Corrections_Today_March_April_2023_Vol.85_No.2

Abstract T here are five million children in the United States who have been affected by the current or former incarceration of a parent. Although many of these children demonstrate resiliency to adverse life events, the disruption to the child-parent bond places these children at high risk for both externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Attachment strength with one’s parent plays a large role in the development of a child’s relationship with others throughout their life span; an attachment rupture, such as what can occur during a parent’s incarceration, could pose long-term psychological effects for children that continue into their adult lives. Trying to foster prosocial bonds between incarcerated parents and their children mitigate these problems, providing an overall benefit to the child. Research results imply more friendly correctional-based visiting policies, parent management training opportunities, better access to transportation for correctional facility visits, individual and family interventions integrating CBT and more support-related services, especially in the school setting, can help children restore relationships with incarcerated parents, subsequently reducing their potential for emotional harm and at-risk behaviors. Introduction An estimated five million children living in the United States have experienced the incarceration of a parent; there are more children with incarcerated parents than there are people incarcerated. 1,2 These children, who experience tremendous hardships, are subsequently “do ing time” alongside their parents. 3 They are the collateral consequences of their parents’ decisions. Children often experience various stressors when a parent is incarcerat ed, including, but not limited to, isolation, stigmatization, family instability, attachment disruption and excessive worry about the incarcerated parent, while also concern ing themselves with the needs of their current caregiver. 4 Finding supportive services for these children can be challenging. Yet, many of these children are resilient and adept in utilizing adequate coping methods, but for others, the disruption to the parent-child bond places them at high risk for emotional harm (internalizing behaviors) (i.e., de pression, anxiety, etc.) and risky behaviors (externalizing

behaviors) (substance use and promiscuity), in addition to higher rates of criminal justice involvement. 5,6 With women often reported as the primary caregivers to chil dren prior to their arrest, maternal incarceration proves to be more disruptive to children when compared to paternal incarceration. 7 Hence, it appears that supporting proso cial bonds between an incarcerated parent, especially the incarcerated mother, and the child is behaviorally and emotionally valuable for both. 8 Unfortunately, there is limited support for children found within the school set ting and sometimes within their own families, where their caregiver is also experiencing their own share of stress and strain. 9 Individual and family counseling, as well as enhancements in correctional-based policies, could help to provide the support for mending, healing and maintain ing bonds during a parent’s incarceration, thus mitigating internalizing and externalizing behaviors for children and their parents. With women often reported as the primary caregivers to children prior to their arrest, maternal incarceration proves to be more disruptive to children when compared to paternal incarceration.

Literature review Statistics

Over half of those incarcerated within the federal and state systems report having at least one child under the age of 18. 10 More than one-half of the children with an incarcerated parent are under the age of ten and more than one-third will be 18 years of age prior to their parent’s release. 11 Children are affected by the incarceration of their parent but appear to suffer more emotional distress and greater family instability with maternal incarceration.

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