Coping, Imprisonment, and Rehabilitation

Abstract

The results of a recent longitudinal study of coping in prison are reviewed with respect to their implications for rehabilitation. The failure of the conditions of ordinary imprisonment to change behavior generally, and the demonstration of substantial coping deficits among prisoners in particular, are both justification for increased adoption of treatment programs aimed at behavioral change. More specifically, the data indicate that programs should begin at the start of a prison term rather than later, and they also delineate some of the particular targets for change. These all justify the conclusion that the empirical study of the process of imprisonment and the behavioral precursors of criminal actions can help to maximize the effectiveness of treatment programs.

Intimate Partner Violence During the Transition from Prison to the Community: An Ecological Analysis

“…In addition, inmate ability to cope effectively with the circumstances of imprisonment was inversely related to the number of times they had been incarcerated. In other words, the more times an inmate had been incarcerated the less able he was to cope effectively with his immediate environment (Zamble & Porporino, 1990). These findings suggest that, in opposition to inmates' partners who may continue to develop naturally outside of prison, inmates' course of development may either be interrupted or depleted during incarceration.…”

“…Inmates' families face their own difficult challenges during the incarceration like coping with physical separation, lack of income, absent parenting, and stigmatization by the community 5 (Bakker, Morris, & Janus, 1978;Carlson & Cervera, 1991;Codd, 2007;Harman et al, 2007;Petersilia, , 2009Showalter & Williams-Jones, 1980;Zamble & Porporino, 1990). Families and spouses experience intense emotional reactions such as anger toward the inmate for committing crime and resentment because they cannot contribute to the family or share childcare responsibilities when they are incarcerated (Bakker et al, 1980;Dallao, 1997;Hannon, Martin, & Martin, 1984;Harman et al, 2007;Nelson et al, 1999;Oliver & Hairston, 2008;Tripp, 2003).…”

“…The fundamental differences between inmates' and partners' daily proximal processes and the implications for their intimate relationship have been highlighted by a number of scholars. Harman et al (2007) and Zamble and Porporino (1990) have identified particular ways in which the proximal processes of a man who is incarcerated differ from those of his partner.…”

“…In contrast to their partners who continue to develop and grow on the outside, Zamble and Porporino (1990) argue that inmates experience a behavioral "deep freeze" while they are incarcerated (p. 62). In their longitudinal study of inmate behavior and coping skills, Zamble and Porporino (1990) found that inmates' cognitive, behavioral, and social capacities remained largely unchanged from the beginning of their sentence until they were released.…”

“…In their longitudinal study of inmate behavior and coping skills, Zamble and Porporino (1990) found that inmates' cognitive, behavioral, and social capacities remained largely unchanged from the beginning of their sentence until they were released. In addition, inmate ability to cope effectively with the circumstances of imprisonment was inversely related to the number of times they had been incarcerated.…”