Through the use of semi-structured, in-depth interviews, this qualitative study focuses on more proximal outcomes, exploring how reentering individuals who are receiving volunteer mentoring through a transitional housing program define successful reentry and perceive the value of different types of support they received from their mentors.
Social support appears to be important in improving outcomes for incarcerated individuals during the reentry process, not only in terms of general well-being but also in gaining employment and avoiding recidivism. Mentoring programs have become increasingly popular interventions that are intended to provide such support during reentry; however, research on mentoring programs is limited and tends to focus solely on the programs' impact on recidivism, a distal outcome.