| For as long as society has imprisoned offenders, they have reintegrated back into their communities and families. Reintegrating is less difficult to face when there is encouragement and support from family and community members. Once they have been released, ex-offenders face numerous reentry challenges that include, but are not limited to, securing housing, finding employment, and reestablishing relationships with their families and in the community. The goal of the study was to examine familial, social, economic, and educational challenges the ex-offender faces as they reintegrate back into their family and community following incarceration. In addition, this study explored how the beliefs ex-offenders have about faith, family, self, and society contribute to their challenges and successes as they reintegrated back into the their families and communities following incarceration. In order to meet these objectives, data for this study was obtained using a quantitative instrument that included 67 questions and was developed by the researcher (see Appendix C). The initial challenge for the ex-offender is to know upon their release that they will be welcomed back home, and 73.3% of the participants were. In addition to other challenges identified that ex-offenders face, their own personal beliefs also have a considerable effect on their reintegration experiences. There is opportunity to further research in this area that will look at the support ex-offenders receive after release from incarceration and the impact it has on their families, emotionally and financially, including counseling assistance needed by the family members giving support during this transitional period. |
