The Possibility of Solidarity or Broken Relationship Between Social Relatives and Women Prisoners in Tunisia

Abstract

Confronted with a body of research conducted in different contexts, the results obtained in the present study showed great similarities. Inspired by the work that analyzed the plurality of family solidarity, a set of studies focusing on prison relationships focused on the commitment of relatives to the prisoner. These different works have sought to specify the different forms of solidarity that the family brings to the detainee. Family solidarity is manifested, in a functional dimension, through material assistance and visits. In an emotional dimension, it reflects the psychological support provided by the family to the detainee relative. Beyond the material support that the immediate family provides to the inmates, emotional assistance and emotional support remain very important to ease prison constraints. The emotional closeness of families is meant to be protective. Again, this issue is under-documented, making any confrontation of the results impossible. Without specifying the emotional support of the family, family solidarity is advanced as very strong support to the prisoner during incarceration but also after release. Indeed, the question of family solidarity in the face of incarceration aroused the interest of sociological research very early on. In addition, the need to preserve family-prisoner ties is currently considered an essential means of reintegration. For many researchers, maintaining family relationships during incarceration is a very important factor in the decline in the recidivism rate. The role of the family is now considered essential to maintaining prison balance. In a gendered dimension, the results obtained also reflect less family solidarity towards women prisoners.