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Abstract
Children of incarcerated parents are often an invisible population, but analyzing and mapping local-level data on these children and their parents can help policymakers and advocates better understand their experiences and needs. This brief discusses the mapping of community data on these families, drawing on the experiences and insights of partners in the Urban Institute’s Reentry Mapping Network (RMN). The brief discusses the value of analyzing and mapping data on children of incarcerated parents, outlines potential data sources, and explores the process of working with and mapping data on this population.
Introduction
An estimated 1.7 million children nationwide have a parent currently incarcerated in state or federal prison (Glaze and Maruschak 2008). When this estimate is expanded to include parents incarcerated in local jails, on probation, or on parole, estimates suggest that the number jumps to 7.5 million affected children (Mumola 2006). Unfortunately, little comprehensive data exist on these children and their experiences and needs. Because data sources vary from state to state, local-level analyses may offer the most promising venue for learning about this population. This policy brief discusses the analysis and mapping of local data on children whose parents are involved in the criminal justice system. The brief begins by highlighting the value of such efforts and then outlines potential data sources and methods for analyzing and mapping information on this population. The report is based on input from the Reentry Mapping Network (RMN) sites about their efforts to map and understand parental incarceration in their communities.
Why analyze and map data on children of incarcerated parents?
The experience of having a parent incarcerated, compounded by the attendant stress it creates for the entire family, has been found to produce a range of negative impacts on children. Children may suffer from emotional, developmental, and behavioral difficulties; their caregivers and other family members are often burdened with increased financial and emotional stress; and the entire family must face the social stigma of having a family member incarcerated (La Vigne et al. 2008; Davies et al. 2008). Some studies also suggest that children of incarcerated parents are at increased risk for criminal justice system involvement later in life (Murray and Farrington 2007).
Despite the significant vulnerabilities parental incarceration creates for families, very little quantitative data exist on the number of children of incarcerated parents or their experiences and needs. This population of children is almost invisible, as schools, child protective agencies, and other social service agencies are often unaware when a child they serve has a parent behind bars. Similarly, departments of corrections frequently have little to no information about the children of the inmates in their charge.
Understanding these children and their needs is critical for policymakers and service providers hoping to mitigate the effects of parental incarceration. Mapping and analysis of local data on children of incarcerated parents can inform policymakers and advocates on the impact of incarceration on children and families in their communities. For some children, parental incarceration may be one vulnerability among many, and mapping can highlight the overlap between parental incarceration and poverty, failing schools, poor health, and other challenges.
An examination of the geographic distribution of children with incarcerated parents, as well as an analysis of their needs, can help government and nonprofit agencies that serve children better understand this special population. Such analyses can assist agencies in improving the delivery of services to these children. Mapping can help identify where populations of children of incarcerated parents spatially align with other social service delivery efforts. For example, mapping the locations of children of incarcerated parents in conjunction with the locations of households receiving public benefits, such as food stamps, can serve as a persuasive visual device illustrating the importance of service agency collaboration
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