Children of Incarcerated Parents, a Shared Sentence

Number of Children Who Experience Parental Incarceration

Seven percent of U.S. children have experienced parental incarceration. Among states, the percentage varies dramatically, from only 3% in New Jersey to 13% in Kentucky.

Atlanta is organized into 25 neighborhood planning units (NPUs). NPUs J, L, V and Z represent 11% of the city’s population but are home to 25% of its residents returning from prison. All four communities, which are mostly African American, exceed the city’s average child poverty rate, and NPUs L, V and Z more than double it.

In Indianapolis, District 17’s incarceration and reentry rates are the highest in the city and 18 times those of District 3, which has the lowest rates. Although each area comprises about 5% of the city’s population, District 17 is home to 12% of all residents returning from prison.

In Lower South Providence, the percentage of people returning from prison is five times higher, at 5%, than Fox Point’s 1%. Lower South Providence also has the city’s highest child poverty rate, which is more than triple that of its neighbor.

The Financial Toll of Incarceration

Losing a parent who is the breadwinner, often for a prolonged period, leaves families scrambling to cover basic needs. When fathers are incarcerated, family income can drop by an average of 22 percent.

Limited Community Resources

The high-poverty neighborhoods that are home to many kids and families dealing with incarceration lack quality affordable housing, access to jobs, good schools and key resources.

Disproportionate Impact of Incarceration

Compared with their white peers, African-American and Latino kids are over seven and two times more likely, respectively, to have a parent incarcerated.