Author: Visher, Christy A.
Title: The Impact of Marital and Relationship Status on Social Outcomes for Returning Prisoners
Summary: A large body of empirical literature shows that marriage reduces criminal activity. However, many of these studies were done on the general population or used data that are now decades old. Little research has examined whether relationship status affects social outcomes, including crime and employment, among a contemporary cohort of ex-prisoners. Using data collected from over 650 male former prisoners returning to three large U.S. cities between 2002 and 2005, we tested the short-term impact of marital and intimate partner status on recidivism, substance use, and employment. After statistically adjusting for self-selection into marriage or into unmarried relationships, we found that former prisoners who were married or living as married had half the odds of self-reporting a new crime and/or drug use as did those in casual, unmarried relationships. Marriage’s effect on drug use was strongest for older ex-offenders (those over age 26), suggesting that committed relationships are more beneficial for those already in the process of aging out of crime. Moreover, higher quality partnerships were associated with lower odds of drug use. Former prisoners in casual, unmarried relationships experienced outcomes similar to those with no intimate partner. Overall, the findings suggest that in-prison programs that strengthen the quality of married relationships may improve recidivism and substance use outcomes after release.
Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2009. 9p.
Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 27, 2012 at
Year: 2009
Country: United States
URL:
Shelf Number: 123792
Keywords:
Crime and MarriageFamily RelationshipsPrisoner ReentryRecidivismSubstance Abuse |
