A Description of the Self-Identified Needs, Service Expenditures, and Social Outcomes of Participants of a Prisoner-Reentry Program

• Date: 01 September 2011
• Published date: 01 September 2011
• Author: Nora Wikoff,Sheila Bratton,Nicole M. Morani,Donald M. Linhorst
• DOI: 10.1177/0032885511409896

The Prison Journal

91(3) 347 –365

© 2011 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/0032885511409896

http://tpj.sagepub.com

409896TPJ91310.1177/003288551

1409896Morani et al.The Prison Journal

© 2011 SAGE Publications

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1Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

2Washington University of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

3Provident, Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA

Corresponding Author:

Donald M. Linhorst, Saint Louis University School of Social Work, 3550 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis,

MO 63103, USA

Email: linhorsd@slu.edu

A Description of the Self-

Identified Needs, Service

Expenditures, and Social

Outcomes of Participants

of a Prisoner-Reentry

Program

Nicole M. Morani1, Nora Wikoff2, Donald M.

Linhorst1, and Sheila Bratton3

Abstract

This study examines 122 ex-offenders who participated in Project Re-

Connect, a 6-month, voluntary, prisoner-reentry program for inmates who

served their maximum prison sentence. The needs most frequently self-iden-

tified by program participants prior to their return into the community in-

cluded transportation, clothing, food, housing, and employment or vocational

training. To help address these needs, program participants had access to

US$3,000. These funds were largely directed toward the self-identified needs,

with the greatest portion of expenditures applied to housing. Social out-

comes, including employment, housing, and substance abuse, are examined

for program participants. The study found that many ex-offenders will seek

assistance through reentry programs, even when participation is voluntary,

and that they are capable of self-identifying their service needs.

Keywords

prisoner reentry, rehabilitation, ex-offenders, reentry service needs

348 The Prison Journal 91(3)

At mid-year 2008, state and federal prison authorities had jurisdiction of more

than 1.6 million people in the United States (U. S. Bureau of Justice Statistics,

2009). Estimates indicate that between 90% and 95% of those who serve a

prison term in the United States eventually return to the community, resulting

in more than 700,000 inmates released from state and federal prisons each year

(Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001). In 2007 alone, 725,402 people were released

from prison, a 1.7% increase in the number of releases from the prior year

(West & Sabol, 2008). The large number of releases has raised concerns about

the potential for increased crime (Petersilia, 2005). Concerns over the number

of releases are not unfounded, as a nationwide study found that two thirds of

released offenders were rearrested within 3 years of release, and almost half of

those released returned to prison within 3 years, whether for parole violations

or new convictions (Langan & Levin, 2002).

Structural factors have the capacity to facilitate or to hinder ex-offenders’

successful reintegration into the community, thereby impacting their chances

of reoffending. Without access to basic necessities, such as food, clothing,

shelter, transportation, or personal identification, former inmates may see no

other option than to return to illegal activities to meet their needs (La Vigne,

Davies, Palmer, & Halberstadt, 2008). Personal factors also can affect suc-

cessful reintegration. For example, Gendreau, Little, and Goggin (1996) con-

ducted a meta-analysis of research on factors predictive of recidivism, and

found that age, criminal history, social support, gender, social achievement,

and substance abuse were significant and potent predictors of recidivism.

Additionally, ex-offenders often lack sufficient human and social capital to

help them navigate these and other challenges of life outside of prison (Wilson

& Davis, 2006). Many do not have a high school diploma or employable skills,

whereas others struggle with mental health or substance abuse problems

(Lewis, Garfinkel, & Gao, 2007). Likewise, many released offenders experi-

ence feelings of depression, disorganization, and disruption when transitioning

from the order of prison life to the disorder of life outside prison, and these

feelings may contribute to high rates of recidivism, especially among repeat

offenders (Arrigo & Takahashi, 2008; Petersilia, 2003). Finally, for women,

additional challenges include issues related to child care and other emotional

and mental concerns, often related to addiction and trauma, as well as their

emotional response to the incarceration itself (Kubiak, 2004; O’Brien, 2001).

Women leaving prison tend to have greater mental and physical health prob-

lems, chemical dependency issues, child responsibilities, and employment

readiness needs than men leaving prison (Spjeldnes & Goodkind, 2009).

These barriers to successful reintegration create a variety of needs among

ex-offenders as they transition back into society. The timing and type of