Barriers in Re-entry Faced by Formerly Incarcerated Women

This study aimed to identify how we can utilize intervention points to alleviate barriers faced by women in re-entry and shift their generational trajectories. Data analysis revealed consistent causation between low-income women and recidivism. Additionally, the largest perceived barrier by women in re-entry was reported to be a lack of educational and vocational opportunities. Based on these findings, we collaborated with SERjobs and various other partners to create an equitable integrated education and training workforce development initiative to promote environmentally responsible behavior and maximize access to economic opportunities in the green economy. This initiative will take place in nine most underprivileged neighborhoods that houses historically underrepresented populations such as female black and Latina youth. The ultimate goal of this ongoing re-entry project is to build a robust network of services to serve as a safety net for people in poverty so that they don’t fall into cycles of incarceration. Decreased rates of arresting and incarceration have historically been associated with higher economic opportunity and an overall increase in the quality of life of the community’s residents. The next steps are to collaborate with the city of Houston Mayor’s Office and Harris County’s district attorney to prioritize funding for re-entry and propose alternative solutions to incarceration.