Critical Success Factors for Nonviolent Ex-Offender Rehabilitation

Introduction

The purpose of this research proposal is to evaluate the critical success factors necessary for developing a rehabilitation program for nonviolent ex-offenders — one that will enable community members and law enforcement officials to collaborate and form supportive social networks for inmates released from prison. The researcher believes an ex-offender program will benefit not only former inmates but also the community at large in many positive ways. Most nonviolent criminals face, among other barriers, significant social stigma upon being released into the community (Etters, 2002). It is therefore important that community members collaborate to improve the success rates of programs directed toward ex-offenders.

Unfortunately, many nonviolent offenders simply lack the social support networks, skills, and training needed to make good decisions, build strong lives, and support their communities upon release. Restorative justice — that is, justice that aims to reform offenders — is more likely to result in a positive outcome for these individuals than simple prison terms or warehousing (Mayers, Unwin & Wilt, 1999). The researcher believes these individuals deserve an opportunity to contribute to their community in the same way that non-offenders do. Likewise, ex-offenders may enrich the community as rates of recidivism decline due to effective rehabilitation programs.

History has shown that warehousing or punishing offenders does not actually help reduce rates of crime or recidivism in the community (Mayers, Unwin & Wilt, 1999). In fact, incarceration of individuals for nonviolent crimes without rehabilitation typically results in higher rates of repeat offenses (Western, 2003). Multiple studies, however, support the use of rehabilitation as an effective tool to decrease crime and recidivism. Programs that succeed often share multiple characteristics, including improving ex-offenders' employability and providing social support to help them adapt to life outside of prison.

Though many countries around the globe have successfully adopted rehabilitation programs for ex-offenders, this concept has not yet gained much traction in the United States — despite alarming numbers of new inmates incarcerated every year for nonviolent crimes. The current prison system within the United States is straining under the load of offenders incarcerated each year. Despite this, law enforcement agencies cite tight budgets and other factors as reasons not to adopt such programs within the community.

There is, however, a growing body of evidence suggesting that rehabilitation programs are not simply a luxury, but rather a necessity to help reform and support our communities. Previous studies suggest that ex-offenders incarcerated for misdemeanors or other nonviolent crimes are much more willing and capable of becoming supportive, contributing members of society if offered the opportunity to take part in meaningful programs that guide and direct them (Petersilia, 2005; Mayers, Unwin & Wilt, 1999; Lattimore & Witte, 1985). Law enforcement agencies and communities will be hard-pressed in the future to deny the benefits of such programs.

The researcher proposes that enabling a rehabilitation program in the community will benefit community members and ex-offenders alike. Without such programs, the community is less likely to benefit from potentially hard-working, tax-paying, and dedicated members of society. Most ex-offenders commit crimes because they lack the tools and support networks necessary to avoid offenses to begin with (Petersilia, 2005).

Many offenders come from backgrounds that may include violence, lack of employment or education, substance abuse, and lack of parental or familial support figures (Petersilia, 2005). All of these factors combined may lead to or contribute to delinquency, and may certainly drive ex-offenders toward repeat offenses if they are not given the tools they need to succeed and become contributing members of society. It is therefore important that support networks work with ex-offenders to address their problems in multiple ways.

Communities stand to benefit little if released offenders repeat crimes. However, if offenders can be reformed and become active, participating members of the community, everyone gains. The researcher proposes development of a program that utilizes critical success factors to ensure that ex-offenders who are willing and able have the opportunity to become productive members of society.

Problem and Objectives

Currently there are no programs within the community targeted toward reforming, supporting, or rehabilitating nonviolent ex-offenders. Despite this, increasingly high numbers of inmates are released into the community every year. In fact, the nation faces growing challenges managing and reintegrating vast numbers of ex-offenders into local communities each year (Petersilia, 2005). Rehabilitation programs that enable ex-offenders to respond well to the challenges they face upon re-entering society are more likely to enable them to contribute to society at large.

Studies suggest that inmates released into the community with few social support mechanisms or rehabilitation programs are much more likely to engage in repeat criminal activity, due to multiple reasons including lack of employment, low self-esteem, poor peer influence, financial pressures, substance abuse, and lack of skills training (Etters, 2002; Petersilia, 2005; Western, 2000). For ex-offenders to become contributing members of society, it is vital that society take an active interest in their reform, particularly given the high number of citizens incarcerated for nonviolent crimes every year.

This researcher will therefore attempt to examine the following research questions: (1) What type of rehabilitation, employment, or social support program is most well-suited within this community? and (2) What key features must an ex-offender program include to enable ex-offenders to succeed in the community? Additional questions the researcher will explore include: what characteristics inmates must have to succeed in a rehabilitation program; whether an ex-offender program will reduce inmate recidivism; and how long clients must participate in a program to realize long-term success in the community.

