Reintegration of former prisoners: A conceptual analysis of the bioecological approach

Abstract

The reintegration of former prisoners is a complex, multi-level social process that affects both an individual’s life trajectory and public safety; in the European and Latvian contexts, it is characterized by high recidivism rates and the fragmentation of structural support systems. The aim of this article is to develop a theoretically grounded bioecological multi-level model of preconditions for the reintegration of former prisoners, based on Bronfenbrenner’s process–person–context–time (PPCT) approach. The study employs qualitative conceptual analysis supported by a narrative international scientific literature review in psychology, criminology, and social work, analyzing reintegration processes at various ecological levels. The results indicate that reintegration cannot be reduced to individual programs or personal motivation, but is a relationship-based, time-spanning developmental process whose outcome is determined by the quality of proximal processes, personal resources, the institutional context, and their mutual interaction. It is concluded that the PPCT model offers a structured analytical framework for understanding the reintegration of former prisoners, emphasizing the need for long-term, coordinated, and individualized approaches that promote the reconstruction of social identity and the cessation of criminal behavior, while not overstating the empirical findings. This study contributes to the scientific literature by investigating the reintegration processes of former prisoners.