Prison and Parenting

Difficulties for Incarcerated Parents

One of the greatest difficulties experienced by incarcerated parents is the loss of contact with their children, which occurs for several reasons. First, incarcerated parents find it difficult to communicate with their children or receive visits from their children due to the complexities of incarceration. Prison rules limit the number of phone calls an inmate can make or how often they can receive visits from those on the outside. In addition, if the incarcerated parent has a family member taking care of her or his children and the family relationship is strained due to the parent being incarcerated, this may further add to the difficulties for the inmate seeking contact with her or his children. If an incarcerated parent has children in the foster care system, he or she may find it difficult to establish and maintain contact with caseworkers who are handling the placement of the children into a new residence. Second, prisons typically are located in rural areas. Because offenders are likely to come from impoverished backgrounds, visits from family members are uncommon; often, family members find it difficult to visit these rural areas, as they may not even own a car. Thus, if family members are taking care of the prisoner's children, continued physical contact with the children can be difficult.

There are a few correctional facilities, such as Bedford Hills Correctional Center for Women in New York, that allow incarcerated mothers to keep their children with them for up to 2 years. These parenting programs require mothers to care for their children 24 hours per day in a specialized parent unit, under the careful supervision of program administrators. The specialized parenting programs offer activities that increase bonding between the parent and child, teaching techniques to help make the mother become a better parent, and education for parents on how best to reconnect with their child when they are released. The Washington State Corrections Center for Women offers a unique residential parenting program to pregnant minimum custody inmates. The Washington State Department of Corrections collaborates with the Puget Sound Educational Service District to offer a residential parenting program with an Early Head Start component. The incorporation of an Early Head Start component into its programming is unique and rare. Currently, no residential parenting programs exist in the United States for incarcerated fathers.

Another difficulty experienced by incarcerated parents is the altering of their parenting styles. If a parent was involved in the lives of her or his children prior to incarceration (e.g., providing guidance, making decisions about the well-being of the child, and discipline), this is indeed altered due to the nature of incarceration. Some incarcerated parents seek to reunite with children they did not have much contact with prior to incarceration. Often these children are not receptive to any form of guidance from a parent who has not been present in their lives for years. Thus, these parents will need patience when rekindling contact with their children and recognize that their advice will probably not be heeded.

...