Practically Emotional: Young Men's Perspectives on What Works in Reentry Programs

The rate of criminal recidivism in the United States peaks among young adult men (ages 18-24), suggesting this population needs extra support during reentry. Government and nonprofit reentry programs have expanded over the past two decades, but little is known about the core qualities of reentry services that young men view as beneficial. This study poses two questions: (1) How do young adult men describe "what works" in reentry services? (2) What qualities do they associate with beneficial reentry programs? The authors conducted focus groups with 28 young men who had been released from jail or prison within the prior year, recruited through nonprofit organizations and probation offices in an urban area. The researchers inductively analyzed the content of the focus groups for key themes without imposing a specific theoretical perspective. The four themes around beneficial services were delivering practical help, fostering an emotional connection, continuity from inside to out, and receiving support from other members. These findings point to core characteristics for effective reentry programs irrespective of type of service. Given the exploratory nature of this study and transferability limitations, future research with other samples, especially women, and confirming results with both qualitative and quantitative methods are recommended.