“The Prison System Doesn’t Make It Comfortable to Visit”: Prison Visitation From the Perspectives of People Incarcerated and Family Members

Abstract

While extensive research documents the causes and impacts of incarceration, the effects on families are under discussion. Prison visitation is one mechanism to help families communicate and bond, yet the institutions and restrictive policies often create distinct barriers and stressors. This qualitative descriptive study examines experiences and perceptions of visitation through focus groups with 77 people incarcerated and interviews with 21 family members in one southeastern U.S. state. Using thematic analysis, three major themes were developed through qualitative coding of participants’ responses: financial and time-related burdens, stress from rules and regulations, and familial interactions. Our findings highlight that although visitation can help maintain social bonds among families, the barriers, processes, and procedures overshadow the visit itself. The weight of such stressors is especially felt by immediate family members and women who visit. The findings are discussed in light of implications for correctional policy and future visitation research.

“It Makes Him Feel Even Farther Away”: Disruptions in Communication Among Families Impacted by Incarceration During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Finally, families are only allowed to visit in-person during certain days and times of the week. However, access to these forms of communication can be disrupted and even further restricted when facilities are on "lockdown" (Boppre et al, 2022). These lockdowns can occur without notice due to security reasons (e.g., potential escape, errors in population counts, threats, and assaults) or in response to infectious diseases (Dallaire et al, 2021).…”

“…As a result of the pandemic and the closure of in-person visitation, families felt new burdens arise that differed from what families typically faced prior to the pandemic (Boppre et al, 2022). Families described distinct emotional and time-related burdens related to communication during the pandemic.…”

“…In short, families already face significant financial, emotional, and time-intensive burdens in their everyday lives (Boppre et al, 2022), but the conditions of confinement during the pandemic heightened and shifted such challenges. Families felt increased pressure to stay connected with their incarcerated loved ones due to the stresses of the pandemic and uncertainty related to the heightened risks of contracting COVID-19 in correctional facilities (Iturri et al, 2020).…”

Visitation and quality of life among older adults in jail

“…It is also possible that while visits increase social support for some, the absence of visits may be protective for others. Indeed, some prison visitors can experience “secondary prisonization” during visitation which undoubtedly places strain on incarcerated persons (Boppre et al , 2021; Comfort, 2003). Thus, some incarcerated persons may avoid visitation to reduce their loved ones’ encounters with the institution.…”

“…But one way that jail and prison staff can increase visitation and potentially support incarcerated older adults is to improve visitation experiences by reducing secondary prisonization among visitors. Visitors should be treated with respect and dignity, communication between staff and visitors should be transparent and rules about visitation should be both predictable and consistent (Boppre et al , 2021). Such approaches reduce the likelihood that visiting loved ones will feel like “quasi-inmates” (Comfort, 2003, p. 79).…”