One of the many consequences of carceral populations expanding at unprecedented rates over the past thirty years is an increase in the number of families affected by incarceration, particularly with regard to visitation. Visitation is beneficial to inmates through improved social capital, institutional adjustment, and the decreased likelihood that they will recidivate post-release; however, family members of prisoners are the "forgotten victims" of the criminal justice system and should be included in correctional policy debates. This dissertation applies a qualitative research design to examine the visitation process and the various barriers that can impede family members, as well as how they attempt to address these barriers through their involvement in support groups. Data collection included approximately 100 hours of participant observation of support groups for family members of prisoners, as well as interviews with members (N=31). Results highlight how family members navigate and manage barriers to visitation together through their support group membership. In addition, I also examine the various institutional barriers encountered during visitation, as well as family members' attitudes about current administrative rules and policy directives, and whether they are helpful or harmful to the visitation process. Findings demonstrate issues at the institutional level, at which barriers to visitation are inherently created by the very policies that are meant to facilitate the process. Aiming to include the voices of family members into current prison debates, results also provide practical policy solutions and suggestions for programming that would encourage visitation and family connectedness directly from those active in support groups and who have also learned how to advocate for their incarcerated loved one through their involvement.
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