Examining re-entry support in big cities. Insights from Barcelona on the challenges for effective reintegration

The re-entry process of individuals released from prison has been a key topic in criminological research over the last few decades. The literature identifies the community to which an individual returns as a key factor in the reintegration process. However, there are less studies on the specific characteristics that these communities have in practice. This article analyses what post-penitentiary care is like in the city of Barcelona for people who leave prison and return to their community . The research is based on a total of 32 semi-structured interviews (17 with professionals from third-sector organisations and 15 with former inmates) and a focus group with five organisations. The aim is to provide knowledge from a local perspective on how the network of re-entry services is structured and the challenges former inmates face accessing and utilising these resources. Even though a substantial number of resources and services exist in Barcelona, four problems are identified in the post-penitentiary care network: (a) the lack of a structured pathway and guidance to support former inmates in navigating available resources; (b) the lack of resources that comprehensively address the wide-ranging needs presented by a significant part of the prison population; (c) the lack of release preparation, especially for people who are not granted pre-release measures, and the lack of coordination between community organisations and the prison administration; and (d) the bureaucratic barriers to access the resources and the digital divide of a large part of the population.