This session explores the factors influencing prisoners’ expectations for life after release, using data from a 2017 survey of 381 prisoners across 28 Swiss prisons. Prior research has shown that a hopeful post-release outlook can support desistance from crime. However, limited studies have examined what fosters such optimism. This presentation considers a broad range of influencing factors, including (a) personal background (e.g., age, education, children), (b) conviction and imprisonment conditions (e.g., offense type, sentence length), (c) prison life (e.g., relationships with staff and fellow inmates, prison climate), and (d) psychological and social aspects (e.g., self-control, criminal peer networks).
Findings may provide insights into prison policies and rehabilitation programs to foster positive post-release expectations. The results of the study and its practical implications will be discussed with the audience.
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Anna Isenhardt
Professor, Kiel University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Anna Isenhardt, PhD, is a social worker and criminologist, holds a doctorate in sociology and is a professor of social work in the context of delinquency at Kiel University of Applied Sciences. Her research focuses in particular on the prison system. In this context, she has conducted research on topics such as working and leadership in prison, prison violence, security and disciplinary offenses, prison social climate, the prison experience of prisoners in general and of older prisoners. Her other research interests include victim research and cybercrime.
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Conor P. Mangold
Research Assistant, University of Bern, Switzerland
Conor P. Mangold, Msc, is a sociologist and a research assistant at the Prison Research Group at the Institute for Penal Law and Criminology (University of Bern). His interests in criminology include prison studies, specifically how staff members experience their work within the prison system, critical criminology, historical criminology, and penology in general. He has primarily conducted research within the prison system but has also worked on projects related to violence and ethics in sports.
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Ueli Hostettler
Senior Researcher / Professor, University of Bern / Berne University of Teacher Education (PHBern), Switzerland
Ueli Hostettler, PhD, is a social anthropologist, head of the Prison Research Group at the Institute for Penal Law and Criminology (University of Bern) and professor at the Berne University of Teacher Education (PHBern). His interest in criminology includes prison studies in general, the situation of prison staff, prison violence and end-of-life in prison. As principal investigator, he has been responsible for several major research projects on prison staff, which were funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (http://prisonresearch.ch).