On any given day in the United States of America there is more than 1700 prisoners released from incarceration to reintegrate back into society. Annually, the total number of prisoners returning to communities across the country is over 635,000 (Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016). With such an influx of prisoners returning to society, the odds are definitely stacked against them. They are released requiring employment and housing to even have a fighting chance of remaining free. While this may seem like a simple task to the general population, it is always not the case for the former prisoner. Most of them do not have a high school degree and over half suffer from drug and alcohol abuse. Factor in the ones who have a
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The two that most apply are the strain theory and social control theory. The strain theory, according to Glick and Miller, “views crime and delinquency as a result of the anger and frustration people feel because of their inability to achieve the American dream’’ (2008). This theory applies to this research because prisoners returning to society are often lacking resources that other non-offenders readily have available. Without those resources to achieve the “American dream”, a prisoner may become more inclined to reoffend. Social control theory states that people may commit acts of crime because they do not have a support system to adequately prevent them from such. With the control theory, this research should show a link that prisoners with a strong support system will have lower recidivism rates due to the fact that those family members or mentors will be able to guide and motivate the prisoner through the hardships of returning to society and to be a voice of reason so they do not reoffend. These strong support systems may also show that prisoners returning to them are less likely to become frustrated from a lack of resources (strain theory) because the family and or mentor can help them bridge the gap until the prisoner becomes …show more content…
Prisoner is defined as any offender with a felony conviction who are within 3 months of release from a Florida state prison. Participation in the study is voluntary and prisoners will be selected at random and divided into two categories. The first category will be prisoners who will, at the time of their release, have a family/mentor support system already in place. The second category will be prisoners who, at the time of their release, have no known family/mentor support system. Once the participants are identified, a questionnaire survey will be administered to gauge their expectations upon release. Also, once identified, the participants will be put into the two categories as stated above. The control group will be those prisoners who do not have family/mentor support systems but are enrolled in a current Florida reentry program. The treatment group will be those prisoners who do have family/mentor support system and are also enrolled in a current Florida reentry program. Upon release, prisoners in both groups will be interviewed in person or by phone on the reentry program they are part of and their experiences in readjusting to life within their communities. The research will last a duration of three years with interviews being conducted once a month for the first year, and quarterly for the next two years. The variables for this research will be recidivism
The two that most apply are the strain theory and social control theory. The strain theory, according to Glick and Miller, “views crime and delinquency as a result of the anger and frustration people feel because of their inability to achieve the American dream’’ (2008). This theory applies to this research because prisoners returning to society are often lacking resources that other non-offenders readily have available. Without those resources to achieve the “American dream”, a prisoner may become more inclined to reoffend. Social control theory states that people may commit acts of crime because they do not have a support system to adequately prevent them from such. With the control theory, this research should show a link that prisoners with a strong support system will have lower recidivism rates due to the fact that those family members or mentors will be able to guide and motivate the prisoner through the hardships of returning to society and to be a voice of reason so they do not reoffend. These strong support systems may also show that prisoners returning to them are less likely to become frustrated from a lack of resources (strain theory) because the family and or mentor can help them bridge the gap until the prisoner becomes …show more content…
Prisoner is defined as any offender with a felony conviction who are within 3 months of release from a Florida state prison. Participation in the study is voluntary and prisoners will be selected at random and divided into two categories. The first category will be prisoners who will, at the time of their release, have a family/mentor support system already in place. The second category will be prisoners who, at the time of their release, have no known family/mentor support system. Once the participants are identified, a questionnaire survey will be administered to gauge their expectations upon release. Also, once identified, the participants will be put into the two categories as stated above. The control group will be those prisoners who do not have family/mentor support systems but are enrolled in a current Florida reentry program. The treatment group will be those prisoners who do have family/mentor support system and are also enrolled in a current Florida reentry program. Upon release, prisoners in both groups will be interviewed in person or by phone on the reentry program they are part of and their experiences in readjusting to life within their communities. The research will last a duration of three years with interviews being conducted once a month for the first year, and quarterly for the next two years. The variables for this research will be recidivism