Releases From a Local Jail: The Impact of Visitation on Recidivism

• Author: William M. Casey,William D. Bales,Jennifer E. Copp
• Published date: 01 June 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/0887403420919480
• Date: 01 June 2021
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403420919480

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2021, Vol. 32(4) 427 –441

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0887403420919480

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Article

Releases From a Local Jail:

The Impact of Visitation on

Recidivism

William M. Casey1, Jennifer E. Copp1,

and William D. Bales1

Abstract

There is a large body of research that examines the impact of visitation on the likelihood

of recidivism among released state prisoners. That research reveals that receiving any

visits, and a greater number of visits, reduces the likelihood of recidivism. However,

whether the recidivism-reducing effect of visitation operates within the jail setting

remains unclear. Using data from a Florida jail, the current investigation examines

the association between visitation and recidivism among a cohort of releases (N =

6,565). Analyses also consider the extent to which the frequency of visits impacts

the likelihood of recidivism. Findings from a series of logistic regression models

reveal that inmates who received visits were no less likely to recidivate than their

counterparts. Yet, among inmates who were visited, those receiving more frequent

visits were less likely to recidivate. This departs from existing visitation research and

underscores the importance of directing research attention to local jails.

Keywords

jails, visitation, recidivism, reentry

Introduction

Researchers have long established that the deprivations that characterize prison life

have consequences for inmates (Sykes, 1958). One of the most salient deprivations

includes the loss of liberty, which may dissolve and/or strain inmates’ intimate and

family relationships (Adams, 1992; Harman et al., 2007; Petersilia, 2003; Siennick

et al., 2014). This weakening of social ties has potential implications for inmates’

1Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA

Corresponding Author:

William M. Casey, Florida State University, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Eppes Hall, 112

South Copeland Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1273, USA.

Email: wcasey@fsu.edu

919480CJPXXX10.1177/0887403420919480Criminal Justice Policy ReviewCasey et al.

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