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This qualitative study explored ex-offender’s community reintegration experiences following a prison sentence. Fourteen ex-offenders from the Offender Alumni Association participated in an in-person in-depth individual interview regarding their current roles, daily routines, living situation, activity participation, and current and future plans. A phenomenological approach using thematic analysis was employed for data collection and interpretation. The emerged themes were categorized under facilitators and barriers that influence healthy community reintegration. The facilitators included visualizing and committing to an ideal future, establishing a daily routine, upholding life balance, and discovering and connecting to external supports. The barriers included impediments to employment opportunities, lack of financial resources, social stigma, regulations imposed by the judicial system, disconnection from social advancements, and addiction to drugs and alcohol. The themes identified from the interviews suggest that current reintegration strategies and programs need to be improved in order to benefit ex-offenders seeking these services.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using video modeling (VM) to teach three young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) to independently communicate their physical location via text and phone call. We used a multiple-probe research design across behaviors to evaluate the effects of the intervention. Data indicated most participants required noncontrolling prompts in addition to the VM to acquire and perform the task analysis (TA) steps with accuracy. Yet once participants reached criterion, they independently performed the multistep skills and the newly learned behaviors were generalized and maintained 6 weeks posttreatment. These results extend the potential utility of VM instruction. Implications for research and practical application are discussed.

The involvement of prisoners on license in the recent London Bridge and Streatham, London attacks have triggered a series of policies aiming to restrict community release. These aim to address not only the point at which prisoners in England and Wales are released, but also the level of engagement prisoners can have with the community before release. They have been introduced with little consultation of the available evidence and, seemingly, with little consideration of those who will be directly impacted as a result of their implementation. This commentary considers how announced changes in policy relating to the use of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) with prisoners, represent a response which is not only disproportionate to the scale of the problem but may also negatively impact upon prisoner rehabilitation. It draws upon evidence surrounding the impact of early release and evidence surrounding the practices which work to promote desistance from crime to highlight the flaws in these new policies, but also the importance of maintaining community engagement in the rehabilitation of people with convictions.

Purpose: Community integration is a key component of recovery for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs). The goal of the current study is to explore the nature and impact of safety concerns for experiences of communities for individuals with SMIs. Method: Using constructivist grounded theory, 30 semistructured interviews were analyzed to explore the depth and breadth of individuals’ safety concerns, how individuals manage these concerns, and how these concerns shape their community experiences. Findings: Participants described various unsafe encounters related to neighborhood disorder, homelessness, traumatic experiences, substance use, stigma, and loss of relationships and multiple strategies to manage their safety. Many saw mental health services as a sanctuary from the dangers of their environment, providing support, resources, and coping skills. For many, future communities were envisioned within the context of safety. Conclusions: Service providers should consider safety as a critical issue that impacts how individuals experience their current and future communities.

Failed drug tests commonly lead to technical violations and revocation hearings for probationers. The current study extends these observations by examining whether multisubstance-using probationers also have increased odds of arrest in the community. This is important as multisubstance-using probationers may present unique public safety challenges to community corrections agencies and require intensive treatment resources and additional monitoring. Using data from a county-level probation cohort ( N = 2,257) from 2009 to 2010, a series of logistic regression analyses estimated the effects of multisubstance use on the odds of being arrested for a new offense while in the community. The findings revealed that multisubstance use and the frequency of multisubstance use increased the odds of arrest while on probation when compared with single-substance users. We discuss how agencies may best supervise multisubstance-using probationers and suggest directions for further examination.

This study investigated the effects of residential relocation in a sample of 282 high-risk male offenders paroled from New Zealand prisons. Initially we compared those returning to their old neighborhoods ( devil you know) and those released to a new location ( fresh start). This second category was then further divided: those released to a new location voluntarily ( fresh start-voluntary) versus those forced to start anew at the behest of the parole board that was releasing them ( fresh start-duress). All three categories were then compared on the quality of their community experiences and recidivism. Results indicated that parolees returning by choice to either their old neighborhood or a new location each were reconvicted in the first year after release at approximately the same rate; however, parolees relocating to a new area at the direction of the parole board (under duress) were reconvicted at a higher rate than those in either of the voluntary location categories. Significant group differences in ratings of community life quality were few, but there were some indications that compared with those choosing to return to a familiar location, making a voluntary residential relocation may lead to better parole experiences, particularly in terms of avoiding criminal peers, and that making a residential relocation under duress may lead to poorer parole experiences than for those returning to a familiar location.

