released from incarceration, the community is faced with new repercussions. Wheeler and Hissong (1988) reported for example, that jail time, probation, and fines do not modify behavior. The individual incarcerated for drunk driving returns to the community with the same drinking behaviors. Drunk driving is a national problem. Imprisonment fails to effectively reduce imprisonment. Thus the incarcerated individual returns to the community to commit additional offences. In their study, results showed that prisoners were 2.3 times more likely to be charged with a new offense, compared to probationers, and they were 1.8 times more likely to be convicted of a new offence and 2.2 times more likely to be incarcerated for a new offence. Results also pointed out that males and blacks have higher rates of recidivism, and younger offenders and those with more prior felony convictions have higher rates of recidivism. Thus the community is faced with black, male felony convicts who commit new offenses.
Post-incarceration experiences include segregation, stigmatization, and wage inequality and lack of mobility. Ex-prisoners tend to lack schooling and optimal employment experience in the first place. Incarceration results in disrupted careers in others who had previous employment potential. Incarceration erodes job skills and it may exacerbate pre-existing or resulting mental or physical illness. Those who obtain employment face wage inequality and limited financial growth (Western, 2002).
In addition to these financial and social concerns, the post-incarcerated individual may be faced with physical and emotional problems due to contracting contagious diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis C. Psychological disorders, which may include PTSD or Post Incarceration Syndrome (PICS), lead to further debilitation for the ex-prisoner and concerns for the community (Gorski, 2003).
Incarceration and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Studie...