Network closure and offenders’ perception of re-entry into society
Studies on social re-entry suggest that an individual’s social entourage has a large effect on successful reintegration. This article analyzes the characteristics of personal networks as related to an individual’s perception of the probability of social reintegration. A survey was conducted among adult men residing in a halfway house (n = 49) and those on probation (n = 25). Quantitative analyses show that the kind of network and the proportion of peers with criminal backgrounds help explain ideas about social reintegration. Specifically, closed networks with few members with a criminal history are more likely to lead to an optimistic view of reintegration than open networks with a high percentage of members with a criminal history. While the openness of networks is generally associated with better access to opportunities, in the context of social reintegration the stability offered by closed networks seems to be advantageous. Avenues for intervention and future research are discussed.