Second chances: understanding the racialized barriers facing formerly incarcerated students in higher education

The higher education landscape in the United States mirrors broader societal inequalities experienced by formerly incarcerated people seeking access to colleges and universities. This conceptual paper employs Ray’s theory of racialized organizations to explore how structural barriers faced by formerly incarcerated students, with a particular focus on Black men, who are disproportionately represented in both the criminal justice and higher education systems. Utilizing Ray’s core tenets, diminished agency, the legitimatization of unequal distribution of resources, whiteness as a credential, and a racialized decoupling of formal rules from organizational practice, we analyze how higher education institutions function as racialized spaces impacting this population. Specifically, we explore how these dynamics impact admission practices, financial aid restrictions, academic readiness, campus climate, stigmas and mental health support. We conclude with implications for institutional accountability and offer recommendations to support this population as we argue that without substantial shifts in policies and practices, higher education institutions will continue to perpetuate barriers rather than offer a second chance for formerly incarcerated Black men.