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Prison scholarship suggests that individuals' experiences during incarceration are diverse and contribute to the impacts of a prison sentence. This article seeks to advance this line of theory and research by shedding light on a specific aspect of prison life—prison facility transfers—that has theoretical linkages to social and behavioral outcomes, but has been largely overlooked in the incarceration literature. The specific aims of the article are twofold: First, the article provides an empirical examination of transfer heterogeneity by assessing the extent to which transfers vary in their prevalence, timing, and spatial impacts for a large state prisoner cohort consisting of more than 17,000 inmates who experienced more than 23,000 transfers over the course of their incarceration terms. Second, the article explores the relationships between theoretically relevant inmate characteristics and transfers. The analyses uncover the transient nature of prison life, that theoretically relevant group disparities exist in transfers, and that transfers cause or coincide with changes in prison experiences that likely affect behavior and individuals' connections with outside social ties. The article has important implications for theory and research that can consider more closely how transfers and other potentially "mundane" aspects of prison life might have salient effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since prisoners who receive visits while incarcerated are less likely to recidivate, scholars have studied predictors of visitation, finding that the distance visitors must travel affects how often they visit, as do characteristics of the visitors' neighborhoods. This study examines whether spatial distance between visitors and correctional facilities and visitors' neighborhood disadvantage are related to recidivism. These questions are assessed using data from a sample of approximately 2600 inmates released from Minnesota state prisons. The results of Cox regression models showed that, among offenders who received visits, reconviction was less likely when visitors traveled longer distances, although this varied somewhat based on the measurement used to capture distance. Visitors' neighborhood disadvantage was not related to reconviction. These findings highlight the importance of visitation for maintaining social ties in the community, and suggest that some visits (such as those from distant visitors) may be especially beneficial for reducing recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship suggests that prison inmates who are visited may be less likely to recidivate. Questions exist, however, about whether the observed relationship is causal and, if so, whether it is consistent for different groups of inmates. To address these questions, this study employs two methodological approaches – first, conventional regression analyses and, second, instrumental variable (IV) analyses – to examine the effects of visitation in general and specifically for females, young inmates, and individuals incarcerated for the first time. Effect size estimates are similar across the two analytic approaches, but conventional regression analyses identify a statistically significant effect of visitation, whereas IV analyses do not. Subgroup analyses suggest differences between males and females and by age. Combined, the results raise questions about whether visitation exerts a causal effect on offending. Implications for theory, research, and policy of the divergent results and the potential for a generalized visitation effect are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars consistently find that reentering offenders who obtain steady work and maintain social ties to family are less likely to recidivate. Some theorize that familial ties may operate through employment to influence recidivism and that such ties may also serve a moderating role. The current study employs an integrated conceptual framework in order to test hypotheses about the link between familial ties, post-release employment, and recidivism. The findings suggest that family ties have implications for both recidivism and job attainment. In fact, the results suggest that good quality social ties may be particularly important for men with histories of frequent unemployment. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to theory and future research on prisoner reentry and recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]