Re-entry Mediation: General Information

Re-entry mediation provides an opportunity for an inmate and family members or other support people to meet, with the help of a non-judgmental mediator, before release to have an open, honest, and often difficult dialogue to prepare for the transition back into the community. In this section, you'll find general information about the Re-entry Mediation program including an overview of the program, examples of re-entry mediation cases, and published articles.

Re-entry Mediation Overview

Family and Other Positive Relationships are Important to Reduce Recidivism

Criminal justice research highlights the importance of family and pro-social relationships in reducing recidivism. Those returning from prison lean on family, friends, and neighborhood resources to stay crime free and reintegrate into society (Cotton, 2014). Studies have consistently found that incarcerated individuals who maintain close contact with their family members while incarcerated have better post-release outcomes and lower recidivism rates. (Friedmann, 2014). Family ties connect returning citizens to conventional social order and, in doing so, thwart their impulses to recidivate (Berg, 2011). Given the importance of family and pro-social support people for reintegration, researchers have called for greater inclusion of the family in the re-entry process so to “facilitate informal social controls – those interpersonal bonds that link ex-inmates to churches, law-abiding neighbors, families and communities” (Petersilia, 2003, p. 19). Nonetheless, incarcerated individuals often have high expectations about the level of support and assistance they will receive from family.  In turn, families often feel ambivalent about letting the returning individual stay with them, but they also may not turn them away (Travis, 2005).

Prisoner Re-entry Mediation

Re-entry mediation provides an opportunity for an incarcerated individual and family members or other support people to meet, with the help of a non-judgmental mediator, before release to have an open, honest, and often difficult dialogue to prepare for the transition back into the community.  Sometimes there is lingering conflict from before the incarceration.  Sometimes there is resentment, anger, and shame as a result of the charge or things which took place during the incarceration. Re-entry mediation allows everyone involved to talk about their experiences, be heard by each other, and establish a plan on how to move forward productively before the individual is released. Re-entry mediation provides a chance to manage divergent expectations for all participants through a discussion of issues and resolution of, or prevention of, conflicts. By rebuilding relationships between incarcerated individuals and family or support people in the community, Re-entry Mediation taps into the resources indigenous to the community, strengthens these connections, and allows for collaborative transition planning.

Re-entry Mediation Reduces Recidivism

Based on the 2014 Recidivism Analysis, just one 2-hour mediation session decreases the predicted probability of re-incarceration by 10%. Each additional session decreases the predicted probability by another 7%. This finding holds true when comparing those who mediated to a similar control group and after holding constant for other factors that might affect recidivism.

Current Service Provision

Re-entry mediation is available in almost every state correctional facility and many local detention centers. Volunteer mediators provide the direct mediation services, making the program cost effective.  Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services funds support program staff in Baltimore and Hagerstown, and AmeriCorps members funded through the Governor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism provide significant support for the program.

References

Berg, M. T., & Huebner, B. M. (2011). “Reentry and the Ties that Bind: An Examination of Social Ties, Employment, and Recidivism.” Justice Quarterly, 28(2), 382-410.
Cotton, L., Fahmy, C., Mckay, R. (2014). “Examining the Role of Familial Support During Prison and After Release on Post-Incarceration Mental Health.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 60 (1), 3-20.
Friedmann, A. (2014, April 15). “Lowering Recidivism through Family Communication.” Prison Legal News. Retrieved from https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2014/apr/15/lowering-recidivism-through-family-communication/
Petersilia, J. (2003). When Prisoners Come Home: Parole and Prisoner Re-entry Oxford: University Press
Travis, J. (2005). But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press, p. 222

Examples of Re-entry Mediation Cases

Below are the stories of individuals who used re-entry mediation. All names and identifying details have been changed to protect confidentiality.

Participants only talk about living arrangements. FALSE

The effectiveness of re-entry mediation does not rely on the types of topics the participants choose to address. Many topics include emotional support such as communication and relationships.

Myth: Spouses should participate in mediation.

Research shows no statistically significant difference between incarcerated individuals who had a spouse or partner as his/her co-participant and those who mediated with someone other than a spouse or partner.

Published Articles

The Role of Family and Pro-social Relationships in Reducing Recidivism

Corrections Today
August/September, 2012

The purpose of this article is to highlight an innovative program conducted in collaboration with Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Community Mediation Maryland’s Prisoner Reentry Program seeks to address the crucial role of family in the reentry process.

Prisoner Re-entry Mediation: Unlocking the Potential of Relationships in Tough Economic Times

American Bar Association Dispute Resolution – Magazine Winter, 2010

Recidivism & Relationships

Compiled by Eric Mondesir on behalf of Community Mediation Maryland, July 2017