Prison Visitation and Concerns about Reentry: Variations in Frequency and Quality of Visits are Associated with Reentry Concerns among People Incarcerated in Prison

• Author: Thomas Baker,Meghan M. Mitchell,Jill A. Gordon
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211013516
• Published date: 01 September 2022
• Date: 01 September 2022
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X211013516

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2022, Vol. 66(12) 1263 –1284

© The Author(s) 2021

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X211013516

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Article

Prison Visitation and

Concerns about Reentry:

Variations in Frequency

and Quality of Visits are

Associated with Reentry

Concerns among People

Incarcerated in Prison

Thomas Baker1, Meghan M. Mitchell1,

and Jill A. Gordon2

Abstract

Prior studies suggest that visitation may have an impact on successful reentry. At

the same time, the impact of visitation on incarcerated people’s concerns about

reentry has received little empirical attention. Understanding how factors such as

visitation affect concerns about reentry can provide correctional officials with policy

directions on how to reduce strains and enhance successful reintegration. Further,

while some studies have evaluated frequency of visitation far fewer have examined

the impact of quality of visitation. Using a sample of males and females incarcerated in

five correctional facilities (n = 3,084), this study examines how frequency and quality

of visitation impact incarcerated people’s concerns about employment, housing, debt,

and recidivism upon reentry. Findings suggest that more visits reduce concerns, while

negative visits increase concerns about reentry.

Keywords

reentry, prison, visitation, jobs, housing, debt, recidivism

1University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

2Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA

Corresponding Author:

Thomas Baker, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Dr., Orlando, FL 32816, USA.

Email: thomas.baker@ucf.edu

1013516IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X211013516International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyBaker et al.

research-article2021

1264 International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 66(12)

The number of individuals incarcerated in prisons across the United States reached

its historical peak in 2009. More people are now being released from prison each

year than are being admitted (Bronson & Carson, 2019). In fact, the vast majority of

incarcerated people will eventually be released (Hughes & Wilson, 2002; Petersilia,

2003) and face challenges upon reentry (Western, 2018). To be specific, each year

over 600,000 people leave prison and return to communities around the United

States (Bronson & Carson, 2019). Despite the large number of individuals exiting

prisons each year, we know little about the concerns incarcerated people have

regarding their reentry.

Although only a handful of studies have directly evaluated the reentry concerns of

incarcerated people (Baker et al., 2019; Mancini et al., 2016; Meyers et al., 2017),

there is a growing body of research that has examined reentry processes and the factors

that affect it (Bales & Mears, 2008; Cochran, 2014; La Vigne et al., 2005; Mears &

Cochran, 2015; Visher, 2013). Much of this work draws on the propositions of social

bonds (Hirschi, 1969; Sampson & Laub, 1993). Principally, research suggests that

individuals who maintain quality attachments to family and friends are less likely to

engage in offending generally (Hirschi, 1969), have longer gaps between their offenses

(Metcalfe et al., 2019), and are more likely to desist from crime (Laub & Sampson,

2003). These social bonds, however, are important for people who are incarcerated

beyond just recidivism. People who have closer, more positive attachments may have

an easier time finding employment, housing, and paying off debts upon reentry (Visher

et al., 2004, 2010).

However, work on reentry—even work on incarcerated people’s perceptions, has

focused almost exclusively on either recidivism or post-release familial relationships.

This research points to the importance of social support such as in-prison visits as a

critical factor for improving reintegration by reducing recidivism and encouraging

family reconnection (Bales & Mears, 2008; La Vigne et al., 2005; Mitchell et al.,

2016). For example, Mancini and colleagues (2016) found that visitation helped to

reduce a variety of reentry concerns among incarcerated women. Ruch and Yoder

(2018) similarly found that familial visitation improved reentry planning among

incarcerated youth. At the same time, researchers have observed that the visitation

experience is heterogenous, sometimes positive and at other times negative

(Pleggenkuhle et al., 2018). More positive experiences may provide the necessary

social support and motivation to encourage positive change and reentry planning

among incarcerated people. Negative experiences may, conversely, exacerbate exist-

ing strains and other relationship challenges that may have existed prior to incarcera-

tion. For example, Meyers and colleagues (2017) found that incarcerated people who

reported positive visits were more likely to believe that they would receive assistance

with employment, housing, and other instrumental needs upon their release. However,

those reporting negative visits may hold more pessimistic views regarding reentry

assistance—though this perspective has received less empirical examination. In other

words, the nature of visitation may affect reentry experiences, expectations, and con-

cerns (Cochran & Mears, 2013; Meyers et al., 2017; Tasca et al., 2016).