Parents' Perspectives on the Impact of Their Incarceration on Children and Families

• Published date: 01 February 2021
• Author: Nancy P. Correa,Angie K. Hayes,Avni M. Bhalakia,Kimberly Kay Lopez,Tammy Cupit,Veronica Kwarteng‐Amaning,Rachael J. Keefe,Christopher S. Greeley,Bethanie S. Van Horne
• Date: 01 February 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12529

N P. C Texas Children’s Hospital

A K. H , A M. B ,  K K L Baylor College of Medicine,

Texas Children’s Hospital

T C  V K-A UTMB Health

R J. K Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital

C S. G Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital

B S. V H Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital

Parents’ Perspectives on the Impact of Their

Incarceration on Children and Families

Objective: Toqualitatively explore the impact of

parental incarceration on children and families

from the perspective of the incarcerated parent

in a county jail.

Background: An estimated 5 million U.S. chil-

dren experience parental incarceration. A lim-

ited number of studies have examined the impact

of parental incarceration on the child(ren) and

family from the perspective of the incarcerated

parent.

Methods: A convenience sample of 26 par-

ents incarcerated in an urban county jail were

interviewed. Parents were asked about how

their incarceration has affected their child(ren).

Glaser and Strauss’s constant comparative

method was used for analysis.

Results: Five major themes were identied

including parental incarceration creates a sig-

nicant hardship on most children and families;

Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, A2275,

Houston, TX 77030 (npcorrea@texaschildrens.org).

Key Words: at-risk children and families, child welfare,

child well-being, children, criminal justice and incarcera-

tion, family relationships.

there are many barriers for parents to com-

municate and maintain relationships with their

children while incarcerated; incarcerated par-

ents experience many challenges understanding

and navigating the criminal justice system; the

pervasive cycle of incarceration; and the need

for more programs and services.

Conclusion: Parents generally perceive that

their incarceration negatively impacts their

children and family in a multitude of ways and

express concern about their children’s health

and safety. Inmates have concrete suggestions

for programming and policy changes that they

believe would benet their relationship with

their children and lessen the negative impact of

their incarceration on their children.

Implications: This study offers insights into

the perceived challenges children and families

face during parental incarceration in jail. The

results provide both correctional facilities and

community organizations with concrete ideas

for how to better support families experiencing

incarceration.

For more than 2 decades, parental incarcera-

tion has been a recognized adverse childhood

162 Family Relations 70 (February 2021): 162–170

DOI:10.1111/fare.12529