2. • Breaking the generational
effects in Vermont
• How paternal incarceration
impacts their children’s likely-
hood to be incarcerated
• Example of generational
effects of paternal
incarceration
• 2010 CRA Grant
• States with programs for
incarcerated fathers
• Parenthood Information
• Number of children (of those
surveyed)
• Children by age
• Research Methods
• Vermont state correctional
facility demographics
Presentation Contents
2. DOC Survey
General Information
6. Implemented
Programs
3. Children of
Incarcerated Fathers
5. Life Course Circle
4. Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
• Bureau of Justice Statistics
• Effects of a dysfunctional
childhood on parenting
7. Policy
Recommendations
1. Preliminary
Findings
3. Preliminary Findings
• Bureau of Justice Statistics: As of 2013, there are over 1.5 million
prisoners in America
• Over, 1.4 million male prisoners
• Vermont = 1,479 male prisoners
• Connection:
• The way parents act is influenced by their experiences as a child
• Along with their level of social support and acceptance
• Dysfunctions in parent-child bonding can have lasting effects on the
child’s development
• May result in:
• Defiant behaviors, conduct disorders, juvenile delinquency, adult criminality
Preliminary Findings
DOC Survey
General
Information
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
4. DOC Inmate Family Survey
GENERAL INFORMATION
DOC Survey
General
Information
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
5. General Information
DOC Survey
• Sample:
• Vermont State Correctional Facilities
• Sample Size:
• 379 inmates participated
• Sampling Method:
• Every 4th inmate was selected to participate
• Survey Administration:
• Face-to-face interviews
• Findings are generalizable among Correctional Facilities in Vermont
DOC Survey
General
Information
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
6. Inmate Demographics
From DOC Survey
Gender Race
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
Male Female
88.4%
11.6%
77%
11%
4%
4% 3%
1%
Caucasian/White
African-American or Black
Native American
Other
Latino/a or Hispanic
No Response
DOC Survey
General
Information
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
7. Children of Incarcerated Fathers in
Vermont
DOC SURVEY FINDINGS
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
9. Number of Children of
Incarcerated Fathers
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
None or No
Response
1 2 3 4 5 6 13
16.1%
31.8%
25.1%
14.2%
7.1%
2.8% 2.4%
0.5%
RESPONSEPERCENT
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
• Implication:
• Of those surveyed, there are
396 Children whose fathers
were incarcerated at the
time of the research in the
state of Vermont
• Overall, there are many
more being that only every
4th inmate was surveyed
10. Children, by age, of incarcerated
fathers in Vermont
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Under two Between two and five Between six and twelve Between thirteen to
seventeen
33
134
149
80
CHILDCOUNT
AGE (YEARS)
Children of
Incarcerated
Parents
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
8%
34%
38%
20%
11. Effects of Paternal Incarceration
on a Child’s Life Course
DOC SURVEY FINDINGS
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
12. Comparison of the of
Age of Inmate’s First
Incarceration
• Age of first incarceration
= 22 Years old
• If their father was incarcerated
= 19 Years old
• Impact of paternal incarceration
= 3 Years
17.5
18
18.5
19
19.5
20
20.5
21
21.5
22
Average Father was Incarcerated
Age, 21.88
Age, 19.051
INMATE'SAGEOFFIRSTINCARCERATION
(YEARS)
Sig. = ≤ .001
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
13. Comparison of the
Inmate’s Age at the
Beginning of Their
Current Incarceration
• Age at the beginning of their
incarceration = 34 Years old
• If their father was incarcerated
= 25 Years old
• Impact of paternal incarceration
= Almost 9 Years
17
19
21
23
25
27
29
31
33
35
Average Father was Incarcerated
Age, 33.732
Age, 25.061
INMATE'SAGEATTHEBEGINNINGOFTHEIRCURRENT
INCARCERATION
(YEARS)
Sig. = ≤ .001
Effects of Paternal
Incarceration
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
14. Life Course Circle:
Reoccurring Impact
Child: Sam
Sam’s Early life: Father is
Incarcerated
Sam Grows Up with
Adverse Life Experiences
Sam’s Teen years:
Likelihood for less
education
Sam is more likely to be
Incarcerated at a
younger age
Sam has a child of his
own
Sam’s own experiences
as a child of paternal
incarceration causes his
child to be at higher risk
Life Course
Repercussions
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
As children, those whose fathers
were incarcerated are likely to
be (at some point):
• In Foster care
• Homeless
• In Emergency Care or CHINS
Regression analysis:
suggests that obtained
degree is lower for those
whose father has been
incarcerated (sig ≤ .05)
30% reported their father
was arrested or
incarcerated
Average age of first
incarceration = 19 years
old
63% of Inmates are
Fathers
16. Implemented Programs
• December 8th, 2010. President Obama signed the Claims Resolution Act (CRA)
• Authorized $150 Million in grants to promote healthy marriage ($75 million) and
Responsible Fatherhood ($75 Million)
• Grants went toward:
• Kanawha Institute for Social Research and Action, Inc.
• Serves 12 state prisons and 10 regional jails in West Virginia
• Lutheran Social Services
• Serves all 5 male South Dakota Department of Corrections facilities
• New Jersey Department of Corrections
• Provides prerelease services; available in all 8 New Jersey Department of Corrections
Facilities
• PB&J Family Services, Inc.
• Provides prerelease services in 1 state prison and 1 county jail near Albuquerque, NM
• The RIDGE Project, Inc.
• Provides prerelease services; offered in 3 state prisons in Ohio
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
17. Implemented Programs
• The Claims Resolution Act (CRA)
• Programs offered such as:
1. Counseling
2. Mentoring
3. Parental and relationship education
4. Financial planning
5. Job search assistance
6. Transitional employment
• Utah State Prison
• Total Parenting Experience
• 9 week program
• Aimed at teaching male inmates to be able to care for their children/
grandchildren, when they are released, through the use of simulation dolls
Implemented
Policies
Policy
Recommendations
19. Policy Recommendations
• Implement any sort of program aimed at incarcerated fathers that:
• Promotes healthy and sustainable marriages and relationships
• Reduces the possible incidence of child abuse
• Teaches fathers how to care for their child
• Promotes economic stability within a family unit
• In order to:
• Reduce adverse child hood mental and social experiences
• Break the cycle of incarceration among fathers and their children
Policy
Recommendations
21. Bibliography
Fontaine, Jocelyn. 2015. Early implementation findings from responsible fatherhood
reentry projects. Urban Institute. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and
Evaluation. Retrieved April 14, 2015
(http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/fatherhoodreentryprojects.pdf)
2015. Community-Centered Responsible Fatherhood Ex-Prisoner Reentry Pilot Project. US
Department of Health and Human Services. Washington, DC: Office of Family Assistance.
Retrieved April 15, 2015 (http://aosresourcecenter.com/file_depot/0-10000000/390000-
400000/398422/folder/1137345/Ex-Prisoner_Reentry_%28Revised+_8_15_2013%29.pdf)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740907001570
Palusci, Vincent. 2007. Changes in parenting attitudes and knowledge among inmates
and other at-risk populations after a family nurturing program. Children and Youth
Services Review. Elsevier. April 15, 2015. (http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0190740907001570/1-
s2.0-S0190740907001570-main.pdf?_tid=fb481b72-ee31-11e4-8b95-
00000aab0f02&acdnat=1430286096_2e2e1e21440b4174ed9d8de007ec66aa)
