Why is peer support in reentry such a big deal?

Every year, more than 650,000 men and women are release from state and federal prisons, two-thirds of which are likely to be rearrested within three years following their release. 

After release, many reentering individuals face similar struggles and problems that they faced before incarceration, including discrimination, homelessness, poverty, dysfunctional relationships, substance abuse, and mental and physical health problems. 

Having a felony conviction record creates an additional challenge in terms of locating affordable housing, securing employment, and experiencing other overt or covert discrimination.

Faced with finding a job, earning income, finding suitable housing, and more, reentry can be a significant challenge.  “Most of these individuals lack the support system and guidance that they need to avoid returning to a life of crime” said Lauren Usrey in a 2020 blog on the Pieces website. 

Peer support in reentry.

“Breaking this cycle is important for not only improving the lives of these individuals, but also bettering society as a whole and improving public safety. Successful reentry programs give former offenders the opportunity to become productive members of society and make a meaningful difference in the community. They provide the tools, resources, and stability formerly incarcerated people need to rebuild their lives for the better,” Usrey said.

Research tends to support the idea that to break the cycle of recidivism, social support is essential. Social support appears to be important for improving outcomes for incarcerated individuals during the reentry process not only in terms of general wellbeing but also in gaining employment and avoiding recidivism (Kjellstrand et al., 2021).   

Social support has also been found to buffer the harmful impact of everyday stressors. Unfortunately, many formerly incarcerated adults find themselves with little or no support. 

Social support is commonly divided into four types: companionship, emotional, informational, and instrumental. 

• Companionship refers to the presence of others with whom to engage in shared activities. 
• Emotional support describes support that assists others through shared expressed understanding or otherwise showing that a person is valued.
• Information support refers to the offering of facts, advice, or other information.
• Instrumental support is the provision of tangible resources or services such as transportation, money, housing, or material goods.

Peer mentoring support.

“Mentoring is one way to provide support, especially for individuals who have become socially isolated from community-based friends and family during incarceration or who need to avoid problematic friends, relatives, or partners who are still involved in risky or criminal behavior, who endorse the commission of harmful behaviors, and/or who are otherwise difficult to be around,” said Kjellstrand et al. in their 2021 article. 

In such a program, reentering individuals are paired with a non-familial adult who provides practical assistance and psychological support. 

Kjellstrand et al. (2021) conducted qualitative interviews with 26 individuals who recently reentered their community following release from prison to explore how reentering individuals define successful reentry, the different types of social support they received from their mentors, and their perceptions of the value of their mentorship. Half of the participants participated in a mentorship program, and a control group of equal size was not assigned a mentor. Both groups were residents of a transitional housing program after release.

Mentor/mentee relationships were expected to last for 6 months, 90 days pre- and 90 days post-release. Mentors/mentees communicated regularly during this period letter writing and/or phone calls while in prison, and after release, for 4 to 6 hours of in-person contact per month.

Successful reentry programs.

While avoiding recidivism is one aspect of being successful during reentry, participants identified many other outcomes of the mentoring program. The four most frequently mentioned in the Kjellstrand et al. sample were:

(1) being financially stable and independent,

(2) maintaining prosocial and healthy living,

(3) contributing positive to family and the broader community, and

(4) being content. 

Overall, participants reported that such support was helpful, especially in terms of companionship and emotional support.

“Participants enjoyed having a companion with whom to attend events, engage in activities, or simply talk. Emotional support, especially in the form of encouragement around challenging situations or being emotionally available, was also appreciated by the participants. These types of support made the participants feel valued, cared for, and connected to others. The support also seemed to motivate participants to continue to do their best despite challenges as well as make them feel like they mattered to someone,” Kjellstrand said.

Reentry programs that help former offenders rebuild their lives, such as the mentor program in Kjellstrand et al.’s research, are vital for individual and community wellbeing. 

Reentry programs can help reduce recidivism, which decreases crime and makes communities safer. They help returning citizens find meaningful employment and follow a path to a better life. They provide support and counseling to individuals faced with substance abuse challenges by providing much needed care after release. 

“Solving social issues and breaking down barriers to a successful reentry to society is key to reducing recidivism risk. Reentry programs help break the cycle that many ex-prisoners find themselves in,” Usrey added.

Get involved with peer reentry support.

Interested in learning more about becoming an effective peer support specialist? We equip you to serve current and formerly incarcerated individuals to promote wellbeing and flourishing in the community.

Individuals completing their sentences and transitioning to the community are often facing significant challenges, and peer support provides assistance in navigating the system. Learn more here.