Racial and Ethnic Variation in the Effect of Visitation on Recidivism

• In Event: Contact with the Outside World: Visits and Relationships Beyond the Prison Walls

Abstract

Mass incarceration disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Blacks and Hispanics, and one consequence is that inmates from these groups typically have a higher rate of recidivism relative to White inmates. Although prior studies have found that visitation—presumably by improving social ties and providing inmates with access to important resources upon release—reduces recidivism, it remains unclear whether this effect is consistent across different racial and ethnic groups. Variation in this effect is plausible given racial and ethnic differences in social support, social capital, and structural disadvantages in the communities to which inmates return. Against this backdrop, this study uses data from the Florida Department of Corrections to examine whether the effect of visitation on recidivism varies by race and ethnicity. The research and policy implications of this study are discussed.

Authors

• Raven Stewart, Florida State University

• William Bales, Florida State University