Benefits and Barriers to Employing Former Prisoners as Street Outreach Workers: The Perspectives of Social Welfare and Prison System Professionals (The Polish Case)

This article explores the perceived benefits and barriers associated with employing former prisoners as street outreach workers, based on the perspectives of social welfare and prison system professionals. The study aims to contribute to discussions on collaborative approaches to social reintegration and community-based support for socially excluded populations. A qualitative study was conducted between January and March 2025 using in-depth individual interviews. The sample consisted of 30 participants, including 15 social welfare workers and 15 prison officers with professional experience in working with individuals leaving prison. The findings indicate that employing former prisoners as street outreach workers is perceived as offering potential benefits, such as increased credibility, authenticity, and improved engagement with hard-to-reach groups, alongside significant concerns related to emotional stability, institutional readiness, and the risk of role strain. The results suggest that this model may represent an innovative form of support for social reintegration when embedded within appropriate structures of preparation, supervision, and inter-institutional cooperation. The study contributes to ongoing debates on peer-based support and post-prison employment by highlighting professional perceptions of both opportunities and limitations associated with this approach.