Increasing Social Support in Justice-Involved Populations

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 24, 2021
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Session Type: Workshop

Positive social support exists in several forms: instrumental (tangible), expressive (emotional), perceived (valued), and received (actual). Instrumental support provides resources such as financial assistance and help with transportation, whereas expressive support offers individuals a ‘sounding board’ for discussion and advice on how to navigate life’s challenges. Perceived support is intrinsic and received support focuses on pooled resources. A sample of justice-involved individuals were surveyed on the types of social support they received prior to crime involvement. Respondents were asked to think back to 30 days prior to the offense for which they were involved with the criminal justice system and identify social support levels at that time. The goal was to capture social support pre-offense as a baseline and how to increase it moving forward. Practical implications include working with community corrections officials develop a list of programs and services which may increase types of social support for justice-involved individuals.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Mr. Phillip Michael Galli
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin River Falls


Phillip M. Galli is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Criminology, & Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls (UWRF). His research interests include community corrections and the role of family social support in the lives of offenders. Phil’s dissertation focuses on the relationship of social support prior to a period of incarceration and social support inside of prison. Prior to working in academics, Phil worked as a probation/parole officer in Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois.


Shawn Trusten
Planning Specialist, Ramsey County Community Corrections


Phil worked as a probation/parole officer in Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois. Shawn M. Trusten is an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Sociology, Criminology, & Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin – River Falls (UWRF) and has worked in the field of Community Corrections for over 17 years in several different capacities. His research interests include desistance and the risk-need-responsivity principle. He was also the co-host of a podcast, The Criminologists.