Visitation patterns and post-release offending: Exploring variations in the timing, rate, and consistency of prison visits

Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 81, pp. 101904

Abstract

Prior research and theory suggest that receiving visits in prison can reduce recidivism. However, recent scholarship shows that there is variability in whether, how often, and when individuals are visited while incarcerated which may affect post-release outcomes. This study therefore investigates how the frequency and timing of prison visits relate to post-release offending among individuals incarcerated in the Netherlands. Data were drawn from the Dutch Prison Visitation Study, which includes detailed measures of visitation, recidivism, and several covariates. Group-based trajectory models were employed to identify visitation patterns. Then, logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of these trajectories on the likelihood of reconviction. The results demonstrate that consistent, frequent visitation and visits near release are associated with reductions in reconvictions, especially in the first 6 months after release. No significant associations were found between individuals who only sporadically receive visits or experience a decrease in visits in the months before release on recidivism when compared to non-visited individuals. These findings suggest that some visits (such as frequent, consistent visits) may be beneficial for reducing recidivism in the short-term. More research is needed to understand how and why these visits contribute to reductions in recidivism.

Authors 6

1. Maria L. Berghuis corresponding Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands

2. Paul Nieuwbeerta Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands

3. Hanneke M. H. Palmen Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands

4. Miranda Sentse Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands

5. Babette van Hazebroek Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands

6. Esther F. J. C. van Ginneken Aachen Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology, Leiden University, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, the Netherlands