HHS/ASPE. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Incarceration and the Family:
A Review of Research and Promising Approaches
for Serving Fathers and Families

September 2008

Prepared for
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
Administration for Children and Families/Office of Family Assistance

Prepared by
Mindy Herman-Stahl, Marni L. Kan, and Tasseli McKay
RTI International

This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/MFS-IP/Incarceration&Family/index.shtml

Printer Friendly Version in PDF Format (108 pages)

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

This report was prepared by RTI International for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of the Secretary, and the Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, United States Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract Number HHSP23320062920YC, September 2006.  The views, opinions and findings expressed in this document are those of the report authors and the researchers whose work was included in the review and do not necessarily represent the official positions and policies of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  More information about the Evaluation of the Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Reentering Fathers and their Partners is available.

Contents

Summary Points

Acknowledgments

Chapters

  1. Policy Background
    1. Marriage and Criminal Desistance
    2. Purpose of This Report
  2. Characteristics of Incarcerated Fathers
    1. Prevalence and Sociodemographics
    2. Parenting
    3. Type of Offenses
    4. Sentence Length
    5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health
    6. Research Limitations
  3. The Effects of Incarceration on Intimate Partner Relationships
    1. Decreased Likelihood of Marriage and Family Involvement
    2. Impact of Imprisonment on Intimacy and Commitment
      1. Barriers to Contact and Communication
      2. Role Changes
      3. Psychological Changes
    3. Economic and Emotional Strains Associated with Single Parenting
    4. Community-Level Effects
    5. Positive Perceptions of Partner Incarceration from Women
    6. Research Limitations
  4. The Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children
    1. Negative Effects on Child Development
    2. Mechanisms of Risk
      1. Parental Separation
      2. Economic Hardship and Harsh Parenting
      3. Change in Caregivers
      4. Stigma and Social Isolation
    3. Protective Factors
    4. Research Limitations
  5. Reentry and the Marital/Partner Relationship
    1. The Importance of Family
    2. Reestablishing Roles
    3. Dealing with Resentment and Negative Emotions
    4. Resumption of Criminal Activity or Substance Use
    5. Conflict and Domestic Violence
    6. Research Limitations
  6. Reentry and Parenting
    1. Barrier to Reforming the Parent-Child Bond
      1. Co-Residence
      2. Interference from Mothers and Other Family Members
      3. New Father Figures
      4. Quality of Relationship during Incarceration
      5. Unrealistic Expectations
      6. Prisonization
    2. Child Support Payments
    3. Involvement in the Child Welfare System
    4. Risk of Child Abuse
    5. Positive Parenting Relations and Criminal Desistance
    6. Research Limitations
  7. Family Strengthening Programs
    1. Marriage and Relationship Education Programs in Prison
      1. Group Classes
      2. Couples Counseling
      3. Furlough Programs
      4. Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated Fathers and their Partners
      5. Research Limitations on Marriage and Relationship Education Programs
    2. Parenting Programs in Prison
      1. Group Classes
      2. Group Therapy
      3. Programs with Children
      4. Other Efforts to Address Parenting
    3. Rehabilitation Programs
    4. Post-Release Family Programs
    5. Research Limitations
  8. Challenges to Implementing Family Strengthening Programs in Prison and at Reentry
    1. Building Partnerships with Community-Based Organizations
    2. Barriers to Family Involvement
    3. Recruitment and Retention of Incarcerated Participants
    4. Stigma in Group Setting
    5. Connecting with Supportive Services Post Release
    6. Cultural Sensitivity
    7. Research Limitations
  9. Conclusions

References

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to Amy Sullivan for assistance with references, and to Christopher Mumola and Jacinta Bronte-Tinkew for providing us with unpublished material from their research.

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

To obtain a printed copy of this report, send the title and your mailing information to:

Human Services Policy, Room 404E
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Av, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Fax:  (202) 690-6562

Where to?

Top of Page | Contents

Home Pages:
Project Page
Human Services Policy (HSP)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Last updated:  10/22/08