Abstract Building on prior work on criminal stigma, this article presents empirical findings on how criminal stigma operates within a confined environment: a transitioning house in Chicago. The study adopts an ethnographic case study approach. Empirical data consist of 116 hours of participant-observation, eight interviews and eighteen self-administered surveys. The study investigates whether or not a halfway house provides a metaphorical “safe umbrella” from criminal stigmatization for previously incarcerated individuals. This research includes attempts for and threats to the formation of this “safe umbrella”. Staff members and guest speakers provided structured opportunities (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, employment and self-concept coaching) for residents to discuss emotion, weakness and self- reliance as a response to actual or expected stigma from the outside world. However, threats to this “safe umbrella” occurred infrequently. This included the feeling of being labeled by speakers, staff or fellow residents, as well as reluctance in receiving assistance on stigma management. While occasional stigmatization operated within this confined and unique setting, this paper concludes that available services created a safe, welcoming and supportive “umbrella” for previously incarcerated clients.

中文翻译：

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过渡房屋：免受犯罪污名的“安全伞”？

摘要本文在先前关于犯罪烙印的工作的基础上，提出了关于犯罪烙印在密闭环境中如何运作的实证研究结果：芝加哥的过渡房屋。该研究采用人种学案例研究方法。经验数据包括116个小时的参与者观察，八次访谈和18次自我管理的调查。该研究调查了半房子是否为以前被监禁的个人提供了从刑事污名化的隐喻“安全伞”。这项研究包括对这种“安全伞”形成的尝试和威胁。工作人员和嘉宾演讲者提供了结构化的机会（例如认知行为疗法，就业和自我概念指导），供居民讨论情绪，弱点和自力更生，以应对外界的实际或预期的污名。但是，很少有人对此“安全伞”构成威胁。这包括被演讲者，工作人员或同胞贴上标签的感觉，以及不愿接受关于耻辱感管理的帮助。尽管偶尔的污名化是在这种狭窄而独特的环境中进行的，但本文得出的结论是，可用的服务为以前被监禁的客户创造了安全，热情和支持的“伞”。