The Role of Supportive Accommodation in Transitions from Prison: What Ex-Prisoners Think

Abstract

This thesis examines the role that supportive accommodation plays in transition from prison, specifically from the personal experience of the ex-offender. It aims to add a personal voice to the criminal justice sector that is weighted heavily toward outcomes and statistics, and often politically charged. A qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews was conducted with ten men residing at a supportive accommodation facility in Aotearoa/NZ. Nvivo was used to anaylse the data into themes. Five themes were developed highlighting areas that the ex-prisoners found significant in their transition. It was found that the participants highly valued having access to casework and support in their transition. They also voiced wanting to have choice in what happens to them post prison and were quite aware of what was helpful and what wasn't, including which personal relationships, connections and locales were protective in their reintegration. They all voiced a desire to change, to move on with their lives and turn from the factors that saw them incarcerated in the first place, such as their addictions issues. Housing that was either permanent or at least for up to one year, rather than short term under six months, was seen as important in helping them be safe and stay away from crime. Lastly, they wanted to build community around themselves that would help them to normalise life and feel accepted again. The results from this study show that we need not be afraid to listen to the ex-prisoner as their own expressed desires for care and support are not at odds with evidence based practice. This thesis recommends education as a way to break down societal stigma, as well as investing in more intensive supportive accommodation models so that ex-prisoners are given a wider range of community support to help them reintegrate. Transitional housing which could foster a sense of community and dedicated support via intensive casework conducted by caseworkers, who are trauma-informed and knowledgeable around the needs of reintegration, need to be provided on a longer term basis in order to make positive change in the reintegration sector.