FAMILY BONDS? STRUCTURING REENTRY LINKING FOSTER CARE, DESISTANCE, AND POST-INCARCERATION REENTRY

Abstract

This thesis links reentry and desistance literature in order to draw on the respective structural and psychologically oriented advantages of both in order to advocate for maximally effective programming to help young men struggling with myriad post-incarceration issues. Through participant observation and interviews with ‘crossover’ youth who experienced both the child welfare and criminal justice systems, I focused on the cumulative needs these young men express. I also interviewed staff members of the organization with which the young men were involved, Getting Out and Staying Out, a reentry program in East Harlem. It became clear that both structural and emotional/psychosocial needs must be met in reentry programming. The development of small scale, privately funded, non-mandated, holistic reentry programming is the key to fully addressing the needs of individuals reentering society after incarceration, and thereby, reducing recidivism.