Goals and Plans of Incarcerated Men Postrelease

Jacob J van den Berg; Beth C Bock; Mary B Roberts; Donna R Parker; Rosemarie A Martin; L A R Stein; Jennifer G Clarke

doi:10.1177/1078345816635187

Goals and Plans of Incarcerated Men Postrelease

J Correct Health Care. 2016 Apr;22(2):146-56. doi: 10.1177/1078345816635187.

Authors

Jacob J van den Berg¹, Beth C Bock², Mary B Roberts³, Donna R Parker⁴, Rosemarie A Martin⁵, L A R Stein⁶, Jennifer G Clarke³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA jacob_vandenberg@brown.edu.
² Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA.
³ Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI, USA.
⁴ Departments of Family Medicine and Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
⁵ Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA.

Abstract

Prior research has not examined the self-identified goals and plans of incarcerated people as they approach release from prison. This study analyzed the goals and plans generated during a motivational interviewing counseling session of incarcerated men who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a smoking abstinence intervention in a tobacco-free prison in the northeastern United States. Using thematic analysis, 53 written goals and plans were independently coded by trained research assistants to identify major themes that included (1) staying smoke-free or reducing the number of cigarettes smoked postrelease, (2) engaging in physical activities to improve health and wellness, and (3) spending time with family and/or friends. Implications for working with inmates to identify their plans and goals to remain smoke-free after incarceration are discussed.

Keywords: goals; healthy behaviors; incarcerated males; plans; smoking abstinence.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adult
Exercise
Goals*
Health Status
Humans
Male
Motivational Interviewing
Prisoners / psychology*
Smoking Cessation / psychology*
Socioeconomic Factors
Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
United States

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding