Intimate Partner Violence During the Transition From Prison to the Community: Perspectives of Incarcerated African American Men

• NCJ Number: 224000
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: 2008 Pages: 258-276
• Author(s): William Oliver; Creasie Finney Hairston
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For related articles see NCJ-223998-99, and 224001-04

Annotation

This report presents findings from a large pilot study designed to examine the intersection of prisoner reentry and intimate partner violence (IPV) in the African-American community.

Abstract

The findings strongly suggest that men in prison need assistance in reuniting with their wives and girlfriends when they return to the community in order to avoid engaging in behavior toward them that may lead to domestic violence, parole revocation, or other problems. In addition, men who have experienced the termination of their relationships with wives and girlfriends during the course of their incarceration need assistance in managing their feelings and behavior toward women with whom they formerly maintained an intimate relationship. To achieve these goals, correctional and parole departments must assume a proactive role in developing staff trainings, prisoner reentry curricula, and programs that address the intersection of incarceration and intimate partner relationships as a component of comprehensive offender reentry initiatives designed to reduce prisoner recidivism. Research on prisoner reentry and parole recidivism has primarily placed emphasis on how factors such as unemployment, substance abuse, and inadequate housing among recently released prisoners adversely impact successful prisoner reentry. Consequently, little research has been done on the intersection of prisoner reentry and intimate partner violence (IPV). In an effort to advance what is known about IPV following a period of incarceration, findings are presented which emerged from a pilot study designed to inform the Safe Return Initiative, a U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women federally funded technical assistance project intended to enhance the capacity of domestic violence and prisoner reentry Federal grantees to more effectively address relationship conflict and domestic violence during a man’s transition from prison to the community. References