This research aimed to understand how former prisoners make sense of their participation in carceral employment programs in terms of their reintegration into the labour market upon release. Following a social constructivist approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen men living in Ottawa, Canada, who had participated in employment programs while incarcerated in Canadian federal prisons. Content analysis of the transcribed interviews showed that participation in work programs was perceived as beneficial for reintegration into the labour market if the individual received a provincially-recognized trade certificate, could count hours worked in prison towards an apprenticeship, or if engaged in a field of work that matched their aspirations in terms of future employment plans. Most participants noted additional advantages for engaging in work activities in prison, such as the use of work as a strategy to cope with feelings of idleness and estrangement from society while incarcerated. Participants who did not perceive participation as helpful mentioned that returning to the labour market was not desirable or was made difficult by plans to retire, to receive a government pension due to disabilities, mental health conditions experienced during and after prison, the stigma for being a former prisoner as overriding any potential benefit from the program, and parole conditions limiting or preventing the search for jobs in the community. Future studies investigating reintegration into the labour market upon release and seeking to understand how former prisoners make sense of their participation in carceral employment programs could focus on individuals who have completed their sentences and are not subjected to parole conditions. This would allow an investigation of the perceptions and experiences of those who are not impeded in seeking employment and have been actively searching for or engaging with employment upon release.

Le département du Nord est particulièrement bien fourni en établissements pénitentiaires : 6 prisons départementales (7 entre 1907 et 1931) et d'une maison centrale. La longue période de la troisième République produit différentes lois qui s'inquiètent du "comment enfermer" mais aussi du "qui enfermer". D'où la question : dans quelles mesures ces lois sur le parc pénitentiaire et ses occupants (détenus et personnel) ? La loi phare du 5 juin 1875 qui entérine la tentative manquée du cellulaire sous la Monarchie de juillet, alimente de longs débats au Conseil Général, avant de parvenir au tout début du XXe siècle à l'ouverture de deux prisons cellulaires : celles de Loos et de Douai. Cette recherche montre que ces établissements n'apportent pas une amélioration flagrante des conditions de détention du département. Si amélioration il y a eu, c'est plutôt grâce à la baisse des effectifs. Cette baisse des effectifs n'est pas un corollaire manifeste des lois de 1885 et de 1891 (relégation, libération conditionnelle et sursis simple). Seul le traitement des jeunes détenus témoigne d'une évolution dans le recours à l'enfermement et, plus timidement, dans son organisation quotidienne de leur enfermement. L'émergence de la prévention se fait, se veut plus déterminante pour cette catégorie de justiciables. Cette recherche témoigne aussi du carcéral, de la vie au jour le jour au sein des établissements. Cette thèse apporte une modeste contribution à l'histoire pénitentiaire et à celle du traitement de la délinquance. Sa singularité réside surtout dans l'exploitation quasi-exhaustive des différentes séries des archives départementales afférentes à ce sujet. / The north department is particularly well supplied with penitentiaries. The period of the Third Republic produces various laws which worry about "how to lock" but also about "who to lock". Where from the question : in what measures theses laws influence the prison park and their occupants ? The key law of June 5th, 1875 which confirms the attempt missed the cellular under the July Monarchy, feeds long debates before teaching at the very beginning of the XXth century the opening of two cellular prisons in the north department. This research shows that these establishements do not bring a blatant improvement of the conditions of detention. If improvement there was, it is rather thanks to the reduction in staff. Only the treatment of the young prisoners testifies of an evolution in the recourse to the confinement and, more shyly, in her daily organization of their confinement. The emergence of the prevention is made to be more determining fotr this category of citizens. This research also testifies of the prison, the life from day to day within establishments. This thesis makes one modest contribution to the prison history and to that of the treatment of the crime. Her peculiarity is especially in the quasi-exhaustive exploitation of the various series of departmental archives concerned to this subject.

Transition to the labor market after serving a prison sentence can be a complex experience for former offenders. In this qualitative study, we interviewed eight individuals who have served time in prison and either initiated or completed their way back to the labor market. A criminal record resulting from a prison sentence not only impacts the job-seeking process but also subjects individuals to stigmatizing gaze from the society. The societal perspective can lead former offenders to internalize these views. However, seeking support from social contacts and engaging with helping organizations can act as coping strategies, facilitating the reentry process both emotionally and practically. These strategies play a crucial role in empowering individuals to embark on the journey back to the labor market.