Individuals released with a felony conviction are almost always required to serve a period of Department of Corrections (DOC) mandated supervision that can range anywhere from 12-36 months. This period of DOC supervision is often referred to as "parole," "community corrections," "community custody" or "community supervision." For the purposes of this study, I utilize the term "community corrections" in direct comparison to parole. At its inception, community corrections was offered as a rehabilitative back-end alternative to incarceration. Today, rehabilitation has been replaced by control and surveillance. As of December 2023, 24,804 individuals were under the control of community corrections in Washington State (DOC publication). This population accounts for almost 65% of the total number of individuals currently controlled by Washington State's Department of Corrections (DOC publication). Despite the far-reaching consequences of community corrections, the experiences of the individuals under its control have long gone underreported. In this study, I explore how individuals navigate the challenges of community corrections. I will collect data from a series of 10-12 qualitative interviews with individuals who have experienced community corrections following a felony conviction. While I am currently in the process of finishing my interviews and conducting my full analysis, one initial finding reveals that individuals navigate the challenges of community corrections by building tools of resilience. Existing research explores the various challenges present in the lives of individuals on community corrections. Few, however, demonstrate the resiliency of these individuals. This research has the potential to amplify the voices and experiences of individuals who are surviving, and in most cases thriving, in spite of an institution whose primary purpose is to send individuals back to prison.

In this research project, I investigate experiences of men and women who have participated in the King County Drug Diversion Court. Drug court is a rehabilitative alternative to individuals facing incarceration for drug related offenses. Eligible drug court participants undergo a five-phase program with the potential for charge dismissal. However, drug court critics raise concerns about coercion and control. Participants in drug court juggle various commitments, including maintaining constant communication with case managers, undergoing regular urinary analyses, finding employment, and fulfilling familial obligations. In this study, I explore how these challenges, often stemming from a one-size-fits-all approach that does not account for gendered life experiences, impact the overall effectiveness of drug court programs.The existing literature predominantly focuses on male participants, neglecting the unique gendered issues faced by women in drug court programs. Research indicates that female participants encounter specific challenges, including homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, unemployment, and a higher likelihood of being the sole caregiver to a child. This study will address the gap in understanding how gender shapes the experience of navigating drug court. To do so, I am conducting semi-structured interviews with impacted people of varying gender identities, to glean insight into participants' family history, experiences within drug court, and perspectives on its impact. Additionally, I am interviewing drug court actors for further contextualization. After interviewing, anonymizing, and transcribing, I expect to find that gender identity impacts peoples' experiences in drug court. My findings illuminate the nuanced gendered experiences within the King County Drug Diversion Court, contributing valuable insights for justice system reform and policymaking. By combining ethnographic methods, qualitative interviews, and insights from existing research, this study illuminates the gendered dynamics within the King County Drug Diversion Court, ultimately informing policy and practice and contributing to a more equitable criminal justice system.