Objectives:This systematic review documents the content and the quality of the psychometric evidence concerning the utilization of the Community Integration Questionnaire for individuals living with a disability other than a traumatic brain injury.Data sources:Medline, Embase, CINAHL, OTseeker and PsycINFO (searched from inception to June 2019).Review methods:Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used for conducting and reporting this review. Studies that investigated at least one psychometric property of the Community Integration Questionnaire for individuals living with a disability other than traumatic brain injury were included. Data extraction and critical methodological appraisal of the articles (MacDermid checklist, COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist) were independently performed and validated by the first two authors.Results:Ten studies representing 3000 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Five populations were documented. There are positive and trustable data regarding internal consistency for adults living with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or burns and in mixed samples ( α = 0.71–0.84). Construct validity is fairly documented for adults living with multiple sclerosis or aphasia and in mixed samples. Test–retest reliably is acceptable for adults living with multiple sclerosis (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91–0.97) as well as responsiveness (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.81). Other psychometric properties could not be demonstrated sufficiently solid.Conclusion:Many psychometric properties of the Community Integration Questionnaire are still poorly evaluated for adults living with a disability other than a traumatic brain injury. However, promising data have been documented in each population included in this review.

Based on an ethnographic study with 58 participants released from a Romanian prison, this study revisits the pains of release and illustrates the complexity of the reentry process. Some of the pains of reentry seem universal while others seem to be context dependent. In the same time, some pains of release are personal, others social, while others are structural. Concepts of intersectionality and the multi-level model of reentry are discussed, and further suggestions for research are advanced.

Permanent, supportive housing for people with a history of homelessness is often a first step toward regaining stability in other life areas, but such housing may not always feel like “home.” Whether supportive housing feels like “home” has received increasing attention due to links with positive identity reconstruction, housing stability, and improved community engagement. This qualitative study explored what makes supportive housing feel like “home” for individuals who were once homeless. Semi-structured interviews were completed among 37 adults with physical and/or psychiatric disabilities who were currently living in congregate or independent permanent housing in Boston, Massachusetts. Three themes emerged regarding what makes housing feel like “home”: (a) safe spaces, (b) connections to “regular stuff” and past occupations, and (c) agency to choose and pursue personal goals. Feelings of “home” were associated with a safe, peaceful environment where participants preferred to spend time in solitary activities. However, housing that felt like “home” also provided a base to engage in daily routines and community activities, reconnecting participants to “everyday things people do.” Findings are interpreted related to constructing a new, nonhomeless identity, and current issues of social isolation and limited community integration affecting individuals who were once homeless.

Description. Bien que l’intégration communautaire (IC) constitue l’ultime but en réadaptation, elle s’actualise rarement en clinique. But. Le but de cette étude était de (a) synthétiser l’état des connaissances ergothérapiques liées à l’IC auprès de personnes atteintes d’un trouble neurologique et (b) dresser un portrait de l’opérationnalisation du concept d’IC au sein de ces écrits. Méthodologie. Un examen de la portée fut réalisé en double sélection pour ultimement retenir 47 écrits, touchant quatre populations sélectionnées. Les thématiques propres à l’ensemble des clientèles ont été dégagées par analyse de contenu et les constats touchant l’évolution des connaissances ont fait l’objet de synthèses itératives. Résultats. Les écrits retenus concernent le traumatisme craniocérébral ( n = 21, 9 devis expérimentaux [EXP]), les blessures médullaires ( n = 11, 4 EXP), l’accident vasculaire cérébral ( n = 9, 4 EXP) et la sclérose en plaques ( n = 4, 1 EXP). L’IC est employée de façon interchangeable avec la participation sociale: 51 % des écrits définissent l’IC uniquement à partir d’un outil de mesure et 10 % n’offrent aucune définition de l’IC. La dimension physique de l’IC est plus étudiée que les dimensions sociale et psychologique. Conséquences. Les pratiques innovantes doivent viser l’affiliation et l’exercice d’une pleine citoyenneté afin de soutenir une habilitation durable.

This study examined the level of community integration and its effect on quality of life among three groups of Asian Americans (Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese; N = 247). The results of path analysis indicated that social integration was associated with an increased level of quality of life. We also found a significant indirect effect of length of stay in the United States through social integration on quality of life. The findings of the study suggest ways in which community practitioners can promote community integration of Asian Americans, which in turn enhances their quality of life.

