Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Administrative and Instructional Leadership

First Advisor

Barbara Cozza

Second Advisor

Richard Bernato

Third Advisor

Ceceilia Parnther

Abstract

The social problem under investigation was that although there had been a general rise in the number of incarcerated women in the United States, these women faced several challenges trying to re-enter society upon their release from incarceration. The purpose of this qualitative single case study research was to explore how a re-entry program, from the perspective of previously incarcerated women, attempted to integrate incarcerated women back into society. The study considered how the re-entry program could be designed to reduce recidivism in women. The research design was a qualitative case study with six data sources: individual interviews of previously incarcerated women, individual interviews with the new program director, individual interviews with a house manager, focus group interviews of previously incarcerated women, observation notes, and publicly available program documents. The data were analyzed thematically and triangulated to identify contextualized common themes: Previously incarcerated women perceived the re-entry program to assist with their needs to re-enter society, previously incarcerated women perceived the re-entry program to be helpful in maintaining their relationship with their family, previously incarcerated women perceived that the re-entry program prevented recidivism through helping them focus on studying or working, previously incarcerated women perceived that the structure of the re-entry program allowed them to experience belongingness and mutual respect, previously incarcerated women perceived that the structure of the re-entry program allowed them to experience being treated like an individual, previously incarcerated women perceived a gap in the projected and actual experience with the re-entry program, and previously incarcerated women perceived a gap in the services of the re-entry program as a result of specified contributors to the mismatch. This study enhances the literature on women’s re-entry experience by identifying multiple areas that play an important role in the reintegration process: program process, individual factors, individual motivation, and individual resourcefulness. The findings can be used to explore how women returning from long-term incarceration can address their needs and plan re-entry outcomes on their own or with indirect support.

Download

Share

COinS