NCJ Number
146821
Date Published
1994
Length
114 pages
Annotation
This manual presents information for couples planning to get married, at least one member of which is incarcerated. The manual uses the storytelling method of premarital counseling.
Abstract
The first section discusses the history of marriage and reviews marriage in the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish religions. The workbook introduces basic principles of marriage upon which it is founded: marriage is a permanent commitment, it is entered into by choice, it is based on mutual respect and is a union of equals, it is a trust relationship, and it requires work to maintain. People considering marriage must ask themselves whether they are ready to marry, in terms of their self-esteem, their ability to deal with the stigma of a prison marriage, how they deal with the crime their spouse committed, how their children will be affected, and how they confront the emotional cycle of incarceration. When assessing whether two people are right for each other, they must consider their family backgrounds, expectations of marriage, communication and conflict- resolution capabilities, and conception of male-female roles and decisionmaking. The final chapter recommends ways couples can decide whether their relationship is ready for marriage, based on their perceptions about children, sex, religion, cross-cultural differences, and the prospect of being reunited outside of prison. 70 references