A place to call home: perspectives on offender community reintegration
| Date | 14 November 2016 |
| Pages | 283-291 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-06-2016-0027 |
| Published date | 14 November 2016 |
| Author | Emma Tarpey,Hannah Friend |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
A place to call home: perspectives on
offender community reintegration
Emma Tarpey and Hannah Friend
Emma Tarpey is a Senior
Lecturer and Hannah Friend is
a Postgraduate Forensic
Psychology Student, both at
the Department of Psychology,
Manchester Metropolitan
University, Manchester, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore offenders’experiences of community reintegration
facilitated by a supported housing scheme.
Design/methodology/approach –Data were derived from five semi-structured interviews with prolific
offenders who were participating in a UK “north west housing association”scheme; a community
reintegration programme for offenders released from prison.
Findings –Thematic analysis demonstrated four predominant themes, these were: “the decision to
change”,“self-fulfilment”,“a place to call home”and “a suitable support system”. The themes are discussed
in relation to the Good Lives Model.
Practical implications –Participation in the housing scheme was a key component of the reintegration
process, which positively facilitated lifestyle change.
Originality/value –This research considers the often “unheard”perspectives of prolific offenders and
highlightsthe significant roleof community housing schemesin supporting successfulcommunity reintegration.
Keywords Rehabilitation, Offenders, Desistance, Thematic analysis, Good Lives Model,
Community reintegration
Paper type Research paper
Adult offenders e vidence a proven re offending rate of 2 5.4 per cent in the UK w ithin the
year of release from prison (Ministry of Justice, 2013a). For those individuals serving a sentence
of less than 12 months , 58 per cent reoffend w ithin the year afte r release (Ministr y of Justice,
2013b). Evidence demonstrates that offenders often face a number of health and social
problems such as drug and alcohol depend ence, mental illn ess, limited educa tional
attainment, inad equate life skills , poor emotional and c ognitive functio ning, past and pres ent
social isolation, previous criminal history, and marginalisation created by the label of being an
“offender”(Mumola, 1999; Pogorzelski et al., 2005; Griffiths et al., 2007). These factors are
likely to make it increasi ngly difficult for of fenders to successf ully reintegrate ba ck into the
community (Griff iths et al., 2007). It is acknowledged that reintegration is complex and occurs
over a period of time, an d desistance from crime is only one aspect of reinte gration (Davis et al.,
2012). The effects of imprisonment are complex (Shinkfield and Graffam, 2009) and offenders
may be challenged in t erms of the social, ec onomic and person al options availab le to them
upon immediate release from prison which can create obstacles to living a lifestyle absent of
crime (Griffiths et al., 2007).
Offenders also face practical challenges upon release such as finding employment and
housing and this can have a negative impact on reoffending and successful community
reintegration (Meisenhelder, 1977; Lewis et al., 2003; Wormith et al., 2007). Permanent stable
accommodation suitably located to facilitate reintegration is important to provide the stability to
address offending behaviour and is viewed as the “cornerstone for beginning a life free from
crime”(Shelter, 2010, p. 1). Alongside this, enabling access to a range of services to facilitate the
Received 9 June 2016
Revised 26 July 2016
Accepted 27 July 2016
DOI 10.1108/JFP-06-2016-0027 VOL. 18 NO. 4 2016, pp. 283-291, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
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JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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