Presentation Schedule
Les Miserables Revisited: Reintegration of the Imprisoned into Society (101715)
Session Chair: Amy Eisenberg
This presentation will be live-streamed via Zoom (Online Access)
Monday, 9 February 2026 14:10
Session: Session 2
Room: Live-Stream Room 2
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
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Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables offers a timeless exploration of incarceration, reintegration, and the human condition through the character of Jean Valjean. Imprisoned for nineteen years for the theft of a loaf of bread, Valjean’s struggle upon release mirrors the enduring challenges faced by modern parolees. This paper examines the parallels between Valjean’s fictional journey and the lived realities of those navigating parole today, highlighting the persistence of “invisible punishments” that extend beyond formal sentencing. These include restricted access to housing, employment, government assistance, and civic participation, which collectively reinforce stigma and impede reintegration. The study traces the historical evolution of parole, from Alexander Maconochie’s mark system and Sir Walter Crofton’s Irish model to Zebulon Brockway’s reforms in the United States, and considers how parole’s intent has shifted from rehabilitation toward surveillance. Contemporary statistics on parolee demographics underscore the disproportionate impact of incarceration on disadvantaged populations, particularly Black and Latino men, and the compounded challenges posed by poverty, limited education, and untreated mental illness. Drawing on criminological frameworks and reintegration models, including the APIC approach (Assess, Plan, Identify, Coordinate), the paper emphasizes six critical factors influencing desistance: substance abuse, employment, family support, peer networks, motivation, and age. By juxtaposing Valjean’s transformation—enabled by compassion and opportunity—with the systemic barriers confronting today’s parolees, the analysis calls for more humanistic, coordinated approaches to reentry. Ultimately, the lessons of Hugo’s narrative highlight the necessity of reducing stigma, expanding support systems, and recognizing the contributions of the formerly incarcerated as essential members of society.
Authors:
Amy Eisenberg, Drew University, United States
Barry Eisenberg, SUNY Empire State University, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Amy Eisenberg is a Independent Scholar at Atlantic Health System in United States
See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule
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