Navigating Life after Imprisonment: The Experiences of Elderly Parolees Transitioning Back to Communities in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/14523Keywords:
communities, elderly parolees, imprisonment, transitioningAbstract
The study explored the perceptions and experiences of elderly parolees transitioning back to the community. The study sample comprised 15 elderly parolees selected through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guides. The study was situated in Durban Community Corrections, a reintegration centre under the Durban Management Area in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of elderly parolees’ experiences of transitioning from prison to the community. This study reveals that even though participants experienced loss of independence, family ties and identity, chronic health problems, and discrimination, they were able to desist from criminal activities, received religious support, and obtained short-term employment opportunities. The study concludes by proffering recommendations for the Department of Correctional Services, programme developers, coordinators, planners, social workers, as well as managers of community correctional centres who are responsible for ensuring that parolees continue to receive effective services after release from a correctional centre.
Metrics
References
Aday, Ronald H. 2006. “Aging Prisoners’ Concerns toward Dying in Prison.” OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying 52 (3): 199–216. https://doi.org/10.2190/CHTD-YL7T-R1RR-LHMN
Baccile, Rachel. 2017. “Housing for Returning Offenders in the United States.” Agora: 78–88. https://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/136592
Bales, William D., and Daniel P. Mears. 2008. “Inmate Social Ties and the Transition to Society: Does Visitation Reduce Recidivism?.” Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency 45 (3): 287–321. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022427808317574
Bezuidenhout, Christiaan, and Karen Booyens. 2018. “The Elderly Offender and the Elderly Victim of Crime: A South African Overview.” In Perspectives on Elderly Crime and Victimization, edited by Peter C. Kratcoski and Maximillian Edelbacher, 79–97. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72682-3_5
Blowers, Anita N. 2015. “Elders and the Criminal Justice System.” Journal of Crime and Justice 38 (1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.2014.931509
Boyatzis, Richard E. 1998. Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development. Thousand Oaks: SAGE.
Brothers, Allyson F. 2016. “Awareness of Age-Related Change (AARC): Measurement, Conceptual Status, and Role for Promoting Successful Aging.” DPhil thesis, Colorado State University. https://www.proquest.com/openview/cebcf727746f52d70b35c143eabf0dbd/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
Chin, Vivienne, and Yvon Dandurand. 2012. “Introductory Handbook on the Prevention of Recidivism and the Social Reintegration of Offenders.” Criminal Justice Handbook Series. New York: United Nations.
Dantzker, Mark L., and Ronald D. Hunter. 2000. Research Methods for Criminology and Criminal Justice: A Primer. Toronto: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Davies, Bronwyn, and Peter Bansel. 2007. “Neoliberalism and Education.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 20 (3): 247–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518390701281751
Dawes, John. 2009. “Ageing Prisoners: Issues for Social Work.” Australian Social Work 62 (2): 258–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/03124070902803475
Deaton, Dayron, Ronald H. Aday, and Azrini Wahidin. 2010. “The Effect of Health and Penal Harm on Aging Female Prisoners’ Views of Dying in Prison.” Omega-Journal of Death and Dying 60 (1): 51–70. https://doi.org/10.2190/OM.60.1.c
Doherty, Sherri, Pamela Forrester, Amanda Brazil, and Flora I. Matheson. 2014. “Finding Their Way: Conditions for Successful Reintegration among Women Offenders.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 53 (7): 562–586. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509674.2014.944740
Flower, Shawn M. 2010. Employment and Female Offenders, An Update of the Empirical Research. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/employment-and-female-offenders-update-empirical-research
Funk, Laura M., and Karen M. Kobayashi. 2016. “From Motivations to Accounts: An Interpretive Analysis of ‘Living Apart Together’ Relationships in Mid-to Later-Life Couples.” Journal of Family Issues 37 (8): 1101–1122. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X14529432
Grant, Anna. 1999. Elderly Inmates: Issues for Australia. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.
