Children with Incarcerated Parents: How to Help

Introduction 

Child development is one of the most sensitive issues in the modern society. It is evident that a child will require the presence of both parents to develop appropriately. This occurrence does not only affect the probability of having two incomes but has significant emotional support through the physical presence of the parent. However, the modern-day child does not always get this opportunity as either one or both parents are missing in the family due to incarceration that holds more than 1.5 million individuals. This population is quite a high number as it significantly results in adverse effects on the children who have done no crime. The majority of absent parents are usually men, but there are a few cases where the mothers are missing. In this regard, children of incarcerated parents are significantly growing and vulnerable to life adversities and social inequity. Despite the growing research on this issue, little has been done to alleviate these risks. The following report identifies the experiences of the children, risks perceived, reported outcomes and the possible interventions to address the issue. 

Experiences of the Children 

The number of children who have at least one parent in prison is significantly higher than normal. According to recent reports, there are approximately 1.75 million children under the age of 18 whose parents are in state or federal correctional facilities. The research indicates further that nearly 53% of men and 61% of women in the prisons are parents. This population accounted for approximately 810,000 of the total population in the state and federal jails (Shlafer, Gerrity, Ruhland, Wheeler, & Michaels, 2013). However, the affected children are mainly from the minority communities. In this case, black children are the most affected where nearly one in every 15 has a parent in prison. The black children are identified to be at most risk as they are eight times more likely to have parents in the correctional facilities than white children. They suffer nearly a similar disproportion when compared to Hispanics as they are three times more likely to be affected by this issue (Shlafer et al., 2013). These statistics show that they are significantly at a disadvantage as the majority of children from minority racial backgrounds are victims of the crimes of their parents and the action taken by the criminal justice system. 

One of the most common experiences that the children of incarcerated parents face is failure to protect their rights. Like any other child in general, the young population are all human and will respond or experience the parental imprisonment differently. In this way, their treatment by the criminal and justice system should incorporate measures that demonstrate care and protection of their best interests. Many of them are treated as a security when they wish to visit their parents in the prison facilities. The law enforces restrictions that refrain them from experiencing a relationship with their parents as the justice system identifies this as a significant threat to increased criminal behavior. The children may be shipped off to care programs where they had little or no choice. The government system does not take into consideration the impact of such treatment of the child (Shlafer et al., 2013). Despite the presence of laws that safeguard the rights of the child to be heard in the judicial and administrative proceedings and to have their best interests as the primary consideration in decisions that are affecting them, they are likely to receive ignored views from the justice system. 

The process of arrest or incarceration of a child is usually associated with high levels of adverse effects for the child. According to the adult point of view, the arrest may be violent or peaceful. However, this is not the same for the child who identifies every aspect of the arrest as dramatic and traumatizing, significantly influencing on their future experiences. They begin to fear authority and distrust them as they are recognized as those who pulled away a relationship between the child and the parent. The community as a whole also plays a major role in causing classifies them based on the activities of their parents significantly silencing them. The result is mental and physical health deterioration due to the separation from their parents among other related incarceration issues. The experience becomes worse when the conditions of living in the community are made miserable as they are deprived of necessities and opportunities such as appropriate education and shelter. Research has shown that before incarceration, 42% of fathers and 60% of mothers who are in prison had been in significant contact with their children but now face strict laws of maintaining a relationship with them. This practice is done to punish the parent, but it directly affects the life of the child emotionally (Shortt, Eddy, Sheeber, & Davis, 2014). 

Potential Problems 

There are numerous problems that could take place due to the incarceration and subsequent separation of the child from the parent. To begin with, the child of an incarcerated parent could suffer from discrimination. This occurrence is where lack of a parent especially among peers is depicted as an intended factor of teasing. Though teasing is a common part of living that may affect both children and adults alike, this practice could cross over into bullying. The ambiguity of friendly and offensive teasing is the foundation of the behavior such that only the perpetrator can know (Shortt et al., 2014). However, the events that have currently affected the victim in question may significantly lead to a contrary perception. The three broad components of teasing including humor, ambiguity, and aggression are the primary factors that make it attractive and risky at the same time. The child could be on the receiving end of a subtle humorous joke only to believe it was intended to be a provocative action. In this regard, the child feels discriminated and targeted. This occurrence is worse off for children who are smaller build and consequently results in emotional despair. 

