NCJ Number
37490
Date Published
1976
Length
111 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT ON THE FAMILIES OF NEGRO PRISONERS AT THE MEDIUM SECURITY DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REFORMATORY FOR MEN IN LORTON (VA).
Abstract
THE MAIN AIM OF THE STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE WHETHER IMPRISONMENT OF MARRIED MEN AT THE REFORMATORY RESULTED IN HARDSHIPS BEING PLACED ON THE FAMILIES OF THESE MEN. THE RESEARCHER CONDUCTED A 15 ITEM FAMILY CHANGE SCALE TO MEASURE THE CHANGES IN THE FAMILIES AFTER THE INCARCERATION OF THE FAMILY HEAD. THIS SCALE WAS ADMINISTERED TO THE WIVES DURING INTERVIEWS. INMATES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED. THE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED BETWEEN JULY AND OCTOBER, 1965. IN VIEW OF THE ANSWERS HE RECEIVED TO OPEN-ENDED AND STRUCTURED QUESTIONS, THE RESEARCHER CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPRISONMENT OF MARRIED MEN AT THE REFORMATORY CAUSED EMOTIONAL AND SEXUAL HARDSHIPS ON THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THESE MEN. HE RECOMMENDED INCREASING THE USE OF FAMILY COUNSELING AT THE PRISON, INCREASING VISITING PRIVILEGES, INITIATING A FREE VISITORS' TRAVEL SERVICE FOR POOR FAMILIES, AND INTRODUCING THE USE OF CONJUGAL VISITS AND HOME FURLOUGHS FOR MARRIED INMATES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)