Children of Incarcerated Parents: Measuring the Scope of the Problem

摘要

Current trends in incarceration practices have inevitably affected a large number of children. A recent report published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2008) estimates that slightly less than two million children have a parent incarcerated in the state or federal prison system, which accounts for approximately two percent of the total minor population in the United States. Data collection efforts entailed an extensive review of records from the Arizona Department of Corrections. This included electronic data from the institutional data management system as well as prisoner case file contents. Research has found that confined subjects are far less likely to disclose personal information to staff for fear that information will be used against them or negatively affect others (e.g., family members, friends). Accordingly, independent, non-justice system interviewers also conducted face-to-face interviews with incarcerated mothers and fathers.