Almost two million Americans are incarcerated in state and federal prisons, juvenile corrections facilities, and local jails. While many studies have examined the impact of mass incarceration on the daily lives of wives and children, little is known about support groups for families of incarcerated loved ones. Throughout 2021, I conducted virtual interviews with 13 respondents across the United States who created their own support groups for families of incarcerated individuals or are executive leaders in these organizations. I find that support groups provide space for families to grieve without judgment, can help re-frame the grief experience, and provide tools and community for coping with a loss that is not typically acknowledged by the public.

This research was published in 2023 in Qualitative Criminology, Volume 13, Issue 1. Read the article here: https://www.qualitativecriminology.com/pub/l7wuovk1/release/2?readingCollection=87068faf

I am the lead doctoral research assistant on a project led by co-PIs Dr. Brittany Friedman (Sociology - USC), Dr. Paul Hirschfield (Sociology - Rutgers), and Professor Alexis Karteron (Law - Rutgers). This project is funded by a seed grant from the Rutgers Center for COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness. This ongoing study examines the apparent impact of COVID-19 policymaking by the state of New Jersey with respect to slowing the spread of COVID-19 within the New Jersey state prison system.