NCJ Number
214048
Journal
Prevention Researcher Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 18-20
Date Published
April 2006
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines some of the effects on children of a parent's return after incarceration, and suggests how practitioners, family members, and others can assist in this transition.
Abstract
The success of adolescent-parent reunification after the parent's incarceration depends largely on preliminary factors, including the quality of the parent-child relationship before incarceration, support and contact while the parent is incarcerated, the parent's participation in rehabilitation programs, and realistic expectations for the reentry period. Children who lived with the parent prior to incarceration and who previously had a positive relationship with their parent may be more likely to resume a positive relationship after the parent's release. Regular visits, phone calls, and written correspondence while in prison increase the chances for a successful reintegration. Successful reunification depends on cooperation between the returning parent and the primary person who cared for the child during incarceration. It is important that the caregiver not feel that his/her relationship with the child will be undermined by the parent's return. Addressing detriments to the inmate's positive parenting while in prison is also important for successful reunification. Programs such as substance abuse treatment, anger management, domestic violence treatment, and English language proficiency can improve the parenting relationship with the child upon release. Programs specifically oriented toward parenting can provide additional parenting skills and knowledge. It is important that both children and parents have realistic expectations about the reunification experience. Both the returning parent and the child are experiencing adjustment from what life was like during incarceration to a life as individuals and in parent-child interactions after changes that occurred to both the child and parent during incarceration. 6 references