Imprisonment Pains, Reentry Strains, and Perceived Likelihood of Reoffending

ORCID

Cook: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2382-7663; Haynes: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1408-9291

MSU Affiliation

College of Arts and Sciences; Department of Sociology; MSU-Meridian; Division of Arts and Sciences

Creation Date

2026-06-01

Abstract

Research has shown that imprisonment has a criminogenic effect, but few studies have examined why this relationship exists. Drawing on Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST) and survey data from a sample of men and women incarcerated in a large Southern prison, the current study examined the role of both imprisonment pains and reentry strains on perceived likelihood of reoffending. It also examined differences between first-time and repeat prisoners. Results from the overall sample showed that reentry strains (i.e., low community capital and inability to adjust to life in the community) mattered more than imprisonment pains. The results were similar for repeat prisoners, but both imprisonment pains (i.e., fear for one’s safety while in prison) and reentry strains (i.e., low community capital) mattered for first-time prisoners.

Publication Date

6-8-2020

Publication Title

Criminal Justice Studies

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Group; Routledge

First Page

16

Last Page

32

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1080/1478601X.2020.1771332