Circuits of exclusion: Criminalized women's negotiation of community

Abstract

In Canada, relatively little research has been conducted on the post-prison experiences of women returning to the community. This paper examines how women experience community and reintegration after leaving prison. Interviews were conducted with 68 women across Canada who had served time in federal institutions. The findings indicate that "risk thinking"-the discursive narrative of the correctional system-contributes to the isolation and marginalization of this group of women. The paper concludes with recommendations from participants for the development of peer support networks to help them negotiate "circuits of exclusion" (Rose, 2000).