Relationship Issues — Ask the Inmate
Incarceration puts enormous strain on every type of relationship, marriages, partnerships, parent-child bonds, friendships, and family connections of all kinds. The distance, the communication barriers, the financial stress, and the emotional weight of the situation test relationships in ways that most couples and families are not prepared for. This section covers how to maintain a healthy relationship during incarceration, how to navigate jealousy, suspicion, and communication breakdowns when contact is limited to calls and letters, what the research shows about relationships that survive incarceration versus those that do not, how to support a partner or family member emotionally from the outside, and how to approach the changes that both people go through during a long sentence. The guidance here is honest about the difficulty while being realistic about what is possible with consistent effort and genuine commitment. See also our sections on Family Services, Visitation, and Marriage in Prison.
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inmates will be suspicious of EVERYTHING you do or say... they think you're up to something even if you're not... we inmates have a lot of idle time to create "science fiction novels" in our heads... all you can do is be you... and stay 'close' the best way you know how to...
Read morewrite me :)
Read moreThis is one of the most thoughtful questions a person on the outside can ask and the fact that you are asking it before making mistakes puts you ahead of most people in this situation. The single most important thing you can do is be consistent. Consistency is everything inside. A letter that arrives regularly, a call that comes through on a predictable schedule, and a person on the outside who does what they say they are going to
Read morewe dont have that information, it's not public so if you are having trust issues, you need to have a talk with him about it
Read moreReal love between someone on the outside and someone serving time does exist. It would not be honest to say otherwise. There are genuine relationships that started through letters or visits that survived a sentence and built something lasting on the other side. They are real but they are not common and going in with clear eyes about the odds is the most respectful thing anyone can offer you. The more frequent reality is exactly what the question suspects.
Read moreDo you want to visit the man that made you his victim?!? No advice here... we doubt the warden will listen, too
Read morebecause he is insecure and takes out his frustrations on someone that cares about him... believe me, he has no idea he's being an asshole, he just is... find a new guy that is worth your love
Read moreYes, they allow the pictures you describe
Read moreInmates have a lot of time on their hands and filing court cases is a common occurrence, including divorce. The court has to assist with an investigator to serve the papers
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