Recidivism Reduction Through Visitation
- Nicholas T. Kelly
- Jan 2, 2024
- 3 min read
The number of visits each year, how many people visited and/or any other type or communication kept with people while they are locked up greatly reduce recidivism rates across the county.
Such support and dedication to these people is highly indicative of the same support and lengths they would go in order to show support inmates release from prison.
Studies have shown that prisoners who maintain close contact with their family members while incarcerated have better post-release outcomes and lower recidivism rates.
These findings represent a body of research stretching back over 40 years. According to "Explorations in Inmate-family Relationships," a 1972 study: "The central finding of this research is the strong and consistent positive relationship that exists between parole success and maintaining strong family ties while in prison.
Only 50% of the 'no contact' inmates completed their first year on parole without being arrested, while 70% of those visits with 3 visits were 'arrest free' during this period. In addition, the 'loners' were 6 times more likely to wind up back in prison during the first year (12% returned compared to 2% for those with 3 or more visitors).
In Corrections Today, Aug 2012, by the American Correctional Association, titled " The Role of Family and Pro-Social Relationships in Reducing Recidivism, " noted "Family can be a critical component in assisting individuals transitioning from incarceration because family members provide both social control and social support... In contrast, those without positive supportive relationships are more likely to engage in criminal behavior."
A Vera Institute study, Oct 2012, stated "Incarcerated men and women who maintain contact with supportive family members are more likely to succeed after their release.. i.e., Prison inmates who had more contact with their families and who reported positive relationships overall are less likely to be re-incarcerated."
Another Vera Institute study, in 2011 stated "Research shows that incarcerated people who maintain supportive relationships with family members have better outcomes, such as stable housing and employment when they return to the community."
http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/ Piloting-a-Tool-for-Reentry-Updated.pdf
Western Criminology Review in 2006 states "A remarkably consistent association has been found between family contact during incarceration and lower recidivism rates."
Correctional practices that "facilitate and strengthen connections during incarceration" can "reduce the strain of parental separation, reduce recidivism rates, and increase the likelihood of successful reentry," according to the Re-Entry Policy Council, 2005.
The Washington D.C.-based Urban Institute, 2003, "Families Left Behind: The Hidden Costs of Incarceration and Reentry," revised 2005, noted "Research findings highlight the importance of contact among family members during incarceration. Facilitating contact has been shown to reduce the strain of separation and increase the likelihood of successful reunification. Studies comparing the outcomes of prisoners who maintained family connections during prison through letters and personal visits while those who did not suggest that maintaining family ties reduces recidivism rates."
The Minnesota Department of Corrections , November 2011, examined recidivism rates for 16,420 ex-prisoners over a 5 year period, comparing rates for those who received visits while incarcerated and those who didn't. They found that "Any visit reduced the risk of recidivism by 13% for felony re-convictions and 25% for technical violation revocations, which reflects the fact that visitation generally had a a greater impact on revocation. The findings further showed that more frequent and recent visits were associated with a decreased risk of recidivism."
As acknowledged by the largest prison phone company in the nation, Global tel Link says "Studies and reports continue to support that recidivism can be significantly reduced by regular connections and communications between inmates, families and friends - [a] 13% reduction in technical violations."
{Petitioners' Opposition to Petition for stay of report Order Pending Appeal, FCC WC Docket No. 12-375, Exhibit D, page 6 (Oct 29, 2014}
Connecting with society through family and friends are crucial to incarcerated peoples' rehabilitation. incarcerated reduce the percentage of people who come back to prison and help them make it in society. This is what reduces recidivism.
To break the cycle of crime the most powerful weapon is love.
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