Date of Award

Summer 8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Sociology & Criminal Justice

Program/Concentration

Criminology and Criminal Justice

Committee Director

Vanessa R. Panfil

Committee Member

Derek P. Siegel

Committee Member

Heith Copes

Abstract

LGBTQ people are disproportionately targeted by the criminal legal system and overrepresented in the carceral system. Despite current research in queer criminology examining the impacts of the carceral system on the community, there is a dearth of literature examining LGBTQ people’s experiences or identity disclosure once released from the Prison Industrial Complex and into the Prisoner Reentry Industry. Using unique methodologies of photo-elicitation interviews and in-depth interviews, the current study examines how ten formerly incarcerated LGBTQ people navigate returning to society post-incarceration. The study found two distinct experiences. The first group was selective about who they shared their LGBTQ identity with, especially while incarcerated and after their release, and faced few challenges during their reentry. The second group was open about their identity with anyone, including while in the carceral system, and experienced difficulties during reentry. The two groups experienced some similarities by having several similar challenges in the Prisoner Reentry Industry; however, as their stories unfolded, those who disclosed their identity faced unique experiences that separated them from the other participants. The use of photo-elicitation interviews provided imagery of safer spaces in nature that participants adventured to, places they avoided related to their incarceration, spaces they lived in, and moments of triumph.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/2gbd-d942

ISBN

9798193214373

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