Introduction Recent U.S. legislation supports vocational rehabilitation efforts to maximize employment and community integration of persons with disabilities by providing job retention and career advancement services. The study presented here investigated employed persons with visual disabilities who applied for vocational rehabilitation services. Methods The sample included 4,499 competitively employed vocational rehabilitation applicants from the FY2015 RSA-911 report. Logistic regression was used to identify consumer characteristics and vocational rehabilitation services associated with losing competitive employment. Results Employed applicants tended to receive assessment, counseling and guidance, diagnosis and treatment, and rehabilitation technology. Characteristics that put employed applicants at increased risk of losing their jobs included being female, having a secondary disability, working fewer hours, having less education, or having a previous unsuccessful vocational rehabilitation employment outcome. There was a significant interaction between vocational rehabilitation case length and age: those served for longer periods were more likely to lose employment, particularly older consumers. Consumers who received short-term on-the-job support, diagnosis and treatment of impairments, or rehabilitation technology services were more likely to retain competitive employment. Discussion When developing rehabilitation plans for employed applicants, counselors may identify and attempt to provide services to address factors that put consumers at an increased risk of losing employment. Part-time employment at application is one risk factor that requires increased attention. Implications for practitioners Prompt service delivery is an important factor in facilitating job retention. Increased efforts to maintain consumer contact and motivation may influence the likelihood of job retention among employed applicants.

Research on changes in community integration from pre- to post-incarceration has primarily focused on employment and is mixed, showing both deterioration and improvement. Research is needed to examine change in other areas, as well as predictive individual-level factors. We assessed changes in jail inmates’ ( n = 334) employment, source of income, residential stability, marital status, and volunteerism from pre- to post-incarceration, and analyzed individual-level predictors of change. On average, more inmates improved than deteriorated in community integration, with education and low criminal thinking predicting the greatest improvement. Across multiple areas, inmates’ community integration does not appear to deteriorate from pre- to post-incarceration. Apparent improvements may reflect that people become incarcerated during times of crisis, regressing to baseline by 1 year postrelease.

Traditional juvenile reentry systems often inadequately meet offenders’ complex needs. Policymakers and researchers increasingly recognize the importance of a collaborative community- and development-based reentry system to improve recidivism, youth developmental outcomes, and public safety. Yet, system-level process evaluations of integrated reentry systems are scarce. California’s Alameda County juvenile reentry system implemented evidence-based strategies and practices to better serve reentry youth. We report findings from a process evaluation, using data from 15 key stakeholder interviews, focus groups with community-based providers, a reentry system-wide stakeholder survey, site visit observations, and document reviews. We identified strengths, challenges, and lessons learned. System-level strengths included increased multidisciplinary assessments, interagency collaboration, and specialty courts. Challenges included differing agency agendas, limited family and youth engagement, and data sharing. We recommend future researchers and practitioners to further examine and implement integrated system-level processes and organizational change, informed by the ecological-developmental perspective, to help promote positive outcomes for reentry youth.

This research focuses on an under-examined aspect of the post-release prison trajectory for a seldom-researched cohort. Narratives of the immediate days/weeks surrounding release were gathered from young men with histories of injecting drug use (IDU). Twenty-eight participants (aged 19-24) released from adult prisons in Victoria, Australia, participated in face-to-face in-depth qualitative interviews after release. Analysis of findings through the lens of a “risk environment” framework reveals how their experiences were compromised by risk factors embedded in the physical spaces and social situations they inhabited, as well as the multi-sectoral policy environments under which they were governed. A complex interplay between these factors, young men’s drug use and broader issues of structural vulnerability, including institutionalization and social disadvantage, combined to limit young men’s chances of “success”1 on the outside. Narratives provide evidence for interventions that transform risk environments into enabling environments, thereby promoting a more successful transition from prison to community for young men with IDU histories.

To bridge a gap in access to community services for releasing state inmates, the Boston Offender Needs Delivery (BOND) project was developed as a longitudinal study (2014-2016) of adult inmates with a history of substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders returning to the community following detention in one of Massachusetts’ State correctional facilities. Pre-release inmates who were wrapping up their sentence (i.e., no community supervision) and presented with mental illness and/or substance use disorder were recruited. Participants were provided substance abuse treatment immediately post-release, as well as a variety of recovery supports for a follow-up period of 6 months. This first manuscript is intended to describe the rationale behind the BOND project, as well as the methods and procedure used to collect the data.

