Search

Parental incarceration is a socially relevant topic with substantial implications for children, yet it is understudied by child development scholars. About 2.6 million U.S. children currently have a parent who is incarcerated, and by age 14, one in 14 U.S. children experiences a resident parent leaving for jail or prison. In this developmentally oriented review, we summarize research on associations between parental incarceration and child well-being, and suggest areas where developmental scientists can contribute. While most analyses of large population-based U.S., datasets have found that experiencing paternal incarceration typically has detrimental implications for child well-being, especially as children grow older, analyses of maternal incarceration have yielded less consistent findings. Longitudinal population-based developmental studies focusing on parental incarceration, especially early in life through adulthood, are urgently needed to answer basic questions, clarify mixed findings, inform policies, and develop interventions for vulnerable children.

Millions of U.S. children are separated from a parent each year because of parental incarceration in prison or jail. The vast majority of people who go to jail or prison will be released eventually, making parental reentry and parent-child reunification a common process in families affected by incarceration. Despite the importance of the reentry period, few studies have focused on how young children cope when a parent returns from jail or prison. This article summarizes what little researchers know about children's reunion with their parents following parental incarceration, parental experiences of reentry, and what can help children and families.

U.S. jails are typically over-crowded settings and have faced notable social distancing challenges and a lack of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, institutions made swift policy changes that included canceling in-person visits, suspending programming, and releasing a proportion of people with low-level charges. That said, a still-significant number of individuals remained incarcerated for whom the consequences of such abrupt procedural changes amidst an ongoing pandemic remain largely unknown. To begin to examine this, 33 adults in a mid-sized, county jail were surveyed to assess their experiences. Participants were majority Black men, half of whom were parents, and all had been tested for COVID-19. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected yielding results, which indicated that COVID-19 significantly disrupted daily jail activities, adversely influenced health, and strained family relationships. Use of segregation, delayed court proceedings, inadequate health responses, and suspended programming and visits with limited contact alternatives reportedly intersected with depleted mental health to contribute to feelings of isolation and heightened concern for the well-being of family. Policy and practice implications are discussed that would help incarcerated people receive necessary support and maintain family connections while mitigating health concerns that emerge during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]