Children of Incarcerated Parents, a Shared Sentence

The Devastating Toll of Parental Incarceration on Kids, Families and Communities

By the Annie E. Casey Foundation

April 19, 2016

Summary

More than 5 million U.S. children have had a parent in jail or prison at some point in their lives. The incarceration of a parent can have as much impact on a child’s well-being as abuse or domestic violence. But while states spend heavily on corrections, few resources exist to support parental incarceration. A Shared Sentence offers commonsense proposals to address the increased poverty and stress that children of incarcerated parents experience.

Table of Contents

Key Parental Incarceration Takeaway

Children Who Have Experienced Parental Incarceration: 2011-2012

Nationally, the number of kids who have had a parent in jail or prison at some point in their childhood hovers around 5.1 million — a conservative estimate. Children with incarcerated parents are significantly less likely to live in neighborhoods that are able to be supportive of families.

Findings & Parental Incarceration Stats