In this article, the authors synthesize knowledge from select qualitative studies examining rehabilitation-oriented juvenile residential corrections and aftercare programs. Using meta-synthesis methodology, the authors extracted and coded content from 10 research studies conducted by five authors across criminology, sociology, and social welfare disciplines. The total number of published works based on those studies analyzed was 18. Collectively, these studies offer insight into three major components of the juvenile correctional experience: therapeutic treatment and evidence-based practices, the shaping of identities and masculinities, and preparation for reentry. This analysis is particularly important as the United States is currently in an era of reform during which policymakers are increasingly espousing the benefits of rehabilitation for youth offenders over punishment. These studies took place before, during, and after this era of reform, and yet, the findings are surprisingly consistent over time, raising key questions about the effectiveness of the reform strategies.

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have joined the ranks of college students in pursuit of personal independence, community integration, and employment. To achieve these aims, there is a need for a strong understanding of the college experience for students with IDD, including identification of the academic, social, and personal challenges they face as well as the supports that are available to address those challenges. This research provides preliminary insights into the college experience for students with IDD by comparing the perceptions, attitudes, and activities of students with IDD to those of students without disabilities and students with mild learning disabilities (MLD). Our data suggest a number of similarities in the college experience for students with and without disabilities such as similar influences from family and teachers with respect to attending college. In addition, some surprising advantages expressed by students with IDD were found, such as reporting greater ease in developing close friendships than students with MLD. Considerations and discussion on the ways in which students with IDD benefit from the additional supports and services provided to them are also discussed.

This study reports a survey of media use, political knowledge, and participation in local elections by people in three small Midwest communities. This study showed that newspaper political news exposure strongly predicted political participation, perceived importance of local municipal elections, and self-reported voting. It did not, however, predict knowledge about local government structure.

For repeat drug offenders, homelessness, unemployment, and lack of access to legitimate income and benefits are obstacles to community integration and quality-of-life improvement. Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) is a collaborative, prebooking diversion program that provides individuals suspected of low-level drug and prostitution offenses with legal assistance and harm reduction–oriented case management instead of prosecution and incarceration. We conducted this single-arm, within-subjects study to test changes in participants’ housing, employment, and income/benefits both prior and subsequent to their LEAD program referral. Findings indicated significant within-subjects improvements for LEAD participants ( N = 176) across all outcomes of interest. Moreover, achieving housing and employment was associated with 17% and 33% fewer arrests during the follow-up, respectively.

Assessment batteries of functional capacity provide robust indicators of real-world functioning in major psychiatric illnesses and important information on an individual's ability to live autonomously and pursue relevant psychosocial goals.This study explores the psychometric properties of the Portuguese USCD Performance-based Skill Assessment 2 (UPSA-2-PT) in a mixed sample of Portuguese participants.A sample of 110 participants, 37 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 27 first-degree relatives of patients and 46 controls were administered the UPSA-2-PT and self-report questionnaires. The UPSA-2-PT reliability was assessed through inter-rater reliability and internal consistency, convergent validity with community integration and a receiver operating curve analysis was conducted to establish scores' sensitivity and specificity. Youden's Index was used to determine an optimal UPSA-2-PT cutoff score.Findings show an excellent inter-rater reliability, good internal consistency and construct validity, consistent with previous studies in Western countries. The UPSA-2-PT also showed a good discriminant ability between patients and controls, and an overall percentage of correct classification of 86.7% based on the 81.59 cutoff.Findings are congruous with previous versions, strengthening the body of evidence supporting the construct validity and providing a useful tool for research and clinical purposes to practitioners.

People with mental illnesses face the dilemma of whether to disclose or conceal their diagnosis, but this dilemma was scarcely researched. To gain in-depth understanding of this dilemma, we interviewed 29 individuals with mental illnesses: 16 with major depression/bipolar disorders and 13 with schizophrenia. Using a phenomenological design, we analyzed individuals’ experiences, decision-making processes, and views of gains and costs regarding concealment and disclosure of mental illness. We found that participants employed both positive and negative disclosure/concealment practices. Positive practices included enhancing personal recovery, community integration, and/or supporting others. Negative practices occurred in forced, uncontrolled situations. We also identified various influencing factors, including familial norms of sharing, accumulated experiences with disclosure, and ascribed meaning to diagnosis. Based on these findings, we deepen the understanding about decision-making processes and the consequences of disclosing or concealing mental illness. We discuss how these finding can help consumers explore potential benefits and disadvantages of mental illness disclosure/concealment occurrences.