The most vulnerable children in the population of those whose parents are incarcerated are those in their adolescence. This period of change in the life of the child is one of the biggest challenges in the modern society. Children are presented to experience high levels of stress due to physiological and emotional changes. The period is intended as a transformation from childhood to adulthood. However, the incarceration of their parents and lack of appropriate treatment from the criminal justice system and the society as a whole, many of them will seek alternative ways to cope with the life events (Shlafer et al., 2013). As mentioned earlier, adolescence is a critical period of change, and due to lack of knowledge or appropriate supervision, these young adults may turn to bad habits such as drug abuse. Marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco are the most common forms of substances that these children may consume. These drugs may have a deteriorative impact on the children as rather than coping with the problem they have increased them (Shlafer et al., 2013). Emotional regulation becomes a problem among these individuals, and they may engage in violent behavior leading to criminal allegations. 

The children of imprisoned parents are at risk of engagement in criminal activity due to the growing up in a violent and criminal environment. Criminologists identify the socialization impact of crime where individuals do not have an innate sense of engaging in crime. In this regard, the immediate surroundings have the effect of encouraging criminal behavior. Due to the aggressive nature of the parents who have been depicted as mentor figures for the children before the incarceration, the children develop a positive attitude towards criminal behavior and other illegal practices. In this case, without significant direction by the caregivers who will follow, the children are more likely to engage in the undesirable behavior. The occurrence of violent behavior and lack of emotional regulation among after the imprisonment of the parent is a clear indicator of its possibility. The engagement in destructive behavioral practices such as drug abuse and early sexual activity could significantly worsen the situation. Many of the caregivers are unable to deal with such behavior leading to a continued change of the home environment for the child. The problem is rarely dealt with or subsequently ignored which may result in offending behavior either as a delinquent or in adulthood. 

Outcomes Realized 

A mother from the beginning of civil societies is a fundamental foundation for the development of an adequate home. It is for this reason that most children experience closer relationships with their mothers than with their fathers. As a result, studies had shown that children are most affected when the parent lost to incarceration is a mother (Murray, Farrington, & Sekol, 2012). The loss is described as a complete dissolution of the family structure forcing the child to rebuild it around another caregiver. Usually, family members are chosen as appropriate caregivers which some children are forced into foster care. Research on this issue shows that the children are on few occasions involved in the choice of custody they will receive (Besemer, Farrington, & Bijleveld, 2017). 

The children begin to perceive themselves as objects that the criminal justice system and other authority organizations have a choice over their needs significantly silencing them (Murray, Farrington, & Sekol, 2012). The children with incarcerated mothers were more likely to uphold communication with them while in prison as opposed to their fathers. Many of them identified their father’s as non-existent during before imprisonment hence there was little change in relationship (Shortt et al., 2014). The incarceration of the maternal parents had a significant effect in increasing the possibility of criminality in adulthood. This result shows that despite the intent of reducing offending behavior in the society, the action taken by the justice system was contrary to the desired changes (Besemer, Farrington, & Bijleveld, 2017). 

Despite the lack of a prior relationship between the child and the particular parent in jail, the children experienced mixed feelings in the aftermath. Children who previously were in violent homes are mostly affected as they begin to portray behavioral and emotional issues (Besemer, Farrington, & Bijleveld, 2017). Numerous mothers reported that their children witnessed their parents being physically violent with them before incarceration. As a result, the children may engage in violent behavior in school even after the arrest of the aggressive. The children may also participate in destructive actions such as arguing with authority figures like their caregivers, and teachers. This behavior mainly affects children between the age of 5 and 15 years (Besemer, Farrington, & Bijleveld, 2017). The older the child, the more defiant they may get. The emotional issues that occur in this case include sadness, impulsiveness, and low self-esteem issues. In this case, significant confusion is depicted where the child may feel positive towards the imprisonment of the parent on one day and a complete contrast the next day. The emotional imbalance usually takes place due to the constant change of caregivers resulting in an unstable home environment. 

