Jews Behind Bars and the Influence of Jewish Communal Support on Reentry, Reintegration, and Desistance
Abstract
Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in communal social support and
prison chaplaincy. Numerous studies evaluate the growing role of religion and spirituality in
various preventive and rehabilitative initiatives (Giordano, Longmore, Schroeder, & Seffrin,
2008; O’Connor, Duncan, & Quillard, 2006) and a large proportion of prison chaplaincy
studies are centered on the Christian community (Baier & Wright, 2001). Few, if any,
studies explore how Jewish prison chaplaincy and Jewish communal support affect reentry
and reintegration.
In this study, 24 individuals (n=24) participated in qualitative interviews between
July, 2018, and January, 2019. The population sample includes 6 Chabad Lubavitch
chaplains from across the United States, 1 chaplain’s assistant from Israel, and 17 felony
convicted individuals who were recipients of Jewish chaplaincy. Of the felony-convicted
individuals, 13 are Jewish men, two are non-Jewish men, and two are Jewish women. I
analyzed data using inductive and deductive coding strategies. Five major challenges faced
by Jewish offenders during the incarceration-to-reentry process were identified; (1)
employment, (2) mental health, (3) housing, (4) legal aid, and (5) anti-Semitism. Findings
demonstrate that social support offered via the Jewish community and Jewish chaplaincy
positively affected post-incarceration employment and mental health outcomes and provided
more access to housing and legal aid. Anti-Semitic behaviors and policies affecting
prisoners were moderated and, at times, corrected by Jewish chaplains.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Literature review -- Methodology -- Findings -- Conclusion -- Appendix A. Former Jewish inmate interview -- Appendix B. Prison chaplain interview -- Appendix C. Israeli chaplain’s assistant interview -- Appendix D. Operationalized key concepts
Degree
M.S. (Master of Science)