Voices Beyond Bars: Formerly Incarcerated Women’s Barriers and Facilitators to Reintegration

Formerly incarcerated women (FIW) face personal, societal, and systemic barriers to reintegration. Occupational therapy professionals (OTPs) are called to support marginalized groups and advocate for change. Guided by the Framework of Occupational Justice, this qualitative study examined how barriers and facilitators shape FIW's occupational participation and experiences of occupational injustice. Interviews with 20 FIW explored post-incarceration experiences in home, work, health, and social engagement. Data were analyzed thematically and organized into personal, societal, and systemic categories. Personally, FIW's self-efficacy and drive/persistence rebuilt their occupational identity, while choice overload contributed to occupational imbalance. Societally, support/opportunity, environment, and stigma/discrimination shaped the degree of help received, promoting or hindering occupational alienation. Systemically, parole/probation, state resources, and legislation facilitated reintegration or reinforced continued institutionalization, leading to occupational deprivation. Post-release challenges highlighted OTPs' role and advocacy with FIW.