Most of the children who are separated from their incarcerated parents are of school-going age. These children are unable to effectively cope with the separation from the parent leading to negative behavior and significant decline in academic performance. According to the research on numerous children of incarcerated parents, the majority would engage in drug use and early involvement is sexual activity as a means of seeking a release from their problems (Robertson, 2012). Though many may suffer from bullying, there is a significant number which may be involved n violence as reported by teachers. The complicated relationships with their peers also caused severe mental strain and further challenged their ability to cope without their parents. It is depicted that the children are feeling fearful and aggravated by others even when that is not the case. Anger and resentment are possible outcomes which significantly lead to the low levels of concentration in the classroom (Murray, Farrington, & Sekol, 2012). The children are experiencing mixed feeling on the events that have befallen them which brings about low threshold of frustration. Inability to maintain proper focus on academic activities will result in a sudden drop in performance where for others it may potentially lead to dropping out of school. 

Possible Interventions 

There have been numerous debates on the appropriate actions to reduce the collateral impacts of imprisonment of a parent to the affected child. According to this research, the effects are presented in three phases, the arrest, sentencing and incarceration (Robertson, 2012). During the arrest, it is depicted that the child in question despite the efforts to hide its occurrence, children are highly traumatized by the experience. The law enforcement departments have not established significant protocols that would enable a substantial reduction in the trauma effect caused to the children. The only possible measure taken by officers is requiring offenders to release themselves safely to the law as a means of a non-violent arrest (Besemer, Farrington, & Bijleveld, 2017). However, this is not always possible as the criminals are sometimes violent individuals who have escaped numerous times from the law. Even in cases when the ‘peaceful’ arrest does occur, its effect is the same to the children. 

There have been states such as California and New Mexico that significantly require law enforcement officers to undergo training as a measure of reducing the traumatizing effect of arrest on the children. California, for instance, establishes a collaborative effort between police officers and child welfare agents to develop protocols for making arrests and protecting their well-being (Christian, 2009). Federal funds may be provided to the different agencies to maximize the best interests of the child in question. In this case, offenders may be allowed to make extra phone calls so as to ensure the protection and care of the children (Murray, Farrington, & Sekol, 2012). New Mexico, on the other hand, requires officers to inquire whether the arrested individual is a parent to ensure reasonable efforts are made to protect the safety of the child (Christian, 2009). These states also consider ways of diverting children in and out of foster care for those parents who are recurrent offenders. In this case, the child is taken out of foster homes when the parent is out of jail but returns during re-arrest. 

In the sentencing phase, the criminal justice system is depicted to lack consideration of the impact the action has on the child in question. There are numerous cases where children will usually attend the court proceedings and bear witness to the sentencing of their parents (Christian, 2009). The impact has significantly affected women disproportionately where the increase in drug offenses has been 129% while the incarceration of women has been nearly 888% (Christian, 2009). In this regard, the children are deprived of an appropriate maternal care essential for proper development. In this respect, the possibility of continued offending behavior through the offspring is more likely (Murray, Farrington, & Sekol, 2012). 

There are significant measures that the criminal justice system could undertake in the process of sentencing. State laws should be amended such that the court decisions for sentencing a criminal take into consideration the impact it may have on the child. For instance, the judges in Oklahoma make inquiries on whether the individual on trial is a single parent who has sole custody of the child (Christian, 2009). If this is the case, the court immediately makes arrangements for appropriate measures to ensure the child is safe and can receive basic needs. Other states such as Arkansas and Tennessee incorporate family impact statements whereby the least detrimental alternative is proposed as a means of protecting the best interests of the child (Christian, 2009). The occurrence in these states is only in limited cases. 

The incarceration phase is the most critical of the interventions for the impact realized on the children. The correctional facilities and their significant officials rarely inquire the parental status of a new inmate (Robertson, 2012). As a result, there are no measures undertaken by the justice system to identify the potential impact of incarceration to the parent-child bond. There are numerous restrictions outlined by law that prevents visitation of the children. As a result, the child is forced into emotional suffering and behavioral issues that arise due to the incarceration and discrimination that occur after imprisonment (Christian, 2009). However, some states have established laws that would ensure parental safety while taking into consideration the best interests of the child. Hawaii for instance enacted into law policy for placing parents into facilities that are secure and safe for inmates. This consideration ensures that parents have the capacity to maintain contact with children either during the sentence or after their release. 

