NCJ Number
42061
Journal
Psychiatry Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 175-183
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES SOME CURRENTLY AVAILABLE MEANS OF STRENGTHENING MARITAL AND FAMILY TIES OF THE INCARCERATED OFFENDER AND RECOMMENDS PROCEDURES FOR 'MARITAL THERAPY' WHEN ONLY THE OFFENDER IS AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT.
Abstract
PARADOXICALLY, BEING ABLE TO RETURN TO A SUCCESSFUL AND SATISFYING MARRIAGE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREDICTORS OF POST-RELEASE SUCCESS FOR OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, NUMEROUS ASPECTS OF THE PRISON STRUCTURE AND CULTURE WORK AGAINST MAINTAINING MARRIAGES AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS. THIS ARTICLE FIRST EXAMINES THE TRADITIONAL MEANS OF PRESERVING FAMILY STABILITY DURING IMPRISONMENT, INCLUDING PRISON VISITS, PHONE CALLS, AND LETTERS. TWO NEW PRACTICES, CONJUGAL VISITS AND FAMILY FURLOUGHS, ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. COMMON REACTIONS OF INMATES TO MARITAL CRISES, ESPECIALLY IMPENDING DIVORCE, ARE THEN DESCRIBED. FINALLY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS ON THE CONDUCT OF 'MARITAL THERAPY' WHEN THE THERAPIST HAS ACCESS TO ONLY ONE SPOUSE OR PARTNER ARE PRESENTED. IT IS NOTED THAT IN THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT, THIS TYPE OF THERAPY MAY BE THE ONLY TYPE OF MARITAL COUNSELING AVAILABLE TO THE INMATE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC