The struggle to find one's place. A study on prisoner reentry process in Italy

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study examines the effects of incarceration on post-release marginalization in a northern Italian metropolitan area, focusing on the enduring stigma and social exclusion faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. While international research on prisoner reentry is extensive, the Italian context remains underexplored, partly due to limited critical analysis of pre-incarceration factors and challenges in accessing this population for qualitative research. The reentry process is conceptualized as a cyclical phenomenon with three stages: pre-release, release, and post-release. The latter phase proves particularly challenging, with recidivism rates of 50% to 70% within five years, perpetuating a costly cycle of reoffending and reincarceration. Incarceration disrupts relationships, employment, housing, and access to social services, exacerbating vulnerabilities among marginalized groups, including undocumented migrants, individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, and those in poverty. Using qualitative methods, the study draws on interviews with 15 formerly incarcerated individuals and focus groups with rehabilitation practitioners to explore the persistence of stigma and marginalization after release. It also investigates how metropolitan settings influence reintegration, highlighting the continued struggles in overcoming societal barriers and achieving successful reentry.