WK10 Policy

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Policy Review

Erika Tallent

SOCW 6361

Issue Statement

When people are released from prison, they face an environment that is difficult to navigate, designed to keep them from becoming useful members of their communities. Most ex-offenders are arrested again within three years of their release, with a majority of 77 percent of instances occurring within five years. As the nation's prison population approaches 2 million inmates, recidivism is becoming an issue for both convicts' families and society (Bhandari, 2019). This explains why social reintegration is one of the biggest social problems in the United States. Re-incarceration and unsuccessful re-entry have a devastating impact on communities, families, and individuals. Ex-offenders and those recently released from prison are the most vulnerable populations to this social problem. It is vital to have a thorough grasp of the science of offender reintegration since efficient reintegration of offenders is crucial to crime reduction.

The need for change

After being released from prison, offenders are pushed into a new environment that is very different from their previous one, and many struggle to adapt. Aside from that, due to the dynamic and the always-changing environment, ex-offenders who have spent considerable time in prison are liberated into an environment vastly different from their prior surroundings. This is a serious impediment to criminals' reintegration back into society. Furthermore, re-entry into the workforce is a significant challenge to overcome for persons who have served time in jail. Previously imprisoned individuals have difficulties getting and maintaining employment after being released from prison due to employers' apprehension about hiring people with criminal histories (Weber, 2021). Many offenders have no formal education or work experience, making it strenuous to obtain gainful employment. According to studies, about 60% of criminals and ex-offenders are high school dropouts.

In the aftermath of their imprisonment and engagement with the criminal justice system, many ex-inmates are perceived unproductive and risky by former employers and members of their old professional networks, assuming they ever had one. When ex-convicts combine a restricted professional network with a glaring gap in their resume, it may be very difficult for them to get an interview with a potential employer. An estimated 70 percent of previously jailed males have a history of drug misuse, and a large number of them suffer from physical and mental health problems (Petrich et al., 2022). As a result, employers may not consider them "work-ready," so restricting their employability. The prospect of being sued for damages resulting from "negligent hiring" is a source of anxiety for many firms. Given the possibility that a firm could be held responsible for exposing the employees to a potentially harmful individual, many companies are wary of hiring someone who has a criminal history. This is why lawmakers, the public, and social workers need to advocate for change so that ex-offenders can get a conducive environment that will allow them to smoothly reintegrate back into the community.

If the goal to alleviate the problem is realized.

At any given time, more than 2.1 million individuals are detained in American prisons and jails, and the vast majority of them are released back into their communities after they have been proven innocent or have served a sentence for their criminal action. More than 10 million inmates, including those released from state and federal prisons and those freed from local jails, are released back into the community. Therefore changes to re-entry programs are essential to ensure that all ex-offenders are able to reintegrate into society in a friendly environment. Reforming re-entry programs will become a cornerstone of constructing safe and productive communities by assisting people who have been imprisoned in making a seamless transition back into their communities once they have been freed.

The main obstacles that prohibit ex-offenders from effectively reentering society have been recognized through years of research. The reintegration process has been recommended to begin on the first day of imprisonment. In prison, correctional officers and facility programs should attempt to help the offender develop a pro-social worldview and strong community links and overcome any substance abuse or mental health disorders that may be present. If a person returns to society, their prospects of being a productive member of society are decided by their capacity to discover a meaningful job, find a place to live and get the education and skills necessary to progress in their lives. A successful re-entry program aids persons in overcoming one or more of these obstacles while simultaneously cooperating with other community resources to improve the quality of its services and programs. Through changes in the re-entry programs, former offenders will have the opportunity to support themselves and their families by working in legitimate businesses.

Policy Review

The chosen policy is PUBLIC LAW 110–199—APRIL 9, 2008. This policy aims to break criminal recidivism to promote public safety. The policy is a state statute, and one strength associated with the policy is that it helps rehabilitate ties between offenders and their families after being released. The policy addresses the mentioned social problem since it is intended to positively impact the life outcomes of persons returning to society after being incarcerated (Berghuis, 2018). According to the policy, funding may be allocated to state and locally recognized local governments to support policies and programs intended to reduce recidivism and provide possibilities for those who have been released from juvenile detention centers and prisons.

The policy is divided into four sections: Section A “improvements to current programs," Section B "improvement of offender reintegration services," Section C "prosecution drug treatment alternative to prison program," and Section D, "prosecution drug treatment alternative to prison program." The policy has been in place for 13 years since it was signed into law in 2008. Many stakeholders strongly support and advocate the policy, including state organizations, civil rights agencies, non-profit organizations, and religious groups. Since its implementation in 2008, no changes have been made to the policy.

The mental health of ex-offenders who have been exposed to prison abuse and neglect is generally compromised, and many resorts to substance abuse and drinking to deal with their trauma. As a social worker treating an ex-offender with various traumatic experiences, I would use a trauma-informed approach in my work. By using a trauma-informed lens to approach the problem, I would better understand the client's behavioral and cognitive functioning. As a social worker, I should strive for change since I am safeguarding the rights and liberties of the people, especially for those who have become vulnerable and are suffering in various life circumstances. As long as we abide by the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics. All social workers must provide advocacy and social justice for those who cannot do it by themselves.

References

Berghuis, M. (2018). Re-entry programs for adult male offender recidivism and reintegration: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 62(14), 4655-4676.

Bhandari, C. (2019). Social dialogue: A tool of social reintegration and post-conflict peacebuilding in Nepal. Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 7.

Petrich, D. M., Cullen, F. T., Lee, H., & Burton, A. L. (2022). Prisoner Re-entry Programs. In Handbook of Issues in Criminal Justice Reform in the United States (pp. 335-363). Springer, Cham.

Weber, S. (2021). From gender-blind to gender-transformative reintegration: women’s experiences with social reintegration in Guatemala. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 23(3), 396-417.