Life on parole: The quality of experiences soon after release contributes to a conviction‐free re‐entry

Abstract

Background: People returning to the community after prison face many challenges, including finding suitable accommodation and employment, and accessing good social support. The prospects are particularly poor for high-risk offenders with up to a third of those released in New Zealand returning to prison within 100 days. Aims/hypotheses: We developed the Parole Experiences Measure (PEM) to quantify the quality of men's life experiences during the first weeks of re-entry from prison. We aimed to answer the question, can the quality of life experiences differentiate men who survive in the community without reconviction from those who do not? Methods: Using a longitudinal design, we examined whether PEM scores for 178 men with extensive histories of crime and violence predicted three recidivism indices (breach of parole, reconviction and reimprisonment) over a 12-month follow-up period. Results: We found that PEM scores predicted all three indices of recidivism. Of the two PEM subscales, external circumstances (finances, support, accommodation) were more predictive of recidivism than subjective wellbeing (mental and physical health).

Do Triarchic Psychopathy Components of New Zealand High-Risk Parolees Predict Probation Officer Relationship Quality, Quality of Life on Parole, and Recidivism?

“…For example, the quality of pre-release planning is predictive of short-term recidivism outcomes (Dickson et al, 2013; Willis & Grace, 2008). More recently, research with the archive used in this study has shown that 2 months after release, the quality of the external circumstances in which parolees were living (e.g., levels and types of personal and community support, accommodation, employment), and to a lesser extent subjective wellbeing—recent mental and physical health, emotional experiences—were better in those who were free of convictions at 12 months post-release (Gwynne et al, 2020). Both successful external and internal circumstances (subjective wellbeing) are likely to be dependent on the ability to solve re-entry problems, which for most people will be aided with access to the emotional and practical resources of other people.…”

“…Because raw PEM item scores used several different metrics, items were standardized for all analyses, and then averaged for each scale. For descriptive statistics for each item and scale prior to standardization, see Gwynne et al (2020).…”

“…A measure of the quality of life in the first two months after release was also developed for use with this archive. (Gwynne et al, 2020), based on information provided by participants and their supervision probation officer in separate interviews we conducted two months after release. The PEM comprises two subscales.…”

“…Because raw PEM item scores used several different metrics, items were standardized for all analyses, and then averaged for each scale. For descriptive statistics for each item and scale prior to standardization, see Gwynne et al (2020). In another part of the 2-month follow-up interview, parolee-participants and supervising probation officers each independently completed a series of ratings of the probation officer's relationship behavior toward them.…”

The Nexus of Violent Victimization, Mental Health, and Employment: Findings From a Sample of Post-Incarcerated Individuals

“…One of the most intimidating challenges during reentry and exiting from crime is maintaining employment (Lukies et al, 2011; Sampson & Laub, 2003). Without stable employment, it is hard to achieve financial independence (Rydberg, 2018; Sampson & Laub, 2003) and establish structured daily routines (Gwynne et al, 2020; Osgood & Anderson, 2004), which are proven catalysts to desistance (Uggen & Kruttschnitt, 1998; Williams et al, 2019). Several factors have been proposed to explain why returning citizens encounter difficulty securing stable employment, ranging from employers’ reluctance to hire job applicants with criminal records (Holzer et al, 2002; Western & Sirois, 2019) to returning individuals’ low levels of education, limited vocational skills, and poor work histories (Fahey et al, 2006; Pager & Western, 2009).…”