“The Problem’s Too Big for Us”: The Promises and Perils of Community-Corrections Partnerships

ABSTRACT The present study uses the results of semi-structured interviews and participant observation with non-uniformed correctional staff and administrators in eight U.S. state prison systems to examine community-corrections partnerships in the areas of education, vocational training, reentry preparation, and psychosocial wellbeing. Through analysis derived from literature on the “what works” movement in corrections, volunteerism in prison, and correctional outsourcing, our findings suggest that community-corrections partnerships can provide a sense of purpose and hope for incarcerated individuals, support reentry preparedness, and reestablish community connections. However, such partnerships also generate challenges related to institutional capacity, security, and conflicting interests. Our findings suggest that correctional staff and administrators should incorporate qualitative impact evaluation methods describing how and why programs work, adopt LEAN methods of volunteer management, and support a human services lens regarding staff roles.