Children Visiting Mothers in Prison: The Effects on Mothers' Behaviour and Disciplinary Adjustment

Abstract

This article examines 158 inmate mothers released from a maximum security prison to determine the influence of minor children's visitation on their mothers' disciplinary adjustment in prison. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the mothers' involvement in disciplinary behaviour. Although up to 80% of female inmates have minor children, the findings indicate that the majority of the mothers do not receive visits from them. The inmates who do receive visits from their minor children are more likely to engage in both serious and violent infractions while in prison. It appears that mothers who receive visits from their children have more difficulty adjusting to institutionalisation, perhaps because of the emotional factors surrounding visitation and separation from children. However, it is possible that the visitation with their children while imprisoned may help prepare mothers for life upon parole and reunification with their families and children.