Social reintegration of released prisoners: An empirical analysis from two indian states

Abstract

This paper presents the empirical analysis from two Indian States to understand factors influencing the social reintegration of released prisoners. Samples of the study comprise 100 released prisoners who are currently under the probation system. The article identified stability in income, maintaining good relationships with the family and community, and membership in informal groups as four outcome variables of reintegration. The paper also identified seven factors – four factors concerning the stay at the prison and three factors concerning life after release – as capable of influencing the extent of reintegration. A reintegration index has been constructed to examine the relationship between reintegration and seven supporting factors that influence reintegration. The article also used a correlation matrix to analyse the relationship between the reintegration index and the contributing factors of reintegration. The paper suggests that factors such as visits by family members and probation officers and availing parole have a significant positive relationship, but that years of stay have a significant negative relationship with the reintegration of released prisoners.