Even though crime rates in the United States are comparable to that of other industrialized nations, our incarceration rate is over five times higher than most other countries around the globe, incarcerating 693 people per 100,000 residents. Though there are conversations to be had about various parts of the criminal justice system, this forum will focus on incarceration and reintegration and, more specifically, the role of the community in reintegration.

This forum will ask community members to explore the meaning of criminality and punishment as well as barriers to reintegration for past offenders. With approximately 2.3 million people incarcerated and/or detained in the United States today, there is no time like the present to share perspectives on this complex issue.

Public engagement and data will be used to gather an understanding of community perceptions surrounding recidivism and reintegration. This data will be used as part of a Master’s Thesis Project to create materials for communities across the United States to engage on this topic.