Story Published:
Apr 28, 2010 at 5:40 PM MST
Story Updated:
Apr 30, 2010 at 3:56 AM MST
BILLINGS - Studies show prisoners who can hold onto their marriages while behind bars are less likely to return to jail. But as we discovered, only a small percentage of inmates at the Montana Women's Prison are able to keep those bonds beyond bars.
Three times a year for the last four years, Randy Summers has made the trek across the state from his home in Corvallis to his wife, Donna's home in Billings at the Montana Women's Prison.
"How was your trip?" she asks. "I love you." He says. The hour-long visits sustain them as they fight everyday to beat the odds. The odds are they will fail as a couple. Statistics show 80 to 90 percent of marriages break up when one spouse is incarcerated. Montana Women's Prison mental health counselor, Dawn DeVor explains, "A relationship that was struggling prior to incarceration, this only intensifies that struggle."
Why keep fighting? Randy says, "I married her with God as my witness so we will be married for eternity."
It is a bond corrections officials generally support. DeVor, "We try to be as helpful as we can in that process because ultimately our goal is to return these women to the community as responsible members and to help them change their antisocial behaviors to social behaviors so they can reassume their roles as wives and mothers."
During their visit, the Summers are allowed a hug, a kiss and a chance to hold hands under the watchful eyes of a prison guard. Conjugal visits are not allowed. Donna Summers says, "Without that, your relationship grows in other ways." But her husband is quick to add, "I think a conjugal visit would be nice - I mean, don't get me wrong, okay?" The answer draws chuckles from even the prison guard.
When they said "I do" 9 years ago, they never imagined their vows would be stretched across prison bars. Donna: "I really was living that double life you see on t.v. One was using drugs behind my husband's back. The other was the housewife who worked part time and took the kids to football, band practice and wrestling." Her double life came crashing down when she was arrested and convicted for using drugs. She will be eligible for parole this fall after serving a mandatory 5 years of her 20 year sentence.
Though their marriage is non-traditional, the Summers believe their commitment to survive may inspire other couples who live with less obvious walls between them. Donna says, "One thing these walls have created is we have much better communication. I tell him everything. I ask him about everything that happens." Randy says, "She is my best friend. I want to spend the rest of my life with her." With tears welling up in his eyes he adds, "Even though she's in prison, I still love her very much."
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