Reducing the recidivism of young offenders is a critical research issue, not only to enhance the future outcomes for the young person but also to reduce the future risk to the community. Navigating the immediate transition from detention back into the community is positioned as a critical milestone. This small qualitative study describes how young offenders participating in a formal mentoring program in Australia experienced the transition from detention to the community and the intrinsic drivers of their behaviour throughout this transition. Perspectives of their mentors and caseworker were also solicited. Importantly, their stories were interpreted through the lens of positive psychology and self-determination theory to discuss the relevance of one’s pursuit of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Increasing our understanding of these intrinsic motivators will assist young offenders to pursue a better life away from crime and benefit both themselves and the wider community.

This study examined the statistical relationship between offender rehabilitation and leisure functioning of Oregon prisoners ( N = 281) soon to reenter society. The strong positive correlation between leisure functioning and rehabilitation is an important finding of the study. Perception of freedom and intrinsic motivation in leisure, as independent variables, were significantly related to rehabilitation even when controlling for the influence of demographic and important forensic variables. This study provides initial empirical evidence for the importance of leisure in offender rehabilitation and successful offender reentry. The role of leisure education programming as a supportive offender rehabilitation strategy is also discussed.

In this study, the perceptions of community corrections professionals and clinical specialists toward the collateral consequences of current sex offender management policies were explored and contrasted. In addition, potential influencing factors of these perceptions were examined. Results indicate high levels of belief that sex offenders experience a variety of collateral consequences upon reentry; however, community corrections professionals are significantly less likely to believe that sex offenders experience collateral consequences than clinical specialists. Furthermore, few demographic variables were found to significantly influence the perceptions of the sample. Implications for the management of sex offenders are discussed.

This study examined associations of number of dependents and community support with mental health and whether the nature of these associations differs for males and females. Data were obtained from 209 elderly Nigerians using self-report measures. Hierarchical multiple regression (stepwise method) and Hayes regression-based PROCESS approach for tests of moderation were employed in analyzing the data. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression showed that number of dependents predicted mental health for the total sample and for men, but not for women. For the subgroups of men and women, there were significant predictions of mental health by community integration, community participation, and use of community organization, even after controlling for the roles of sociodemographic variables. The hypothesis on the moderation effect of community support on the associations of number of dependents and mental health was also supported. Findings highlighted the importance of addressing gender differences in the role of social capital in mental health.

Core correctional practices (CCP) are an evidence-based approach that can improve the quality of the prison environment and enhance prisoner outcomes. CCP focus on increasing the effectiveness of treatment interventions as well as the therapeutic potential of relationships between prisoners and correctional staff. This study utilizes a new survey-based measurement tool to assess inmate perceptions of the quality of service delivery and level of adherence to CCP. It then examines the relationship between perceptions of CCP and prisoner’s preparedness for releasing using both bivariate and multivariate analyses. The results show that the perceptions of CCP are positively correlated with readiness for release and are the most powerful predictor of readiness for release in the multivariate models. Implications for the future operationalization of CCP and its role in prisoner reentry are discussed.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depression symptoms and risk factors by gender among rice farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima Province in Thailand. A cross-sectional study was designed using interviewed questionnaire on lifestyle, work, and depression symptoms. To examine the factors associated with depression symptoms, multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Depression symptoms were found in 39.0% of males and 48.1% of females. Eating healthy food, preparing to prevent the problem, having community integration, hearing loud machines, and using personal protective equipment during work with chemical substances were associated factors among males with depression symptoms. Having family connection, being an accepted person in community, hearing loud machines, and having work-related financial hardship were predictors among females with depression symptoms. The prevalence of depression symptoms among Thai rice farmers was high. To prevent mental health problems, it is important to give males the support for health action and working styles, and females an accepting atmosphere. Corresponding to the aim, we have to define the factor by gender.

Introduction Community integration is an essential component for rehabilitation among traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, which yields positive outcomes in terms of social activities, community participation, and productive work. A factor that usually facilitates community integration among TBI survivors is social support, whereas physical environment and fatigue are most often found as barriers. Objectives This study aimed to (1) describe the level of community integration, fatigue, physical environment, and social support of persons after TBI, and (2) examine the relationship between community integration and these three factors. Methods This is a descriptive correlational study. One hundred and twenty TBI survivors living in the communities of Province Number Three, Nepal were enrolled using the stratified sampling technique. The data were collected using the Community Integration Questionnaire, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation were used to analyze the data. Results Community integration, fatigue, and physical environment showed a moderate level, while social support revealed a high level. Fatigue was significantly correlated with overall community integration, whereas physical environment was found to correlate with two subscales of community integration, home integration and productive activities. Conclusion To enhance the level of community integration among TBI survivors, health care providers, in particular rehabilitation nurses and community nurses, should plan and implement strategies such as follow-up appointments or continued rehabilitation at home.

