title: Brief report: Past, present, emergent and future identities of young inmates.
abstract: This study aims to investigate how young inmates integrate temporal and contextual elements of identity and what is the role of education in identity integration. Twenty-six young inmates were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed that inmates integrated the elements of four time identities using different mechanisms to deal with each identity: (a) Past identity (before imprisonment) is defined by cumulative risk factors, where detachment from family, society, and institutions prevails; (b) present identity is characterized by the engagement in prison's educational activities; (c) emergent identity (until their release) is characterized by their requests for a proper education and training and their commitment to acquire qualifications; (d) future identity (after their release) is characterized by the investment on future aims for personal growth, family, education/work and community. Inmates used the non-formal educational program, which was offered in prison, as a vehicle towards positive identity contemplation.
authors.affiliation: Neapolis University Pafos, Cyprus. Electronic address: o.solomontos-kountouri@nup.ac.cy.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Solomontos-Kountouri
authors.affiliation: Foundation of Sophia Polyzoidou - Chrysiliou Georgeou, Cyprus.
authors.forename: Panayiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hatzittofi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Education; Identity; Integration; Qualitative research; Young inmates