We Found Love in a Hopeless Place: Women Dating the Imprisoned Man

• In Event: Convict Criminology 3: New Research Papers

Abstract

Criminal desistance studies have noted that romantic relationships and marriage often represent “turning points” for offenders, providing the impetus for one to quit crime. This may manifest itself via changes in routine activities, the dissolution of peer groups, or a transformation of self. The hypothesized benefits of romance for a criminal are well-known; what remains unknown are the benefits for those who choose to initiate and persist in romantic relationships with criminals. To explore this issue, our study advances this line of inquiry by focusing on women who have engaged in romantic relationships with incarcerated offenders. Using semi-structured interviews conducted via telephone, we interviewed women currently or previously engaged in romantic relationships with the incarcerated.Results from this study may shed light on the benefits of romance for the women, destigmatize these relationships, improve correctional policy regarding romantic relationships, and provide an avenue for future research in this area

Authors

• Justine Ashley Medrano, University of Texas at Dallas

• Zachary Powell, University of Texas at Dallas