Prisoner re-entry programs: Age variation in attitudes and experiences among street life oriented Black men

31% of Black men are on probation (Bureau of Justice

Statistics, 2011);

1 in every 15 Black men are incarcerated in

comparison to 1 in every 106 white men (Kerby, 2012);

67.5% of inmates were rearrested at least once

within the first three years of release (Atkin &

Armstrong, 2013).

Demographic Profile National

8 in 10 Delaware inmates sentenced to more than a year in prison are rearrested for a serious offense within three years of their release (Barrish, 2013);

71% of released prisoners are convicted of a serious crime within three years of release, and 68% return to prison for at least one day (Barrish, 2013);

Joblessness is as high as 50% among Black men in their twenties (Hope Commission, 2011);

Each year over 1,200 Black ex-offenders are released from Delaware prisons, into Wilmington (Hope Commission, 2011);.

Demographic Profile Local

What is Participatory Action Research (PAR)?

(I.) Participatory Action Research (PAR) projects includes on the research team, members of the population under study. Once such members are identified, they then are offered the opportunity to participate in all phases of the research project (e. g. theoretical framing, literature review, analysis, publication, presentation, monetary compensation, etc.); &

(II.) PAR projects require an social justice based response

to be organized in response to the data collected by the study.

Research + Social Activism = PAR

Payne, 2011

RESEARCH QUESTION

To what extent does age influence attitudes and experiences toward reentry programs in Wilmington among street identified African

American men?

Prisoner Re-entry: Programs and Services (Seiter &

Kadela, 2003; Thompkins, 2010)

Barriers in Prisoner Re-entry: Recidivism and Incarceration (Marbley & Ferguson, 2005; Raphael, 2011)

Employers Attitudes towards Ex-offenders and Employment (Smith & Hattery, 2011; Atkin & Armstrong,

2013)

Literature Review

“…correctional programs from prison to community that have

initiated treatment [or social development] in a prison setting and

have linked with a community program to provide continuous care”

(368).

What is Prisoner Reentry?

Seiter & Kadela (2003)

Street Ideology

Centered on personal and economic survival;

Developed from increased value and meaning in the overall code of the streets;

Activities:

Bonding activities:

Joking, “hanging on the block,” or playing basketball, to organizing and sponsoring events in the local community

Illegal activities:

Burglary, interpersonal violence, and use and sales of narcotics

Site of Resilience: What is Street Life?

Payne, 2011

Sites of Resilience: Theoretical Model

Payne, 2011

Structural Condition: Prison

Gander Hill

Howard R. Young Correctional Institution also known as Gander Hill

1301 E. 12th Street

Wilmington, DE 19801

Project Design Interview/Qualitative Data

Age Range

Individual Interviews

18-29 6

30-35 5

Age Range

Dual

Interviews

Group

Interviews

18-22 ---

4 (of 4 participants)

28-35 1 (of 2 participants)

1 (of 4 participants)

Coding Scheme

1st Phase of Qualitative Coding

2nd Phase of Qualitative Coding

3rd Phase of Qualitative Coding

Broad Domain Core Code Sub Codes

(1) Attitudes toward Reentry

Probation and Parole (1) Ineffective Programs and Services

(2) Surveillance

(2) Recidivism Employment/Criminal Record

(1) Lack of Opportunities/ Economic Survival

(2) Critical Reflections of Attitudes toward Employment

Protect the community;

Help victims;

Provide resources; &

Make sure probationers do not break the law or

violate the terms of their probation.

Probation and Parole

Younger age group (18-29)

Less concerned with accessing quality reentry programs;

More likely to be violated by probation.

Older age group (30-35)

Need for employment and specialized workshops;

Too much supervision; not enough preparation;

Cannot depend on programs; must do things on their own.

Attitudes Toward Reentry Programs based on Age

Aaron (29): “[Probation] won't put any steps

into place to help you get a job…keep a job…or maintain a job. Part of your probation should be ‘[you’re] on probation…for you to get a job…for us to maintain this job with you’ That should be part of probation…[you] should be able to have a job already set up…so [you] can maintain it once [you] get out.”

Experience with Probation

CODE: Ineffective Programs and Services

Rennie Rox (35): “You have a program that's in

place and it's not doin' what it's…supposed to be doin’… [people] depend on these programs to get their self together, but it's not there…when I came home [from prison]... the second time, [I realized] that I can't depend on no reentry program, I can't depend on probation and parole…It's just gonna be a disappointment and cause me to relapse outta frustration…So I don't do [reentry programs] no more.”

Effectiveness of Probation

CODE: Ineffective Programs and Services

Younger age group (18-29)

Impatience in wait for employment;

More likely to recidivate;

Less financial responsibilities.

Older age group (30-35)

Harder to find employment opportunities;

More likely to create their own job opportunities;

More financial responsibilities.

Attitudes Toward Employment based on Age

Byron (18): “I go back to the hood…there's nowhere for me to go…I'm boxed in, you look at Southbridge it's…like a box… with one little doorway out. Now, when you close [it], what do you want me to do?...a bunch of n****s [people are] out here hungry…kids are out there right now hungry.”

Finding Employment

CODE: Lack of Opportunities/ Economic Survival

Rennie Rox (35): “What I do is I try to create my own jobs…I clean carpets. I bought a carpet machine from Home Depot. It fits in the backseat of my car. I put my fliers up all across Newcastle County. Not just in the neighborhood…[but] down Route 40 where the white people [are], handin' out my fliers in the towns... They [people] give me calls…I go respectfully.”

Resilience – Personal Efficacy

CODE: Employment/Criminal Record

Generally, all of the Black men interviewed have negative attitudes toward reentry programs.

Data suggest that as the sample becomes older (30-35), attitudes toward reentry programs are increasingly becoming negative, with age.

Results: Probation

Data suggest that as the sample becomes older (30-35), their attitudes toward employment are increasingly becoming negative, with age.

With age (18-29 to 30-35), attitudes suggest employment becomes harder to find.

Results: Employment

Vocational Schooling/Trade Workshops Specialized Skills/Trade (30-35)

Family and Social Support Reduce Recidivism/Criminal Activity

Specialized Programs (in terms of age) Wants/Needs with Age Employment Opportunities In Prison Preparation

What Needs to Be Done?

Banks (27): “It's like if you have someone that's

willing to…be there for you…no matter what…if you fall short…willing to pick you back up and give support.” (positive)

Banks (27): “‘Uh, n***a you broke, you ain't got nothing, you can't do nothing, you ain't got no car… look at me, look at you’…so it's like all right I'm gonna show you what I'm about, I'm gonna get out here and do what I do and then I'm back over here again[ in the streets].” (negative)

Family and Social Support

Department of Black American Studies Dr. Yasser A. Payne

McNair Scholars Program Dr. Kimberly Saunders Tiffany Scott Natalie Cook Nicole Mozee Brooklynn Hitchens Deangie Davis

Wilmington Office of Probation and Parole Officer Debra Mason

Acknowledgements