‘Sometimes I wish I was an “ex” ex-prisoner’: identity processes in the collective action participation of former prisoners in Northern Ireland

Dwyer, Clare

doi:10.1080/10282580.2013.857069

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Notably, former combatants and ex-prisoners helped establish the organization and continue to serve in key leadership roles, and alongside their nonprisoner practitioner counterparts, 10 lead casework and facilitate client mediations. Their involvement has been shown to be crucial to the success of the organization, with ex-prisoners bringing a distinct type of credibility, moral agency, and political and social capital to their roles (Eriksson, 2009; McEvoy and Albert, 2020; McEvoy and Shirlow, 2009), with additional research indicating that their leadership might also benefit the micro-dynamics of restorative practice (Albert, under review).…”

Section: Restorative Justice and The Context In Northern Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This article has helped address this gap, placing practitioners at the center of the study and examining the way that their involvement in restorative leadership affects their own lives. Thus, although research in Northern Ireland has broadly looked at restorative justice's contribution to peacebuilding (see, for example, Eriksson, 2009; McEvoy and Mika, 2002; Topping and Byrne, 2016), few studies have examined the micro-dynamics related specifically to the reflexive impact of the facilitator role on ex-prisoner practitioners. 33…”

Section: Conclusion: An Improved Reentry Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 One such contribution was the development and management of community based restorative justice systems as an alternative to paramilitary punishment violence (McEvoy and Mika, 2002). These systems attempted to transition paramilitary organizations away from violence and provided broader mediation and support services to local communities, and were known for the prominent leadership of ex-prisoners (Eriksson, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Social workers by day and terrorists by night?” Wounded healers, restorative justice, and ex-prisoner reentry

Albert

2023

Punishment & Society

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Common to many post-conflict societies, former political prisoners and combatants in Northern Ireland are often portrayed as security threats rather than as potential contributors to societal peacebuilding processes. This distrust limits their ability to contribute to the transitional landscape and additionally hinders desistance processes during their reentry from prison. Drawing from the work of Maruna, LeBel, and others on “wounded healers,” this article critically examines the restorative justice work of ex-prisoners who have become involved in leadership roles within community based restorative justice. It is argued that such practitioner work can help former combatants overcome many of the challenges typically associated with reentry, contributing to a “strength-based” approach to desistance, impacting factors such as employment, social bonds, internal narratives, and agency. This work also enables individuals to showcase their desistance to others, highlighting their “earned redemption” and encouraging society to acknowledge that reentry is a two-way street.

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Section: Restorative Justice and The Context In Northern Irelandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion: An Improved Reentry Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“Social workers by day and terrorists by night?” Wounded healers, restorative justice, and ex-prisoner reentry

Albert

2023

Punishment & Society

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“…If hired, it takes time for ex-offenders to adjust to the organisation's culture and surroundings (Visher and Travis, 2003). Besides, organisations are also at risk when hiring ex-offenders as they may suffer from physical and mental problems like physical or mental illness, health problems due to substance abuse and addiction, behavioural impairment and depression (Dwyer, 2013). There is a possibility that they would not be able to adapt to the work environment.…”

Section: Sub-modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

A theory of planned behaviour: perspective on rehiring ex-offenders

Khasni

Keshminder

Chuah

et al. 2022

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PurposeUsing the theory of Planned Behaviour as the basis, the study investigates the impact of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control on rehiring intention. The predictors of attitude (i.e. organisational culture, risk and government incentives) and perceived behavioural control (i.e. skills and supporting documents) were examined by expanding the TPB model.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered survey was used to gather data from Malaysian firms hiring ex-offenders. Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to verify the study's proposed research model's hypothesis.FindingsThe SEM analysis showed attitude and subjective norm as solid predictors of rehiring intention. For attitude, organisational culture and government incentives were proven to have an impact. Besides perceived behavioural control, the skill set was a significant predictor.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that active involvement of the government to engage employers with ex-offenders through incentives (tax deductions and wage and training subsidies) and prison job fairs can increase their employment opportunities. There is also a need for formal guidelines and practices on hiring ex-offenders in organisations to promote a positive hiring culture. Establishing an employment-based re-entry unit that provides ex-offenders with various transition skill programs, such as technical skills, job search skills and life skills, is crucial for their employment prospects.Originality/valueThis study is among the pioneers in investigating ex-offenders’ rehiring agenda, specifically examining factors that influence employers' decision making. The results are relevant to managers, regulators, institutions and NGOs to structure the right interventions to ensure ex-offenders are successfully hired. It is found that Interventions aiming to increase job opportunities for ex-offenders require activities that expand community and ex-offender engagement since it reduces the social stigma and promotes more ex-offenders accepting behaviour.

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“…Looking at factors other than stigma that might explain employment difficulties post-release, some have found that inadequate employment history, lack of education and skills, and living in a neighborhood with high unemployment influence their employability (D'Alessio et al, 2015;Travis, 2005;Visher et al, 2011). Individuals with a criminal history also face personal challenges, such as physical and mental health concerns, health issues related to substance abuse and addiction, poor behavioral problems and negative or naïve self-perceptions (Dwyer, 2013;Hammett et al, 2001;Scanlon, 2001;Atkin Armstrong, 2013;Fletcher, 2001). Practical challenges, such as finding suitable accommodations, managing limited finances, and accessing everyday necessities and services, are additional concerns post-release (Visher and Farrell, 2005).…”

Section: Supports For Employmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Employment after incarceration: managing a socially stigmatized identity

Anazodo

Ricciardelli

Chan

2019

EDI

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the social stigmatization of the formerly incarcerated identity and how this affects employment post-release. The authors consider the characteristics of this identity and the identity management strategies that individuals draw from as they navigate employment. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 men at various stages of release from federal institutions in Canada. Participants were actively searching for employment, intending to or would consider searching for employment, or had searched for employment in the past post-incarceration. Participant data were simultaneously collected, coded and analyzed using an inductive approach (Gioia et al., 2012). Findings Formerly incarcerated individuals have a unique awareness of the social stigmatization associated with their criminal record and incarceration history. They are tasked with an intentional choice to disclose or conceal that identity throughout the employment process. Six identity management strategies emerged from their accounts: conditional disclosure, deflection, identity substitution, defying expectations, withdrawal and avoidance strategies. More specifically, distinct implications of criminal record and incarceration history on disclosure decisions were evident. Based on participants’ accounts of their reintegration experiences, four aspects that may inform disclosure decisions include: opportune timing, interpersonal dynamics, criminal history and work ethic. Originality/value The authors explore the formerly incarcerated identity as a socially stigmatized identity and consider how individuals manage this identity within the employment context. The authors identify incarceration history and criminal record as having distinct impacts on experiences of stigma and identity management strategic choice, thus representing the experience of a “double stigma”.

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‘Sometimes I wish I was an “ex” ex-prisoner’: identity processes in the collective action participation of former prisoners in Northern Ireland

Cited by 5 publications

References 40 publications

“Social workers by day and terrorists by night?” Wounded healers, restorative justice, and ex-prisoner reentry

“Social workers by day and terrorists by night?” Wounded healers, restorative justice, and ex-prisoner reentry

A theory of planned behaviour: perspective on rehiring ex-offenders

Employment after incarceration: managing a socially stigmatized identity

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