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18 J. Soc. & Soc. Welfare 87 (1991)
Family Ties during Imprisonment: Important to Whom and for What

handle is hein.journals/jrlsasw18 and id is 87 raw text is: Family Ties During Imprisonment: Important to Whom and For What?* CREASIE FINNEY HAIRSTON Indiana University School of Social Work This paper reviews research on the social functions of prisoner-family ties. Three areas are examined: the preservation of marital units and parent- child bonds; the individual well-being of prisoners, children and other family members; and the prisoner's post-release success. The literature indicates that the maintenance of family ties during imprisonment is desirable, but difficult. Benefits suggested by empirical findings include decreased rates of recidivism following imprisonment, improved mental health of inmates and other family members, and an increased probability of reunification of the family household following imprisonment. The paper concludes with the identification of an agenda to guide future policy and program-oriented research. Prisoners' family relationships and social networks outside the prison are emerging as a major corrections and social ser- vices issue. The strengthening of family ties is being promoted as a correctional treatment strategy (Bloom, 1987; Flanagan, 1982; Mustin, 1984; Policy Recommendations on Families of Adult Criminal Offenders, 1986; Showalter and Jones, 1980) and major changes in corrections communications policies sup- port movement in that direction. Family-oriented services, al- most nonexistent a decade ago, are developing in institutional and community settings (Family Resource Coalition, 1985; Fish- man and Cassin, 1981; Hairston and Lockett, 1987; Howser and McDonald, 1982) and a range of services including children's centers in prison, private family visits, and visitors' hospitality houses, are being advocated. Families of prisoners (there are over 500,000 on any given day) are organizing to assure that the ability to communicate with imprisoned kin is enhanced *This paper is based on a presentation made at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, Chicago, Illinois, August 1987.

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