Intimate Partner Violence and Partner Incarceration: Perceived and Experienced Challenges During Reentry

Abstract

Women’s experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and concerns and challenges regarding their partner’s reentry after prison were analyzed using three waves of panel data (n = 866). Having been a victim of IPV before their partner’s incarceration, especially of incidents involving emotional violence and alcohol or drug use, is associated with elevated concerns regarding their ability to trust their partner, their partner’s ability to live up to their expectations, and being angry at their partner. IPV victimization was a more consistent predictor of having these concerns than of experiencing these challenges upon their partner’s reentry. Women’s concerns regarding reentry challenges were weakly to moderately related to the experiences the women had upon their partner’s reentry.