Missing Moments and Requesting Encouragement: The Experiences and Consequences of Having an Incarcerated Loved One

Abstract

The consequences of incarceration extend far beyond the individual incarcerated. This article aims to understand the needs, thoughts, feelings, and experiences of incarcerated loved ones through the uses-and gratifications theory. Posts derived from the Facebook group entitled, “Incarcerated Loved Ones” and were coded using thematic analysis. The posts highlighted two themes: negative emotional experiences and criminal justice consequences. The theme negative emotional experiences included feelings of discomfort, requesting encouragement, and venting. The theme criminal justice consequences included difficulty navigating the system, visitation, financial burden, and missing moments. The discussion includes clinical and policy implications as well as future research directions.