This study analyzed whether it was possible to successfully transfer an experience of dialogic literary gatherings (DLGs) developed in a prison in the Basque Country (Spain), which was found to enhance the participants’ readiness to return to their communities. A case study was conducted in a different prison in Catalonia that comprised interviews and focus groups with a group of female prisoners and volunteers involved in the DLG. The communicative analysis conducted showed that the replication of the DLG allowed the participants to discuss and reflect on their biographies and their expected pathways upon release, thus opening possibilities for personal and social change. The results show that participants perceived the DLG as a helpful resource for social reintegration and suggest that DLGs can be transferred to different correctional institutions.

Community-based advocacy services are important in enabling victims to escape domestic abuse and rebuild their lives. This study evaluated a domestic abuse service. Two phases of research were conducted following case-file analysis ( n = 86): surveys ( n = 22) and interviews ( n = 12) with victims, and interviews with key individuals ( n = 12) based in related statutory and community organizations. The findings revealed the holistic model of legal, practical, mental health–related, and advocacy components resulted in a range of benefits to victims and enhanced interagency partnership working. Core elements of a successful needs-led, victim-centered service could be distilled.

Access to Recovery (ATR) is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)–funded initiative that offers a mix of clinical and supportive services for substance abuse. ATR clients choose which services will help to overcome barriers in their road to recovery, and a recovery consultant provides vouchers and helps link the client to these community resources. One of ATR’s goals was to provide services to those involved in the criminal justice system in the hopes that addressing substance abuse issues could reduce subsequent criminal behaviors. This study examines this goal by looking at recidivism among a sample of clients in one state’s ATR program who returned to the community after incarceration. Results suggest that there were few differential effects of service selections on subsequent recidivism. However, there are significant differences in recidivism rates among the agencies that provided ATR services. Agencies with more resources and a focus on prisoner reentry had better recidivism outcomes than those that focus only on substance abuse services.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of safe offender strategies (SOS) in comparison with relapse prevention (RP) in a sample of 91 inpatient males in a secure psychiatric setting. All men evidenced a history of violent sexual offending and were diagnosed with serious psychiatric disorders and/or intellectual disabilities. Participants who received SOS ( n = 58) and RP ( n = 33) were followed from 6 to 36 months post release. SOS clients were significantly less likely to be arrested (0%) or rehospitalized (5.2%) than RP clients (9% arrested; 54.5% rehospitalized). In addition, SOS clients were more likely to transition continuously to less restrictive alternatives, with no returns to high security, in comparison with RP clients. The authors discuss implications for use of SOS, a treatment that facilitates skills development and affects global self-regulatory functioning, particularly in sex offenders with serious mental illness or intellectual impairment, in promoting community reintegration and limiting returns to psychiatric settings.

Few topics have been discussed more extensively or feverishly within correctional academic and professional circles in the past few decades than prisoner reentry. Although program and policy evaluations have been conducted, a lack of public support for prisoner reentry initiatives could undermine the sustainability of prisoner reentry as a large-scale movement. Interestingly, no multivariate, explanatory analyses of the correlates of support for prisoner reentry policies could be found in the literature. This omission is due in part to the absence of clear psychometric measures to assess support. The current study examines the data obtained from a sample of residents in a Midwestern state to determine the dimensionality of support for prisoner reentry interventions using both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Specifically, our expectation is that the following three-factor structure will be identified: (a) support for transitional programs aimed at building skills and knowledge to handle the obstacles of the prison-to-community transitional process, (b) support for post-release transitional housing units, and (c) opposition to denying offenders housing opportunities. Our results support a three-factor model. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.

Recent criminological studies have focused on what promotes desistance from crime, ranging from internal promoters (such as narrative identity shift) to external promoters (such as employment and marriage). An understudied promoter is the role of ordinary community members in integrating released offenders into community life. This article draws on qualitative data collected from a Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) program in Vermont, which uses community volunteers to create a circle around selected medium-to-high risk offenders (often sex offenders) who present a risk for reoffense due to their isolation. The nature of the forged relationships is examined, and the article asserts that desistance can be achieved through the actions of community members who communicate a sense of shared moral space, and a genuine sense of belonging. By actively integrating offenders into community life, CoSA model normative lives, create normative and ordinary relationships of mutual obligation and respect, and aid in the de-labeling process by focusing on the other attributes of offenders beyond their criminality. This article concludes by theorizing the role of community integration as an antecedent to desistance, rather than an outcome. In so doing, our knowledge of offender reintegration and desistance processes can be more fully understood.

