Social reintegration of young offenders

En metasyntese om dimensioner i reintegrationsprocessen

Abstract

Reintegration of young offenders into society appears to be a complex process involving multiple dimensions. The purpose of this article is to examine dimensions of significance during the reintegration process, which is influential at the time of release from penitentiary. To explore the subjective experience of reintegration, the article contains a meta-synthesis of 13 qualitative studies. The results of the meta-synthesis show that the process of reintegration is affected by multiple dimensions. These dimensions include a) individual circumstances, such as substance abuse, b) interpersonal aspects, such as social support, and c) societal dimensions, such as the need for structure in everyday life. As a conclusion, the article argues that young offenders need structure, positive relationships and (re)attachment to society at the time of release in order to accomplish long-term reintegration.