Reexamining Reentry: The Policies, People, and Programs of the United States Prisoner Reintegration Systems

Reexamining Reentry takes an in-depth look at how and why prisoner reentry programs are developed. Furthermore, this book explains how having access to these programs, or not, could potentially stymie the community reintegration of the formerly incarcerated. All too often we see the pervasive criminalization of the formerly incarcerated even after serving their sentences and being released into the general public. What makes this text different from many others that focus on prisoner reentry is the focus on empowerment strategies for the participant of the program rather than the deficits experienced by prison populations while attempting to transition. This book will show how the policies, social labeling and discrimination, trauma experienced prior to and during incarceration, as well as media interpretation of the population prior to incarceration all work together to further criminalize populations that have paid their respective debts to society.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, Kaia Niambi Shivers Chapter 1: What is Prisoner Reentry? An Analysis of Prisoner Reentry Policies, Systems, and Industries Chapter 2: Reentry Programs: A Review of Prisoner Reintegration Programs and Services Chapter 3: Methods Chapter 4: Federal Crimes and the Question of White-Collar Reentry Chapter 5: Incarceration, Reentry, and the Effects on the American Family Chapter 6: Minority Youth in the Criminal Justice System, Imani West-Abdallah Chapter 7: Understanding Religious Conversions in the Prison System and Reentry Chapter 8: The Criminalization of LGBTQ Populations and the Lack of Inclusive Reentry Practices, Imani West-Abdallah Chapter 9: A Case for Empowerment Reintegration Programs Chapter 10: Conclusion

About the Author :
Rolanda J. West is justice studies lecturer at Northeastern Illinois University and executive director of the Alternative Education Research Institute.

Review :
This book provides a very clear and comprehensive overview of the ‘Prison Re-entry Industry.’ It is an formative introduction to a critical set of institutions which are largely ignored and invisible to most people, but which are radically important to understand, especially in the United States, a country with the world’s highest rate of incarceration—and hence the highest rate of ex-prisoners coming back to their home communities, but with more trauma and fewer resources than when they left. If we are to have healthy and safe communities it behooves us to help these individuals (i.e., our fellow citizens, family members, and neighbors) become successful contributing members of society. To do this we must invest resources, imagination, time, and care to insure the process of reentry is done well as it doesn’t happen on its own, or even with the help of one’s immediate family. Dr. West’s research provides a solid foundation for further reflection and work on this important issue.