Prisoner Re-Entry to the Society. Social Law Essay

Prisoner Re-Entry to the Society
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Prisoner Re-Entry to the Society
What issues do prisoners face in preparing for their reentry into a community? What is the impact on his or her family?
Every country today embraces the idea of offender rehabilitation and reintegration. However, this comes with its limits especially for prisoners who have been released from prison. Research appears to indicate that upon release, prisoners encounter problems which then predispose them to recidivism. Ex-offenders meet a society that is unwilling to accept them and that also appears scared and wary of them. Within a short time, many find themselves sidelined and marginalized. Barriers upon barriers are stuck in their way and this in turns works against their rehabilitation process. However, it is also crucial to consider the notion that some prisoners are also released into a different society. Prisoners who spent many years in prison come out to find a society that is quite different from the one they left. This coupled with the fact that people appear wary of them makes life difficult and in the end, interferes with the process of rehabilitation.
There are different challenges that prisoners face and the first one includes the challenge of mending broken relationships with friends, family members, and the community at large. Some ex-offenders find a community and family that is unwilling to welcome them back. Chikadzi (2017) notes that participants in his study admitted that “one of the greatest challenges they face was the issue of mending broken relations with their family and the community at large.” Ex-offenders are released to find a family or a community that already judged and still judges them. Many are rejected as Chikadzi notes. This lack of social support can greatly impact them and their mental state. Ricci (2011) notes that while prisoners might face a lot of problems, “having a right social support network that is full of family and friends will surely make the transition much smoother.” Unfortunately for the ex-offenders though, family and friends never seem to accept them back and thus the high rates of recidivism.
Another challenge that they face is unemployment. Ex-offenders are released to a world that trusts them less and even though they might have the skills and the papers for a particular job, many are turned down. Grommon et al. (2012) note that upon release, “employment is often not found until after months after release, if at all.” Well, for those with families, this comes as a problem which has some great ripple effects. The family suffers greatly mainly because their father or mother is unable to find a job. Acquiring or having access to the basic amenities becomes a problem and this increases the chances or probability of recidivism.
The third challenge that faces ex-offenders upon release is what many would refer to as the inferiority complex. Well, after a lengthy period in prison, ex-offenders come out to find a different society. Many prisoners, for example, who were locked up in the 90s come out to find a world that is interconnected and that is moving a lot faster than before. Chikadzi (2017) notes that participants in his study stated that being in this new world “leads to a lot of stress and regret.” He continues to say that “it contributed to feelings of inferiority and regret, which are a psychological burden necessitating professional help and support.” Ex-offenders develop feelings of inferiority in that they constantly consider themselves as lesser components of the human race. This affects them psychologically and many would resort to their usual law-breaking ways just to get back in an environment that they are used to.
As indicated before, their families also suffer alongside them. When a father (an ex-offender), for example, cannot get a job and they are ...