Date

7-22-2025

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice (PhD)

Chair

Latreace Flynt

Keywords

re-entry/reintegration, family, family support, African American, males, recidivism, social bond theory

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study is to understand successful reintegration with positive family support for formerly incarcerated African American men in a major metropolitan city in North Carolina. Individuals released from prison face challenges that result in the likelihood of recidivism. Previous studies regarding these individuals have focused on the requirements for their successful re-entry into society, including financial stability, housing, employment, and family support; however, there is a need to understand what forms of support are needed from families. The theory guiding the current study is the social support theory, as it explains that support from communities, social networks, and confiding partners prevents crime by providing these individuals an outlet to cope with hardship through non-criminal means. This study employed a qualitative methodology to highlight the experiences of formerly incarcerated African American men, which can then be used to inform and change programming and incentives pertaining to the re-entry process.

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