STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT INMATES WHO RECEIVE REGULAR VISITS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE LESS LIKELY TO VIOLATE PAROLE THAN OTHER INMATES; THAT FAMILY TIES ARE REMARKABLY RESISTANT TO THE ERODING INFLUENCES OF TIME SPENT IN PRISON; AND THAT PAROLEES LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF SUCCESS THAN PAROLEES LIVING ALONE. DESPITE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT AN OFFENDER'S FAMILY TIES CONSTITUTE A POWERFUL AND RELIABLE REHABILITATIVE TOOL, THE PROBLEMS THAT KEEP FAMILIES FROM MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH IMPRISONED MEMBERS-TRANSPORTATION, LIMITED VISITING FACILITIES, LACK OF INFORMATION ON THE PRISONER'S STATUS, FINANCIAL WORRIES--GO LARGELY IGNORED. IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECT, SHORT-RANGE PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT PRISONERS' FAMILIES, THERE ARE SUCH LONGER-RANGE EFFECTS AS SCHOOL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS OF INMATES CHILDREN. IMPRISONMENT OF A CENTRAL FAMILY MEMBER HAS DELETERIOUS EFFECTS, SHORT AND LONG RANGE, ON ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. IN LIGHT OF THE STRONG ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MAINTENANCE OF FAMILY TIES IN PRISON AND PAROLE SUCCESS, ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ELIMINATING INSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES (AND LOCATIONS) THAT IMPEDE FAMILY VISITS, TO ENCOURAGING PROGRAMS THAT FACILITATE HOME VISITS BY INMATES AND PRISON VISITS BY INMATES' FAMILIES, AND TO PROVIDING PRISONERS' FAMILIES WITH THE ASSISTANCE THEY REQUIRE TO SURVIVE. (LKM)