Introduction Many children are affected by their parent’s actions, whether the parent makes a little or big mistake their children will suffer. The purpose of this paper is to establish how having a parent that is incarcerated affects children emotionally, what challenges they face, and how their living situation contributes to their success, and if they are treated differently based on their living situation. In some cases the children are so embarrassed about their living situations that they will suffer in silence rather than express what they are feeling. Incarceration is a huge word that brings many feelings to surface for not only children but adults as well. In today’s society there are about 2.7 million children that have a parent …show more content…
incarcerated, this number has grown significantly the last 25 years. (Western, 2010) According to studies African American and Hispanic children are more likely than white children to have a parent be incarcerated. With the ever growing number of incarcerated parents there is a real concern for these children who even though they are smart, loving, and caring little people at this moment they are already at an even higher risk of taking the same route as their parent (s) and later in life become incarcerated just based on the fact that their parent (s) are incarcerated. Some of the challenges these children face are so astronomical that recovering from them is almost impossible. While young children do not understand why parents do what they do and sometimes feel like they are to blame for their parent’s actions they should not have to suffer in silence or feel alone while their parents pay the consequences for their actions. Depression, anxiety, behavior problems, and insomnia are just a few of the challenges that these young children face, not to mention the embarrassment of knowing that their parent (s) were not the ideal parent that every child wants to have. These children also suffer from the lack of their parent being there to help with homework, attend school functions and just daily interactions (Inside School Research, 2014). Often times these children, especially a first born son becomes the head male figure in the absence of their father, and this adds to the already stressful situation as the child tries to figure out how to help with household functions. Children with an incarcerated parent (s) will not only suffer emotionally, but physically, financially and socially as well. For a lot of these children once their parent becomes incarcerated they will be transitioned into a different living situation, some will live with the parent that is not incarcerated, others will live with grandparents, and the most unfortunate will live in a foster home. Depending on where these children are placed sometimes it is not an ideal situation and problems arise causing massive behavioral disruptions, social anxiety, and withdrawal from life itself. During this stressful time these children experience emotional distress on a daily basis, anything from loneliness, sadness, depression, anxiety, and just missing their loved one and the desire to interact, see and visit with them can be overbearing. These children also worry about whether or not they will be allowed to visit or talk to their parent, and these factors both depend on distance and cost (from personal experience this can be costly). Mentor programs have been created to assist the children and their caregivers while their parent is incarcerated and after they have been released, these programs focus on the safety and well-being of these children while their parent is away. They also provide financial assistance and in some cases transportation to and from the location for visitation of their incarcerated loved one. Alliance for Children and Families, Amachi, Angel Tree, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Children of Incarcerated Parents Mentoring are just a few of the organizations that provide mentoring services for these children and their families. With the ever-increasing number of incarcerated parents, concerns for their children are being researched and new mandates are being enforced to help these children understand why they are in this situation. Research is also being conducted on how we as a society can encourage these young children to be successful and not allow the path set before them to be compromised by their parent’s actions. How we view them, and interact with them will determine the bond that they create with us as individuals, once they have been relocated they will need to feel like they have dependability, trustworthiness, and someone to lean on during this difficult time. As a society it is much easier to judge and look down on those who are less fortunate, but in reality we are helping to shape these children for their future. We can embrace these children and help them become successful young adults who will grow and thrive despite their parents mistakes. The research proposal on the effect of Incarceration on Children A study conducted by Bruce and Becky (2010), indicates that there are more than 2.7 million children whose parents are incarcerated.
