“Knowing and Working With Someone Who Has Made It Means I’m Going to Make It Too”: Experiential Knowledge as a Catalyst for Transformation in Reentry and Beyond

• Published date: 01 February 2025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241291027
• Author: Emily I. Troshynski,Carolyn Willis,Kara Forrai
• Date: 01 February 2025
• Subject Matter: Articles

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR, 2025, Vol. 52, No. 2, February 2025, 254 –276.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00938548241291027

Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

© 2024 International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology

254

“KNOWING AND WORKING WITH SOMEONE

WHO HAS MADE IT MEANS I’M GOING TO

MAKE IT TOO”

Experiential Knowledge as a Catalyst for

Transformation in Reentry and Beyond

EMILY I. TROSHYNSKI

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

CAROLYN WILLIS

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

HOPE for Prisoners

KARA FORRAI

Arizona State University

Of the 2.2 million adults incarcerated in the United States, between 600,000 and 700,000 return to society annually. The U.S.

federal evaluations reveal over a quarter of these individuals are rearrested within 6 months, while studies in more than 40

states find that close to half are reincarcerated within 3 years. Recidivism rates reveal a pressing need to understand reentry

from the perspective of those who have experienced it. This study analyzes interviews with previously incarcerated indi-

viduals, identifying four key categories of experiential knowledge: impact of clinical staff, re-entry programming staff, men-

tors, and founder’s experiences. Experiential knowledge, and understandings acquired through direct personal experience,

emerge as pivotal in supporting successful reintegration. The discussion highlights its impact beyond reentry, aligning with

individuals’ aspirations to help others. By emphasizing the significance of experiential knowledge, conclusions advocate for

its integration into re-entry programs to enhance support and services for justice-involved individuals.

Keywords: reentry; experiential knowledge; qualitative; recidivism

In 2023, the United States marked 50 years since a significant surge in its prison popula-

tion, leading to the mass incarceration of over five million individuals, including nearly

two million in federal and state prisons and local jails, with millions more under community

AUTHORS’ NOTE: The research was conducted under a Second Chance Act Grant, with Troshynski as a

sub-contractor, declaring no conflicts of interest. The grant supported the work and provided summer funding

for graduate researchers, including Forrai. Willis, employed at the research site, also declares no conflicts of

interest. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Emily I. Troshynski, Associate

Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box

455009, Las Vegas, NV 89154; e-mail: emily.troshynski@unlv.edu.

1291027CJBXXX10.1177/00938548241291027Criminal Justice and BehaviorTroshynski et al. / Experiential Knowledge as Transformation

research-article2024

Troshynski et al. / EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AS TRANSFORMATION 255

supervision (Sawyer & Wagner, 2024; Wang, 2023a, 2023b).1 This trend distinguishes the

United States globally, placing it among the highest in incarceration rates and highlighting

the extensive use of institutional confinement and the challenges inherent in community-

based supervision (Fair & Walmsley, 2021). Consequently, the country faces ongoing dif-

ficulties in managing re-entry, as millions of individuals transition from incarceration back

into communities, often encountering significant barriers to successful reintegration.

The escalation in incarceration is largely attributed to harsh sentencing laws, the War on

Drugs, and mandatory minimum sentences (Bellin, 2022; Kluckow & Zeng, 2022). These

policies have had profound implications for individuals, families, and communities, par-

ticularly marginalized populations who endure lengthy prison terms for nonviolent offenses

(Nellis, 2023). Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Indigenous individuals are dispro-

portionately affected due to racial profiling, bias within the legal system, and sentencing

disparities, resulting in significantly higher incarceration rates (Franklin, 2013; Hetey &

Eberhardt, 2018; Tighe, 2014).2 In addition, poverty and untreated mental health issues

further exacerbate the problem, funneling individuals into the justice system rather than

toward appropriate care and support (Hall et al., 2019; Santiago et al., 2011).

Estimates suggest that roughly 95% of all incarcerated individuals—around 7.7 million

people–will eventually return home, only to face significant barriers such as limited access

to housing, health care, education, training, and employment (Troshynski & Willis, 2023).

In 2022 alone, approximately 620,000 individuals were released from state and federal

prisons (Carson, 2023; Carson & Klucklow, 2023). These challenges significantly contrib-

ute to the high rates of recidivism and reincarceration (Nellis, 2023; Second Chance Act

[SCA], 2018).3 The persistently high recidivism rates4 among those returning from prison

highlight the urgent need for a more equitable justice system and comprehensive policies

that address the root causes of crime while providing essential support for individuals at risk

of incarceration and reincarceration.

Historically, social and political responses to mass incarceration and re-entry have relied

heavily on expert knowledge from professional groups who assess and treat incarcerated

or formerly incarcerated individuals. While criminology has contributed to understanding

crime, aspects of expert knowledge and policy implementation have, at times, exacerbated

mass incarceration by prioritizing punitive approaches, enforcing War on Drug policies,

and inconsistently applying evidence-based practices (Beckett, 2022; Schlesinger, 2011).

A focus on individual pathology and institutional inertia has further perpetuated mass

incarceration by neglecting structural factors and promoting ineffective crime policies

(Enns, 2014; Ortiz & Jackey, 2019). Some scholars argue that expert knowledge in crimi-

nology has played a role in worsening mass incarceration (Alexander, 2020; Pfaff, 2017).

Therefore, it is crucial to explore the re-entry process through the lens of experiential

knowledge, which emphasizes the lived experiences of those directly impacted by the jus-

tice system.

The following considers the importance of experiential knowledge in understanding re-entry.

Beginning with a review of research, we explore how experiential knowledge emerges as a

response to critiques of professional expertise, showcasing its transformative potential for indi-

viduals and communities alike. By examining its significance within criminology, we uncover

unique insights gleaned from direct encounters with the justice system. Despite its importance,

mainstream criminological discourse often neglects these diverse lived experiences.