The effects of prisoner attachment to family on re-entry outcomes: a longitudinal assessment

Strong family support networks are regularly identified in the search for effective inhibitors of criminal behaviour but have rarely been empirically examined in the context of the prison population. Furthermore, we know little about the factors that may weaken or indeed enhance these bonds during a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Brunton-Smith, Ian (Author)
Contributors: McCarthy, Daniel J.
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2017
In: The British journal of criminology
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Keywords:
Eltern
Familienbeziehungen
Family attachment
Kriminelle Karriere
Longitudinal prisoner survey
Prison visits
Reoffending
Rückfälligkeit
Strafgefangene
Description
Summary:Strong family support networks are regularly identified in the search for effective inhibitors of criminal behaviour but have rarely been empirically examined in the context of the prison population. Furthermore, we know little about the factors that may weaken or indeed enhance these bonds during a prison sentence. Using data from a longitudinal survey of male prisoners in England and Wales, we address this deficit. We show that visits from parents are influential in improving prisoners’ relations with their family. Furthermore, those prisoners that experience improved family relations are significantly less likely to reoffend whilst also being more likely to find work and desist from class A drug use.
ISSN:1464-3529
DOI:10.1093/bjc/azv129