Rebuilding Lives: The Intersection of Reintegration and Psychological Distress after Incarceration for Genocide

This article explores the reentry and reintegration of Rwandans who were incarcerated for genocide. Previous research indicates that these individuals are experiencing psychological distress, and we analyze the determinants of this distress in this study. Specifically, we assess three waves of longitudinal data following 185 Rwandans whom we interviewed before their release and approximately four months and one year afterward. We find that psychosocial distress generally improved after completing one’s sentence. Such improvement can be explained through securing a livelihood, (re)establishing social relationships, and feeling politically integrated. All three pathways have much stronger relationships with the well-being of those who participated in more severe crimes, who also saw starker improvements than those who engaged in less serious crimes. These findings suggest a region-β paradox wherein people cope better when anticipating more severe circumstances, including the difficulties of reentering a society where one is regarded as a genocidaire.