Stigmatisation of former prisoners in social workers’ accounts
Stigmatisation of former prisoners in social workers’ accounts

Summary/Abstract: The article draws attention to the existence of stigmatization components in the way social workers perceive former prisoners. The analyses take into consideration the context of the possibility for social reintegration of persons who have experienced incarceration. The article presents the outline of the stigmatization pattern and the image of former prisoners in social workers’ accounts. The article also raises the issues of the possibilities of changing social workers’ perception of former prisoners, considered to be a prerequisite for their social reintegration. Uninstructed interviews were used.Most accounts presented by female social workers contained stigmatization components (al-though in various contexts and intensity) focused on differentiating former prisoners from the society and attributing undesirable characteristics to them that reflect the pre-formed stereotypes. Labelling of former prisoners related to loss of status and to discrimination can also be seen in the social workers’ accounts.

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