Social reaction and redicivism: Resocialization in probation

Stigmatization and exclusion of criminals, problems of adaptation to society and repetition of crimes are important social problems. Based on the current situation, in this study, it is aimed to understand the effect of stigma and exclusion experienced as a result of being included in the criminal justice system in the context of stigma theory on repetition of crime. In addition, the experiences and problems of individuals released from prison and under probation both during the prison and probation period, and the effectiveness of the studies in the fields of social cohesion and employment carried out by the probation were investigated. A phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative research techniques, was adopted in this research, which aims to understand the experiences of being guilty and the effect of social reactions encountered on repetitive criminal behavior. Within the scope of the research, in-depth interviews were conducted with 26 probation officers and 9 ex-convicts whose executions continue in the Probation Directorate in Karaman Province. Interview data were analyzed using the MAXQDA 2022 (Analitics Pro) program. Research results showed that stigma, as a social reality, is a problem that criminal individuals generally face. The experiences of stigmatization and exclusion from the labor market of convicted individuals lead them to commit crimes again. However, promising results have been obtained regarding the effectiveness of re-socialization efforts such as probation's psychosocial support, vocational training activities and business establishment support.