No Family, No Friends: An Instrumental Variable Analysis to Revisit the Reintegration Model in Mexico

• Published date: 01 November 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/00328855241278265
• Author: Gustavo Fondevila,Leandro Gastón,Ricardo Massa
• Date: 01 November 2024
• Subject Matter: Articles

No Family, No Friends:

An Instrumental

Variable Analysis to

Revisit the Reintegration

Model in Mexico

Gustavo Fondevila

1

,

Leandro Gastón

2

,

and Ricardo Massa

3

Abstract

Literature on recidivism and desistance has acquired increasing relevance in

the criminological discussions of recent years. This study seeks to contribute

to this discourse by implementing an instrumental variable analysis to exam-

ine inmates’expectations regarding the factors that play a central role in

their perceptions of factors for successful social reintegration. Results indi-

cate that education is perceived as a key factor, while the support of family

and friends exerts a limited inf‌luence over incarcerated persons’perceptions

of social reintegration possibilities in Mexico. These results serve as a basis

for discussing barriers to social reintegration and for exploring public policy

modif‌ications in Latin America.

Keywords

social reintegration, recidivism, education, familial social support,

instrumental variable analysis

1

Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain

2

University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

3

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Mexico City, Mexico

Corresponding Author:

Ricardo Massa, Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, Department of Public

Administration, Carretera Mexico-Toluca, 3655, Mexico City, Mexico.

Email: ricardo.massa@cide.edu

Article

The Prison Journal

2024, Vol. 104(5) 623–644

© 2024 SAGE Publications

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/00328855241278265

journals.sagepub.com/home/tpj

Introduction

In general, the reintegration prison model focuses on strengthening the link between

incarcerated persons and the social structures that are the bases for their successful

return to society by promoting desistance and reducing recidivism (Rhine &

Paparozzi, 1999). Its goal is to provide inmates with the necessary skills and

coping mechanisms to navigate the social reintegration process (Turner &

Petersilia, 1996). The implementation of this prison model is based on inmate par-

ticipation in a variety of programs that emphasize and integrate factors theoretically

associated with desistance and reducing recidivism. These factors are commonly

associated with education (Quan-Baffour & Zawada, 2012), social and life skills

(Bouffard & Bergeron, 2006), behavioral problems and substance abuse (Seiter

& Kadela, 2003), religion (O’Connor & Perreyclear, 2013) and employment

(Richmond, 2014).Although not all factors are of equal importance, each plays a

crucial and vital role in the success of reintegration.

Beyond the particular focus of each one, the programs overlap regarding

one fundamental concept: the building of community through family and

social support. Family and friends have been identif‌ied as a crucial aspect

that contributes to the success of reintegration (Gordon, 1999; Homer,

1979; Jorgensen et al., 1986; Kazura, 2001; Klein et al., 2002). In fact, its

role in aiding inmates’return to society appears to be of such importance

that some reintegration programs are based exclusively on models aimed at

impacting issues related to inmates’families and social circles.

Moreover, programs based on the risk-need-responsivity model seek to

identify and reduce specif‌ic individual criminogenic needs through structured

re-entry programs that revolve around family and marital relationships to ulti-

mately decrease the risk of recidivism (Brooks Holliday et al., 2012). On the

other hand, models based on social strain theory seek to specify certain ten-

sions or situations that are perceived as unjust or beyond the control of an

individual, inciting them to commit crimes (Listwan et al., 2013). In both

cases, the importance of positive family relationships for successful inmate

reintegration is stressed, either through social support or alleviation of com-

munity tension.

The vast body of literature that places emphasis on recidivism includes studies

that examine processes of reintegration and desistance following imprisonment

(Cobbina, 2010; Healy & O’Donnell, 2008; Hedderman et al., 2011; Steen &

Opsal, 2007). In contrast, others, as highlighted by Andersen et al. (2020,

p. 490), have emphasized the perception of inmates themselves regarding their

own transition (Morani et al., 2011; Visher et al., 2007) and the perceptions of

those released from prison (Denney et al., 2014). In this sense, the study of incar-

cerated persons’perspectives is fundamental as, beyond the support of friends,

624 The Prison Journal 104(5)