Love After Lockup?

[Cateyez]

I always knew better. Couldnt help but feel like he was the one because we have such a  deep emotional connection. I love him immensely and unconditionally. And anything worth having is worth fighting for!... Or so I think.. Ive been dating this guy for a year and a half but hes been locked up for the past 6 months. The first 10 months, honestly werent the best. But to be fair we’ve had some really great moments as well. When it was good it was really good, and when it was bad it was real bad, you know the saying. Some of our bad times consisted of him texting other females at 3 am, being on dating apps, still searching for and reaching out to his ex, constantly staring at other females while I’m standing right next to him. Hes even told me he would never love me the way he LOVES his ex and he started pointing out my flaws and continued to tell me how unattracted he is of me. But after all of our blow ups he starts crying,...ALLOT. Telling me how sorry he is and how he never meant to say those things to me, to please give him another chance. In turn I forgive him and continue on with the relationship. He can be very controlling at times. I know Ive been excusing his controlling behavior because of his awful upbringing. With that said I also I feel like he uses that to his advantage and (as much as I hate to admit it) manipulates me. When he got locked up I was ready to call it quits for good because of the skeletons that were coming out in his absence. He did what hes really good at, sweet talked me and cried, ALLOT. So out of sympathy for his situation I forgave him. 
Fast forward to today, hes still incarcerated, at times I feel like the time hes been in there has changed him, for the better. I feel like it’s made him take a look in the mirror and realize the way hes treating me was wrong. Because I feel he has changed. Only, he still has his moments here and there where he snaps back to his old habits. But no one is perfect, least of all him. BUT! Then again I cant help but feel like he’s been telling me everything I want to hear, because he knows all the things I’ve been asking of him throughout the relationship. Im worried once hes out things will go back to how it was and the disrespect will continue. 
Im at the point where the next decision I make in this relationship is what Im going to stick to. I’m stuck with the questions should I move on from him? Or should I give this a real chance with the “improved” him?
All suggestions are welcome. Thank you. 

[Wiseman2]

What was he incarcerated for? Read up on domestic violence and sociopaths.

Many inmates charm someone on the outside not only for benefits during incarnation, such as money but also for a place to land when they get out.

If you want to destroy your life, just keep putting up with this.

If you want a normal happy life get rid of him.

[emprosnet7]

More important is how he is treating you than what he is saying. Try to work around him when he has these verbal outbursts. When he says he LOVES his ex etc try to be sympathetic instead of  being upset and see what effect will have on him.

[Wiseman2]

1 hour ago, emprosnet7 said:

try to be sympathetic instead of  being upset and see what effect will have on him.

He is in prison. All contact must be cut off. There's no need to  sympathize with a criminal.

[schlumpy]

Move while he's in prison and get a new phone.

[ExpatInItaly]

8 hours ago, Cateyez said:

Im at the point where the next decision I make in this relationship is what Im going to stick to. I’m stuck with the questions should I move on from him? Or should I give this a real chance with the “improved” him?

You would be incredibly foolish to believe he has improved. He can't check out other women or play on dating apps in prison, OP. Of course he looks like a new man, but I can just about promise you it's only because he quite literally can't do what he wants while he's incarcerated. He was also verbally abusive to you and generally a total jackass. 

Forget this person. Odds are high he'll go right back to his true self as soon as he's out and you'll get your heart crushed all over again. He disrespected you too much to deserve another chance.