Broken Bonds

The barriers to communication between a child and his or her incarcerated parent are tremendous and are complicated by the fact that caregivers may be reluctant to facilitate such contact.

Children of incarcerated mothers tend to have more varied and uncertain living arrangements. The majority do not live with their fathers, instead residing in the care of grandparents, other relatives, or friends.

It is safe to conclude that parental incarceration impacts a large and increasing number of children, most of whom are young, poor, and black or Hispanic.

Aside from financial barriers, many of the policies and procedures designed to promote safety within the prison also discourage visits, as family members often encounter intimidating, uncomfortable, and humiliating conditions that may deter future contact.