Question

what are three broad categories of challenges that prisoners face when returning to the community?give an example of each

Answer 1

Livelihood- Many inmates have limited education and work experience, which makes it difficult for them to secure jobs after release. about 70 per cent of offenders and ex-offenders are dropouts from high school." As a result of incarceration and involvement in the criminal justice system, many former inmates are viewed negatively by former employers or individuals within their former professional networks, if they had one before. The combination of a limited professional network and a conspicuous resume gap can make getting an interview with a prospective employer very difficult for ex-convicts.

Fortunately, employer interest in an ex-offender increases for many former inmates when they find out the crime was non-violentor drug-related. So long as the individual stays drug-free and has gained relevant work experience (either inside or outside prison), there is more incentive from the employer to hire.

Family- During their sentences, prisoners who maintain consistent contact and relationship with their families have a lower rate of recurrence than those who do not. More than half of incarcerated adults are parents of minor children, meaning they may miss out on the critical and formative years of many of their children. Unfortunately, there are obstacles to maintaining consistent family contact and challenges for ex-offenders once released. Once ex-offenders return home, they rely on family members and have to overcome years of limited contact, potential resentment, and dynamic change in the household. Just before release, 82 percent of ex-offenders thought it would be easy to renew family relationships; more than half of them reported having more difficulty than expected after returning home. When ex-offenders return home, family members often assume a new financial and emotional burden, having to support a dependent adult.

Social Connections, and Expectations- Offenders re-entering the prison system tend to come from a concentrated group of neighborhoods with ' over-average unemployment rates, percentage of female-headed households, and percentage of families living below the poverty level. ' Ex-offenders face massive obstacles while looking for jobs elsewhere, thereby returning with this disadvantage to a region that is likely to have low employment prospects.