The document summarizes key findings from a report on the effects of parental incarceration on children in Pennsylvania. It notes that over 95,000 children in the state have an incarcerated parent. The report examines the trauma experienced by these children, including emotional distress, instability in caregiving, and in some cases neglect. It provides recommendations such as modifying arrest procedures, educating officials, and increasing support for affected children.

1. June 2012 Correctional Forum
Correctional Forum
June 2012
A Publication of the Pennsylvania Prison Society
Promoting a humane, just and constructive correctional system and a rational approach to criminal justice since 1787
Over 95,000 Children in Pennsylvania have a Parent in Prison
New report includes the effects on children, recommended actions
by Bridget Fifer
“This last December 31, I asked the cial proceedings, care-giving shortcom- embarrassment, to the shame…” More
inmates at the county jail how many ings, and lack of contact with incarcer- severe cases of neglect after a parent’s
of them had children, and 90 per- ated parents, children across the nation arrest were mentioned in the report,
cent of them raised their hands. My are experiencing such as “a child as
next question was, ‘Who was raising trauma, fear, isola- young as six years
their children?’” Philadelphia Mayor tion, and neglect. old who was sim-
Michael Nutter’s question leads to the An example is ply left behind in
broader question of how the estimated Miss America, the apartment…
95,000 children in Pennsylvania with Laura Kaeppeler, without making
incarcerated parents are affected by who experienced arrangements for
their situation. firsthand what him and his baby
it’s like to have an brother (the boy
A new report entitled, “The incarcerated par- tried to take care
Effects of Parental Incarceration on ent and describes of himself and
Children: Needs and Responsive the emotional his baby brother
Services” was conducted by the Joint trauma: “None State Senator Stewart Greenleaf for weeks until
stresses the importance of programs
State Government Commission. The of my friends for children of incarcerated parents.
report finds that through the combined could relate to the Photo by Erica Zaveloff. See Children
forces of current arrest protocol, judi- isolation, to the on page 10
The Graying of Pennsylvania’s Prisons Where Public
Age 55 is considered “elderly” for prisoners Health and Criminal
by Bridget Fifer Justice Issues Meet
Most Pennsylvanians are aware of the rising costs of prisons, but why is so much PTSD and other traumas affect
of the state budget going to the prison system? About 85,000 people in Pennsylva- prisoners and former offenders
nia are incarcerated in state and county prisons. One cause of this overcrowding
is the number of people who receive a sentence of life without parole. With this sen- by Eden Lee
tence comes what is often referred to as the “graying” of Pennsylvania’s prisons; in-
“If we don’t provide ex-offenders
mates who don’t receive parole are aging within the prison system. We spoke with
with the opportunity to have housing,
Julia Hall, Ph.D, a professor and coordinator of the Criminal Justice Department at
how can we expect them to succeed?”
Drexel University, current board member and former president of the Pennsylvania
asked John Wetzel, Secretary of the
Prison Society, about this trend, its implications, and possible solutions.
Pennsylvania Department of Correc-
CF: What are some reasons for the graying of Pennsylvania’s prisons? tions at the recent public health panel:
JH: Prisons were never intended to be nursing homes or mental institutions, The Nexus Between Public Health
but if our society insists on sentences of life without parole and other long and Criminal Justice. The 200 attend-
sentences, we are buying into geriatric and mental health care for incarcerated ees also heard from Estelle Richman,
individuals. We leave them no option but to age and die in prison. Acting Deputy Director for the U.S.
See Elderly on page 11 See Public Health on page 10
www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety • www.prisonsociety.org 1

2. Correctional Forum June 2012
Children, continued from page 1
Facts About Incarcerated
a neighbor noticed him with the stroller and called Child Protective
Services).”
