Five Stages of Incarceration

Understand what new prisoners experience as they process the changes to their daily lives in a correctional setting.

Understanding a prisoner’s thinking and emotional state can help us minister to them more effectively. The five stages of incarceration—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance—are derived from the traditional stages of grief outlined by American Swiss psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

These stages are not necessarily linear since people can flow in and out of them. But often a prisoner’s behavior can be explained by where they are within these stages. Like everyone, prisoners are in process, and are responding to what is happening in their lives.

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DENIAL

This stage begins when a person enters prison and lasts one to three years for those with a sentence over 10 years. For lesser sentences, they may be in denial for their entire sentence. Prisoners swing from emotions of rebellion to withdrawal and find it hard to believe they’re really in prison. They tend to blame their situation on others, are often callous toward victims, and have trouble comprehending the seriousness of consequences.

ANGER

When faced with the reality that they can no longer deny the situation, a prisoner often becomes angry, may threaten lawsuits, express grievances, or bully weaker people . Some join gangs. They may demand equal treatment but show little regard for fairness.

BARGAINING

A sense of “if only” settles in: “If only my dad had been around. If only people would treat me fairly.” They may resort to making promises and deals with God or others. They promise to mend their ways in exchange for favors. Often filled with guilt, frustration, and shame, it’s hard for prisoners to believe God will forgive.

DEPRESSION

Feelings of hopelessness and sadness sink in when it’s clear that anger or bargaining don’t work. Depressed prisoners tend to withdraw from others and focus on what they’ve lost. One prisoner said, “I wanted to sleep all the time. I wanted to escape my pain.” Prisoners begin to face the consequences of their past actions. They grieve their loss of freedom and separation from loved ones.

ACCEPTANCE

Prisoners begin to accept that they’re in prison for the long haul, which can make some emotionally numb.  Others experience genuine soul searching and accept some responsibility for their situation. Attitudes are improving. They fall into a routine and usually try to improve through reading, school, church, or work. A sense of peace moves in and many show a sincere desire to change.

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Ron Zifer, program manager for Prison Fellowship’s Academy program for men in Houston, and Joe Bruton, a graduate of the Academy program and coordinator of Goodwill Industries’ Transitional Employment Opportunities program in Arkansas, provided some helpful tips for in-prison volunteers.

Ron Zifer advised

• “First, don’t put them down.  They have to be gently guided to acknowledge they are not victims and their actions had consequences.”
• “Encourage them that help and hope are available in Christ.  First comes transformation of the mind. Jobs, skills, and housing will fall into place later.”

Joe Bruton added:

• “Volunteers should built rapport and trust.  Validate the prisoner’s feelings and frustrations. Healing comes by confessing our faults to another.”
• “Pray for them and let them tell their story.  Help them see that some of our darkest times can be used for God’s glory.”