Social Reintegration: Comparative approach to pre-release program

Abstract

This academic article presents a comparative study of pre-release preparation programs for incarcerated individuals in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand, with the aim of analyzing policy approaches and implementation strategies for effective social reintegration and recidivism reduction. Drawing on the throughcare framework—which emphasizes continuous support from initial incarceration through post-release—the study highlights how each country designs and operates its reintegration efforts in relation to institutional, community, and individual-level factors. Findings show that Singapore demonstrates one of the most successful and structured throughcare systems globally, supported by strong multi-sectoral collaboration through agencies such as SCORE and the “Captain of Lives” initiative, which redefines prison officers as mentors. Japan integrates rehabilitation and pre-release programs with extensive community involvement, emphasizing vocational training and behavioral change. In contrast, the United States offers a wide range of pre-release programs such as those at the Boston Pre-Release Center, yet faces implementation gaps across states, limiting overall effectiveness. Thailand, despite having a legal mandate under the Corrections Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and alignment with the Mandela Rules, continues to face structural challenges such as prison overcrowding, limited staffing, and insufficient public engagement. The article concludes that while all four countries acknowledge the importance of preparing inmates for reintegration, the level of success depends on program design, policy execution, and societal involvement. Thailand, in particular, could improve reintegration outcomes by adopting wide range programs suiting each individual from the United States, Japan’s cooperation with private sector to establish the center and Singapore’s strong network of entrepreneurs and positive attitude of the officer models to promote social acceptance and public safety.