DOI: 10.3886/icpsr36616.v1
title: Impact of Incarceration on Families, 2016, South Carolina
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed. This project utilized three strategies to investigate the impact of incarceration on families. First, a statewide integrated data system was used to examine impacts of incarceration in a novel way, using administrative data from corrections, juvenile justice, mental health, social services, substance use services, healthcare, and education. Second, researchers linked multi-agency data to address specific research questions regarding impact of incarceration on families, including impact of incarceration on family physical and mental health, children's involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, family economic status, and school performance. Third, researchers conducted focus groups and family interviews with 77 inmates and 21 inmate family members sampled from three correctional facilities. Researchers identified qualitative themes regarding impact of incarceration in the lives of inmates and their families.Only data from the focus groups is included in this collection. The collection includes two SPSS data files: "Inmate_Demographic_Data.sav" with 15 variables and 77 cases and "Family_Demographic_Data.sav" with 19 variables and 21 cases. The actual focus group interviews with inmates and their family members are not available as part of this collection at this time. Administrative data from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office was not made available for archiving. Users interested in obtaining these data should consult the accompanying documentation.
description: This project was designed to investigate the impact of incarceration on families.
description: This project utilized three strategies to investigating the impact of incarceration on families. <strong>Strategy 1: Development of an Integrated Data Cube</strong> Statewide corrections visitation data from male and female adult offenders was linked to multi-agency administrative data to create a de-identified data processing "cube" representing service utilization for focal inmates and their visitors including children, married and unmarried partners, parents, siblings, and others. The cube allowed authorized users to easily manipulate multi-agency data to answer queries and create visual displays through tables and graphs. Inclusion of time as a variable standardized to pre-incarceration, incarceration, and post-release periods allowed cube users to explore impacts of incarceration on service utilization and outcomes for families. <strong>Strategy 2: Analysis of Linked Administrative Data</strong> Using multi-agency data, researchers examined four specific research questions: 1) How does offender incarceration impact family members' physical and mental health? 2) How does offender incarceration impact their children's involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems? 3) How does offender incarceration impact the economic status of family members? 4) How does offender incarceration impact the academic performance of children? <strong>Strategy 3: Inmate Focus Groups and Family Interviews</strong> Inmate participants included 38 males and 39 females, and family participants included 5 mothers, 1 father, 2 wives, 1 husband, 5 sisters, 6 daughters, and 1 son. Open-ended interviews addressed changes to family relationships, finances, physical and mental health, child behavior, and community supports. Only demographic data from focus groups are available with this collection.
description: This study features two datasets: Inmate_Demographic_Data.sav (comprised of 15 variables and 77 cases) and Family_Demographic_Data.sav (comprised of 19 variables and 21 cases). The variables collected demographic information for inmates and family members who were sampled.
description: None
description: Response Rates: Not applicable.
description: Presence of Common Scales: None
description: <strong>Strategy 1: Development of an Integrated Data Cube</strong> and <strong>Strategy 2: Analysis of Linked Administrative Data</strong> Department of Corrections data including identifiers for security clearance of all visitors served as a basis for creating a convenience sample of inmate family members and developing an integrated multi-agency data profile for these individuals tied with respective inmate data. Sampling focused on three consecutive years (2006-2008) for all prisons statewide, sampling any inmate who served time during this period as well as any person who visited these inmates. Researchers sampled multi-agency data for each inmate and his/her visitors for the three years before and three years after his/her incarceration, as applicable in 1996-2012 administrative data. This was accomplished on a "rolling" basis. <strong>Strategy 3: Inmate Focus Groups and Family Interviews</strong> For inmate focus groups and family interviews, researchers recruited via flyers at three institutions, including: 1) one prison for adult males, including those sentenced under the Youthful Offenders Act, with intensive services focused on needs of inmates 17-25 years old; 2) one maximum security prison for general population females and special-needs females; and 3) one maximum security prison for general population males, special-needs males, and males in sex offender treatment.
description: Datasets: DS1: Impact of Incarceration on Families, 2016, South Carolina
description: Both Data files: Inmates in South Carolina in 2014-2016 and their family members. Smallest Geographic Unit: Institution
description: face-to-face interview; mixed mode; on-site questionnaire; telephone interviewThese data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.The actual focus group interviews with inmates and their family members are not available as part of this collection at this time. Administrative data from the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office was not made available for archiving. Users interested in obtaining these data should consult the accompanying documentation.