Date
6-26-2025
Department
Helms School of Government
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)
Chair
Melvin S. Richards
Keywords
Recidivism, Corrections, Rehabilitation, Jail, Prison, Parole, Probation, Re-entry, Community Reintegration
Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Mora, James, "Examining the Effectiveness of Anti-Recidivism Programs in Fresno County, California" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7153.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7153
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological research is to examine the perceived effectiveness of anti-recidivism programs in California and the lived experiences of ex-offenders who participate in the programs. This research will employ a qualitative methodology, utilizing a phenomenological design and interviews to collect data. The guiding theory for this research will be the Life-Course Theory, which examines relationships, significant life events, or turning points and their correlation with sobriety, gainful employment, and a crime-free lifestyle. The open coding system will synthesize and categorize interview responses before inputting the data into NVivo 15, a qualitative analysis software. The participant sample will consist of at least ten individuals from anti-recidivism programs who agree to participate in introspective interviews. This research encompasses rehabilitation efforts, treatment, reentry programs, anti-recidivism initiatives, funding, and California and Fresno County legislation to better understand the obstacles to successful community reintegration. This research employs a phenomenological design, utilizing a small sample of research participants, and includes semi-structured interviews focused on recidivism topics and life experiences. Following the Life-Course Theory, introspective participant interviews are essential to this research because they provide the researcher with the participants' perspectives, experiences, and attitudes, as well as insight into how this process has shaped their lives. The results of this study will be available when completed. Keywords: Qualitative research, recidivism, reentry, risk assessment, incarceration, Life-Course Theory, and phenomenology.
