TRANSITIONS FROM JAIL INCARCERATION FOR ADULTS: INHIBITORS AND FACILITATORS TO COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY

Abstract

Millions of individuals are incarcerated annually throughout the United States, the majority experience mental illnesses and other chronic medical problems in addition to familial separation and shifts in social support. The transition from jail to the community is not supported by mandatory programs that facilitate transition from prison to community. Preliminary research findings in a community indicate social support services, housing, transportation, and continuity of medical and mental health services facilitate jail to community transitions. This research utilizes a qualitative descriptive approach to conduct semi-structured interviews with individuals who are residing in a community transitional housing program Old Pueblo Community Services and who have transitioned from prison or jail within the previous two years. We will explore the facilitators and inhibitors to the health-illness and situational transitions. In partnership with the community transitional housing program, we will provide aggregated findings to assist in improving overall programming. The community partnership with Old Pueblo Community Services (OPCS) has been developed as a mutual opportunity for students to learn. OPCS provided private space to conduct interviews and allowed the PI to post recruitment flyers in their lobby location. Further, OPCS will utilize the findings from the study to guide performance improvement projects within their organization. As this research is part of an experiential learning course developed for undergraduate students, the research will be conducted annually led by Dr. Carrie Langley in future spring semesters. This will allow for continued data collection within the community organization over a period of years.