ABSTRACT

In this paper we draw on 26 in-depth interviews to explore the strategies and resources utilized by wrongfully convicted people to transition from prison to communities. Our findings suggest a multi-layered approach is necessary to address the challenges of reentry and reintegration for this sample. For some wrongfully convicted people, their adjustment to the community was affected by their experiences while incarcerated. Those who had more resources in prison were able to develop advantages making post-release hurdles more manageable. In the period directly after release, instrumental needs were critically important and typically supported by family members, friends and/or innocence organizations. Following this period, exonerees worked towards achieving sustainable routines, which usually involved obtaining employment to become financially secure. Many exonerees actively sought out opportunities to repair damages done through either mental health professionals or other exonerees/innocence support agencies; however, this process rarely resulted in feelings of closure. Nevertheless, many of the people interviewed in this project were successful after release but sometimes required services and support networks to build meaningful, healthy lives after prison. Study limitations and other policy implications are also discussed.

摘要

在本文中，我们利用 26 次深度访谈来探讨被错误定罪的人从监狱过渡到社区所使用的策略和资源。我们的研究结果表明，有必要采用多层次的方法来解决该样本的再入和再融合挑战。对于一些被错误定罪的人来说，他们对社区的适应受到他们在监禁期间的经历的影响。那些在监狱中拥有更多资源的人能够发挥优势，使释放后的障碍更易于管理。在刚获释后的这段时间里，工具性需求至关重要，通常得到家庭成员、朋友和/或无罪组织的支持。在此之后，免责者努力实现可持续的例行程序，这通常涉及获得就业以确保财务安全。许多无罪者积极寻找机会，通过心理健康专业人员或其他无罪者/无罪支持机构来修复造成的损害；然而，这个过程很少导致封闭感。尽管如此，该项目中接受采访的许多人在获释后都取得了成功，但有时需要服务和支持网络才能在监狱后建立有意义、健康的生活。还讨论了研究限制和其他政策影响。在这个项目中接受采访的许多人在获释后都取得了成功，但有时需要服务和支持网络才能在监狱后建立有意义、健康的生活。还讨论了研究限制和其他政策影响。在这个项目中接受采访的许多人在获释后都取得了成功，但有时需要服务和支持网络才能在监狱后建立有意义、健康的生活。还讨论了研究限制和其他政策影响。