The ex-prisoners’ transition processes into society

Abstract

The primary goal of this study was to learn and understand what significant events; positive and negative ex-prisoners encountered during their transition processes into society. Main areas of interest, however, were to explore the influence of formal institutions and informal social networks and support to ex-prisoners who are returning back into society after accomplished their sentences in prisons. Further, was to understand what obstacles they face during the process.

The researcher has used qualitative method to study and understand the nature of the problem. Besides, semi-structured interviews were main tools used to collect data from seven ex-prisoners who interviewed separately. Symbolic interactionism, ecological and social psychological perspectives were used to analyze interviews data.

The results obtained shown that both formal institutions and informal social networks had influenced ex-prisoners in various ways and its effects differ. While formal institutions helped ex-prisoners accession to various social assistances like financial, accommodations, rehabilitations, and smooth re-adjustments into community, informal social networks (families, peers, relatives or neighbors) had dual impacts; in one hand had provided social supports like, emotional, psychological, counseling, advice and material supports which facilitated ex-prisoners start new life easier. On the other hand, had negatively influenced some participants by denied those assistances due to their criminality behaviors they maintained. This situation has cause more serious problems to ex-prisoners themselves and to the general public, because ex-prisoners had relapsed into their former criminal careers.

The study had revealed that the formation of former criminals and drug addicts networks (KRIS) has lead ex-prisoners to have their own life style which is slightly different to ordinary people in society. The network or self-help organization has various programmes for serving inmates in prisons and ex-prisoners to overcoming various difficulties in their processes to re-integrate into society. However, it has been learnt that, due to its efficiency in provision of important and timed social assistances that associated with caring and giving hope to its clients, has attracted more newly released prisoners who seek change and rehabilitation.

Moreover, in their transition processes, ex-prisoners have faced varieties of obstacles that originated from ineffective pre-released plan in correctional institutions as well as post-release interventions in various social agencies that deal with prisoners and ex-prisoners matters. Prisoners when leaving correctional facilities have limited human capital that prevent them accession to different opportunities available in society. In addition, problems of accommodations, financial constraints, breaking family ties, and stigmatization have decelerated their momentum for re-integration into society and set them on cross roads.