This randomized trial evaluates whether automated telephony could be used to perform daily assessments in paroled offenders ( N = 108) during their first 30 days after leaving prison. All subjects were called daily and answered assessment questions. Based on the content of their daily assessments, subjects in the intervention group received immediate feedback and a recommendation by automated telephony, and their probation officers also received a daily report by email. The outcome variables were analyzed using linear mixed models. The intervention group showed greater improvement than the control group in the summary scores ( M = 9.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.5, 18.7], p = .038), in mental symptoms ( M = 4.6, CI = [0.2, 9.0], p = .042), in alcohol drinking ( M = 0.8, CI = [0.1, 1.4], p = .031), in drug use ( M = 1.0, CI = [0.5, 1.6], p = .000), and in most stressful daily event ( M = 1.9, CI = [1.1, 2.7], p = .000). In conclusion, automated telephony may be used to follow up and to give interventions, resulting in reduced stress and drug use, in paroled offenders.

Two groups of male inmates ( n = 31, n = 31) participated in the Positive Re-Entry in Corrections Program (PRCP). This positive psychology intervention focused on teaching offenders skills that facilitate re-entry into the community. Offenders participated in weekly lectures, discussions, and homework assignments focused on positive psychology principles. The two groups differed in duration of treatment (8 weeks and 12 weeks). Participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures of gratitude, hope, and life satisfaction. Using a 2 × 2 mixed design ANOVA, we hypothesized that the intervention (with two between-subjects levels of 8 and 12 weeks) and duration (with two repeated measures levels of pre and post) of treatment would moderate pre- to post-intervention change. Results indicated significant differences on pre- and post-intervention scores for both groups of offenders on all measures. The analysis did not yield statistically significant differences between groups, demonstrating no additive benefits from the inclusion of four additional sessions, thus saving time and money for correctional programming and funding. This research supports the use of positive psychology in prison interventions.

There are a variety of factors that have been associated with support for the use of community corrections in the West. However, little research has been completed to examine if these same factors are also associated with support for the use of community corrections in China. This exploratory study examined the degree of agreement and support of 764 Chinese citizens on the use of community corrections methods. Results indicated that most respondents supported the use of community corrections methods rather than traditional incarceration methods. In addition, five attitudes (the punishment perspective, the rehabilitation perspective, the humanitarian perception, cost-effectiveness, and risk) toward the use of community corrections methods were examined and all were found to be significantly associated with the support of community corrections in present-day China.

Background: In short-term trials, dalfampridine extended release (ER) improves walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The tolerability and effects of dalfampridine-ER in clinical practice have not been reported. Objectives: The objective of this paper is to determine the clinical tolerability and effects of dalfampridine on walking and community participation. Methods: All patients at the Portland VA Medical Center prescribed dalfampridine-ER over one year completed the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12), Two-Minute Timed Walk (2MTW), and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) at baseline and follow-up clinic visits. Ongoing use and measures over one year were analyzed. Results: A total of 39 patients (mean age 56.5 years, mean disease duration 19.5 years, 82% male, 38% relapsing–remitting MS, 62% progressive MS) were prescribed dalfampridine-ER. Twenty-four (62%) continued to take dalfampridine-ER. At initial follow-up, all measures improved significantly from baseline (T25FW: –2.7 s, p = 0.004; 2MTW: 41 feet (ft), p = 0.002; MSWS12: –11, p < 0.001; CIQ: 1.2, p = 0.003). At one year, walking endurance and self-perceived walking were still significantly improved (2MTW: 33 ft, p = 0.03; MSWS-12: 5.9, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Dalfampridine-ER was associated with short-term improvements in walking speed and community participation, and sustained improvements in walking endurance and self-perceived impact of MS on walking for one year. Our study supports the utility of this medication in late MS.

