Mechanisms of Familial Influence on Reentry among Formerly Incarcerated Latino Men

In the United States more than 10,000 people are released from state and federal prisons every week and often reenter the communities in which they were arrested. Formerly incarcerated individuals face considerable challenges to securing employment and housing. Subsequently, approximately two-thirds of former prisoners are rearrested within three years of their release. Latino men represent the fastest growing ethnic group of prisoners in the United States with unique cultural and social needs during the reentry process. The present study examined the role of the family in the reentry process through in-depth interviews (6) with formerly incarcerated Latino men (FILM). The authors sought to identify familial processes specific to Latino men with potential to affect engagement and participation in reentry programs. Findings suggest that family mechanisms of social control and social support influence FILM's reentry. Social work practitioners who work with this growing population can engage familial processes to prevent recidivism and promote desistance.