Enabling agency in constrained contexts: How restorative entrepreneuring supports reintegration post-incarceration

This article explores how agency is enabled in highly constrained contexts as at-risk individuals engage in restorative entrepreneuring. Focusing on the entrepreneurial journeys of 10 former prisoners after their release, the research reveals a complex process of reintegration, in which agency is both hindered and enabled as individuals move from the structured environment of prison to the challenges of the external business world. Through life-story research and process-tracing analysis, we show that successful rehabilitation requires individuals to navigate a delicate balance: enabling their agency through entrepreneurship while also relinquishing control to replicate the supportive structures they had in prison. Our findings highlight the iterative nature of this process and emphasise the critical role of societal and systemic support in facilitating both reintegration and positive entrepreneurial outcomes. This research highlights the challenges former prisoners face in rebuilding their lives and careers, illustrating the intricate balance required to regain agency and achieve long-term stability.