According to the Department of Justice, 76.4% of the women in State prisons are mothers compared to 59.6% of male prisoners who are fathers . In most cases the children of incarcerated men live with their mothers before, during and after their fathers' incarceration (Johnston, n.d.). When mothers are sent to prison, their children are most likely to live with a grandparent or other relative (75.2%). Consequently, when mothers are sent to prison, children are likely to experience greater disruption than when a father is imprisoned.

Harm & Thompson (1995) found that the majority (84%) of relatives caring for children during their mother's imprisonment experienced major changes in their lives. Problems they encountered included finding child care, lack of transportation for children to visit their mothers, financial set-backs, giving up jobs, and relocating.

Similar findings are reported by Hungerford (

need to address what mothers can do during visitation and through letter writing to maintain and enhance their relationship with their children while they are incarcerated. With support, incarcerated mothers can continue to function as a part of their children's life while learning new ways of coping with stressors and preparing to face the emotional and financial demands that await them upon release.

Employment assistance, housing and financial assistance, substance abuse treatment, and family counseling are all components of a comprehensive program for successful reunification. Collaboration is needed between parole officers and social workers to ensure that women releases have the best opportunities to avoid relapse and recidivism. Part of the program may include a period of time in which the care giver, the children, and the mother meet together to work on emotional issues related to the incarceration and begin to develop new family patters while the mother is getting on her feet. Although many women find it difficult to delay living with their children once released, this strategy may ultimately prevent a new period of incarceration. With each period of incarceration, the chances of reunification are reduced.

United States Department of Justice (1996) Correctional Populations in the United States, 1994 Washington, D.C.:Bureau of Justice Statistics

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