Refining the Measurement of Social Dynamics and Centering Social Capital Research in Corrections

Research on social dynamics and social networks has long informed how researchers and practitioners make sense of positive and negative influences on individuals’ behaviors. Research on supportive network members and the role dynamics shared with parents, peers, and romantic partners have been central to empirical and theoretical contributions. Notably, the operationalization of social relationships has not changed much over the years. Scholars have primarily relied upon measures embedded in risk assessment tools or interview data about supportive ties. However, these approaches are not designed to assess individuals’ social capital, clarify mobilization strategies for support, or inform whether compositional and structural network characteristics (and changes) affect correctional experiences. This essay highlights the contributions of extant research on social relationships during probation and parole supervision and identifies ways that advancements in personal (egocentric) social network methods could aid in crafting research, policies, and practices that center equity and inform community-based solutions.