Patterns of Reentry Concerns Among Incarcerated People in Belgium: Insights From a Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

The transition from prison to the community is often marked by challenges across multiple life domains, underscoring the need for a multidimensional perspective on reentry. Although such challenges can result in concerns about reentry during incarceration, little is known about these concerns. This study uses survey data from incarcerated individuals (N = 716) across fifteen Flemish and Brussels prisons (Belgium) to examine the heterogeneity of reentry concerns from a multidimensional perspective. A Latent Class Analysis identified five distinct patterns: unconcerned (24.80%), subsistence-concerned (39.09%), intrapersonal and discrimination-concerned (21.13%), all-around-concerned (9.64%), and social-support-concerned (5.34%) individuals. Bivariate analyses showed associations between class membership and educational level, nationality, intended country of residence post-release, homeownership, and psychological distress. These findings highlight the multidimensional and person-specific nature of reentry concerns, emphasizing the need for reintegration strategies that address both material and psychosocial needs. The identified classes offer clear entry points for more responsive, targeted interventions.

Plain language summary

Patterns of concerns about life after prison among people in prison in Belgium

Leaving prison and returning to society is difficult. People often face challenges in different parts of life, like finding housing, getting a job, staying mentally healthy, or reconnecting with family or friends. Understandably, many worry about these things even before release. While research has shown that people in prison often have such concerns, most studies focus on only a few areas, like work or family. Less is known about concerns related to mental health, discrimination, or social isolation. This study looked at a broader range of concerns among people in prison. We asked over 700 incarcerated individuals in Flanders and Brussels (Belgium) to complete a questionnaire about their concerns after release. Using a method that groups people based on their answer patterns, we identified five types of concern profiles. About 1 in 4 had few or no worries, while 4 in 10 were mostly concerned about basic needs like money or housing. About 1 in 5 had strong concerns about mental health or discrimination. Around 1 in 10 worried about everything, and the smallest group (5.3%) was mostly worried about having enough support from others. We also found that personal characteristics (like education level, nationality, whether someone had children, homeownership, psychological distress) were linked to the type of concerns people had. These findings show that concerns about life after prison vary widely. People face different combinations of concerns depending on their background and situation. That means support shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Instead, services should be tailored, offering help with both practical needs and emotional well-being, depending on what each person needs most.