Family Forensics
Incarceration dramatically impacts families. Correctional psychologists examine
where and how persons in and outside of the institution cope with the emo-
tional pain that comes from separation, loss, shame, loneliness, and the like when
a family member is criminally confined. Thus, similar to the preceding chapter on
civil forensics and corrections, family forensics investigates many of the social, in-
terpersonal, and intrapsychic variables that give rise to expert psychological practice
in penal facilities.
This chapter reviews five issues at the center of the family forensic field. These
topics are not exhaustive. They merely represent some of the more poignant con-
cerns at the crossroads of corrections, psychology, and family studies. These issues
include (1) "make-believe" families, (2) pregnant women in prison, (3) women in-
mates and mother—child separation, (4) family members of inmates, and (5) mothers
in prison.
People have a fundamental need to express intimacy and affection. The same
is true for persons in prison, especially women. One response to this need is to
create "make believe" families. What emotional needs do surrogate or "play" fam-
ilies fill for women in prison? What specific roles do prisoners assume in these
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OVERVIEW
