Conditions for Successful Reentry Among Formerly Incarcerated Women: ‘There Should be More Healing in the System’

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

Women are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population in Canada and most will return to society. Research on women’s reentry post-incarceration focuses on criminal legal system determined indicators of success: recidivism, employment, abiding by parole conditions. This study explores the meaning of successful reentry from the perspective of formerly incarcerated women (FIW), the supports they need, and the challenges they face when reentering communities. Fifteen interviews with FIW and fourteen interviews with community frontline personnel reveal the role of trauma, healing, and person and context specific barriers and supports in the process of successful reentry. Implications for policy and programming to facilitate successful reentry for FIW based on these findings are discussed.