By Joan Petersilia, Ph.D.

In 2003, well over half a million jailed Americans will leave prison and return to society. Largely uneducated, unskilled, often without family support, and with the stigma of a prison record hanging over them, many will experience serious social and psychological problems after release.

Not surprisingly, the great majority are rearrested, most within six months of their release. Drawing on dozens of interviews with inmates, former prisoners, and prison officials, Petersilia convincingly shows us how the current system is failing.

Unwilling merely to sound the alarm, she explores the harsh realities of prisoner reentry and offers specific solutions to prepare inmates for release, reduce recidivism, and restore them to full citizenship, while never losing sight of the demands of public safety. 276 pages. 2003.

IOUP

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