Incarceration

The ideal place for the father to interact and bond with children is in the home. However, for many Americans, fathers are absent because they have unfortunately broken the law and are spending time locked up. In 2007, close to 95% of all inmates were male, among them many fathers. In 2009, 1.5 million kids reported having a parent in jail. Some state and federal correctional facilities allow calls, written letters, and visits to happen between inmates and children frequently, but not all facilities treat families with the same courtesy.

Think about these men and their families. Think about the issues that could come up while a father is away imprisoned. For the family, there are financial struggles. Without a second source of income, financial burden falls solely on the mother to provide for her children while trying to juggle other responsibilities. For women who are romantically involved with the father, some report having less hopes of rekindling their romance once the father's term is done. Children with absent fathers generally show more crimogenic behaviors than those with present fathers, and having a father incarcerated increases those odds. For fathers, the transition from home to correctional facilities is difficult. Not being able to see their children has psychological effects, such as feelings of inadequacy or being forgotten by their family. There is also their transition back into the home. Where do they fit in? Can they retain the relationships they once had before? It is difficult for all members of the family when a father is in jail.

The stereotype is that incarcerated fathers are unfit parents and shouldn't be raising their kids anyway. However, it is important to keep in mind that environment has a big affect on how people use their ability to choose. Most inmates are young, poor, and uneducated racial minorities. If nothing else, opportunities for learning and growth are needed to be able to help these fathers become more responsible and less likely to return to jail in the future. Some states have begun to capture this vision and are allowing fathers more opportunities to interact with their children in hopes of creating better bonds, but not all have seen the light.

What sort of policies could help serve these fathers and their families? For more information, check out "Incarceration" under the "Issues" tab in the menu.