A sample of released inmates was chosen because it permitted the examination of visitation over an entire prison sentence. The study also included observations of meetings between inmates and their visitors in the prison's visitation room and informal interviews and conversations with inmates, inmates' children, institutional program staff, administrators, and correctional officers. Demographic information was obtained for all the inmates in the sample. Visitation data were collected from visitation cards and passes at the institution. The findings show that the majority of the female inmates received visitors, but a significant percentage (21 percent) of the inmates did not have any visitors. The majority of mothers (61 percent) did not receive visits from their minor children. This finding suggests that the most significant determinant of whether an inmate received visits was the distance between her home county and the prison. The study concludes that visitation probably has a positive societal effect, because it is related to improved inmate behavior, reduced rates of recidivism, or better functioning for the families, friends, and children of inmates. 13 tables and 25 references