Beyond the gates: The lived experience of an ex-convict\u27s return to society

One of the many concerns of an ex-convict upon release is his or her vulnerability to recidivism. Being able to successfully return to society is not easy for ex-convicts considering the fact that there are several factors that hinder their successful reentry (i.e., lack of job, discrimination, stigma, etc.). Despite the many factors that restrain one\u27s reentry into society, there are still those who were able to successfully reintegrate into society. This paper examines the factors that could lead to a successful reentry of the prisoners through the use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ex-convicts were interviewed and data gathered were analyzed. According to the findings, family and friends\u27 support and presence are the most important for the ex-convicts\u27 reentry followed by involvement in community and church services. Seeing as society plays an important role with reentry, this study shows that an ex-convict needs and what society can do to help