Resettlement: Challenges Of Ex-Offenders After Prisons

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Resettlement is a challenge that offenders face, from the day they are released from prison (Maruna and Immarigeon, 2004a). This is the time in an offender’s life when they are reintegrated into society. This includes activities such as finding and maintaining a job or/and accommodation, in order to restart a stable life after prison. Resettlement policies and practice are intended to improve the safety of the public and reduce reoffending rates (Maruna and Immarigeon, 2004b). Furthermore the following review will focus on the challenges that ex-offenders face when applying or interviewing for jobs. In addition it will also look at what affects the struggle to maintain a job will have on other resettlement issues (for example finding accommodation …show more content…
Statistics show that 12% of offenders didn’t have accommodation at the time they left prison and this was a factor in their rejections from jobs, which shows the vicious circle ex – offenders can find themselves in after prison. These statistics were supported with a long term case study into ex – offender’s job perspectives. (Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, 2014a). The study revealed that out of 15 offenders leaving prison, only 6 of them were in employment 6 months after their release date. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice (2007) and the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology (2008a) agree that also having a strong relationship with family and friends also increase your chances of maintaining a job because of the support they can provide. Similar to other literature these journals are dated and may not have relevance in today’s society, as they would during the time of their publishing. Furthermore there is a chance, they’re of practical relevance, however they may just be their own personal theories and idea, which heightens the likelihood of bias workings and this is …show more content…
This is due to the opinion of ex-offenders being less likely to exhibit the necessary skills needed (International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 2008b).The Criminal Justice Joint Inspection (2014b) supported this idea by stating that not only do some ex - prisoners not possess the skills for employment but they don’t possess the skills to be independent in everyday life skills. It’s stated that in many cases some prisoners’ lives before prison were not stable and therefore this reduces their chances of having a stable life after prison (Hucklesby & Hagley - Dickson,l 2013). In addition to this are the labels that offenders receive once they gain a criminal record. Becker’s Labelling Theory (Carrabine, et al 2014) and The Probation Journal (2010) suggest that once an individual is labelled as something such as a criminal, society will only associate that individual with that particular label and it is extremely hard to get rid of. This cause society to judge you for your past actions, including employers. This is prevalent in all job applications when they ask you to provide details on any of previous convictions (appendix 1) even when DRB (appendix 2) checks are not required for the job role. In conclusion the preceding
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