Staying connected with loved ones behind bars dramatically improves post-release outcomes. Decades of research show that incarcerated people who receive visits, calls, mail, or other forms of contact are much less likely to re-offend. For example, a large Florida study found each additional visit cut the odds of reconviction by about 3.8%. Receiving more unique visitors also lowered recidivism risk (each new visitor reducing reconviction risk ~3%). Overall, people who were visited had 13% fewer felony reconvictions and 25% fewer technical-parole revocations than those never visited. In practical terms, consistent visits and calls build the motivation and support a person needs to succeed outside prison. Each extra monthly visit was linked to a 14% drop in in-prison infractions, likely leading to earlier release and a smoother reentry. Likewise, regular phone calls keep family bonds strong and have even been shown to outperform visits in reducing reincarceration. In short:

• Direct visits cut re-offense rates. Studies consistently find that in-person visits significantly reduce recidivism and improve inmate well-being. Family members serve as “treatment agents”, their presence and support give people behind bars a reason to follow rules and stay hopeful.
• More visits = better outcomes. Incarcerated people with frequent visits have substantially lower reconviction rates. Each extra visitor or visit per month produces measurable drops in both rule-breaking inside and new crimes after release.
• Phone calls strengthen bonds. When families talk often, relationships thrive. Research shows that weekly calls to loved ones improve parent-child relationships and cut reincarceration odds. Phone contact is easier than visits and offers a continuous lifeline: people who had any family phone contact were significantly less likely to end up back in prison.
• Mail and messages matter. Even letters help. Correspondence lets someone behind bars share daily life, vent stress, and feel remembered. Studies find that writing letters deepens attachment and relationship quality. (In one survey, incarcerated parents who stayed in touch by mail reported better bonds with their kids than before imprisonment.)
• Emotional support lowers stress. Family contact reduces isolation, depression, and anxiety. People with strong family ties cope better mentally – for example, inmates who received visits had significantly fewer depressive symptoms. Lower stress and better mental health translate to better focus on rehabilitation and lower likelihood of re-offense.
• Accountability and hope. Knowing someone is waiting for them keeps people motivated. Visits and calls create a sense of accountability: incarcerated people strive to stay out of trouble so they can see their families sooner. One study noted misconduct in the weeks before a visit dropped, suggesting visits motivate good behavior.
• Concrete support on the outside. Family networks often help with housing, jobs, and practical needs after release. If those bonds were maintained in prison, reentering citizens leave with more resources. (For example, parents and grandparents who visited or wrote in prison can more easily coordinate housing or childcare after release.)
• Children benefit too. Children of incarcerated parents do much better when the parent stays involved. Regular contact – even by mail or phone – helps children cope and reduces trauma. For incarcerated parents, knowing their children are supported and loved fosters responsibility and reduces the appeal of re-offense.
• Sense of belonging. Love doesn’t disappear behind bars. Affirming family and romantic relationships – even long-distance – gives people a stake in a law-abiding community. Attachment theory in psychology shows that secure bonds are protective: feeling loved and caring for others can buffer the stresses of prison life.
• Public safety payoff. The community benefits too: reduced recidivism means fewer victims and lower crime rates. As one policy-maker put it, “meaningful communication beyond prison walls helps promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism”. Investing in families isn’t a soft approach – it’s a proven public safety strategy.

What you can do: If you have a loved one inside, prioritize contact. Schedule regular calls or video chats (even just 15 minutes a week helps), send letters and photos, and visit if you can. These connections give both of you strength and purpose.  Chapters & Chains offers resources (guides, downloadable letter templates, and reminders) to help you stay connected. Learn more and purchase our “Couples Communication Guidebook” to put these research-backed tips into action.