Ethnic affiliation and reentry difficulties and barriers among parolees

Abstract

The empirical literature on prisoners’ reentry process points to several obstacles they face upon release. This study focuses on the subjective perceptions of paroled prisoners in Israel regarding the difficulties they face and whether there is a difference between Jewish and Arab parolees regarding the significance they attribute to these difficulties. The study also compares these subjective perceptions of paroled prisoners to the perceptions of Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority workers regarding the difficulties released prisoners face on parole. The sample included 346 paroled prisoners and 75 Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority workers. The findings reveal significant gaps between the paroled prisoners and PRA workers regarding the importance they attributed to the reentry difficulties. Almost no significant differences were found between Jewish and Arab paroled prisoners. The current article offers several possible explanations for the gaps found regarding the significance of the difficulties accompanying the reintegration process.