The figure is very high, necessitating the current study that aims to establish how the incarceration affects the children. Previous research indicates that incarceration has adverse impacts on the children that include anxiety, insomnia and depression (De Masi, Benson & Bohn, 2010). The absence of parental care as the children grow up may lead to behavioral problems among the children thus increasing their chances of incarceration in future. Most of the children that are affected by the adverse impacts of incarceration are African Americans and Hispanics. In an era where racial equality is advocated, there is need to address the issue to make sure that the emotional and physical development of the children is …show more content…
protected. The African American and Hispanic children whose parents are incarcerated have fewer chances of success in their future life because the emotional instability may lead to poor academic performance in school. In the modern society, the present academic performance of the children determines their future economic success because for them to secure jobs they have to excel academically. The poor financial status that the children may suffer from when their parents are incarcerated also affects their chances of academic excellence. With the high rate of incarceration increasing by the day, the development of these children is at risk. The current study will thus be useful in enhancing equality among the children in the United States. The findings of the study may be used by policy makers in addressing the impact of incarceration on children. By understanding how the children are affected by the incarceration, it is possible to come up with measures that would enhance the welfare of the children. Methodology The study will adopt a qualitative research design because it is helpful in gaining a clear understanding of the impacts of a phenomenon on human life. The method is suitable for the current study that seeks to examine how children are affected by incarceration. Using the qualitative research design, it will be possible to develop ideas on the measures that can be adopted to reduce the adverse impacts of the incarceration. The method allows for an in-depth investigation of a given phenomenon, which is a crucial aspect in making the current study effective (Neuman, 2005). The choice of the research design used in the study determines the data collection tools to be used. In the current study, the exploratory nature of the research question makes in-depth interviews the most suitable approach to data collection. Using the interviews, it is possible for the researchers to identify the common problems faced by the children who are forced to grow up without their parents due to incarceration. The interviews in the study will be based on open-ended questions to provide room for the researchers to identify the challenges that face these children. The nature of the questions will enable the respondents to express their views on how incarceration affects them, thus providing a deeper insight into the problem (Crouch & McKenzie, 2006). To effectively obtain information from the children, the researchers will need to conduct the interview using informal conversations. Unlike the quantitative research where a large sample size is desired for accurate conclusion, qualitative study does not focus on the sample size but the quality of information collected. To minimize the amount of resources used in the study, the data will be collected on convenience population of children’s home. This will reduce the time and other resources such as transport cost that would otherwise be used in gathering data from respondents located in different geographical areas. Data will be recorded and transcribed later for easier analysis so as to reach an accurate conclusion. The study will involve collection of data from 100 children from St. PJ’s children’s home located in Texas. About 50% of the population to be interviewed will be African Americans and Hispanics because they are the most affected, going by previous studies. Only the children who are victims of incarceration will be involved in the study so as to ensure accuracy of data. The other factor that determines the accuracy of data in studies involving children is their age (Rabiee, 2004). The study will require the participants to be aged between 12 and 15 years. The data collection will begin with a briefing that will inform the children about the importance of the information they provide in enhancing their welfare. The researchers will then collect data by recording the informal conversations with the children. The main focus of the interviews will be the academic performance and social interaction of the children before and after the incarceration. Once data is collected, it will be analyzed through coding method because it is easy to understand. Results Based on the in-depth interviews conducted in the study, it is evident that incarceration has adverse effects on the social and academic life of the affected children. The in-depth interview conducted on 100 children from St. PJ’s Children’s Home in Texas aimed at investigating the effect of incarceration on the welfare of the children. The nature of data collection method encouraged the children to participate due to the informal nature of the process. On the effect of incarceration on academic performance of the children, the results show that they are less likely to excel. Eighty nine percent of the study population indicated poor performance in academics after incarceration. Among the factors that were associated with the poor performance include insomnia, anxiety, stress and inability to concentrate on the studies. Most of the children who showed signs of stress were Hispanic and African Americans. Insomnia was most common among female while anxiety was common among male. The inability to concentrate on the studies was common to all children. The results were as indicated in the table below. Effects of incarceration on children Male Female African-Americans Hispanics White Insomnia 63% 70% 95% 94.2% 80% Anxiety 85% 78% 88% 83% 72% Stress 90% 90.3% 89% 86% 79% Inability to concentrate 95% 94% 95% 94% 90% Discussion Incarceration of parent(s) has adverse effects on the welfare if the children. Those who experience insomnia are not able to concentrate in class in most cases and they may even have behavioural problems (Ahrberg et al., 2012). This not only affects their ability to interact well with the other children, but also affects their academic performance negatively (Geller et al., 2009). Anxiety is also an impact that affects the children negatively and they may end up developing compulsive behaviour. On the other hand, Individuals who experience stress are more likely to develop other health complications such as depression, which affects their social life. The high rate of the children’s inability to concentrate in class is alarming because they cannot achieve the much-needed academic excellence. With respect to race, the African-Americans were most affected by the situation because most of them come from families that are not economically stable. The worry of such children is mainly due to the uncertainty of the future. They are less likely to show any interest in education because of the hopeless situation (McEwen, 2012). With respect to gender, male children have a higher ability to cope with stress than their female counterparts. However, the difference is very slight, implying that both male and female children need a solution on how to deal with stress. Limitations of the study The responses provided by the participants may be inaccurate thus affecting the reliability of the study.
