Partnership after prison: Couple relationships during reentry

ABSTRACT

In this article, we utilize quantitative and qualitative data from the Multi-Site Family Study on Incarceration, Parenting, and Partnering (MFS-IP) to examine couple relationships during men’s reentry. Couples were significantly less likely to report they were in an intimate relationship after release than during incarceration, and rated relationship happiness significantly lower postrelease. Qualitative data indicates that reentry presents new challenges, and obstacles to contact during incarceration reverberate in relationships postrelease. Policy and programming support could help justice-involved couples maintain contact during incarceration and assist in strengthening couples’ communication as they prepare for the male partner’s return to the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Incarceration
• intimate relationships
• mixed methods
• parenting
• reentry

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Ms. Linda Mellgren and Ms. Erica Meade of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Creasie Finney Hairston of the University of Illinois School of Social Work.

Notes

One member of the couple had to report that the couple was married or romantically involved at the first postrelease interview for the couple to be classified as in an intimate relationship.

Additional information

Funding

This article was prepared by RTI International with support from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Office of Family Assistance/Administration for Children and Families within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (Contract HHSP2332006290YC, September 2006). The views, opinions, and findings expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions and policies of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.