Anticipated Citizenship in the Shadow of Imprisonment

Abstract

This article explores imprisoned men’s anticipation of citizenship, when looking towards release from prison. Based on the subjective meaning citizenship holds for participants themselves, I explore men’s expectations of their citizenship status and experience after release, considering how and whether imprisoned men expect subjectively meaningful citizenship to be realised in their post-prison lives. I argue that imagined future citizenship is not only inhibited by formal restrictions faced on release, but also by the potential longevity of prison’s impact on the self, and perceptions of imprisonment as failing to prepare individuals for ‘normal’ life as citizens.