IMO, anyone who dates or marries a prisoner, especially a lifer, has deep seated issues. You might have seen my long story on the board in another section about how I had a male friend for 9 years who only dates (and marries) prisoners ("Rancho Mirage"). It was obvious what his problems were, since I knew him well in person. I was his only friend.
Some of his issues I can think of included: intense fear of intimacy, fear of strings or demands being placed on him, intense fear of committment; he had passive-aggressive disorder; sexually inadequate, socially isolated, trouble getting along with others, fear of responsibility including financial, ungenerous, very low self esteem. Lots and lots of fear in them!