Sociological Analysis of Re-socialization Narratives (Case Study: Prisoners Working in Vocational Training and Employment Centers in Tehran Prisons)

The present study was designed to provide the results of an in-depth study on the re-socialization of criminals. Since the purpose of this punishment, in addition to society's reaction to acts of aggression, is the re-socialization of criminals, so the purpose of this study is to analyze the sociological narratives of re-socialization of prisoners working in vocational training and employment units in Tehran prisons.

In terms of its objectives the present study is of an applied research type and in terms of implementation method it is considered as a landing approach and naturalistic. The study population consisted of prisoners working in the employment and vocational training centers of Tehran prisons. The research sampling method was purposeful and the theoretical saturation criterion was the basic criterion for sample selection. The data were collected using interviews and narrative analysis was used to analyze the data obtained from in-depth interviews.

Findings from the summary of interviews show that prisoners consider the most important motivation for attending employment units as the avoidance of daily discipline in closed wards in order to use some privileges such as visits and convenient and accessible telephone as well as monthly leave to solve the concerns related to family livelihood.

Vocational training and employment programs for prisoners are always designed and implemented from the top down, while in order to re-socialize criminals, the reflection of prisoners' interests and job talents is ignored, which means that bottom-up planning will be more effective. Also, payment of wages and insurance in accordance with the labor law and ensuring the support of the government and support centers are very important in creating employment after release, in the quality of readmission of criminals present in prison education and vocational training programs.