One limitation of the study is the high chances of distortion of information by the respondents due to factors such as the selective perception. The other limitation relates to the large volume of information collected. This affects data analysis because it may be hard to code such information. Future research Most of the information from previous studies on effects of incarceration focuses more on the social impacts. Therefore, there is need to conduct further research that focuses on the academic impacts of incarceration. There is also a need to carry out further studies on the most suitable solutions to help the children concentrate on their studies and have better social skills. Conclusion Incarceration of parent(s) has adverse effects in the social and economic development of the children. Owing to the high number of incarcerations in the United States, it is necessary for the government to define strategies that may help the children cope. Among the most suitable approaches may be the increase of time that the children are allowed to interact with their parents. The bottom line is to have a society where all children develop at the same pace, regardless of the
incarcerations.
Throughout the semester, we have discussed many different issues that are currently prevalent in the United States, specifically those related to racial discrimination. One specific issue that I have developed interest and research in is that of institutionalized racism, specifically in the form of mass incarceration, and what kinds of effects mass incarceration has on a community. In this paper, I will briefly examine a range of issues surrounding the mass incarceration of black and Latino males, the development of a racial undercaste because of rising incarceration rates, women and children’s involvement and roles they attain in the era of mass incarceration, and the economic importance that the prison system has due to its development.
There are many prison programs that can incarcerated families especially mothers and fathers. These programs that are made up are there to help parents reunite with their children by giving them tools and information about how to treat children, to control their emotions and reaction towards issues that might get out of control, some programs even help by educating and increasing a parents self-esteem by giving them knowledge information. Not only do parenting prison programs help bond parents and children but it also helps the incarcerated person get connected with the outside world again by giving their community an insight on how to help and respond to an incarcerated person needs. In this research paper the following issues will be looked at: attachment-based program, the types of problems parents have with their children while incarcerated, and the teachings of parental strategies to use when in prison and out of prison.
Can you imagine having your parents incarcerated? I can, when I was 10 years old my father was incarcerated and at age 23 my mother was incarcerated. Parental incarceration impacts you as a child or a teen in so many ways due to only one parent or grandparent being able to raise the child without the other. Parental incarceration is a very dramatic event in a child's lifespan. Having a parent incarcerated can have an impact on a child's mental health, social life and educational needs. Studies show parental incarceration can be more traumatic to students than even a parent's death or divorce, and the damage it can cause to students' education, health, and social relationships puts them at higher risk of one day going to prison themselves.(Sparks,
Easterling and Johnson. (2012). Understanding Unique Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children: Challenges, Progress, and Recommendations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 342-356.
When a person becomes a parent, their role in life undoubtedly changes. The person must become a teacher, a guide, and a helping hand in the life of the child. Research has shown that there is a distinct connection between how a child is raised and their overall developmental outcome. John Bowlby’s attachment theory emphasizes the importance of the regular and sustained contact between the parent-infant or parent-child relationship (Travis & Waul 2003). Yet, what happens when the only physical contact a child can share with their parent is a hand pressed on the shield of glass that separates the two? What happens when the last memory of their mother or father was from the corner of their own living room as they watched their parent become handcuffed? In 2007, there was an estimate of approximately 1.7 million children of incarcerated parents in the United States (Poehlmann, Dallaire, Loper & Shear 2010). Of those 1.7 million children, 58% of those children are under the age of 10, with the mean age being 8 (Travis & Waul 2003). The children of incarcerated parents are often moved from one family and one school to the next. The child must cope with this issue in home and in school, and may find it especially hard to cope with during school. Schools, however, can be a safe place for these children. This research explored the psychological effects of parent incarceration on the child, the school-based problems that occur as a result, and what educators can do to support children of incarcerated parents.
How people mature into grownups is directly affected by the moments they experience as children and young adults. Most of what children learn happens at home through their parents. Estimates indicate that more than 1.3 million children in the United States have mothers who are in jail, prison, or on parole, and most affected children are less than 10 years old (Mumola as cited in; Poehlmann). That information leads into the research question, what are the effects incarcerated mothers have on their children? Do those children develop and mature just as their peers do? I hypothesize that: the offspring of incarcerated mothers are more at risk for intellectual problems than their peers.
According to statistics since the early 1970’s there has been a 500% increase in the number of people being incarcerated with an average total of 2.2 million people behind bars. The increase in rate of people being incarcerated has also brought about an increasingly disproportionate racial composition. The jails and prisons have a high rate of African Americans incarcerated with an average of 900,000 out of the 2.2 million incarcerateed being African American. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 1 in 6 African American males has been incarcerated at some point in time as of the year 2001. In theory if this trend continues it is estimated that about 1 in 3 black males being born can be expected to spend time in prison and some point in his life. One in nine African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 are currently incarcerated. Although the rate of imprisonment for women is considerably lower than males African American women are incarc...
