Carceral Co-dependence: The State as a Facilitator, Disruptor, and Dependent of Support Between Women and System-involved Men

• In Event: Expanding Carcerality

Abstract

While it is well-documented that women provide support for system-involved men, less attention has been paid to the interpersonal dynamics and inner workings of these dependencies, particularly during moments of crisis and across intersecting state systems. In this study, we draw on qualitative data from studies of child support contempt proceedings and commercial bail to examine the emotional and financial entanglement between men, women, and their families under the purview of the carceral state. We introduce the concept of carceral co-dependence, where men’s state-induced reliance on women becomes both mutual and unequal, reinforcing gendered and racialized hierarchies within intimate relationships. Our findings underscore the carceral state as a sustained, extractive force that deepens material and affective need. Over time, the emotional and financial strain of providing support destabilizes families, leading to ruptured ties or enduring relationships. The latter outcome highlights the durability of support even under the weight of coercive dependencies. Further, we examine how the state benefits from these dynamics, creating the conditions for ruptured ties while relying on women and families’ continued support of their loved ones. By unpacking carceral co-dependence's emotional and financial toll, we illustrate how state-imposed dependencies shape family dynamics and perpetuate inequality.

Authors

• Faith Deckard, University of California, Los Angeles

• Stephane D. Andrade, Vassar College