Corby spends most of the novel in prison, dealing with the various pressures of prison life. Through Corby’s time in Yates Correctional Institution, the author critiques the American prison system’s failures while also highlighting the impact of incarceration on individuals and families. 

Inside prison, Corby is repeatedly confronted by the emotional toll of confinement. Even beyond the physical restrictions, he faces constant surveillance, humiliation, and arbitrary punishment. His observation that “officers are indifferent to the questions of the guys in their custody” (136) underscores the depersonalization inmates face daily. Corby battles insomnia, flashbacks, and suicidal ideation, all while navigating the ever-present threat of violence and retaliation. These stressors intensify after his assault by Piccardy and Anselmo, illustrating how those who abuse power within the system can sometimes act with impunity. His failed attempts to alert the higher authorities to Solomon’s experiences of abuse likewise reflect how the system sometimes fails in terms of transparency and accountability, as the concerns of inmates are not always heard.

Outside the prison, the effects of Corby’s incarceration ripple through his family, particularly in the cases of Emily and Maisie. Emily struggles to balance her grief with single parenthood, while also confronting anger, guilt, and uncertainty about Corby’s role in her and Maisie’s future. Their strained communications highlight how incarceration fragments relationships: Letters are misinterpreted, visits are painful, and phone calls are interrupted or emotionally fraught. Maisie, though young, internalizes the instability; her behavioral issues and guarded demeanor reveal how children are often deeply impacted by their parents’ imprisonment.

Corby’s death also highlights how the conditions of incarceration can compromise the safeguarding of inmates, especially during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Patel points out the overcrowding that makes incarcerated people particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that “everyone—but particularly prisoners—are vulnerable” (437). This line, voiced by a professional outsider to the system, reflects the novel’s broader critique of how easily inmates can be neglected or overlooked: Instead of moving quickly to put adequate safeguards in place, the health and safety of the inmates was chronically compromised, leading to high rates of infection and death.  

By chronicling Corby’s deterioration and partial recovery, as well as the long-lasting effects on his family, The River Is Waiting challenges readers to rethink the function of prisons and the various systemic failures that can hinder adequate safeguarding and rehabilitation. The experiences of Corby, Emily, Maisie, and others in their circle serve as a reminder that incarceration does not affect inmates alone, but contains wider societal implications.