Hispanic exconvicts’ perceptions of challenges and reintegration

ABSTRACT

Analyzing data collected from 17 Hispanic exconvicts, this study examined the challenges of postincarceration reintegration from the perspective of general strain theory. Our use of intensive interviewing techniques allowed the participants to describe their cognitive function, stress, coping mechanisms, and perceptions of discrimination, and how these issues contributed to their well-being and potential recidivism. Participants were recruited from a federal halfway house in Southwestern Texas. Overall, we found that the exconvict participants in this study carried the burden of their criminal history heavily and endured public penalties and economic consequences associated with their incarceration. Practice implications and research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Challenges
• general strain theory
• Hispanic exconvicts
• recidivism
• reintegration
• well-being

Acknowledgment

We thank the participants for sharing their life stories with us and David Natividad for coordinating the approval for this study.