Committee Chair

Crittenden, Courtney A.

Committee Member

Dierenfeldt, Rick; Policastro, Christina N.

Department

Dept. of Criminal Justice and Legal Assistant Studies

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The reintegration process for inmates entails multifaceted challenges, with rural offenders experiencing even more unique obstacles. Factors such as limited employment opportunities, housing options, reliable transportation and prevalent substance use issues are significant obstacles that rural ex-offenders must navigate during reintegration. These challenges are only multiplied given the geographical location where rural ex-offenders will reintegrate (Garland et al., 2011; Harley & Dunkley, 2018). Compared to their urban counterparts, rural ex-offenders may experience lower wages, little to no drug treatment programs, or the inability to reach mental health services within their rural setting (Chan et al., 2016; Mohatt et al., 2005). Despite these significant obstacles, research on rural populations has fallen short as most scholarship has focused exclusively on urban settings (Rao et al., 2021; Ruddell & Mays, 2007). This thesis aims to fill that gap by analyzing the influence of sex on substance use and reintegration factors in hopes of addressing the critical need to develop effective and tailored programs for the needs of rural inmate populations.

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my chair, Dr. Courtney Crittenden, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in the completion of this thesis. Throughout both my undergraduate and graduate studies, Dr. Crittenden has been an exceptional role model. Her patience, encouragement, understanding and belief in my abilities have been invaluable. You have helped me grow over the years in more ways than one. I hope to continue learning from you in the future and aspire to follow in your footsteps. I also want to acknowledge the support of Dr. Rick Dierenfeldt. Thank you for your guidance and encouragement throughout the master’s program and this project. Your belief in me and your support have motivated me more than you know. You consistently made sure I knew I had your support, and for that, I am deeply grateful. I also want to thank Dr. Christina Policastro for her expertise and attention to detail. This project would not be the same without your insightful contributions. I could not have asked for better committee members. I would also like to thank my family and friends especially, Guadalupe Vazquez. Guadalupe, our conversations have pushed me to continue this project, even during times of doubt. Your memory has been a source of strength for me, and I dedicate this work to you. I also want to express my gratitude to my mother. Mamá, gracias por todo tu apoyo y por enseñarme que tengo la capacidad de lograr esto y mucho más. Te quiero mucho. Y para mi padre, que siempre me apoyó, no podría haber logrado esta meta sin ti. Finally, to my sister, thank you for knowing me better than anyone and for always making sure I laughed throughout the process.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2024

Subject

Ex-convicts--Social conditions; Ex-convicts--Rehabilitation; Ex-convicts--Substance use

Keyword

Rural; employment; stigma; mental health; reintegration; treatment

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

ix, 54 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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