Lahny Silva

Community Engagement at its “Best”: A Holistic Approach to Prisoner Reentry

Professor Lahny Silva's research centers on improving outcomes around offender reentry and criminal recidivism. These issues impact public safety. Successful reentry is critical not only to the stability of the individual offender, but also to the strengthening of family units and the improvement of overall community health. Criminal recidivism typically means more crime. Moreover, high rates of imprisonment are geographically clustered in “hot spots” that are predicted by social factors correlated to urban disadvantage - poverty, unemployment, family disruption, and racial seclusion. These communities overwhelmingly bear the burdens associated with imprisonment and are not safer. Sociological studies report that these communities are considerably damaged when those released from prison return with reduced political, economic, and social opportunities and status. Successful reentry can make all the difference.

Professor Silva's research project hopes to build on the community work of the IU McKinney School of Law reentry clinic by forming a partnership with the IU School of Social Work. Focusing on civil legal barriers, the reentry clinic assists people released from prison navigate reentry related issues such as getting valid driver's licenses, securing employment, etc.. To better facilitate a successful reintegration, best practices encourage a holistic approach. Social work fills this gap.

Professor Silva's translation of research into using the reentry clinic to bring hope and help to an often neglected and overlooked group of people that do not typically have access to systems of justice is another excellent example of how IUPUI's faculty members are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.