Imprisonment pains, reentry strains, and perceived likelihood of reoffending

ABSTRACT

Research has shown that imprisonment has a criminogenic effect, but few studies have examined why this relationship exists. Drawing on Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST) and survey data from a sample of men and women incarcerated in a large Southern prison, the current study examined the role of both imprisonment pains and reentry strains on perceived likelihood of reoffending. It also examined differences between first-time and repeat prisoners. Results from the overall sample showed that reentry strains (i.e., low community capital and inability to adjust to life in the community) mattered more than imprisonment pains. The results were similar for repeat prisoners, but both imprisonment pains (i.e., fear for one’s safety while in prison) and reentry strains (i.e., low community capital) mattered for first-time prisoners.

KEYWORDS:

• Strain theory
• reentry
• imprisonment pains
• recidivism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. We excluded 20 cases (from the overall sample of 456) that were missing information on the dependent variable, perceived likelihood of reoffending.

2. We also estimated an OLS regression model using the original dependent variable (which ranged from 0 to 10) and the results were generally the same. The only difference between the two models was that adjustment was non-significant in the OLS model.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amanda Cook

Amanda P. Cook is an Assistant Professor of Criminology in the Division of Arts & Sciences at Mississippi State University-Meridian.  Her research focuses on misdemeanors, prison capital, corrections, and recidivism.

Stacy Hoskins Haynes

Stacy H. Haynes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Mississippi State University.  Her research focuses on issues related to corrections, sentencing, victimization, and criminal justice policy.