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Couples or Family Therapy for Prisoners and Their Significant Others

NCJ Number
109922
Journal
American Journal of Family Therapy Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1987) Pages: 352-360
Author(s)
F W Kaslow
Date Published
1987
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Since almost all offenders are eventually released from prison, as relatively few serve life sentences, it is incumbent upon society, as represented by the criminal justice and mental health systems, to provide services that attempt to prepare the prisoner for resumption of life in the outside world.
Abstract
Given that prisoners are likely to return to living in some form of a family context, planning and treatment should include significant family members. This paper first presents a brief portrait of perceptions of prison life and reactions of family members to the incarceration. It then proposes a model for prerelease and postrelease couples and/or family therapy and addresses why this approach often constitutes an 'essential part' of the package of services that should be offered prior to and after discharge. It is posited that including family therapy as part of the rehabilitation program may lead to a more prosocial postrelease lifestyle. Salient ethical and legal issues are briefly highlighted. (Author abstract)