Group project collaboration and dynamics

Group Project

In addition to proving our hypothesis that most recidivism is caused by inadequate transitions services, our research illustrates the best means by which offenders can successfully re-integrate into the community. Interviews with inmates revealed that each of them had trouble finding work, finding meaningful work, and maintaining gainful employment. One of the interview participants pointed out a significant pay differential between former inmates and non-offenders, which we believe deters a released offender from maintaining employment. Inmates need to rely on an empowering job with reasonable compensation if they are expected not to be repeat offenders.

Because our research focused exclusively on transitions programs, the impact of our research was direct and palpable. We worked with four groups: Catholic Charities, Resettlement Program, Community Partners in Action, and Families in Crisis. Additionally, we created an intervention program designed to build bridges between soon-to-be released and newly released inmates with community programs and community members.

The thirty-minute interviews with three inmates of the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution also yielded interesting information regarding the need for emotional and psychological support systems. Inmates pointed out the generally negative feedback they receive from the community in general, from their friends, and from their family members. Without a support system to rely on to guide behavioral and attitudinal change, many offenders readily resorted to criminal behaviors and thus became repeat offenders.

Results also indicate that education should be a key component of successful transitions services. Education can entail basic training in practical matters such as how to prepare for job interviews, how to represent themselves on job applications, how to create resumes, and how to look for fruitful work. The Corrections Institute counselor that we interviewed stated that offenders needed more education in those practical areas, including how to apply for welfare and how to find adequate housing. Specialized education programs would help offenders improve their viability for empowering work. Our research indicated that the Connecticut Department of Corrections has begun instating programs in prisons like MacDougall-Walker that allow inmates to work in the kitchen and in the gardens. Those programs enable the participants to further their skills upon release and help them apply for professional licensure.

The interviews with inmates and corrections professionals show that Department of Corrections in the State of Connecticut is aware of the problem with the lack of transitions services available for former offenders. For example, one of the inmates we interviewed noted that current service options far outweigh those that were available prior to his being re-arrested. The counselor pointed out the current options available for inmates including vocational training. Transitions services include halfway houses as well as some of the programs that we investigated for this project. The four programs we focused on: Catholic Charities, Resettlement Program, Community Partners in Action, and Families in Crisis, all offer former offenders means to transition successfully into their communities. Each demonstrated willingness to work more closely with both inmates and corrections professionals to increase awareness of the options available. However, inmates, corrections professionals, and outreach workers all emphatically noted the lack of reliable relationships between upper-level corrections personnel and the community. In other words, the community and the Department of Corrections need to work more closely and more systematically together to reduce the possibility of recidivism. The best way to do this, based on our research, is to increase the availability of transitional counseling and services for former offenders. The more training, emotional support, education, and basic needs are offered by the community, the easier it will be for offenders to rebuild their lives without crime.

Our intervention program helped draw attention to the real need for stronger connections between corrections institutions and communities, as well as between former offenders and community members. While our small-scale project might not solve the root causes of crime or recidivism, our community action does benefit all members of the community by increasing awareness of the services available.

V. Conclusion

Relationship building is a core theme of our research. We believed that correctional facilities need to maintain strong ties with community outreach organizations. We also believe that individual members of the community including business owners need to engage in meaningful dialogue with both the Department of Corrections and community outreach organizations. Former offenders also need a social support network when they are released. Our findings support prior research indicating that a lack of social support is one of the most salient problems for former offenders trying to re-integrate into the community. Although some of the organizations we investigated provided emotional and encouragement for former inmates, such as the Resettlement Program, more work needs to be done with the families of the offenders. If former offenders cannot count on family and friends for emotional, psychological, and basic needs support then halfway houses and outreach organizations can offer assistance. However, we advocate an approach that increases communications bonds between the former offender and his or her family and friends.

The Hartford area likely represents other metropolitan regions in the United States. Therefore, our research can be generalized to show the weaknesses in other states and other areas in helping reduce recidivism. Our research supported our hypothesis that recidivism can be minimized through participation in community outreach services, and that those services must be made more widely available, more accessible, and more comprehensive.