Navigating the Carceral State: The Experience of Citizens With Criminal Backgrounds After Finding Stable Housing

A pilot project demonstrating the importance of access to stable housing for people with criminal backgrounds and experiencing homelessness produced exploratory qualitative findings that illuminate the experience of folks who must navigate the carceral state of supervision. Principles of a participatory action paradigm guided development and implementation of the pilot project. Grounded Theory and narrative research principles guided data collection and analysis in the 3-year study. A convenience sample of 27 participants was obtained by the organization's staff recruiting each of the individuals on behalf of the researchers as they entered the pilot program during the 3 years of pilot activity. Qualitative data collection was carried out during the 3 years of program implementation. A semi-structured open-ended interview script was utilized by the research team as a guide to ensure focus on the experience of participants. Current extreme challenges included living with a criminal background and carrying the weight of a troubled past. Great strength was evidenced in their navigation of their worlds. Essential resources for successful navigation were identified including the use of prayer, religion and spirituality, persistent hopefulness, recognition of personal change, and the use of supportive relationships. Getting stable housing and employment, while important, was not seen as enough in itself to ensure successful reentry. Therefore, relationships that recognize strengths and help navigating inevitable disappointments and challenges must also be incorporated into the available housing, educational, mental health, employment programs, and other services. The findings of this study suggest that practice approaches, services, and policies that are intended to help people with criminal backgrounds must incorporate and emphasize the lived experiences of returning citizens as they navigate the challenging tasks of living in a carceral state.