View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CSUSB ScholarWorks California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of Graduate Studies 6-2015 Community Attitudes Toward Early-Release Offenders Under AB 109 Mari Lily Herrera CSUSB, [email protected] Matthew Erik McGiffen CSUSB, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at:http://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Recommended Citation Herrera, Mari Lily and McGiffen, Matthew Erik, "Community Attitudes Toward Early-Release Offenders Under AB 109" (2015). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations.Paper 157. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of Graduate Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD EARLY-RELEASE OFFENDERS UNDER AB 109 A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Social Work by Mari Lily Herrera Matthew Erik McGiffen June 2015 COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD EARLY-RELEASE OFFENDERS UNDER AB 109 A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Mari Lily Herrera Matthew Erik McGiffen June 2015 Approved by: Dr. Tom Davis, Faculty Supervisor, Social Work Dr. Rosemary McCaslin, M.S.W. Research Coordinator © 2015 Mari Lily Herrera & Matthew Erik McGiffen ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine community attitudes towards ex-offenders released in San Bernardino under AB 109 on subjects that would likely impact the ex-offender reintegration process. Past research has shown that a community’s willingness to employ and offer social support to ex- offenders has a substantial impact on their probability of re-offense. This study focused on individuals whose roles in the community give them greater influence over ex-offenders. A total of 11 community members participated in this qualitative study. Of the 11 respondents, 4 were employers, 4 were social service workers, and 3 were community center workers. Respondents participated in verbal interviews that explored their prior knowledge of AB 109, past interactions with ex-offenders, and their views related to ex-offenders on community safety, reform, employment, social support, and the severity of an offender’s crime. Unanimous agreement that ex-offenders should be able to compete for employment provided they have job skills, but varying levels of willingness to hire or work alongside ex-offenders was the study’s most substantial finding. All respondents also reported having at least 1 prior relationship with an ex- offender. Community members also expressed varying opinions on the impact ex-offenders have on safety, but unanimously agreed that they need social support after release. These findings indicate that San Bernardino community members have high levels of familiarity with ex-offenders and believe they iii should have a chance to become productive members of society, but that many community members want to avoid personally interacting with ex- offenders due to safety concerns. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We would like to thank each individual who assisted us in our research by sitting down with us for an interview. Thank you for your participation in this project. Most importantly, we would like to thank Dr. Tom Davis for giving us a chance and believing in us. Thank you for continued support and guidance in our research project. Lastly, we would like to thank the School of Social Work for the great learning experiences encountered throughout our undergraduate and graduate programs. v DEDICATION I dedicate this project to my hardworking parents who came to this country to be able to provide better opportunities for me and my siblings. Thank you mom and dad for all your sacrifices and support throughout this journey. Thanks to you both, I have become the woman you see in front of you today. Thanks to my extended family, friends, and co-workers for supporting me and encouraging me throughout this process. It wasn’t easy, but I did it! I also want to thank my amazing husband, Anthony Flores, for your continuance support and encouragement throughout this journey. You are my motivation to keep striving for the best. My constant reminder as to why I chose this profession. Lastly, thank you to my research partner Matt for your help during those stressful times. Mari Lily Herrera I dedicate this project to my first human services professor James Banks. Without your guidance, support, and endless patience I would never have started down the social work career path. I would also like to thank my mother and father for their understanding and patience, and my wife Amber whose love and dedication have carried me through the hardest times and given me reason to push onward. Matt McGiffen TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 Terminology ....................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ............................................................................ 1 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................... 7 Significance of the Project for Social Work ........................................ 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 12 Introduction ........................................................................................ 12 History ............................................................................................... 12 Similar Reentry Programs .................................................................. 14 Attitudes and Stigma .......................................................................... 18 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS 24 Introduction ........................................................................................ 24 Study Design ..................................................................................... 24 Sampling ............................................................................................ 25 Data Collection and Instruments ........................................................ 26 Procedures ........................................................................................ 27 Protection of Human Subjects ........................................................... 28 Data Analysis ..................................................................................... 29 Summary ........................................................................................... 29 vi CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 30 Introduction ........................................................................................ 30 Demographics ................................................................................... 30 Employment ....................................................................................... 32 Safety ................................................................................................ 33 Severity of the Crime ......................................................................... 35 Criminal Lifestyle ............................................................................... 36 Social Support ................................................................................... 38 Relationship with Ex-Offenders ......................................................... 39 Summary ........................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION 42 Introduction ........................................................................................ 42 Discussion ......................................................................................... 42 Study Limitations ............................................................................... 52 Implications for Social Work .............................................................. 53 Recommendations for Future Research ............................................ 54 APPENDIX A: INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT .................................................. 57 APPENDIX B: INFORMED CONSENT ........................................................ 61 APPENDIX C: DEBRIEFING STATEMENT ................................................. 63 APPENDIX D: INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS ................................................ 65 REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 107 ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES PAGE ...................................................... 111 vii