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Introduction |
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Impact of a Parent’s Incarceration |
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Finding Help |
Introduction
When parents are arrested and locked behind bars, their children must also pay a hefty price. Youth left behind are in a sense held captive by the stigma of their parent’s incarceration, a sense of loss, and often, unstable living conditions and an uncertain future.
In the United States, an estimated 1.6 million children have an imprisoned father and 200,000 have an imprisoned mother. The actual statistics are unknown, since prisoners are not required to reveal specific information about their children. What is known is that most of these children experience negative consequences that affect their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Impact of a Parent’s Incarceration
The extent to which children will be affected by their parent’s incarceration depends on many factors, including:
- Child’s age when the parent-child separation occurs;
- Number and result of previous separation experiences;
- Nature of the parent’s crime;
- Length of the parent’s sentence;
- Degree of stigma that the community associates with incarceration; and
- Availability of family or community support.
Although every child’s experience with a parent’s arrest and prison sentence is unique, research shows that emotional turmoil is typical. The loss of a parent may incite conflicting feelings, such as relief that a parent is no longer able to hurt themselves or others, the satisfaction of knowing that the parent will be punished for their crime, and the hope that they will change.
When children are present during the arrest, their sense of loss may be compounded by feelings of powerlessness, particularly if they witness police indifference or brutality. Many children of imprisoned parents show symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, and attachment disorders.
Most children of prisoners are cared for by family members. Some remain in stable environments while others are moved to a new community or enter the foster care system. Often, children experience greater economic hardship when a parent is imprisoned.
Moreover, children may be exposed to substance abuse of family members and may become victims of sexual or physical abuse. Youth in foster care often endure numerous placements and are at increased risk for abuse.
The stigma of having a parent in prison can be painful and embarrassing, even in communities where many families are affected by the incarceration of family members and friends.
Finally, many children of prisoners have difficulty at school, which often results in both academic and social failure.
Finding Help
Enduring relationships with caring adults are vital to children’s growth and development and protect youth from unhealthy influences. In fact, research shows that providing youth with consistent adult support through a long-term mentoring relationship improves children’s grades and family relations, as well as helps prevent the initiation of drug and alcohol use.
In 2001, Congress established the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Funding is provided to community organizations and state and local governments to develop mentoring programs specifically for children of incarcerated parents. Mentors provide support and guidance and act as positive role models for youth by establishing safe and trusting relationships.
Mentoring programs and other resources are available in most communities. Social workers employed in schools, community agencies, and in private practice can help families locate and coordinate these services to ensure that children of prisoners receive the support they need during this particularly challenging time in their lives.
