Patterns of Reentry Concerns Among Incarcerated People in Belgium: Insights From a Latent Class Analysis

The transition from prison to the community is often marked by challenges across multiple life domains, underscoring the need for a multidimensional perspective on reentry. Although such challenges can result in concerns about reentry during incarceration, little is known about these concerns. This study uses survey data from incarcerated individuals (N = 716) across fifteen Flemish and Brussels prisons (Belgium) to examine the heterogeneity of reentry concerns from a multidimensional perspective. A Latent Class Analysis identified five distinct patterns: unconcerned (24.80%), subsistence-concerned (39.09%), intrapersonal and discrimination-concerned (21.13%), all-around-concerned (9.64%), and social-support-concerned (5.34%) individuals. Bivariate analyses showed associations between class membership and educational level, nationality, intended country of residence post-release, homeownership, and psychological distress. These findings highlight the multidimensional and person-specific nature of reentry concerns, emphasizing the need for reintegration strategies that address both material and psychosocial needs. The identified classes offer clear entry points for more responsive, targeted interventions.