Imprisoned Fathers and Their Families: Marginal Populations in a Cross-National Comparison

Lynda Clarke, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Randal Day, Brigham Young University

As the male prison population reaches its highest level ever in the USA and UK, concerns about the impact of paternal imprisonment on child and family welfare are gathering momentum. Research evidence on the extent of men’s family relationships whilst in prison is still underdeveloped. In particular, little is known about the effects of men’s re-entry into family life on the lives and general well-being of children and other family members. The overall aim of this study is to explore what promotes and/or hinders the successful resettlement of fathers into the lives of their children and families following imprisonment. In this paper results will be presented on the structure of prisoner father’s families and their relationship with the target child and the partner’s reports of the impact of imprisonment on the family’s life. Important methodological considerations and findings concerning the study of such marginal or vulnerable populations will be elucidated.