A Descriptive Examination of Prisonization through the Lens of Post-Exoneration Offending

ABSTRACT

Prisonization, which seeks to explain criminal behavior as a function of past prison experiences, has been examined through many lenses; however, more novel approaches to exploring prisonization have been lacking. This study uniquely explores the concept of prisonization by describing the post-release behavior of 118 wrongfully convicted individuals, known as exonerees.

Conclusions were drawn from a dataset of exonerees and criminal history background searches. Comparative analyses show that exonerees without priors serve longer sentences and demonstrate a shorter time to failure (as measured by post-release offending). Offending among this cohort may suggest that otherwise law-abiding citizens were negatively affected by their experience in prison and, furthermore, may indirectly support the notion that being imprisoned fosters criminality in individuals. These results can support conceptual and practical advancements.

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Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

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Notes on contributors

Amy Shlosberg

AMY SHLOSBERG is an Assistant Professor of Criminology at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her primary research focuses on the negative implications of wrongful convictions and reentry, with an emphasis on policy and procedural reform. Her works in these areas have been published in several academic journals, including the Albany Law Review and the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.

Aaron Ho

AARON HO is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at New Jersey City University. His primary research focuses on offender risk prediction, drug market analyses, and the harmful effects of prison. His work has been accepted for publication in Journal of Crime and Delinquency and Justice System Journal.

Evan Mandery

EVAN MANDERY, Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is the author of A Wild Justice: The Death and Resurrection of Capital Punishment in America.