Youth transitions and social exclusion: An empirical study of young ex-offenders’ reintegration in China

Youth crime is one of the most critical issues faced by many countries around the world, and it has been identified as a significant national problem for China’s ongoing social transition. Youth crime is not only related to many other social problems but also triggers a series of moral crises in society. The Chinese government, social service organizations, and local communities have been trying to devise a comprehensive, effective system to tackle the issues of disorderly behavior and youth crime (Wang, 2006). However, these researchers and practitioners overemphasize prevention and punishment of youth criminal behaviors, rather than focusing on the rehabilitation and reintegration of young offenders. In China, such a misplaced emphasis has led to high recidivism rates and relevant social problems. Therefore, this chapter aims to obtain a general understanding of the crime-desistance transitional life and social reintegration experiences of young exoffenders. Specifically, an exploratory, qualitative study was conducted to investigate the social exclusion that four young ex-offenders experienced when they re-entered Chinese society. Their own and relevant stakeholders’ experiences and views were analyzed. Three themes around reintegration and social exclusion-social ties and support; social discrimination and labeling; and opportunities to education, training, or work-were derived from the interviews and discussed on the basis of criminological and sociological theories (social support theory, labeling theory, and human and social capitals). Relevant implications and recommendations are provided for academic thinking and policy making.