Harrison, Byron, and Robert Carl Schehr. 2004. “Offenders and Post-Release Jobs: Variables Influencing Success and Failure.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 39 (3): 35–68. https://doi.org/10.1300/J076v39n03_03
Harrison, Mary T. 2006. “True Grit: An Innovative Program for Elderly Inmates.” Corrections Today 68 (7): 46. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/true-grit-innovative-program-elderly-inmates
Hennink, Monique, and Bonnie N. Kaiser. 2022. “Sample Sizes for Saturation in Qualitative Research: A Systematic Review of Empirical Tests.” Social Science & Medicine 292: 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. 2004. No Problems – Old and Quiet: Older Prisoners in England and Wales, A Thematic Review by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. London: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons). https://bulger.co.uk/prison/hmp-thematic-older-04.pdf
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. 2008. Older Prisoners in England and Wales: A Follow-up to the 2004 Thematic Review. London: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons for England and Wales (HMI Prisons). https://fbclientprisoners.s3.amazonaws.com/Documents/Reports/older_prisoners_thematic-rps.pdf
Higgins, Doreen, and Margaret Severson, M. E. 2009. “Community Reentry and Older Adult Offenders: Redefining Social Work Roles.” Journal of Gerontological Social Work 52 (8): 784–802. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634370902888618
Hillcoat-Nallétamby, Sarah. 2014. “The Meaning of “Independence” for Older People in Different Residential Settings.” Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 69 (3): 419–430. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbu008
hooks, bell. 2003. Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (Vol. 36). Psychology Press.
Langa, Malose, and Themba Masuku. 2015. “The Role of Ex-Offenders in Implementing the Community Work Programme as a Crime and Violence Prevention Initiative.” African Safety Promotion Journal 13 (2): 78–91. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/asp/article/view/136150
Lee, Hedwig, Lauren C. Porter, and Megan Comfort. 2014. “Consequences of Family Member Incarceration: Impacts on Civic Participation and Perceptions of the Legitimacy and Fairness of Government.” The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 651 (1): 44–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716213502920
Lekalakala-Mokgele, Eucebious. 2018. “Death and Dying: Elderly Persons’ Experiences of Grief over the Loss of Family Members.” South African Family Practice 60 (5): 151–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2018.1475882
Liem, Marieke, and Daan Weggemans. 2018. “Reintegration among High-Profile ex-Offenders.” Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology 4 (4): 473–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40865-018-0093-x
Martynowicz, Agnieszka, and Martin Quigley. 2010. “Reintegration of Prisoners in Ireland: New Research Findings.” Irish Probation Journal 7: 65–84. http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/16536/1/Irish_Probation_Journal_2010.pdf#page=66
Murphy, Kristina, Ben Bradford, and Jonathan Jackson. 2016. “Motivating Compliance Behavior among Offenders: Procedural Justice or Deterrence?.” Criminal Justice and Behavior 43 (1): 102–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854815611166
National Economic and Social Forum. 2002. “Re-Integration of Prisoners.” Forum Report No. 22. Government Publications Office: Dublin. http://edepositireland.ie/bitstream/handle/2262/72753/No_22_Re-integration_of_Prisoners.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Nduli, Sethenjwa Bonny, and Maud Mthembu. 2022. “Exploring the Perceptions of Correctional Service Providers and Elderly Parolees of Post-Incarceration Social Work Programmes in Ethekwini Metropolitan.” Social Work 58 (2): 221–238. https://doi.org/10.15270/58-2-1044
Nelson, Marta, Perry Deess, and Charlotte Allen. 2011. “The First Month Out: Post-Incarceration Experiences in New York City.” Federal Sentencing Reporter 24 (1): 72–75. https://doi.org/10.1525/fsr.2011.24.1.72
Noy, Adi, and Orit Taubman–Ben-Ari. 2016. “Becoming a Grandparent—On Transitions and Transformations.” In Grandparents of Children with Disabilities: Theoretical Perspectives of Intergenerational Relationships, edited by Liora Findler and Orit Taubman–Ben-Ari, 19–37. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45517-4_2
Peacock, Robert, and Aubrey Theron. 2007. “Identity Development of the Incarcerated Adolescent with Particular Reference to Prison Gang Membership.” Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology & Victimology 20 (3): 61–74. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC28943
Polit, Denise F., and Cheryl Tatano Beck. 2008. Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Porporino, Frank J. 2014. “Managing the Elderly in Corrections.” In International Community Corrections Association Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH, no. 96. 34–56. https://www.unafei.or.jp/publications/pdf/RS_No94/No94_VE_Porporino2.pdf
Prison Reform Trust. 2008. Bromley Briefings: Prison Factfile: June 2008. London: Prison Reform Trust. https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/old_files/Documents/No%20One%20Knows%20report-2.pdf
Ray, James V., Norman G. Poythress, John M. Weir, and Angela Rickelm. 2009. “Relationships between Psychopathy and Impulsivity in the Domain of Self-Reported Personality Features.” Personality and Individual Differences 46 (2): 83–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2008.09.005
Row, Bedford. 2007. “Voices of Families Affected by Imprisonment: A Bedford Row Family Research Project.” http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/11833/1/Beford_VOICES_OF_FAMILIES_AFFECTED_BY_IMPRISONMENT_fi
RSA (Republic of South Africa). 2005. Department of Correctional Services. The White Paper on Corrections in South Africa. Notice 775 of 2017. Government Gazette, No. 41141 Pretoria: Government Printers.
