Partnerships after prison

Comfort, M., Krieger, K., Landwehr, J. G., McKay, T., Lindquist, C., Feinberg, R. K., ... Bir, A. (2018). Partnerships after prison: Couple relationships during reentry. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 57(2), 188-205. DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2018.1441208

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.