NCJ Number
202994
Date Published
January 2002
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the detrimental impact of a parent's incarceration on the children and ways to mitigate the impact.
Abstract
In order to understand the impact of the incarceration process on children, it is important to consider separately the short-term effects of the arrest and separation of the child from the parent; the impact of the unavailability of the parent to the child during the period of incarceration; and the effects, both positive and negative, of reunion after the incarceration period. It is also critical to determine whether the child is living with the parent at the time of incarceration; whether a single or two-parent household is involved; and, in the case of a two-parent household, which parent is incarcerated. The incarceration of the mother is likely to have a greater impact on a child than the incarceration of the father. A discussion of the short-term effects of the incarceration process focuses on the arrest phase and the management of the explanation to the child of what is happening. A discussion of the long-term effects on the child of the incarceration considers impacts on infants, on young children, on school-age children, and on boys compared with girls. Before the incarceration, during incarceration, and during the reunion phase after incarceration, various factors modify children's reactions. In reviewing these factors, the paper addresses preincarceration conditions and factors during incarceration. The most important predictor of how well the child will adjust to the immediate separation is the quality of the parent-child relationship. The major determinants of child adjustment during the period of parental incarceration are the nature and quality of the alternative caregiving arrangements and the opportunities to maintain contact with the absent parent. Descriptions of programs designed to mitigate the negative impact of a parent's incarceration on a child encompass programs for imprisoned parents, alternative caregivers, and the children themselves. These programs are delivered by a range of agents and agencies, including prison social work agencies, schools, and clinics. Attention is given to visitation programs, the raising of children in prison ("co-detention"), and alternatives to incarceration. Remaining sections consider the implications of parental re-entry into the family, problems associated with intervention and evaluation efforts, theoretical perspectives to guide research and policy, and research and policy issues. 1 figure