A place to call home: perspectives on offender community reintegration

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore offenders’ experiences of community reintegration facilitated by a supported housing scheme. Design/methodology/approach Data were derived from five semi-structured interviews with prolific offenders who were participating in a UK “north west housing association” scheme; a community reintegration programme for offenders released from prison. Findings Thematic analysis demonstrated four predominant themes, these were: “the decision to change”, “self-fulfilment”, “a place to call home” and “a suitable support system”. The themes are discussed in relation to the Good Lives Model. Practical implications Participation in the housing scheme was a key component of the reintegration process, which positively facilitated lifestyle change. Originality/value This research considers the often “unheard” perspectives of prolific offenders and highlights the significant role of community housing schemes in supporting successful community reintegration.

The impact of supported accommodation on health and criminal justice outcomes of people released from prison: a systematic literature review

“…Six studies reported other social and mental wellbeing outcomes [ 41 , 44 , 49 , 52 , 54 , 59 , 61 ]. One included a control group and reported a positive effect direction on feelings of autonomy [ 59 ], however the data were qualitative and like the remaining studies, used self-reported outcomes [ 41 , 44 , 49 , 54 ].…”

“…Six studies reported other social and mental wellbeing outcomes [ 41 , 44 , 49 , 52 , 54 , 59 , 61 ]. One included a control group and reported a positive effect direction on feelings of autonomy [ 59 ], however the data were qualitative and like the remaining studies, used self-reported outcomes [ 41 , 44 , 49 , 54 ]. Other outcomes included community integration, sense of autonomy or control over one’s life, stigma, cultural connectedness, and a number of mental health outcomes.…”

“Swimming against the tide”: conditional discharge from medium secure care

“…One of the few (Coffey, 2012) focussed on the challenges associated with creating a "non-deviant" identity in the outside world, a task made more difficult by continued supervision and monitoring. Other studies using a sample of the prison population (Tarpey & Friend, 2016) yielded relevant findings, identifying the importance of self-fulfilment, suitable support systems, and the decision to change.…”

Expectations and Experiences of Women Imprisoned for Drug Offending and Returning to Communities in Thailand: Understanding Women’s Pathways Into, Through, and Post-Imprisonment

“…Research shows that post-release, women have greater problems securing housing than their male counterparts (Baldry et al 2006). Yet having a place to call home is imperative for successful re-entry, as it enables women to regain independence, privacy, and to exert autonomy (O'Brien 2001;Opsal 2015;Heidemann et al 2016;Tarpey and Friend 2016).…”

“…In contrast, there is a strong correlation between poor accommodation and negative outcomes (O'Brien and Leem 2007;Severance 2004;Tarpey and Friend 2016). Research by Baldry et al (2006), for example, found that women who have unstable or unsuitable accommodation are more likely to return to prison.…”