Recidivism in the Caribbean: improving the reintegration of Jamaican ex-prisoners

1. Exploring the Link between Reintegration and Recidivism in Jamaica -- 2. Cycles of Crime and Urban Poverty: Challenges for Offender Reintegration -- 3. Helping Disadvantaged Offenders Lead Reintegrated Lives -- 4. Doing Research on Social Reintegration -- 5. Enablers of Ineffective Community Reintegration -- 6. 'Back to Square One': The Role of Prison -- 7. Offender Attempts to Lead [Re]integrated Lives, What Helps? -- 8. In Search of the Silver Bullet: Provider Experiences -- 9. 'Redemption Songs', Unearthing Landscapes

Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Praise for Recidivism in the Caribbean -- Contents -- About the Author -- Abbreviations -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Part I: Context -- 1: Recidivism and Reintegration in Jamaica: Exploring the Nexus -- Introduction -- Effectiveness Versus 'Success' -- Reliability of the Recidivism Indicator -- Predictors -- Policy Context -- Parole and Probation -- Resettlement Initiatives -- Children in Conflict with the Law -- Implications for Practice -- Conclusion -- The Structure of the Book -- References -- 2: Reintegration in Troubled Communities -- Introduction -- Structural and Ecological Constraints -- Community Disorganisation -- Political Influences -- Concentration Effect of Crime and Poverty -- Excluding Communities in Trouble -- Deviant Subcultures -- Conclusion -- References -- 3: Helping Ex-Offenders Lead Reintegrated Lives -- Introduction -- Overcoming Community-Level Barriers -- Community Relations Boards -- Support at Reentry -- Meaningful Employment -- Considering Gender -- Opportunities in Prison -- Treatment Completion -- Desistance-Supportive Practices -- Selection of an Appropriate Offender Management Model -- Alternatives to Imprisonment -- Important Role of Agency -- Narrative Theory -- Alternative Identities -- Conclusion -- References -- 4: Investigating the Phenomenon of Reintegration in a Developing Country Context -- Introduction -- Defining Research Parameters -- Researcher Identity -- Negotiations with Gatekeepers -- Reaching the Target Population -- Voluntary Participation -- Considering the Governance Challenges -- Ethical Considerations -- Possible Harms to Participants -- Researcher Physical Safety -- Addressing Power Differentials -- Data Interpretation -- Epistemological Position -- Adaptive Theory -- Thematic Analysis -- Ensuring Qualitative Rigour -- Undertaking a Pilot.

This book provides a detailed and practical exploration of criminal recidivism and social reintegration in Jamaica. It uses various methods to seek the authentic voices of inmates, ex-prisoners, deported migrants and practitioners, drawing on an original study to examine factors that might help ex-prisoners more successfully transition from a prison environment to life within the community. Leslie also raises important questions about the Jamaican state's capacity to meet the needs of inmates, particularly as a large number of its citizens are subject to forced repatriation to their homeland by overseas jurisdictions due to their offending. Recidivism in the Caribbean provides a unique insight into institutional and community life in a post-colonial society, whilst linking practices theories of offender management. It will particularly appeal to criminologists and sociologists interested in tertiary crime prevention but also those interested in correctional policy and practice, punishment and deviance