Social Effects of Imprisonment on Male Prisoners and Their Families: a New Zealand Study

Abstract

This research was designed to explore the social effects of imprisonment on male prisoners and their families from the viewpoint of both the men and their families. It expands upon earlier studies which have tended to focus on the prisoner and his rights rather than on difficulties and problems which the families of prisoners experience at the time of sentence and during the enforced separation. This is a time which constitutes a crisis situation for many families. The study examined: firstly, the nature of the relationships between families and prisoners; secondly, the problems experienced by the families as a result of the enforced separation; and thirdly, the major re-adjustment difficulties experienced by the men and their families upon release. Eighty-nine male prisoners were interviewed at four different institutions and, with the prisoners' consent, 45 interviews were also conducted with their wives or a close family member. After release a further 44 follow-up interviews were carried out with the men and their families. The impact of imprisonment on marital and family relationships was found to be severe. The most significant problems experienced by the wives and families as a result of the separation were: firstly, financial; secondly, emotional; and thirdly, difficulty for some in maintaining regular contact with the prisoner due to travelling costs and distance from the prison. Lack of public awareness and insufficient support to meet the needs of this special group was found to contribute significantly to the plight of these families. Upon release the particular issues identified were firstly, employment; secondly, financial and thirdly, community adjustment. These problems were exacerbated by the apparent lack of understanding of some employees at all levels and the inflexible structures within the bureaucratic organisations from which assistance might be forthcoming. This thesis concludes with recommendations to alleviate the sometimes desperate problems associated with enforced separation. There is an urgent need to implement some of these recommendations.