The Experiences of Post-Release Social Support in Relation to Visitation Experiences

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

Abstract

A contributing factor in successful community reentry relies on an incarcerated individuals’ ability to maintain and strengthen social bonds. Research tends to suggest this maintenance is best facilitated though visitation with family and friends during incarceration, though these experiences are multifaceted. Benefits of prison visitation include improved safety within correctional institutions and reductions in post-release recidivism though economic and emotional strains also are associated with prison visitation. Many incarcerated individuals do not receive frequent visitation, due to both resource deprivation and choice. The multilayered nature of visitation experiences raises questions as to whether the support received (or not received) translates to how individuals navigate reentry upon release, particularly their social support experiences. Using qualitative interviews involving formerly incarcerated individuals, this study compares differences in incarceration and reentry experiences. By using comparative analyses, we question how visitation experiences relate to social support and relationships post-release. While most formerly incarcerated persons receive support, the nature of and response to this support varies, highlighting the complexity of social relationships among this population.

Authors

• Breanne Pleggenkuhle, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

• Monica Summers, California State University, Fresno