We examined the arrest experience and information disclosure of parents arrest to 17 children of incarcerated parents and their caregivers. Using in-depth interviews with children and their caregivers, data were gathered on the experience of children during their parents’ arrest, and how information on parents’ arrest was disclosed to children who were not available during their parents’ arrest. Analyses of interview transcripts thematically showed that 6 out of the 17 children were available during the arrest of their parents. This happened as police officers did not make enquires on presence of children before arriving at their arrest venue. Further, most of these children were exposed to their parents been violently treated by police officers which had emotional effect on them, while some retain vivid memories of the arrest. Our results also suggest that, there was little or no preparation of children who were not available during their parents’ arrest psychologically for the receiving of information on their parents’ arrest. As some got to know about their parents’ arrest while in school, others got to know through teasing by their friends as their caregivers lied to them concerning their parents’ whereabouts. Disclosure of information on parents’ arrest to children led to some children been emotionally traumatized. In comparison of children with incarcerated mothers to children with incarcerated fathers, children with incarcerated mothers were more likely to have witnessed the arrest of their mothers. Implications for these findings are discussed in the study.

Parental incarceration is connected to many negative outcomes for children including negative externalizing behaviors. Most studies are not conclusive in determining whether maternal incarceration or paternal incarceration has a more detrimental impact on children. This study looks at a sample of 2,458 youth from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study (FFCWS) and their parents and compares the gender of the incarcerated parent and that of the child to determine if there are differences in the risk of delinquent behavior among adolescent children. Results found that parental incarceration overall increased the risk of juvenile delinquency and that female children are at greater risk of delinquency if their mothers were incarcerated. Overall, the empirical results suggest that the gender of the parent and child matter in influencing delinquent behavior. Because maternal incarceration appears to be more consequential for female daughters' participation in delinquent acts, there may be a need to have more gendered research when studying juvenile delinquency and parental incarceration.

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Approximately 63% of all incarcerated individuals in the U.S. identify as a parent (Glaze and Maruschak, 2010), with as many as 7% of children experiencing parental incarceration at some point in their lives (Murphey and Cooper, 2015). Historically, much of the parental incarceration literature has relied on between-groups comparison research, highlighting risks and determinants of pathology for youth with an incarcerated parent. However, significantly less research has attempted to understand resilience processes in the context of parental incarceration from a within-group resilience perspective. The overall goal of this dissertation research was to empirically test the theoretical Family Inequality Framework (Arditti, 2018) and better understand how family resilience processes influence the relationship between material hardship and child outcomes within the context of parental incarceration. Structural equation modeling was used to perform a mediational cross-sectional analysis. Results of these analyses suggest that parental mental health processes play an important role in mitigating adverse outcomes for families by mediating the effects of material hardship on youth academic adjustment in the context of parental incarceration. Theoretical, clinical, and policy implications, as well as future research directions are discussed. / Doctor of Philosophy / Approximately 63% of all incarcerated individuals in the U.S. identify as a parent (Glaze and Maruschak, 2010), with as many as 7% of children experiencing parental incarceration at some point in their lives (Murphey and Cooper, 2015). Historically, much of the existing research on parental incarceration is problem focused, painting these families in a negative light. In contrast, there is very little research highlighting the unique strengths and resiliences of families impacted by parental incarceration. The goal of this dissertation research was to better understand how family resilience processes, such as social support, parenting practices, and parental mental health, might reduce the negative impact of parental incarceration. Results suggest that parental mental health processes play an important role for overall family wellness during parental incarceration. In particular, the more a parent says they are doing well from a mental health perspective the better their kids appear to be doing in school. In this way, parental mental health wellness appears to provide a buffering effect against the common risks parental incarceration can introduce into a family. Theoretical, clinical, and policy implications, as well as future research directions are discussed.

<p>The purpose of this study was to describe how persons who have been affected by parental incarceration during their childhood have experienced the incarceration and the contact with the parent during and after the incarceration. The purpose was also to increase the understanding for children affected by parental incarceration on the bases of how the persons described their experiences. The questions at issue of the study were; How can persons affected by parental incarceration describe their experience of the incarceration? How do the persons describe their experience of the contact between them and the parent during the incarceration and which factors affected the possibility of a contact and the experience of the contact? How did the parental incarceration affect the contact between the person and parent? The method of the study was qualitative and four interviews were made. The result of the study was analyzed through the theories symbolic interactionism and ecological systems theory. The result showed that the experience of the incarceration and the contact during the incarceration depended for example on the relations between the child and parent. It also showed that the possibility of a contact was affected by different factors, for example, the distance to the prison.</p>

Children of incarcerated parents are at significantly increased risk of negative long-term outcomes. With about 1% of the adult population incarcerated, the United States has millions of children at risk for these negative outcomes. Research on this population is increasing; however, it is still unclear whether children of incarcerated parents are at an increased risk for poor school performance as a specific result of parental incarceration above that associated with their social and economic status. Because parental incarceration may result in a variety of outcomes that can negatively impact school performance including school mobility, prolonged exposure to stress, and insufficient adult support, it is likely that parental incarceration is an independent risk factor for poor school performance. This study evaluated the impact of parental incarceration on children's school performance. Analyses revealed a trend in lower test scores for children with incarcerated parents when compared with children in single-parent households and of similar socioeconomic status. Children with incarcerated parents were also 3.8 times more likely to be raised by a caregiver with less than a high school education. Finally, within a population of low SES, poverty still significantly predicted lower test scores along with caregiver education level and school mobility. The findings of this study should be useful in helping schools, communities, and service organizations more accurately identify high risk students and formulate effective intervention programs for these students. Finally, this study further informs an understanding of the societal impact of adult incarceration.

This research seeks to demonstrate the need for alternative forms of sentencing in the Uganda criminal justice system with a specific focus on the use of community service. Approaching community service as a child protection strategy in sentencing parent offenders would be a positive step in addressing issues of child neglect and attendant problems. The study seeks to: (1) Analyse the impact of parental incarceration on children (2) Make a specific inquiry into the use of community service orders as an alternative to imprisonment in Uganda (3) Illustrate that approaching community service as a child protection strategy in sentencing parent offenders would be a positive step in addressing issues of child neglect and attendant problems (4) Make recommendations for a new course of action that will highlight and be aimed at preventing the abuse of children / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr Atangcho Nji Akonumbo, Université Catholique D’Afrique Centrale Yaoundé Cameroun / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

The focus of the present study was on the lack of positive socialization of children affected by parental incarceration. Researchers have indicated the need to broaden the examination of the effects of parental incarceration on children. Mentorship has demonstrated a positive influence for youth who display at-risk behaviors. However, there is little research regarding the effectiveness of mentorship programs for youth who have experienced the negative effects of parental incarceration. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of youth who have completed an individualized mentorship program following parental imprisonment. Flyers were distributed to case managers and program managers of mentorship programs in New Castle County in order to recruit participants ages 18 -24 years who had a parent incarcerated and who had completed a mentorship program. Through individual interviews, 5 participants provided a retrospective account of antisocial behaviors exhibited as the result of parental incarceration, isolation, physical and emotional abuse faced in their youth, and the ways in which mentorship impacted their lives. Interview data were coded based on words that expressed emotion (emotion coding), words that expressed action (action coding), and words that described circumstances (circumstantial coding). This study revealed that, for these 5 participants, mentorship did have a positive impact. Findings further suggested that mentoring be recognized as a more focal strategy to assist youth, researchers, and practitioners in (a) identifying triggers that may lead to adverse responses to parental incarceration and (b) helping youth improve their overall quality of life when exposed to such circumstances.

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