NCJ Number
46007
Journal
JOINT ENDEAVOR Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 22-27
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY DEVELOPED, CARRIED OUT, AND ANALYZED BY THE STUDENTS OF A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COURSE GIVEN AT THE PATUXENT INSTITUTE, JESSUP, MARYLAND, BY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE, IS REPORTED.
Abstract
THE PATUXENT INSTITUTE IS A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ADULT CRIMINAL OFFENDERS WHO WERE CONVICTED OF CRIMES CONDUCTED BY THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE WAS INSTITUTED IN THE FALL OF 1975 AND AROUND 70 STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS WORKING TOWARD ASSOCIATE OF ART DEGREES, MOSTLY IN THE HUMAN SERVICES AREA. THIS SURVEY WAS A CLASS PROJECT CONDUCTED DURING THE SPRING OF 1977. THE STUDENTS HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO A REPORT OF RESEARCH ON THE CHILDREN OF IMPRISONED FATHERS BY A GUEST LECTURER, WHO ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SURVEY INSTRUMENT AND INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES. THE GOAL OF THE SURVEY WAS TO DETERMINE THE INMATE FATHER'S VIEW OF THE EFFECT OF IMPRISONMENT ON HIS FAMILY AND ON HIMSELF. THIS WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL SURVEY; NO ACCESS TO OFFICIAL RECORDS WAS SOUGHT. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE 40 INMATES SURVEYED REPRESENT 15 TO 20 PERCENT OF THE FATHERS CONFINED AT PATUXENT. EACH STUDENT WAS ASKED TO INTERVIEW ANOTHER INMATE WHO SAID HE WAS A FATHER AND WOULD COOPERATE IN AN INTERVIEW; THE CLASS STUDENTS WHO ARE FATHERS ALSO COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES. ACTUAL QUESTIONS OR RELATIVE CATEGORIES OF THE QUESTIONING ARE INCLUDED IN THE TEXT WITH A PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN OF THE RESPONSES. THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE RESPONDENTS WAS 33.1;17 RESPONDENTS WERE DIVORCED, 14 MARRIED, 5 SEPARATED, 3 SINGLE, AND 1 DID NOT NOTE A MARITAL STATUS. MARRIED INMATES ON THE AVERAGE WERE OLDER THAN THE DIVORCED AND SINGLE MEN. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN REPORTED WAS 84, AND THE SUBJECT TYPICALLY WAS 21 AT THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD. THE AVERAGE RESPONDENT HAD SERVED 4.33 YEARS OF HIS CURRENT SENTENCE AND EXPECTED RELEASE IN ABOUT A YEAR. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY AVERAGE AT PATUXENT BUT WOULD BE HIGHER THAN THE GENERAL INMATE POPULATION OF THE STATE OR COUNTRY. OF THE 15 INMATES WHO HAD SERVED LONGER PERIODS, 60 PERCENT WERE DIVORCED OR SEPARATED. IN TERMS OF FATHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS, 3 GROUPS WERE IDENTIFIED: 15 HAD REGULAR, POSITIVE CONTACT WITH THEIR CHILDREN; 15 HAD NO CONTACT WITH THEIR CHILDREN; AND 10 HAD INTERMITTENT OR UNSATISFACTORY CONTACT. MOST OF THE CHILDREN WERE IN THE CARE OF THEIR MOTHERS, SO FOR THE INMATES TO MAINTAIN CONTACT, THE MOTHER'S COOPERATION WAS NECESSARY. MANY OF THOSE IN THE FIRST GROUP WERE STILL MARRIED AND PLANNED TO RETURN TO THEIR FAMILIES. THOSE IN CONTACT WITH THEIR CHILDREN DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM PRIOR TO ARREST AND CONVICTION. THE PERIOD BETWEEN ARREST AND SENTENCING WAS MORE LKELY TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE FATHER-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AFTER IMPRISONMENT THAN THE PREARREST PERIOD. FATHERS WITH COOPERATIVE WIVES AND REGULAR VISITS TENDED TO MAINTAIN A FAMILY ROLE, WHILE THOSE OUT OF CONTACT WERE MORE LIKELY TO EXPRESS BITTERNESS, INDIFFERENCE, OR GUILT IN REGARD TO THEIR FAMILIES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING WHAT MEASURES FATHERS WHO ARE ABOUT TO ENTER PRISON SHOULD TAKE CONCERNING THEIR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. IF CONTACT WITH THEIR CHILDREN IS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF THE MARRIAGE HAS ENDED, THEY SHOULD STRIVE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT. IF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THEY SEEK HELP IN DEVELOPING OTHER RELATIONSHIPS AND PLANS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THE WIFE OR THE CHILDREN. (KBL)