Date of Conferral

8-8-2024

Date of Award

August 2024

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Sean Grier

Abstract

Recidivism is a powerfully adverse factor in the lives of individuals who seek to reintegrate into society and the community at large. In this qualitative research, former inmates who were successfully released and had never been convicted within one year of their release were interviewed to discover the rationale. The research focused on understanding the skills and traits obtained through the Alternative Custody Program that can effectively reduce recidivism. Utilizing a phenomenological design, the purpose of this study was to understand the effects of program participation on the lives of former inmates concerning recidivism. Interviews lasting approximately an hour were subsequently transcribed by automated transcription software after they had been carefully proofread at the outset. The analysis revealed several key themes: inmates affirmed that reentry programs enhanced their mental health, and they found different forms of support helpful, such as therapy, counseling, and support groups, contributed a lot in dealing with the challenges of reintegration. They underscored the learning acquired from the schemes, such as effective communication skills, time management, and hands-on vocational training. These findings emphasize that community and support are of vital importance in successful reentry programs, creating feelings of attachment and doing the same thing. They also suggest that better outcomes arise through the betterment of reentry programs and social support establishment for released offenders. As such, the findings enrich the body of knowledge about effective reentry programs and help open the door for future studies that explore the fundamental components that can make a drastic difference in absolute reductions in recidivism.

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