Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Rebecca Wolf, JD, MPH, OTR/L

Abstract

In 2018, the combined state and federal imprisonment rate was 431 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents (BJS, 2020). Arizona is #5 in the nation with the highest imprisonment rate, 559 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 state residents (BJS, 2020). As of May 2020, there are currently approximately 5,300 offenders under community supervision in Arizona with a majority (4,600 offenders) serving a Truth in Sentencing (TIS) (ADC, 2020).

Barriers to reintegration: laws and legal restrictions, societal stigma and employer attitudes, limited education, limited cognitive skills, limited work experience, inadequate job skills, unstable housing, inadequate social services, lack of a state-issued identification card, lack of transportation, lack of technological proficiency due to prolonged incarceration, negative community context upon release, and lack of access to healthcare to address needs

Aims of the project ▪ Create and provide programming to parolees for community reintegration focused on essential skills needed for work readiness and socialization. Explore the value of occupational therapy within community corrections and the criminal justice system.

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