Marital Therapy in Prison: One-Partner “Couple Therapy”

Abstract

The intent of this article is, first, to describe some currently available means of strengthening marital and family ties for the incarcerated offender, and to point out the inherent limitations of these processes. Second, we will describe common reactions of inmates to marital crises, especially impending divorce. Third, we will make some comments and recommendations about the conduct of 'marital therapy' when the therapist has access to only one spouse or partner. Inefficient and dysfunctional as such an approach may sound to the therapist accustomed to working with couples 'on the streets,' it is often the only alternative available to the correctional mental health professional when the imprisoned marital partner is in a state of acute pain, with both crisis intervention and follow-up treatment critical.

Intimate Partner Violence During the Transition from Prison to the Community: An Ecological Analysis

“…Evidence suggests that healthy family relationships during and after incarceration positively impact offenders' experiences within prison and significantly reduce the risk of recidivism after release (Andrews & Bonta, 2010;Carlson & Cervera, 1991;Codd, 2007;Draine & Wolff, 2009;Gottfredson, 1970;Mills & Codd, 2008;Nelson et al, 1999;Rose & Clear, 2003;Tripp, 2003). Some theorists note the separate but equal importance of inmates' intimate relationships in facilitating successful transitions from prison and propose that returning home to a satisfying, high-quality intimate partnership is an important predictor of post-prison success (Freedman & Rice, 1977).…”

“…Data from female partners of incarcerated men corroborate men's reports that questions and rumors about a woman's fidelity during the man's incarceration can often lead to retaliatory abuse after prison (Hairston & Oliver, 2006). Still other data indicate that sometimes incarcerated men will attempt to monitor their partners' behavior and faithfulness from inside prison by asking his 98 friends or family members to keep tabs on her during his absence (Freedman & Rice, 1977;Hairston & Oliver, 2006;Riesch Toeppell & Greaves, 2001). Relationship conflict and psychological abuse can often arise if the inmates' informants report that she has been unfaithful regardless of whether the report is true (Freedman & Rice, 1977;Hairston & Oliver, 2006).…”

“…Still other data indicate that sometimes incarcerated men will attempt to monitor their partners' behavior and faithfulness from inside prison by asking his 98 friends or family members to keep tabs on her during his absence (Freedman & Rice, 1977;Hairston & Oliver, 2006;Riesch Toeppell & Greaves, 2001). Relationship conflict and psychological abuse can often arise if the inmates' informants report that she has been unfaithful regardless of whether the report is true (Freedman & Rice, 1977;Hairston & Oliver, 2006). For example, one female participant in Hairston and Oliver's (2006) research indicated that despite sending love letters and money and frequently visiting her incarcerated husband, he would accuse her of infidelity if a friend reported that she was "talking to someone else" on the outside (p. 13).…”

“…For example, Freedman and Rice (1977) and Harman et al (2007) report that inmates often cope with challenges in prison through either avoidance and denial of the problem or by acting out in frustration and anger. Given inmates' limited options and lack of autonomy within correctional institutions, such an avoidant style of coping may actually be effective to the extent it allows inmates to manage stress in the controlled environment (e.g., Lazarus, 2006).…”

Women at the Wall: A Study of Prisoners' Wives Doing Time on the Outside.

“…Holt and Miller observe that prison structure may both strengthen and undermine marital relations. Thus, as Freedman and Rice (1977) maintain, forms of contact such as prison visiting or telephone calls may be used to renew fa1th in marital relations or to set in motion events which will undermine them. Finally, they observe that the limited nature of most forms of communication available to prisoners and their wives, in themselves, may be a source of difficulty in that they…”