This study aimed to explore the possible presence of psychological strengths and posttraumatic growth in the life stories of ex-offenders who desisted returning to crime. Recidivism rates in South African offenders released from prison remain as high as 97%. Little is known about positive psychological factors that may facilitate successful reentry of ex-offenders in the South African context. In an exploratory qualitative study, three adult male ex-offenders who had successfully reintegrated into society were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview schedule focusing on their life stories. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Several psychological strengths, including hope, gratitude, and spirituality, were evident in the responses of the participants. Furthermore, they seemed to experience a sense of posttraumatic growth. Identifying psychological strengths, including character strengths, may add to understanding and facilitating successful reintegration of ex-offenders. From these preliminary findings, implications for practice and research are proposed.

The discourse regarding offender rehabilitation has been criticized by various scholars who have claimed that reducing negative causes and managing risk will not automatically prompt positive human development and elements that are associated with desistance. Positive criminology is an innovative concept that challenges the common preoccupation with negative elements, by placing emphasis on human encounters and forces of inclusion that are experienced positively by target individuals and that can promote crime desistance. However, as the concept is relatively new, there are still no guiding principles for the practice of positive criminology that could direct research and the criminal justice system. This article attempts to fill that gap by providing principles that could be practiced by criminal justice personnel and examples of different interventions that reflect positive criminology. The article also provides ideological explanations for adopting the concept of positive criminology in practice.

BACKGROUND: There is a national initiative to integrate recovery-oriented practices into the delivery of mental health services. Few empirical studies have been conducted to measure these practices in psychiatric-mental health (PMH) nursing, particularly in short-term acute hospital settings. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the reliability of the Recovery Self Assessment–Registered Nurse Version (RSA-RN) and explored recovery practices of PMH nurses and nursing staff in an acute treatment setting. DESIGN: A descriptive one-group design with convenience sampling was employed. One hundred and five participants completed the RSA-RN and the demographic data form. RESULTS: The RSA-RN full-scale instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency, and the five subscales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. Significant, favorable relationships were found between RSA-RN scores and nursing staff who (a) had formal education in mental health recovery, (b) considered themselves knowledgeable about recovery, and (c) considered their place of work to be “recovery-oriented.” CONCLUSION: The RSA-RN is a useful tool in measuring recovery-oriented practice. Formal education should be considered as an intervention to increase recovery-oriented practices in PMH nursing.

This study presents a collaborative research project by school psychologists and educators in Hong Kong. It investigated the coping strategies used by Chinese parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders ( N = 380) to enhance their children’s community integration and how these strategies were related to their perceptions of community integration and willingness to engage their children in community activities. A factor analysis of questionnaire responses revealed three clusters of coping strategies: Constructive, avoidant, and confrontational strategies. Parents’ willingness to engage their children in community activities was predicted positively by their use of constructive strategies but negatively by their use of avoidant strategies. Confrontational strategies had no predictive power. Parents who used constructive strategies often tended to report more positive emotions and perceive greater importance for engaging their children in community activities.

This article describes a longitudinal evaluation of the quality of life of service users with profound learning difficulties who were resettled from hospital accommodation to supported housing in the community. The Trident approach was used for the design of the evaluation with data gathered regarding outcomes, process and stakeholder perspectives. Using a specially designed tool, quality of life was measured in seven domains for 39 service users in the hospital as a base line and at six months, twelve months and eighteen months in supported housing. A statistically significant improvement in quality of life overall and in each of the seven domains was found. Questionnaire surveys of parents/next of kin and support staff confirmed these findings as did a number of qualitative case studies.

Women provide support for many vulnerable groups, work that is frequently discounted with gendered stereotypes. One growing vulnerable group is former prisoners who often return to women family members. We completed a qualitative study with 25 former prisoners and criminal justice staff to examine their conceptualizations of the demands placed on women supporters of former prisoners. Results indicate a significant burden of support experienced by women, discounted by prisoners and criminal justice staff through a dynamic of gendered idealization and stigmatization. Implications include the importance of exposing this dynamic and providing supports to decrease the burden of care that women experience.

Reintegration of offenders following incarceration is most successful if matched to the needs of offenders, victims, and the community. This study explored child sex offenders’ expectations for and experiences of reintegration into the community. A longitudinal design was used in which semistructured interviews covered issues identified in the literature as being related to reintegration. Nine offenders were interviewed within 1 week prior to release, 3 months post release, and 6 months post release. Interviews were analysed using thematic analyses producing six key themes. The interviews revealed that most of the participants feared their release from prison into the community and once released struggled to live in society. Overall, reintegration planning was simplistic and aimed primarily to manage risk factors rather than promote reintegration. Those participants who reported most satisfaction with their adjustment following release had more comprehensive reintegration plans, which enabled them to visualise what life would be like after release.