RSA (Republic of South Africa). 2006. Older Persons Act, 13 of 2006. Government Gazette, Vol. 497, No. 29346. Pretoria: Government Printers.
Salvador, Jordan Tovera. 2016. “Exploring Quantitative and Qualitative Methodologies: A Guide to Novice Nursing Researchers.” European Scientific Journal 12 (18). https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n18p107
Schnepel, Kevin. 2017. “Do Post-Prison Job Opportunities Reduce Recidivism?.” IZA World of Labor. https://doi.org/10.15185/izawol.399
Schwartz, Seth J. 2005. “A New Identity for Identity Research: Recommendations for Expanding and Refocusing the Identity Literature.” Journal of Adolescent Research 20 (3): 293–308. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558405274890
Sciubba, Jennifer D. 2020. “Population Aging as a Global Issue.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.559
Shear, Katherine, and Harry Shair. 2005. “Attachment, Loss, and Complicated Grief.” Developmental Psychobiology: The Journal of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology 47 (3): 253–267. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.20091
Sparkes, Andrew C., and Jo Day. 2016. “Aging Bodies and Desistance from Crime: Insights from the Life Stories of Offenders.” Journal of Aging Studies 36: 47–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2015.12.005
Terre Blanche, Martin J., Kevin Durrheim, and Desmond Painter, eds. 2006. Research in Practice: Applied Methods for the Social Sciences. Juta and Company Ltd.
Trotter, Chris, and Susan Baidawi. 2015. “Older Prisoners: Challenges for Inmates and Prison Management.” Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology 48 (2): 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004865814530731
Uggen, Christopher. 2000. “Work as a Turning Point in the Life Course of Criminals: A Duration Model of Age, Employment, and Recidivism.” American Sociological Review 65 (4): 529–546. https://doi.org/10.1177/000312240006500403
Visher, Christy, Sara Debus, and Jennifer Yahner. 2008. “Employment after Prison: A Longitudinal Study of Releasees in Three States.” Justice Policy Center Research Brief. https://search.issuelab.org/resources/7153/7153.pdf
Wakefield, Sara. 2016. “Changing the Ties that Bind: Distinguishing the Connected from the Disconnected and Accounting for the Burdensome.” Criminology & Pub. Policy 15 (2): 543. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12208
Western, Bruce, Anthony A. Braga, Jaclyn Davis, and Catherine Sirois. 2015. “Stress and Hardship after Prison.” American Journal of Sociology 120 (5): 1512–1547. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/681301
Wood, Peter B. 2007. “Exploring the Positive Punishment Effect among Incarcerated Adult Offenders.” American Journal of Criminal Justice 31 (2): 8–22. https://doi.org//10.1007/s12103-007-9000-4
Zelizer, Viviana A. 2017. The Social Meaning of Money: Pin Money, Paychecks, Poor Relief, and Other Currencies. Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691237008
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Accepted 2024-05-21
Published 2024-06-11
