Degree Name

DrPH (Doctor of Public Health)

Program

Public Health

Date of Award

12-2022

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Deborah Slawson

Committee Members

Mildred Maisonet, Megan Quinn

Abstract

For the past several decades, the United States led the world in incarceration rates. With nearly 2.3 million people being held in state or federal prisons or local jails in 2019, incarceration rates in the United States are over four times higher than in other developed countries. Disparities exist by gender, race, ethnicity, and other special populations. Males are 13 times more likely to be incarcerated than females. Additionally, black males are 5.7 times and Hispanic males are 2.8 times more likely to be incarcerated than white males. Individuals who experience incarceration have poorer mental and physical health outcomes. People with criminal records or history of incarceration encounter significant barriers to employment as well. Children of incarcerated parents are more likely to experience poor health outcomes and behavioral issues that increase the risk of future incarceration. One intervention that contributes to higher success of reintegration and can prevent rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration is reentry programs, particularly those with a holistic approach combining employment during and after release, work skills training, mental health and substance use counseling, and support post-release to assist with housing and continued counseling services. Correctional Career Pathways (CCP) is one such program developed and expanded in five Tennessee counties. The first aim of this project was to explore the facilitators, barriers, and impact of the CCP program by analyzing the data collected by the CCP program and highlighting lessons learned in the process. The second aim was to identify opportunities for improvement and sustainability of the CCP by conducting interviews with key partners in CCP implementation across all counties. Information gathered through this project was helpful in creating a roadmap to expand this program to other communities, providing ways to improve the program, and making it more sustainable.

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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