Working With Families Dealing With Incarceration
Key Information, Statistics of Families Dealing With Incarceration
Given the current high levels of incarceration in America, the criminal justice system now affects
the lives of millions of children annually.
Currently, over 2.6 million children in the United States have a parent who is serving time in
prison (Stansfield et al., 2022). Additionally, by the time they reach the age of 14, one out of
every 14 children in the United States will have experienced a situation where one of their parents
is sent to jail or prison.
Currently, the average number of women who are imprisoned, encompassing both state and
federal correctional facilities, is fivefold greater than it was in 1980 (Stansfield et al., 2022).
An estimated 1.2 million women who are incarcerated or are being controlled by the criminal
legal system do not suffer the impacts of mass incarceration alone. Of the women in state and
federal prisons, over 58% have minor children, while nearly 80% have minor children in local
facilities (Benisty et al., 2021).
In the state of Tennessee alone, a startling 144,000 young individuals, which accounts for 10% of
the youth population, have encountered the situation of having a parent incarcerated in prison or
jail (Stansfield et al., 2022).
Characteristics of Families Dealing With Incarceration
Children who have experienced parental incarceration face more hurdles and obstacles than
children who have not had a parent or guardian incarcerated.
Having a parent in prison might affect a child's mental health, social conduct, and educational
opportunities (Arditti & Johnson, 2022).
The psychological distress and practical challenges of a disturbed family life can be exacerbated
by the social stigma that children may endure as a result of having a parent incarcerated or
detained.
Children with an incarcerated parent may face financial difficulty as a result of the parent's loss3of
income. In addition, some parents who are incarcerated may lose their parental rights if their
children have been in foster care for longer than is permitted by law or if there are unanswered
child support concerns.
Boys with jailed fathers receive higher teacher ratings for delinquent and violent behavior (Arditti
& Johnson, 2022).
Girls who have their fathers incarcerated have a significantly higher rate of attention issues
(Arditti & Johnson, 2022).
Teaching Strategies to Support the Child and Family
Teachers can work with the child's other parent, family member, or guardian to establish a healthy
school environment for children of incarcerated parents.
Teachers can help children with incarcerated parents attain their full potential and succeed
academically and socially by introducing behavioral and academic supports that improve the
teaching-learning process.
Teachers can act as advocates for children whose parents are incarcerated and educate their
counterparts on how to address the unique needs of these children.
Teachers can establish a school culture3that normalizes and recognizes incarceration as a reality
for many families.
Resources List
Books
"The Night Dad Went to Jail: What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Jail" by Melissa
Higgins - This book helps children understand and cope with the difficult emotions that come
with a parent's incarceration.
"Visiting Day" by Jacqueline Woodson - Through the story of a young girl visiting her father in
prison, this book portrays the strength of family bonds and the hope for the future.
"My Daddy's in Jail" by Anthony Curcio - This book sensitively explores the emotions of a child
whose father is incarcerated, offering comfort and understanding.
Community Agencies
Amachi – One Friendship, Two Lives Changed. The agency helps children overcome
obstacles, shape their futures, and break the cycle of incarceration by giving friendship through a
caring adult mentor. Web address: https://amachi.klf.org/
Free Hearts. The agency, led by formerly jailed women, provides support, empowerment,
reunification, and organization to families affected by incarceration in Tennessee. Web address:
https://freeheartsorg.com/
Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry and Reentry Center. The agency provides educational
resources and support, one-on-one mentoring, and worship sessions for children. Web address:
https://www.tpom.org/youth-programs/
Website
National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated (NRCCFI) -
NRCCFI provides educational resources, lesson plans, and training materials for teachers to
support students with incarcerated parents in the classroom. Web address:
https://nrccfi.camden.rutgers.edu/
References
Arditti, J. A., & Johnson, E. I. (2022). A family resilience agenda for understanding and responding to
parental incarceration.3American Psychologist,377(1), 56.
Benisty, M., Bensimon, M., & Ronel, N. (2021). Familial pains of imprisonment: The experience of
parents and siblings of incarcerated men.3Victims & Offenders,316(2), 247-265.
Stansfield, R., Semenza, D., Napolitano, L., Gaston, M., Coleman, M., & Diaz, M. (2022). The risk of
family violence after incarceration: An integrative review.3Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,323(2), 476-489.
