Exploring the Factors of Recidivism From the Perspectives of Homeless Former Prisoners, Government Agency Officers, and Volunteers

Abstract

The ongoing involvement of homeless former prisoners in crime raises questions about involvement factors. Failure to reintegrate into society frequently results in homeless former prisoners becoming re-involved in crime. The situation is particularly worrying when the recurring criminal involvement involves other overlapping factors, which should be identified for a sound understanding of this homeless group. In this research, 30 homeless former prisoners, nine Malaysian government agency officers, and nine volunteers were interviewed in this study. Several sub-themes, namely peer influence, self-confidence conferred by drugs, and drug addiction, were derived from interviews with homeless former prisoners. The officers’ interviews revealed the sub-themes of mental disorders, addiction problems, survival, friends’ influence, environmental influence, personal choice, and unrepentant. The volunteers’ interviews revealed the sub-themes of friends’ influence, unemployment, drug activity-filled environments, and drugs as a necessity. The findings provide an insight into the influence of drugs, which were among the leading contributing factors to the involvement of homeless former prisoners in crime. This comprehensive study involved three population groups and filled knowledge gaps on homeless former prisoners. Efforts to reduce recidivism require a diverse approach, which includes policies, agencies, and action plans.