This policy brief explores the impact of parental incarceration on young children and how communities, social service agencies, health care providers, and the criminal justice system can work collaboratively to better meet the needs of the families left behind. It begins by discussing the characteristics of incarcerated parents and the consequences of imprisonment on children. It cites research indicating short-term effects on children including: feelings of shame, social stigma, loss of financial support, weakened ties to the parent, change in family composition, poor school performance,…
Most of the two million people in prison in the United States have children and families in the community. Although family members of prisoners face emotional and economic crises related to separation, there are few resources to support them. Community members can alleviate the loss felt by children and reduce risks associated with trauma related to parental incarceration. This guide suggests strategies for meeting the needs of these families. The approach focuses on promoting family relationships, skills, and faith. All aspects of the planning process are outlined, including collaboration,…
This book contains expanded version of papers presented at the Natcher Center of the National Institutes of Health in January 2002. The papers address the consequences of imprisonment and reentry for individual prisoners, their families, and the communities to which these prisoners return. Preceded by an introductory chapter outlining current data on prisoners and their children and families, Part 1 examines the impact of prison itself. It examines the psychological impact of imprisonment, the experiences of women prisoners, and the ability of prison programs to improve the ability of…
More than 10 million children have had a parent in prison. These children often live with their remaining parent or another family member, or in foster care. Children of incarcerated women placed in foster care are subject to the termination of parental rights requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act. The act specifies that termination petitions be filed when children live in foster care during 15 of the previous 22 months. However, no provisions are made for incarcerated parents who cannot attain custody during the time limit. Research has found that parental stress contributes to…
The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network held a roundtable in November 2003 to discuss best practices for strengthening families separated by parental incarceration. Participants reviewed national trends and examined the components of state initiatives designed to reduce recidivism and alleviate the negative impact of parental incarceration on children. Emphasis was placed on improving parenting skills and nurturing parent-child relationships. This final report summarizes the challenges identified by programs, such as the lack of family stability, limited parenting skills, child support…
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When parents are incarcerated, they often leave children behind. In 1999, an estimated 721,500 state and federal prisoners were parents to nearly 1.5 million children under age 18. Who cares for children when a parent is incarcerated, and the services they and their caregivers receive, are clearly pressing issues. The needs that children have, and where these children are placed during a parent's incarceration-whether with the other parent, with a grandparent, relative, or in foster care-may have important implications for how children fare during a parent's incarceration. Elizabeth Johnson…
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Journal Article Approximately 1.7 million men were incarcerated during 1997, many of whom were fathers. The impact of paternal imprisonment is especially significant for African Americans who are disproportionately represented in the prison system. Although prevailing public opinion considers African American fathers to be uninvolved in the lives of their children, research has found that unmarried black men are more likely to spend time with their children and maintain attachments than unmarried men of other races. This article describes the barriers to paternal involvement for African American men in…
This paper explores the number of parents in prisons and jails in the United States and in the State of Hawaii, and unique challenges faced by Hawaiian parents who are incarcerated and their children. The growth in the number of females in the Hawaiian prison population is noted, as well as the State's use of Oklahoma and Arizona private prisons for approximately 24% of its felons. Information is provided on the characteristics of incarcerated parents, Hawaii's prison population profile and trends, negative impact of parental incarceration on children, parents, and families, and problems with…
This paper utilizes the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to investigate if a father's previous incarceration reduces the stability in the relationship between parents who recently had a child. Our results suggest that parents that were non-co-resident at the time of the birth of their child are 19 percent less likely to cohabit 12 months later ifthe father has been incarcerated. Similarly, non-co-resident couples are 37 percent less likely to be married 12 months after the birth of their child if the father has been incarcerated. (Author abstract).
