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Making Ends Meet After Prison
Author(s) -
Harding David J.,
Wyse Jessica J. B.,
Dobson Cheyney,
Morenoff Jeffrey D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of policy analysis and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.898
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1520-6688
pISSN - 0276-8739
DOI - 10.1002/pam.21741
Subject(s) - prison , leverage (statistics) , social security , economic security , economic risk , safety net , social mobility , face (sociological concept) , qualitative research , public policy , business , economics , public economics , economic growth , sociology , political science , criminology , actuarial science , social science , machine learning , computer science , law , market economy
Former prisoners are at high risk of economic insecurity due to the challenges they face in finding employment and to the difficulties of securing and maintaining public assistance while incarcerated. This study examines the processes through which former prisoners attain economic security, examining how they meet basic material needs and achieve upward mobility over time. It draws on unique qualitative data from in‐depth, unstructured interviews with a sample of former prisoners followed over a two‐ to three‐year period to assess how subjects draw upon a combination of employment, social supports, and public benefits to make ends meet. Findings reveal considerable struggle among our subjects to meet even minimal needs for shelter and food, although economic security and stability could be attained when employment or public benefits were coupled with familial social support. Sustained economic security was rarely achieved absent either strong social support or access to long‐term public benefits. However, a select few were able to leverage material support and social networks into trajectories of upward mobility and economic independence. Policy implications are discussed.