect to work with this population in the future. Additionally, this study identified that having children may impact social work student’s views and attitudes towards working with previously incarcerated individuals. Common themes that emerged were dignity and worth of persons, intersectionality of this population with social work, and concerns regarding skills, training, and experience which reflected social work students’ adherence to professional social work values and ethics as set forth by the NASW. This study highlights the need of social work students to be provided with the tools necessary in making them feel equipped to work with the rehabilitation of previously incarcerated individuals. Future research identifying barriers that prevent social worker involvement with this population can generate information that can be used to develop trainings to provide further education and knowledge to promote social work student’s competency with this population.

African American male ex-offenders struggle with lack of assistance during their transition from incarceration, and they encounter many barriers when released back into the community. The purpose of my general qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of whether the reentry program impacted African American male ex-offenders likelihood of recidivating within one year. The theoretical framework included labeling theory, social disorganization theory, and social learning theory. The population consisted of 60 African American male ex-offenders intake participants of a reentry program that all completed the Client Satisfaction Survey. A purposive random sampling method was used to select ten participants for in-depth interviews. Data were collected through responses on the Client Satisfaction Survey and qualitative interviews. The research question was addressed through inductive coding and thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the reentry program enhanced participants' well-being, improved their communication, and increased their resourcefulness. Findings may be used to develop and improve reentry programs to promote better reentry outcomes and safer communities.

This research investigates and documents the nature of the challenges faced by men upon their release from federal incarceration in the Province of Saskatchewan. Due to the high number of Aboriginal peoples incarcerated in Saskatchewan, this research necessarily investigates the differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ex-prisoners. A qualitative approach is employed in order to understand post-incarceration from the perspectives of those who have experienced what it is like to return to the community after prison and those who work with men making this transition. This thesis fastidiously describes parole board hearings, the difficulties related to integrating into society as perceived by ex-prisoners, and the role of the service providers and agencies in Saskatoon that assist former inmates. It is shown that there are certain difficulties common among ex-prisoners, such as finding employment and housing and accessing appropriate support resources. The particular difficulties of Aboriginal ex-prisoners are highlighted, revealing that the difficulties experienced by all ex-prisoners appear to be amplified for Aboriginal ex-prisoners. Racism and the overall disadvantaged position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada are identified as significant barriers to Aboriginal ex-prisoners attempting to integrate into the community.

This research investigates and documents the nature of the challenges faced by men upon their release from federal incarceration in the Province of Saskatchewan. Due to the high number of Aboriginal peoples incarcerated in Saskatchewan, this research necessarily investigates the differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ex-prisoners. A qualitative approach is employed in order to understand post-incarceration from the perspectives of those who have experienced what it is like to return to the community after prison and those who work with men making this transition. This thesis fastidiously describes parole board hearings, the difficulties related to integrating into society as perceived by ex-prisoners, and the role of the service providers and agencies in Saskatoon that assist former inmates. It is shown that there are certain difficulties common among ex-prisoners, such as finding employment and housing and accessing appropriate support resources. The particular difficulties of Aboriginal ex-prisoners are highlighted, revealing that the difficulties experienced by all ex-prisoners appear to be amplified for Aboriginal ex-prisoners. Racism and the overall disadvantaged position of Aboriginal peoples in Canada are identified as significant barriers to Aboriginal ex-prisoners attempting to integrate into the community.

The studie aims to increase the understanding of ex-offenders need of support while establishing themselves in the labour market and to examine what knowledge of counselling can provide in order to develop Krami. Krami is a co-operation between Kriminalvården, Arbetsförmedlingen and in many cases even local authorities in Sweden. The aim of Krami is to help ex-offenders enter the labour market. Interviews with the staff and studies of policy documents give an idea of the contents of the initial counselling- course and show what the staff consider the challenges and needs for the participants. The study shows that the counselling course focuses on strengthening both self knowledge as well as knowledge about the labour market. The course also provides opportunities to develop the ability of making choices and to handle the consequences of the choices made. All those activities are central elements of counselling theories. Knowledge of counselling can contribute wtih methods and models of mapping and widening perspectives which many counsellor use in their daily work. / Syftet med studien är att öka förståelsen för tidigare dömdas behov av stöd vid etablering på arbetsmarknaden och belysa vad studie- och yrkesvägledning kan tillföra för att utveckla Krami. Krami är ett samarbete mellan Kriminalvården, Arbetsförmedlingen och i många fall även kommuner och har som uppdrag att hjälpa tidigare dömda in på arbetsmarknaden. Genom intervjuer med personal och studier av styrdokument ges en bild av vad vägledningskursen innehåller och hur personalen tänker kring målgruppens utmaningar och behov. Resultatet visar att man inom vägledningskursen arbetar med att stärka såväl deltagarnas självkännedom som kunskaper om arbetslivet. Det läggs även stor vikt vid att öva på att göra övertänkta val och att hantera konsekvenserna av dessa val. Detta är centrala inslag i många vägledningsteorier. Kunskaper om studie- och yrkesvägledning kan bidra till att utveckla vägledningskursen ytterligare genom de metoder och modeller för kartläggning och vidgning av perspektiv som många studie- och yrkesvägledare använder i sitt arbete.