Mental Health Implications for
Children of Incarcerated Parents
2022 SRU Student Symposium
Rachel Anne Becker, Jenah Kauffman, and Allison Crevier
Faculty Advisors: Dr. Jeffrey Roth and Dr. Sarah Kuehn
Slippery Rock University

Literature
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Since the war on drugs began in the 1980s, the rate of children with
incarcerated parents has increased (Martin, 2017)
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Estimates suggest that there are between 1.7-2.3 million children have incarcerated parents
Children of incarcerated mothers have increased by 100%
Children of incarcerated fathers by 75%

“Hidden Victims”
Parent-child bond is critical (Martin, 2017)

Mental Health and Other Impacts
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Children face a host of challenges and difficulties (Martin, 2017)
○ psychological and health problems
○ antisocial behavior
○ suspension or expulsion from school
○ economic hardship
○ criminal activity
Parents have stated that their children don’t visit anymore because seeing
them in the prison environment is too emotionally upsetting

Health Problems of Children with Incarcerated Fathers

Condition

Percent

PTSD

72%

Anxiety

51%

High Cholesterol

31%

Asthma

30%

Migraines

26%

Source: Turney, 2014

Psychological Problems of Children with Incarcerated Parent
Condition

Percent increase in likelihood of
condition relative to other children

ADD/ADHD

48%

Behavioral problems

43%

Depression

43%

Marijuana use

43%

Developmental delays

23%

Learning disabilities

22%

Delinquency

10%

Source: Turney, 2014

Methodology
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15 county correctional facilities in Western PA were chosen and contacted for
an interview
6 county facilities able/willing to answer questions about visitation policies
Phone calls to facilities and 9 questions asked

Interviews
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1.

What is the general visitation policy?

2.

Is everyone eligible? And how does it differ for different inmates?

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4.

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6.
Are there any specific restrictions on contact (hugging, holding hands, etc.) when it comes to children of
incarcerated parents?

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7.

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9. Is there anything else we should know about your facility’s programs/procedures/policies when it comes to
children visiting their incarcerated parents?

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3.
How many hours by week does your facility have set for visitation? How many hours per week/month does the
average inmate get for visitation?
Does the visitation policy differ for inmates who have kids? What do typical visits look like for children?

5.
Does the prison/ jail have a specific family visitation program where children are allowed to interact in different
ways with their parents?

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the visitation policies and procedures?

8. If the pandemic has affected the visitation policies and procedures, do you foresee a return to prior policies and
procedures or do you think these changes will become permanent?

Barriers and Limitations to Interviews
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Many corrections staff unsure if they were able/allowed to answer questions
on visitation policies, even though most information that was asked was
readily available on websites.
Unable to get ahold of staff or deputy wardens
The COVID-19 Pandemic

Results

Results

Discussion
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Parent-bond is critical for children’s psychosocial development
Lack or limited access to visitation is detrimental to that bond
Through glass visits are convenient for facilities, it is worse for children
Video visits are safer/convenient and allow children to bond in a different way
Supporting family bonds might only be helpful if a healthy, prior bond existed

Policy Implications for Corrections
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Increased access to in-person visits in a child friendly environment
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Increased access to phone calls and video-conferences
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Revise prison visitation policies and reduce unnecessary barriers to visitation
Unlimited video-conferences on inmates tablets

Family visitation programs (exp. Butler County Prison) for eligible parents

Policy Implications for Corrections
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Required training for corrections staff on treatment of visiting children
Mentoring programs
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Parenting skill programs in prison
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For parents and their children
Skills on how to parent from prison

SRU’s Read to Me program

Future research
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Inquiries to more jails and prisons
Interviews with children of incarcerated parents in the community and/or with
incarcerated parents
Analysis of visitation policies available online
How online video visitations are negatively impactful

Thank you!