Exploring the Reentry Narratives of Formerly Incarcerated Black Women: Implications for Transformative Change

Background and Purpose:
Research on post-incarceration highlights the stigma and structural barriers that complicate reentry. Few studies use an intersectionality approach to capture complex experiences shaped by race, gender, and systemic inequities. Black women in the U.S. face incarceration within a uniquely oppressive context influenced by racism, sexism, and poverty. Upon release, they encounter housing instability, employment discrimination, and mandated compliance with legal and welfare systems; while trying to navigate stigma tied to incarceration and gendered and racialized stereotypes. This study centers the voices of formerly incarcerated Black women, offering their insights and recommendations for transformative practice and policy changes in reentry support and systemic change.

Methods:
This institutional review board-approved qualitative study explored the reentry experiences of eight formerly incarcerated Black women. Participants in the study were recruited through community networks and reentry support organizations to prioritize community engagement and collaboration. After obtaining informed consent and providing study compensation ($25 Walmart gift), semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually or by phone with each participant, averaging approximately two hours each. The analysis focused on responses to two questions: (1) What would a reentry program tailored to your needs look like? and (2) What specific needs should it address? Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Two researchers independently coded a subset of transcripts to ensure reliability. Trustworthiness was supported through member checking during interviews. Using an intersectionality lens, the analysis prioritized participant voice and the sociopolitical context of their experiences to create themes.

Results:
Participants emphasized the inadequacy of one-size-fits-all programming, advocating for reentry models that are holistic, person-centered, and grounded in lived experience. Three key themes emerged for a tailored reentry program for Black women in the U.S.:

• Mental and emotional wellness: Participants highlighted the importance of therapy, peer mentorship, and emotional support following reentry. One participant shared, “I need a counselor, you know, support on in the aspect of mental, you know, like it is really been a... battle for me. You know, just trying to come out of that depression and, you know, anxiety...”
• Housing and employment: Stable housing and access to employment opportunities free from stigma. As one participant noted, “Housing, credit, employment... That alone will change a woman’s outlook...”
• Dignity and Identity: Participants rejected one-size-fits-all programming, emphasizing the need for reentry support that fosters deep personal, and emotional reconnection with self, family, and community. One participant explained, “If I'm a circle, you can't force me a side of a square... So I would say that the program, it would have to accommodate all the shapes...”

Conclusions and Implications:
The study findings offer practitioner-informed insights to guide responsive, equitable reentry programs. Grounded in the experiences of Black women post-incarceration, the study underscores the need to align social work research with policy and practice for meaningful change. Collaboration with the most impacted is essential. For researchers and practitioners, these narratives offer a roadmap for creating programs rooted in healing, belonging, and liberation.