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The Benefits of Social Capital for the Wrongfully Convicted: Considering the Promise of a Resettlement Model
Author(s) -
HOYLE CAROLYN,
TILT LAURA
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the howard journal of crime and justice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.462
H-Index - 7
eISSN - 2059-1101
pISSN - 2059-1098
DOI - 10.1111/hojo.12283
Subject(s) - prison , appeal , criminology , capital (architecture) , service (business) , psychology , political science , business , law , public relations , marketing , history , archaeology
The Miscarriages of Justice Support Service (MJSS) is the only source of support and assistance provided by the State for the wrongfully convicted. Drawing on original data, this article demonstrates that while its aftercare provision has successfully met the practical needs of the wrongfully convicted, clients have emotional, psychological, and social needs that are not attended to. While the ‘rightfully’ convicted will be offered services following release from prison to help them to reintegrate into society, those released after the Court of Appeal has found their convictions to be unsafe do not receive such support. Drawing on literature that adopts a resettlement framework for ex‐prisoners, the authors argue that such an approach could better respond to the needs of the wrongfully convicted. In particular, this may help the wrongfully convicted to reconnect with social networks, to take advantage of social capital and to thereby rebuild their spoiled identities.