For the purposes of this study, the researcher will assume that a community-based ex-offender program that supports inmates from social, skills-based, employment training, and substance abuse frameworks will most likely result in reduced recidivism and more positive outcomes than a prison-based program that emphasizes only one aspect of rehabilitation or support.

Incarceration rates across the nation continue to rise. Studies suggest that as many as one of every 142 U.S. residents is incarcerated in any given year (Etters, 2002). Despite incarceration, more than 95 percent of all inmates are released at some point in time (Etters, 2002; Petersilia, 2005). Released ex-offenders who are gainfully employed or receiving employment training and social support are much less likely to recidivate compared to those without access to rehabilitative services (Etters, 2002). Despite this known fact, the rate of recidivism among ex-offenders approaches 80 percent in some cases (Etters, 2002).

Background of the Problem

Studies conducted through 2000 and beyond suggest that more than 10 percent of Black American men are in prison at any given time (Western, 2000). Of these, many had little education; in fact, more than 60 percent of dropouts in their mid-thirties had some sort of prison record, usually for minor crimes (Western, 2000). Studies also suggest Black males are up to eight times as likely to be incarcerated as white men (Western, 2000).

These inmates face a high likelihood of recidivism after release, in part because studies document wage reductions for ex-offenders of as much as 15 percent upon release (Western, 2000). This is due in part to limited job prospects: many are able to locate only temporary jobs with few opportunities for growth; others are lured into criminal activities to earn better income; still others have difficulty adjusting to life outside of prison. Some inmates have reported that they lack "the self-reliance needed for the daily demands of getting to work and following the directions of supervisors," which for many feels akin to "the rigid rules of prison" (Western, p. 54). These challenges are compounded by personal bias among employers, who studies show are more likely to hire welfare recipients than ex-offenders (Western, 2003).

The problems ex-offenders face do not stop with employment. Male ex-offenders unable to hold steady or well-paying jobs are often seen as less desirable partners, as they are perceived as unable to "contribute economically," and many carry a stigma associated with a past conviction (Western, p. 54). All of these realities support the need for better rehabilitation programs to prevent increased recidivism (Western, 2003). Many observers have likened parole to a law enforcement process rather than social work, suggesting that parole officers are more surveillance-oriented than supportive in their roles toward ex-offenders (Western, 2003). Many nonprofit groups that do support ex-offenders often lack the resources necessary to help them effectively (Western, 2003).

The literature review focuses on the current body of research exploring rehabilitation, training, employment, and social support programs for ex-offenders. It also briefly examines the history of such programs, any potential adverse effects on communities, and multiple successful rehabilitative programs, so that the researcher may identify what elements are necessary to create a successful rehabilitation program in the community.

There are many reasons communities need to take advantage of programs that work toward reforming ex-offenders. One primary reason such programs are warranted is the wide range of problems offenders have, some of which contributed to their incarceration in the first place. Most ex-offenders released from prison have some "social and medical problems" (Petersilia, p. 66). Nearly three-quarters of all inmates suffer from drug or alcohol abuse, and almost one-third have mental health issues (Petersilia, 2005). Few inmates upon release have the skills or literacy necessary to gain meaningful employment, and even fewer hold a GED or high school diploma (Petersilia, 2005). Other studies confirm that only 25 percent of prisoners participate in employment training programs while incarcerated (Petersilia, 2005).

While most non-offenders have reasonable access to social support networks or medical care facilities, most ex-offenders do not. In fact, many offenders receive comprehensive medical care while in prison, only to find they have limited access to health care resources once released (Petersilia, 2005). Lack of access to primary medical care can increase the likelihood that ex-offenders will face substance abuse and other medical problems, increasing rates of recidivism.

Preliminary Literature Review

Many ex-offenders also have a difficult time finding gainful employment, due to multiple factors including lack of education, poor skills training, criminal history, limited knowledge of current employment trends, and lack of adequate support to help them make the transition from prison to employment (Petersilia, 2005; Etters, 2002; Western, 2000). Most researchers have found that finding meaningful employment is perhaps the single most important factor related to rehabilitation (Petersilia, 2005). Gainful employment allows ex-offenders the opportunity to strengthen "their self-esteem, social connectedness," and offers them the skills necessary to take care of themselves, their families, and remain productive members of society (Petersilia, 2005).

