The past 25 years the number of persons becoming incarcerated has increased drastically in the United States. This increase has been due largely to the use of arrest and incarceration in the war on drugs to reduce the demand for illegal substances (Phillips & Bloom 1998). The US Department of Justice stated “the number of minor children with an imprisoned father rose 58 percent from 1991 through 1999, compared to a 98 percent increase during the same time period for the number of minors with an imprisoned mother”. It is estimated that between 75-78% of the women in prison have children and that 6-10 percent of the women entering prison are pregnant (Phillips & Bloom; AIUSA 1999). This vast increase in incarceration has lead to the displacement of many children. Currently there is an estimated 1

.5 million children with an incarcerated parent, along with many thousands more that have had a parent in jail/prison at some point in their lives (Seymour 1998). This paper will examine the current lack of policies for children with incarcerated parents, the effects of parental incarceration on the children, and two types of families affected by incarceration.

Following arrest it is difficult for parents to contact their children from prison as out-going calls are collect. Also, the visiting hours of prison often do not coincide with the caseworkers work schedule making arranging visits difficult (Katz 1998; Beckerman 1998). When visits are arranged, they are in impersonal booths or rooms that do not allow for the contact with the parent the children may require. Another problem is that prison for women are often located quite a distance form the mother’s home. This makes travel difficult and costly for the family and caseworker (Beckerman 1998).

In 1997 the Child Welfare League of America confirmed that few child welfare agencies have enacted policies to specifically for children of incarcerated parents. Out of the 38 states that responded to their survey only six reported having specific policies designed for children whose parents have been incarcerated. Most of the policies that the states have involve helping facilitate visits between incarcerated parents and children. Only two of the 38 states reported formally training their staff to work with incarcerated parents.

Many police forces do not have standard procedures or policies on dealing with children the time of arrest. Because of this lack of policy one in five children will witness their parent’s arrest, while others may not even be told where their parent has gone (Katz 1998). There is also a lack of policy on were to place children upon arrest of the parent, this results in some children being left with neighbors and other taken to the police station.

Studies have also shown that children who are deceived about the imprisonment of their parent are more likely to be disobedient, have temper tantrums and destructive or delinquent behavior (Gabel, 1995). Being deceived about a parent’s whereabouts can have lasting effects on the child. It is important that a child be consulted with and be told what’s going on and why they’re being relocated a living with someone other than their mom or dad. This can help to lessen some of the harmful effects on the child and come to terms with the separation on their own time. It is also important to be honest with children about the likelihood of a reunion with their parents, because they can cultivate unreasonable fantasies about what their family life may be like when the parent is released from prison (Beckerman, 1998). These unreasonable fantasies can be prevented or lessened somewhat if the caregiver is honest and open with the child. Some of the harmful effects can be lessened if the child is reassured and knows that lines of communication are open between them and the caregiver and they can ask questions or voice concerns and can do so with no fear of ridicule.

In either situation there is always a chance that the child will not receive the best care, and that the innocent child may be over looked. People often do not remember that the child is innocent and did not do anything wrong, the parent is the one who broke the law and caused this trauma upon the child. Yet, usually in the end it is the child that has suffered the most.

TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also has a few policies specifically dealing with incarceration (Bloom 1998). First, it places preference to placing children with relatives rather than strangers. It also bans those who have violated probation or parole from receiving TANF or food stamps, and it prevents persons convicted of certain drug felonies from receiving TANF or food stamps for the rest of their lives. Preferential placement of

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