Race, gender, socioeconomic status all play a role in the barriers faced by ex-offenders who are in the reintegration process. This is important to highlight because depending on an offender’s economic status, gender, or nationality this can determine how well they can reintegrate back into society and become a citizen again. This can also show the community how these certain populations can be targeted and treated differently than the rest of the population who is reintegrating back into society. Reintegration as a whole is a difficult process for ex-offenders because they are so accustomed to having a set routine every day for however long they were in prison for, then once they are released they have to do everything on their own. The de-institutionalization is a real challenge that many can't overcome, which is why the recidivism rate is so high because these people end up right back in prison.

• Archer, D. N., & Williams, K. S. (2006). Making America the land of second chances: Restoring socioeconomic rights for ex-offenders. New York University Review of Law & Social Change, 30(4), 527-584.
• Brown, G. (2010). The intersectionality of race, gender, and reentry: Challenges for African-American women. American Constitution Society. Retrieved from: https://www.acslaw.org/issue_brief/briefs-2007-2011/the-intersectionality-of-race-gender-and-reentry-challenges-for-african-american-women/
• Evans, D. N. (2014). The debt penalty: Exposing the financial barriers to offender reintegration. John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Retrieved from: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_pubs/425/
• Galgano, S. W. (2009). Barriers to reintegration: An audit study of the impact of race and offender status on employment opportunities for women. Social Thought & Research, 30, 21–37.
• Silver, I.A., D’Amato, C., & Woolredge, J. (2021). The cycle of reentry and reincarceration: Examining the influence of employment over a period of 18 years. Journal of Criminal Justice, 74, 101812
• Williams, J. M., Wilson, S. K., & Bergeson, C. (2019). “It’s hard out here if you’re a black felon”: A critical examination of black male reentry. The Prison Journal, 99(4), 437–458.

1. Why do formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers while reentering society after they’ve served their time and paid their debt back to society?
2. How does race, gender, and class impact the reintegration process on ex-offenders?
3. How do the characteristics of individuals who go to prison and the prison environment impact their employment experiences upon release?
4. What differences exist between men and women in the criminal justice system? In what way do these differences impact their reentry experiences?
5. In what way do neighborhoods as geographic locales impact an individual's reentry process? Why is this an important factor to consider in regard to socioeconomic status?
6. Why are the characteristics of inmates relevant to a discussion of the prison and reentry experience?
7. Which characteristics of inmates appear most likely to contribute to adverse experiences while in prison and upon release? Why?