What Influences Public Support of Transitional Housing Facilities for Offenders During Reentry?

Transitional housing facilities for released prison inmates have existed in the United States since the early 1800s and are a promising strategy to aid offender reintegration. One recurring obstacle to the successful implementation and sustainability of these facilities is public resistance. Unfortu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Garland, Brett (Author)
Contributors: Saxon, Caryn ; Wodahl, Eric
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
In: Criminal justice policy review
Year: 2017, Volume: 28, Issue: 1, Pages: 18-40
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Prisoner reentry
Transitional housing
Public attitudes
Offender reintegration
Description
Summary:Transitional housing facilities for released prison inmates have existed in the United States since the early 1800s and are a promising strategy to aid offender reintegration. One recurring obstacle to the successful implementation and sustainability of these facilities is public resistance. Unfortunately, very little is known regarding what influences public support or opposition specifically for offender-based transitional housing. The current study examines how support for transitional housing centers may vary among residents of a Midwestern state based on the proximity of the facility and the types of offenders living there. The study also examines a range of possible influences on support, including community factors, family-related considerations, correctional and political views, and demographic variables. The most consistent influence on acceptance of transitional housing centers was general support for helping offenders during reentry. Other variables with more limited effects were an emphasis on services and programming over monitoring and surveillance during reentry, having a close family member imprisoned, age, and education level. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
ISSN:1552-3586
DOI:10.1177/0887403414564866