NCJ Number
148015
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1994) Pages: 17-32
Date Published
1994
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A survey of adult visitors to two State prisons for adult male felons was conducted to examine the dynamics of the prisoner-visitor relationship and the importance of that relationship to release success.
Abstract
Surveys were completed by 184 visitors to an urban prison and 194 visitors to a rural prison. The results of the analysis suggest that family unity as manifested in visits may vary by relationship and may depend on a variety of factors beyond the control of either the prisoner or his visitor. The most precarious relationship is between the inmate and his wife; many wives of convicted felons divorce their incarcerated husbands. The strength of an inmate's marriage appears to be related to the length of his sentence. The parent-child relationship does not appear to be subject to as many of these stresses, since most parents in the sample tried to maintain their relationship with the prisoner. The marital status of the parents in the sample and the indication that prisoners' siblings follow the visiting pattern set by their parents suggest that prisoner-family unit is a phenomenon that will prevail in spite of the problems raised by the incarceration of a family member. 6 tables and 34 references