Parents and Their Children
In addition to explaining the effects incarceration of a parent has on chil- 1. Over 10 million children in the United
dren, the report offered specific recommendations to facilitate a less trau- States have a parent under some type of
matizing experience for children with incarcerated parents. These include: correctional supervision — either prison,
• Altering arrest procedure to include specific protocol for when jail, probation, or parole. At least 1.7 million
there is a chance a child might be present at the time of arrest. children have a parent currently in prison.
• Providing education to officers, caregivers, and others on how to 2. More than one in every 100 adults in
handle the sensitive nature of the situation. America are in jail or prison.
• Developing a more accurate means of identifying children whose
parents are incarcerated, their locations, and their well-being. 3. Seventy-five percent of incarcerated
• Involving incarcerated parents more thoroughly in the process of women are mothers.
their child’s care-giving options. 4. Forty-six percent of all imprisoned parents
• Providing emotional support for children with incarcerated par lived with at least one of their minor chil-
ents, such as support groups or after school programs. dren prior to their imprisonment.
The report was completed in December, then announced and dis- 5. The average age of children with an incar-
cussed at a press conference in February. It was also introduced to the cerated parent is eight years old; 22 percent
State Senate Judiciary Committee in Harrisburg in March, where Rev. of the children are under the age of five.
Dr. Wilson Goode, Sr., Member of the Advisory Committee for the Joint
State Government Committee, said, “I saw in that prison a grandfather,
a father, and a grandson — all in the same prison, at the same time. And they met for the first time in prison. As I was
leaving, the grandson pulled me aside and asked, ‘Dr. Goode, I have a son that I’ve never seen. Do you think I will see
him for the first time in prison, too?’” Rev. Goode’s narrative illustrates a cycle of incarceration that the recommendations
this report makes, if implemented, can help to break.
For more information: The report may be found at
http://www.prisonsociety.org/adv/PDF/Effects_of_Parental_Incarceration_on_Children_Dec2011.pdf
Public Health, continued from page 1 • A large percentage of Pennsylvania’s prison popula-
Department of Housing and Urban Development. A panel of tion is nonviolent, behind bars for misdemeanors.
five specialists on the subject of public health also made re- • In Pennsylvania’s prisons, 17 percent of men and 48
marks based on the keynote speeches and answered questions percent of women have diagnosed mental health issues.
from the audience. The event was presented by the Public • Prisoners leave the Philadelphia Prison System
Health Initiative of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and with at least five days of medication, plus a 15 day
sponsored by the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia prescription — if they can pay for it. Out of 5200
and La Salle University’s Master of Public Health Program. prescriptions last year, only 37 were filled.
Richman talked about public housing issues in great • The incarceration rate for women has grown by 800
detail, especially when it comes to former prisoners finding percent over the past twenty years. Most of these
safe and affordable housing. When individuals are released women are in their 30s and 40s and in prison for
from incarceration, they often have no place to live. This drug infractions and other nonviolent crimes.
is a major public health problem, resulting in homeless-
• Nearly 80 percent of the women entering SCI
ness and weakened communities. Richman explained that,
Muncy have suffered various forms of abuse. A
while public housing has become more accommodating to
high proportion of women enter prison suffering
former offenders than in the past, many stipulations still
from PTSD and various abuses.
exist. “If we’re going to make an impact on those coming
out of prison, we have to offer safe and affordable hous- Seeking affordable health care and housing are problems
ing,” Richman said. “If we don’t spend now but spend experienced by millions of people, not just those released
three times as much in the future, are we really saving from prison. This suffering can be avoided if legislators
taxpayers’ money?” amend policies that focus on public health. There is not just
one solution for these problems; however, one step in the right
Other facts that were highlighted in the session include:
direction will decrease the suffering of many individuals.
• 25 percent of former offenders are homeless upon
their release. Their death rate is highest in the first For more information: View video from the day at: http://
two weeks after their release, often due to having www.youtube.com/user/PaPrisonSociety?feature=mhee
no home and no access to health care.
10 www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety • www.prisonsociety.org