Exploring the Effects of Ex-Prisoner Reentry on Structural Factors
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EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF EX-PRISONER REENTRY ON STRUCTURAL FACTORS IN DISORGANIZED COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP PRACTICE G. MICHAEL DAVIS A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program of Antioch University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy July, 2014 This is to certify that the Dissertation entitled: EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF EX-PRISONER REENTRY ON STRUCTURAL FACTORS IN DISORGANIZED COMMUNITIES: IMPLICATIONS FOR LEADERSHIP PRACTICE. prepared by G. Michael Davis is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership and Change Approved by: Lize Booysen, DBL, Chair date Carol Baron, Ph.D., Committee Member date Edward Rhine, Ph.D., Committee Member date Morris Jenkins, Ph.D., External Reader date Copyright 2014 G. Michael Davis All rights reserved Acknowledgements The journey toward the completion of this work has been filled with the full spectrum of human emotion. The terrain was at times rocky, full of peaks and valleys; however, a quote from the great American writer Henry David Thoreau encouraged me along through this journey. Thoreau said, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” The successful completion of this journey in common hours has been reached with the assistance and support of people of uncommon love, knowledge, generosity, and kindness. I would first like to thank my loving wife Tracy for her patience and unwavering support. My daughter Tristen, Daddy’s sugar plum; all things are possible to those who believe. To my sons Austin and Preston, I love you both. You remind me of the things that are most important in this life. A special thank you to my mother Andrea Donaldson whose care and guidance have afforded me this opportunity; To my Uncles George, John, Andrew, Daniel, James and Norman thank you for shaping me into the man I have become. I would like to thank Dr. Lize Booysen, the chair of the dissertation committee. Lize, thank you for your guidance and understanding, it has been an honor to be under your tutelage. Next I would like to thank Dr. Carol Baron. Carol, you have walked me through this entire process and I am eternally grateful. To the rest of the dissertation committee members, Dr. Ed Rhine and Dr. Morris Jenkins, thank you for your commitment to my academic and professional development. i Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of George and Esther B. Gilmore without whom none of this would be possible; to the people of the Driving Park Neighborhood and the memory of James Johnson who was a staunch advocate for improvements in the quality of life for all people in Driving Park; And, finally to Dr. Howard T. Washington and the members of my church family at the Second Baptist Church of Columbus, OH—thank you intercessory prayer team for your prayers and support. ii Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore the way(s) in which the disproportionate return of ex-prisoners to socially and economically disadvantaged communities impact(s) specific community structural factors identified in the study. After three decades of withstanding the enduring effects of the mass incarceration, communities stand at the edge of a new era. Economic realities, and the failure of policies designed to deter crime through imprisonment are rapidly ushering in an era of mass prisoner reentry. The complexity of the challenges surrounding the successful integration of offenders to communities requires a new leadership paradigm for justice leaders. This study posits that communities are complex adaptive systems and examines the applicability of complexity leadership theory to the interactive impact of prisoner reentry. Existing academic literature is replete with research examining the ability of community institutions to ease the transition of citizens returning home from prison and contributing to their ability to achieve success within the community. Additional studies have identified the negative effects of mass incarceration on elements or structural factors often define the viability of a community. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: employment, crime, poverty, and family relationships. This study builds upon previous academic research in the area of prisoner reentry. It steps in a new direction that focuses on the impact the concentrated return of ex-prisoners exerts on elements that contribute to the collective efficacy of neighborhoods. In order to effectively examine the interactive or reciprocating impact of prisoner reentry, a mixed methodological approach using both qualitative and quantitative research, situated in a case study, is employed. The research design incorporates the constructed realities of those experiencing the interactive impact of reentry and provides a statistical analysis of the iii attitudes of a broad representation of the community examined in the case. The electronic version of this Dissertation is at Ohiolink ETD Center, http://etd.ohiolink.edu iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................... i Abstract.......................................................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ v List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures.............................................................................................................................. xiii Chapter I: Introduction.................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem.................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Study........................................................................................................... 6 Research Questions............................................................................................................. 7 Mass Incarceration: The Catalyst to the Reentry Dilemma................................................ 7 Positioning of the Researcher ............................................................................................. 8 Rationale for Studying the Problem.................................................................................. 11 Implications of New Policy .............................................................................................. 14 High Risk Population........................................................................................................ 15 Summary........................................................................................................................... 16 Implications for Leadership .............................................................................................. 20 Chapter II: A Review of the Literature......................................................................................... 21 Defining Prisoner Reentry ................................................................................................ 22 Nothing Works and Policy Specifics ................................................................................ 24 A Prelude to the Increased Ex-Prisoner Population.......................................................... 26 The Mass Incarceration Era .............................................................................................. 26 Parole and the Revolving Door to Prison ......................................................................... 29 v Collateral Consequences of Mass Incarceration............................................................... 30 Epidemiology and the Impact of Mass Incarceration ....................................................... 31 Economics and the Criminal Justice Crisis....................................................................... 34 Social Disorganization Theory ......................................................................................... 36 The Impact of Reentry on Community Structural Factors ............................................... 38 Housing............................................................................................................................. 40 Crime ................................................................................................................................ 41 Employment...................................................................................................................... 43 Healthcare ......................................................................................................................... 45 Poverty.............................................................................................................................. 46 Family ............................................................................................................................... 48 Communities as Complex Adaptive Systems................................................................... 50 Prisoner Reentry in the Context of Leading Change .......................................................