Barriers to Reentry

Reentry refers to a returning citizens reintegrating back into society. High reentry rates means more people are returning to their homes. A successful reentry means they successfully re-establish their life in normal society.

Barriers to reentry are obstacles that make returning to society difficult and sometimes impossible. The consequences range from homelessness to committing another crime. The truth is that most people want to return to society and stay out of prison, but when the pressures of poverty become too great, many return to their old lifestyle and habits – which likely contributed to their conviction in the first place.

The barriers to reentry are compounding and intertwined. Most returning citizens struggle with all these barriers to some degree; and many barriers leave people in a catch 22. For example, you need a higher education to get a better paying job, but you need a good paying job to pay for a higher education.