Ex-offenders also face substantial bias: many employers will not hire them for certain jobs, and the legal system prevents many ex-offenders from working in fields such as education, health care, and childcare — among the fastest-growing sectors (Petersilia, 2005). Recent surveys suggest that 65 percent of employers "would not knowingly hire an ex-offender" regardless of the type of crime committed (Petersilia, 2005). High rates of unemployment after release can contribute significantly to recidivism.

Ex-offenders are also more likely to face social stigma from potential employers, housemates, partners, and family members (Petersilia, 2005; Western, 2000). It is common for ex-offenders to experience self-esteem issues and related mental health problems including anxiety and depression as they attempt to readjust to a society that appears much changed and largely unwelcoming (Lattimore & Witte, 1985). Despite genuine interest in reform, many ex-offenders find that without adequate social support networks they are unable to face the challenges presented when they re-enter society (Lattimore & Witte, 1985).

Despite the lack of rehabilitation or support programs in the United States, many foreign countries have successfully implemented programs that help ex-offenders re-enter their communities. Because such programs are more commonplace abroad, many ex-offenders find within a matter of years that they are enjoying ordinary lives with good jobs and routine daily functions.

England, for example, offers adult criminal offenders the opportunity to completely put their crime in the past after a certain number of years (Petersilia, 2005). Other countries have programs designed to ensure that ex-offenders are not impeded for a lifetime if they wish to reintegrate with society (Petersilia, 2005). Countries in the Middle East, including Israel, even support reform programs to help ex-offenders re-enter the workforce (Fischer, Geiger & Toch, 1991). Some would suggest the U.S. model these programs to create successful reform and support programs for the rapidly growing number of inmates in this country.

Unfortunately, much of the early work conducted on rehabilitation programs for ex-offenders is pessimistic in nature. Despite considerable evidence today that such programs can succeed, some researchers in the past concluded that the evidence suggests "that nothing works when it comes to rehabilitation" (Lattimore & Witte, p. 1).

Fortunately, subsequent evaluations have shown these conclusions to be premature. There is significant literature supporting the use of rehabilitation for both offenders and ex-offenders. Lattimore & Witte (1985) show that much of the non-supportive research is often based on "weak interventions," including work release programs that place participants in lower-level jobs for short periods of time (p. 46). Many programs evaluated that fail also do not provide training to prepare ex-offenders for the modern labor market, leaving them without the skills they need to succeed (Lattimore & Witte, 1985). The best programs, according to some researchers, involve "the coordinated efforts of social scientists, employment professionals, and correctional officials" to engage and reform ex-offenders for life (Lattimore & Witte, p. 46). Collaborative programs such as these are more likely to result in the creation of ongoing, strong support networks for criminal offenders.

Multiple benefits of employment and rehabilitation programs for offenders and ex-offenders are cited in the literature. Successful programs in prison systems, according to Lattimore & Witte (1985), serve many purposes including lowering prison costs, engaging prison managers, attracting personnel well suited to the prison environment, and improving the ex-offender's behavior after release.

One state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) currently utilizes a rehabilitation program that reports multiple benefits, including allowing ex-offenders the opportunity to interview for and secure decent jobs, enabling skills training for an "eager pool of candidates," and helping ex-offenders become "self-supporting taxpayers" who learn how to contribute to their community (Mayers, Unwin & Wilt, 1999). The program also helps boost self-confidence and self-esteem among former inmates.

These benefits are reported across similar programs. Ex-offenders who participate in rehabilitation programs are more likely to become self-sufficient, supportive members of their communities (Fischer, Geiger & Toch, 1991; Western, 2003; Petersilia, 2005). They are more likely to participate in and stick with substance abuse treatment programs, and thus more likely to build supportive relationships with family and succeed in building a life after release (Petersilia, 2005). Rehabilitation programs have the opportunity to change self-defeating behaviors and help ex-offenders build a foundation for long-term success (Western, 2003).

Lemieux (2002) correlates social support with success for ex-offenders, finding that social support including visits and family-oriented interventions was more likely to result in positive attitudes, better outcomes, and lower levels of recidivism, regardless of existing interpersonal relationships or prior support networks. Multiple long-term studies have supported community outreach and rehabilitation programs, suggesting positive client outcomes and overall cost savings when such programs are successfully adopted (Lemieux, 2002; Lipton, Falkin & Wexler, 1992).

Studies suggest that ex-offenders who feel they are part of a community and obligated to adhere to defined behavioral guidelines are much more willing to participate in and succeed within therapeutic community interventions (Lemieux, 2002). Such programs must include collaboration between peers who reinforce positive behaviors and values, which can in turn contribute to a "drug-free lifestyle" (Lemieux, 2002), thereby reducing the rate of recidivism.