ABSTRACT
In this chapter we explore the changing role and significance of relationships between women who have served prison sentences, and the people that surround them. Using data from our recent study of ethnic minority (ex)-offenders1 we consider how family and community connections are sustained during and after incarceration. Our findings illustrate the significance of supportive informal relationships with friends and family in the reintegration process, with positive relationships providing a form of social capital and acting as a significant form of social control. Additionally, we consider the impact of problematic relationships in the reintegration process.
