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

Objective To qualitatively 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. children experience parental incarceration. A limited 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 parents 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 identified including parental incarceration creates a significant hardship on most children and families; there are many barriers for parents to communicate and maintain relationships with their children while incarcerated; incarcerated parents 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 benefit 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.