In the United States, the rate of incarceration has increased shockingly over the past few years. In 2008, it was said that one in 100 U.S. adults were behind bars, meaning more than 2.3 million people. Even more surprising than this high rate is the fact that African Americans have been disproportionately incarcerated, especially low-income and lowly educated blacks. This is racialized mass incarceration. There are a few reasons why racialized mass incarceration occurs and how it negatively affects poor black communities.
Parental incarceration can affect many aspects of a child’s life, including emotional and behavioral well-being, family stability and financial circumstances. The growing number of children with an incarcerated parent represents one of the most significant collateral consequences of the record prison population in the U.S. Children who have an incarcerated parent require support from local, state, and federal systems to serve their needs. Kids pay both the apparent and hidden costs while their loved one serves out sentences in jail or prison.
It is undeniable that mass incarceration devastates families, and disproportionately affects those which are poor. When examining the crimes that bring individuals into the prison system, it is clear that there is often a pre-existing pattern of hardship, addiction, or mental illness in offenders’ lives. The children of the incarcerated are then victimized by the removal of those who care for them and a system which plants more obstacles than imaginable on the path to responsible rehabilitation. Sometimes, those returned to the community are “worse off” after a period of confinement than when they entered. For county jails, the problem of cost and recidivism are exacerbated by budgetary constraints and various state mandates. Due to the inability of incarceration to satisfy long-term criminal justice objectives and the very high expenditures associated with the sanction, policy makers at various levels of government have sought to identify appropriate alternatives(Luna-Firebaugh, 2003, p.51-66).
The challenges of children who grow up with parents whom were incarcerated at some point in their childhood can have a major effect on their life. The incarceration of parents can at times begin to affect the child even at birth. Now with prison nurseries the impregnated mother can keep her baby during her time in jail. With the loss of their parent the child can begin to develop behavioral problems with being obedient, temper tantrums, and the loss of simple social skills. Never learning to live in a society they are deprived of a normal social life. “The enormous increase incarceration led to a parallel, but far less documented, increase in the proportion of children who grew up with a parent incarcerated during their childhood” (Johnson 2007). This means the consequences of the children of the incarcerated parents receive no attention from the media, or academic research. The academic research done in this paper is to strengthen the research already worked by many other people. The impact of the parent’s incarceration on these children can at times be both positive and negative. The incarceration of a parent can be the upshot to the change of child’s everyday life, behavioral problems, and depriving them a normal social life.
There is a plethora of data within the last 10-15 years that repeatedly show family, friends, and entire communities or neighborhoods being drastically affected by the consequences of mass incarceration as well. The data focus primarily on the effects on the partners, children, families, friends, and caregivers of those incarcerated; particularly the economic, emotional, and personal relationships between incarcerated individuals and those the data also
Introduction: Recidivism or, habitual relapses into crime, has time and time again proven to be an issue among delinquents, which thereby increases the overall juvenile prison population. This issue has become more prevalent than what we realize. Unless a unit for measuring a juvenile’s risk of recidivism is enacted and used to determine a system to promote effective prevention, than the juvenile prison population will continue to increase. Our court system should not only focus on punishing the said juvenile but also enforce a program or policy that will allow for prevention of recidivism. So the question remains, how can recidivism in the juvenile prison population be prevented so that it is no longer the central cause for increased juvenile delinquency? Simply put, we must create a means of measuring juvenile’s level of risk and in turn, form an effective rehabilitation program that will decrease their risk level for future recidivism.
The United States has been affected by a number of crimes committed by juveniles. The juvenile crime rate has been increasing in recent years. Everyday more juveniles commit crimes for various reasons. They act as adults when they are not officially adults. There is a discussion about how juveniles should be punished if they commit heinous crimes. While many argue that juveniles who commit serious crimes, such as murder, should be treated as adults, the fact is, juveniles under the age of eighteen, are not adults, and should not be treated as such.
In today’s society mainly anyone growing up in poverty stricken communities, single parent homes, domestic violence or infested and drug infested areas are at risk to being abducted by the school to prison pipeline. The school to prison pipeline is a system designed for at risk teens that do not do well in school. The effect is them being thrown in jail. Economically the black and the Latino community constantly after generation and generation are getting dealt the same hand because each child in the new generation is growing up in a broken home and are falling victim to the same problems that the generation before them have faced. By compiling annual reports on the total number of disciplinary