From Priest to Prisoner: Examining the Contribution of Pioneers in the Chicago Reentry Landscape from the 1950s to the 1970s

Brown, Karlia Nicole

doi:https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-5gfs-4k39

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From Priest to Prisoner: Examining the Contribution of Pioneers in the Chicago Reentry Landscape from the 1950s to the 1970s

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Prisoner reentry has become an increasingly popular topic of research in the past few decades due to the phenomenon of mass return as a result of the era of mass incarceration. While research has been done on the experiences of the returning population before mass incarceration, few contemporary researchers have gone back to examine the decades predating mass incarceration through the lens of the returning citizen and the supports available to them. To address this gap, I conducted a historical analysis of formal reentry efforts in the U.S. dating back to their inception in the mid-1950s. I found that before the 1950s, there were very few formal public or private efforts in place to support individuals returning to society from incarceration. The formalization of reentry efforts began in the 1950s, continuing into the 1970s, and can be attributed to three distinct entities which shaped the landscape of reentry in unique ways. These entities included (1) religious leaders and the larger institutions of which they were a part, (2) antipoverty initiatives created during the War on Poverty and the public-private partnerships which they created, and (3) self-made reentry programs which were founded and run by returning citizens for returning citizens. I argue that these reentry pioneers had a tangible influence on the provision of reentry services from the 1950s–1970s and likely influenced the trajectory of support efforts in the years that followed. Recognizing the role of reentry pioneers allows us to better understand and analyze present-day reentry efforts while providing us with insight into how key historical events impacted one the most vulnerable populations of the 1950s-1970s.

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