Other Family Members of Inmates 333In addition to the deleterious effects incarceration creates for children of in-
mates, spouses of prisoners are also affected in many ways. Similar to the children of
incarcerated parents, spouses suffer from the separation resulting from the confine-
ment. However, the effects of the separation give rise to different issues for the adult
spouse than for the young child. For example, extreme financial burdens are often
placed on the spouse of an inmate. As noted by Hostetter and Jinnah (1993), many
wives of inmates are often forced into the job market with limited skills on which
to rely and consequently are forced to place their children in daycare for the first
time. Moreover, collect calls are frequently the means by which spouses remain in
contact with their incarcerated partner, thereby placing the financial burden once
again on the nonincarcerated party.
Coupled with the practical concerns of financial hardship, spouses of inmates en-
dure a great deal of emotional strain. Among the concerns experienced by spouses
are fear and anxiety about the well-being of their partner in prison, feelings of
loneliness and isolation, and sexual frustration (B. E. Carlson & Cervera, 1992).
Moreover, spouses are often faced with the stereotyping that accompanies incar-
ceration. Many wives report moving from their place of residence as a result of the
stigma placed on them and in an attempt to be closer to the husband's place of
confinement (Fishman, 1990). Further, as a result of the shame and stigma associ-
ated with prison, wives of inmates often receive pressure from family and friends
to divorce their husband while he is incarcerated (B. E. Carlson & Cervera, 1992).
Perhaps one of the most beneficial means of assisting prisoner spouses is through
the establishment of support groups. B. E. Carlson and Cervera (1992) report
that there are currently a few isolated programs which offer such opportunities,
These authors note that such support groups offer an invaluable time during which
spouses receive validation for their emotional experiences and have an opportunity
to share information and feelings in a safe and supportive environment. Additionally,
counseling is provided within a few prisons to inmates and their families. This type
of service is based on the premise that prisoners with familial support will be more
equipped to change their maladaptive behavior patterns upon release from prison
(B. E. Carlson & Cervera, 1992). Despite the existence of several programs aimed
at providing support and counseling to spouses of inmates, greater availability of
such services is needed to assist spouses in dealing with the loss of a loved one to
incarceration and the resulting effects (Hostetter & Jinnah, 1993).
Forensic Psychology and Policy Implications
The number of individuals incarcerated in the United States continues to increase
and, as a result, the number of families disrupted continues to rise at an alarming
rate. Public policy has historically focused on offenders themselves while virtually
ignoring the families of inmates (Bloom, 1995). Given this restrictive approach,
it is not surprising that the needs of spouses and children are wholly neglected.