California has a similar practice where the director of corrections identifies the community and family ties of a new inmate such that they are placed in facilities that are closer to their homes (Robertson, 2012). Alternatively, individuals who maintain a strong bond with family and have a lower risk of offending may be placed in rehabilitation institutions such that they can best provide for their children after release. The collection of information about new inmates is an important practice that helps correctional officials to identify whether children are receiving appropriate services and support for their survival. In Colorado law, correctional officers indicate whether the children of new inmates are in school and whether there are effective programs to assist the children in coping with the fact that their parents are incarcerated (Christian, 2009). In Hawaii, a similar practice was enforced in 2007 where prison officers collect information of inmates with children, the number of children, their age, arrangements for caregiving, and required service for them to cope with the events (Christian, 2009). 

Recommendations 

The above interventions strategies are depicted to have a significant impact towards the protection of the child safety and best interests. The interventions enacted by the various states in protecting the child are a bare minimum of the expected efforts from the government. In this regard, the criminal justice system identifies the importance of training officers such that the arrest process has minimal impact on the child as possible (Robertson, 2012). However, it would be better off to ensure that support services are provided such that children are counseled on ways to cope with the trauma of arrest. The proposed measure of diverting children from foster care to their parents and vice versa is depicted as a detrimental practice to the child. In this regard, children should have the opportunity to experience a stable home environment hence the transfer between different homes over the course of their lives is detrimental to their upbringing. 

The process of sentencing and incarcerations, it is evident that states have identified the impact imprisonment of parents has on the children. It is more severe that on at-risk children who lack other appropriate family structure to grow up in a home of balanced parenting practices (Robertson, 2012). The foster care system though it provides an alternative caregiving service for the children, usually results in cases of neglect and abuse of the children. However, through appropriate follow-up of the children from the related authority agencies, the care and protection of the child are significantly influential to the outcome of the child’s experience. 

The criminal justice system should develop programs that can assist in creating a proper environment in society to prevent discrimination and alienation of children of incarcerated parents. As mentioned earlier, children may suffer cases of teasing that may cross over to bullying due to the offenses and mistakes by their parents. Such experiences could negatively affect the mental health of the child and place them at risk of adverse behavioral outcomes (Robertson, 2012). Maintaining regular and meaningful contact between the parent and child is an appropriate measure of reducing the barriers between the child and their parents. 

Conclusion 

The unseen collateral damage of the criminal justice system is where numerous children in society are left without appropriate care when parents are imprisoned. The research shows that majority of the affected individuals are the blacks followed by the Hispanic minorities. The criminal justice system is depicted to lack consideration or involvement of children during the decision-making the process of incarceration. Some studies show significant impacts that include homelessness, mental stress, behavioral issues, substance abuse, exposure to violence and discrimination, and academic decline. The lack of appropriate services to provide these children with support for the traumatizing events usually results in the feeling of neglect and lack of trust towards the authorities. 

References 

Besemer, S., Farrington, D. P., & Bijleveld, C. C. (2017). Labeling and intergenerational transmission of crime: The interaction between criminal justice intervention and a convicted parent. PloS one , 12(3), e0172419. 

Christian, S. (2009, March). Children of incarcerated parents . In National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/documents/cyf/childrenofincarceratedparents.pdf 

Murray, J., Farrington, D. P., & Sekol, I. (2012). Children's antisocial behavior, mental health, drug use, and educational performance after parental incarceration: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin , 138(2), 175-210 

Robertson, O. (2012). Children of incarcerated parents . Geneva: Quaker United Nations Office. Retrieved from http://www.quno.org/sites/default/files/resources/ENGLISH_Collateral%20Convicts_Recommendations%20and%20good%20practice.pdf 

Shlafer, R., Gerrity, E., Ruhland, E., Wheeler, M., & Michaels, C. (2013). Children with Incarcerated Parents-Considering Children's Outcomes in the Context of Family Experiences. University of Minnesota, Retrieved from http://www.extension.umn.edu/family/cyfc/our-programs/ereview/docs/June2013ereview.pdf 

Shortt, J. W., Eddy, J. M., Sheeber, L., & Davis, B. (2014). Project home: a pilot evaluation of an emotion-focused intervention for mothers reuniting with children after prison. Psychological services , 11(1), 1-18.